What does the Fisheries Independent Surveys Group do?

The Fisheries Independent Surveys Group conducts surveys that provide consistent, unbiased estimates of relative abundance for many finfish and shellfish species in the Northeast region. The Bottom Trawl surveys have been conducted since 1963 and serve as the basis for some of the longest time series of standardized fishery-independent indices of relative abundance in the world. In addition to tracking mature animals, surveys provide indices of juvenile abundance, which can indicate strong year classes before fish are vulnerable to commercial or recreational fisheries. Research surveys assess the status of a stock over its entire distribution range, not just in small areas of commercial or recreational concen. Surveys also provide data to help monitor the processes of growth, maturity, predation, and mortality of a stock as well as trophic dynamics of fish communities.

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