"Commercial Vessel Acoustic Survey of Coastal Herring Spawning Units, 2000-2004"
CTD Data

Project Leader: Shale Rosen, Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Additional Participants:
John Annala, Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Brian Bichrest, F/V Safe Haven; Harpswell, ME
Mark Bichrest, F/V Jennifer and Emily; Harpswell, ME
Matthew Cieri, Maine Department of Marine Resources
Steve Gough, F/V Western Wave; Prospect Harbor, ME
Andrew Johnston,Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Cameron McLellan,F/V Adventurer
Paul Morse, F/V Western Hunter; New Bedford, MA
David Reingardt ,F/V Thunder Bay; Wakefield, RI
Kevin Scheirer,Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Joel Wezowicz,Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Philip Yund,Gulf of Maine Research Institute

2005 report: Inshore Gulf of Maine Acoustic Survey of Atlantic Herring

Sentinel Spawning Grounds"

"The temporal and special characteristics of spawning herring aggregations in coastal Gulf of Maine waters have been studied during the fall since 1998. The program has attempted to estimate the biomass of herring spawning in these waters during the fall months to establish an index of spawning stock biomass. Surveys have been conducted from Cape Ann, Massachusetts to Cutler, Maine. Each year, techniques have been refined for implementing acoustic surveys and collecting representative biological samples on fishing vessels.

In March 2005, the Northeast Consortium funded and facilitated an independent peer review, which concluded that acoustic surveys are an appropriate way to survey herring in this area and recommended continuation of the project. It also recommended that future surveys focus on estimating biomass using a broad-scale systematic survey approach, as well as developing an annual "sentinel" acoustic survey of the important spawning grounds. This project continues with additional funds from the Northeast Consortium granted in 2005. The panel's recommendations are being incorporated into the work, with surveys focused on identifying and quantifying "sentinel" spawning grounds." extracted from: Summary of Completed Cooperative Research Projects Funded by the Northeast Consortium, September 2006

herr_spawn_ctd.csv