OCD200201: 2002 Blue Grenadier Spawning Acoustic Survey Data

38kHz Simrad ES60 acoustic data was collected during commercial fishing for spawning blue grenadier off the Tasmanian west coast in 2002. The dataset from the FV Ocean Dawn is part of a larger FRDC project involving three factory freezer vessels and includes embedded GPS data, observer biological records, and trawl shot logs. This collection supports fisheries research but lacks digitized echograms and complete voyage metadata.

Use Cases

• Analyzing fish stock density and distribution based on 38kHz acoustic backscatter.
• Correlating catch composition (species, length, weight) with acoustic data from specific trawl shots.
• Studying spawning grounds and migration patterns of blue grenadier off the Tasmanian coast.
• Validating acoustic survey methodologies against commercial fishing observer data.

Strengths

• Data collection was part of a structured FRDC (Fisheries Research and Development Corporation) project, suggesting a research-grade methodology.
• Includes complementary biological and operational data (e.g., species, length, weight, sex, stage, trawl location) from AFMA observers and ship logs.
• Acoustic data is held by the CSIRO Marine Science Acoustic Group, a reputable scientific institution.

Limitations

• The dataset contains only ES60 history files, with no cruise track or digitized echogram data available.
• The exact start and end dates of the voyage are unknown; the provided dates represent only the subset for which data is held.
• Column names and dataset size (rows, file size) are not specified in the available metadata.

Provenance

Source

CSIRO Marine Science Acoustic Group (Hobart), collected from the FV Ocean Dawn.

Collection Method

Acoustic data collected via 38kHz Simrad ES60 echosounder during commercial fishing operations. Biological data recorded by AFMA observers.

Time Range

2002

Freshness

Last updated metadata on 2026-04-26, but the underlying data is from 2002.

Geography

Tasmanian west coast, Australia.