Observer Fixed Gear Data collected during 2002-2006 off West Coast of US.
This data product originates from data collected by fishery observers in the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP), Fishery Resource Analysis and Monitoring Division (FRAM) at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries. The WCGOP's goal is to improve total catch estimates by collecting information on the discarded catch (fish returned overboard at-sea) of west coast groundfish species. All data were collected according to standard protocols and data quality control established by the WCGOP. The observed portion of overall catch or landings in a fishery varies by coverage level. Since all fishing operations are not observed, neither the maps nor the data can be used to characterize the fishery completely. This is especially true for rarely-occurring species and when observed sample sizes are small. We urge caution when utilizing these data due to the complexity of groundfish management and fleet harvest dynamics. Grid cells representing less than 3 vessels and less than 10 hauls or sets are not shown due to confidentiality and to ensure adequate sample size. In the limited-entry fixed gear fishery, species discard rates (species discard weight / groundfish total catch (discard + retained weight)) are categorized by approximate quartile ranges and geo-referenced to 20 x 20 kilometer grid cells. The observed fixed gear set location (start location of fishing) was used to allocate data to 20 x 20 kilometer grid cells for calculation. Sixteen species were represented based on combined observer data from 2002-2006. The species included in this data product are dover sole (Microstomus pacificus), sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), longspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus altivelis), shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus), lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), petrale sole (Eopsetta jordani), and the rockfishes (genus Sebastes), darkblotched rockfish (S. crameri), Pacific ocean perch (S. alutus), chilipepper (S. goodei), cowcod (S. levis), bocaccio (S. paucispinis), canary rockfish (S. pinniger), widow rockfish (S. entomelas), yelloweye rockfish (S. ruberrimus), and yellowtail rockfish (S. flavidus).
Purpose: This data product was developed to provide basic groundfish discard distribution information for a wide variety of audiences. The West Coast Groundfish Observer Program conducts sampling of groundfish discarded by commercial fisheries along the entire continental U.S. West Coast. The seventeen species included in this data product are among those of most interest to the fisheries management and commercial fishing communities.
Data Credits: NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Fishery Resource Analysis & Monitoring Division, West Coast Groundfish Observer Program, Seattle, WA.
