The Northeast Fisheries Science Center has conducted resource cruises out of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, since 1885. Standard bottom trawl surveys were initiated in the fall of 1963, and since 1968 have been completed each spring and fall. Cruises to monitor shellfish resources are conducted primarily for sea scallops and surf clams. Cruises designed to complete other more specific research objectives are also conducted. Examples of special cruises include, examination of cod and haddock spawning activity, examination of the impact of pelagic predators on the survival of larval cod and haddock, marine mammal observation and plankton distribution trips. On all cruises, oceanographic, as well as meteorological data are collected. The data obtained from the standard trawl surveys are universally recognized as the most scientifically valuable time series of fisheries related data in the world.

The work on deck will vary depending on the mission of your particular cruise; since most of our volunteers and first-timers participate on bottom trawl surveys, the work associated with these cruises will serve as our model of on-deck activity. The work routine will be outlined at the pre-cruise meeting. Demonstrations of stomach content analysis, scale and otolith removal, and the operation of hydrographic and gear monitoring equipment will be given once the ship is underway.

contact:
Katherine Sowers
NMFS
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA
Internet: katherine.sowers@noaa.gov
Phone: 508-495-2342

 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/techniques/volman.html/