Gulf of Maine Longline Survey in Rocky Habitats Now in Sixth Year
For fisheries managers around the world, trawl gear is an efficient way to sample species inhabiting the sea floor or the benthic column above. Depending on the size of the net, grid surveys will capture enough of the animals in the area at the time to compile data used in abundance models that go into stock assessments. Unless the fish swim out of the net before it is hauled. Or unless the sea bottom is rocky or pinnacled.
In those areas, longline gear can help fill in the...
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