West Coast Trawl Fisheries Species Composition for Bycatch Reduction Research

Species composition data, including lengths, weights, and counts, from trawl fisheries research focused on bycatch reduction. The dataset results from collaborations with the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and the fishing industry, managed by NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center. Research projects include testing Bycatch Reduction Devices and codend selectivity, with work shaped by the Pacific coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Catch Share Program established in January 2011.

Use Cases

• Modeling bycatch rates for species like Chinook salmon and Pacific halibut based on gear modifications mentioned in the description
• Analyzing selectivity characteristics of trawl codends with different mesh configurations
• Evaluating the impact of conservation engineering devices on species composition and size distributions
• Assessing fishery constraints from bycatch caps under the Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program

Strengths

• Data is produced through key regional collaborations with multiple state and federal agencies
• Research is directly responsive to industry concerns regarding overfished and rebuilding species
• Work is framed within a formal regulatory program (Catch Share Program) established with Annual Catch Limits

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download

Provenance

Source

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce

Collection Method

Data collected through conservation engineering research projects involving Bycatch Reduction Device testing and gear selectivity studies.

Time Range

Research context includes work shaped by a program starting in January 2011, but specific data time range is not stated.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-14 22:52:25.844108; freshness should be verified

Geography

West coast groundfish and ocean shrimp trawl fisheries, likely covering areas off the U.S. Pacific coast.