Central Arctic Multi-Species Trawl Survey Data

Multi-species stock assessment surveys conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Central and Arctic Region began in 1999 and are planned to continue indefinitely. The data includes trawl catches and environmental measurements from seven study areas in northern Canadian waters, collected using research vessels and standardized trawl gear. This version is formatted for the OBIS portal by SCIOPS, with the most recent documented survey from October-November 2007.

Use Cases

• Modeling shrimp biomass distribution across 100-800m depth strata using trawl catch data.
• Analyzing Greenland halibut population trends in waters from 400-1500m depth.
• Correlating species catch rates with environmental variables like temperature and salinity from CTD sensors.
• Studying the impact of survey design, such as buffered random sampling protocol, on stock assessment estimates.
• Investigating fecundity and stomach contents of Pandalid shrimp species from biological samples.

Strengths

• Surveys span from 1999 onward, providing a multi-decade time series.
• Covers seven defined study areas across the Central and Arctic region.
• Includes detailed trawl geometry monitoring (door spread, net height) and environmental data collection.

Limitations

• The specific study area surveyed varies annually, creating potential gaps in spatial coverage.
• Sample data and column details are unavailable, limiting immediate analysis.
• The most recent documented update is from a 2007 survey, indicating potential staleness.

Provenance

Source

Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Central and Arctic Region, via OBIS Canada.

Collection Method

Stratified random trawl surveys conducted from research vessels using Alfredo or Cosmos shrimp trawls, with environmental data collected via CTD sensors.

Time Range

1999 to present (ongoing), with detailed records from 2007.

Freshness

Last documented survey was in 2007; planned to continue indefinitely but update frequency is unknown.

Geography

Seven study areas in northern Canadian waters: NAFO 0A (north/south), SFA0, SFA1, SFA3, western Hudson Strait, and RISA.