Research Document - 2003/049
Feasibility of Multispecies Groundfish Bottom Trawl Surveys on the BC Coast
By Sinclair, A., Schnute, J., Haigh, R., Starr, P., Stanley, R., Fargo, J., and Workman, G.
Abstract
This paper explores the feasibility of a multispecies groundfish trawl survey along the British Columbia coast for stock assessment work. We investigate commercial trawl catches of species selected for (i) commercial value, (ii) bio-diversity concerns, (iii) spatial distributions, and (iv) suitability to trawl surveys. We identify stocks that meet precision criteria (CV £ 20%) for the indexing of relative abundance. We include recommendations for a Groundfish Synoptic Survey (GFSS) to start in 2003. Strata will be defined by Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission (PMFC) major areas and four depth intervals between 50 and 500 m. The initial year of the GFSS will focus on PMFC area 5AB to formalise design and verify precision levels determined herein. This paper is a planning document only and is not meant to provide advice to fisheries managers.
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