Topic 4A: New Methods for Detection of Fish Populations or Mapping of Fish Habitat

Understanding Apex Predator and Pelagic Fish Habitat Utilization in the California Current System by Integrating Animal Tracking with in situ Oceanographic Observations

Lead PI: Dr. Daniel Costa, University of California Santa Cruz

The Tagging of Pacific Pelagics (TOPP) program is pioneering the application of bio-logging science to study pelagic habitat use by marine vertebrates in the North Pacific. This effort will analyze the data currently being collected by the TOPP program to define and map habitat utilization, migratory corridors, and hot spots for 18 species of marine vertebrates in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. These species include bluefin and yellowfin tuna, albacore, white, mako, blue and salmon sharks, California sea lions, northern elephant seals, black footed and Laysan albatrosses, sooty and pink footed shearwaters, blue, fin and humpback whales and loggerhead and leatherbacks sea turtles. The proposed study will develop a dynamic, ecosystem-based approach to map and understand habitat utilization by top predators in the California Current System (CCS). This will involve monitoring animal movements in response to seasonal and yearly environmental conditions. The outcome will be an examination of the persistence and predictability of pelagic hot spots in the region of the North American continental shelf and slope waters.

Many of these species are of high commercial value and management plans in both domestic and international waters have yet to be implemented. By examining the movements of the animals in relationship to the environment we can begin to develop predictive models of how individual species use the CCS habitat. In addition to learning about the habitat envelope of the tagged animals, the animals will contribute to the west coast effort in ocean observation. Sensors on the tagged animals will provide oceanographic information of the CCS region that will provide information on the vertical habitat at a resolution appropriate to understand animal behavior.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $1,428,816

Partners:

University of California at Santa Cruz
Stanford University
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory

Development of Mid-Frequency Multibeam Sonar for Fisheries Applications

Lead PI: Dr. John Horne, University of Washington

This project will investigate the utility of mid-frequency (1-10 kHz) acoustics to detect, enumerate and identify pelagic fish distributions. Despite recent trends to broaden the frequency range, the vast majority of fisheries acoustic abundance surveys are conducted at higher (i.e. >38 kHz) frequencies. Low frequency backscatter measurements, including measurements in the resonance region, using explosive charges as sources, have largely been restricted to deep scattering layers. Mid frequencies (0.5 to ~10 kHz) have not been applied to fisheries acoustics applications.

The proposed research tasks will integrate: 1) comparisons of fish backscatter models, 2) models of mid frequency sound propagation, 3) development and measurements of a mid-frequency multibeam sonar, and 4) backscatter measurements using splitbeam echosounders and the multibeam sonar. Field measurements will be conducted during two separate acoustic-based biomass surveys of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and Pacific hake (Merlucius productus). Walleye pollock are found in a boreal ecosystem with low species diversity. Pacific hake are found offshore of the west coast of North America in a temperate, high diversity ecosystem. Model predictions and field measurements at mid frequencies will be compared to those at high frequencies to evaluate the applicability of mid frequencies to describe and quantify pelagic fish distributions.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $1,346,956

Partners:

University of Washington
Stanford University
Applies Physics Laboratory
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Continuous Monitoring of Fish Population and Behavior by Instantaneous Continental-Shelf-Scale Imaging with Ocean-Waveguide Acoustics

Lead PI: Dr. Nicholas Makris, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A new lower frequency acoustic method (300-5000 Hz) is proposed for (1) instantaneously detecting, imaging and spatially charting fish populations over continental-shelf scales, and then (2) continuously monitoring the areal densities and behavior of these fish populations over time. It is proposed that this new method be applied to explore the abundance, temporal and spatial distributions and behavior of fish populations in the Gulf of Maine on and near Georges Bank, a marine ecosystem being studied in the Census of Marine Life program.

To provide verification of areal fish population density and species identification, the new method will be used in conjunction with simultaneous measurements of fish population by conventional line-transect methods that employ direct sampling with net and trawl as well as standard higher frequency acoustics (>10kHz). Since the new method can continuously monitor wide areas, it will be used to quantitatively assess the impact of fish behavior and distributions on conventional line transect methods, which are known to greatly under-sample fish populations in time and space. Correlation of behavior, including school and shoal formations, migrations, interactions and fragmentations, with local geologic and oceanographic habitat will be made. The impact of remotely sensed fish behavior on the detection and enumeration of fish population and abundance by conventional line transect methods will be assessed.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $1,351,213

Partners:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Penn State University
WaveTech Engineering LLC
Marine Acoustics Inc.
Naval Research Laboratory
National Marine Fisheries Service
National SPAWAR and Naval Engineering and Facilities Center

Novel Acoustic Techniques to Measure Schooling in Pelagic Fish in the Context of an Operational Coastal Ocean Observatory

Lead PI: Dr. Kelly Benoit-Bird, Oregon State University

This project brings together a team with expertise in acoustics, engineering, biology, fisheries, and oceanography to develop and apply acoustic techniques to measure schooling in pelagic fish. We will combine traditional, split-beam fisheries echosounding techniques and direct sampling with new acoustic techniques and new platforms in a study area monitored by an existing operational ocean observatory. To measure synoptic distributions of fish schools we will collect mid-frequency back- and bistatic-scattering from fish using a unique horizontally oriented multibeam system. We will experimentally evaluate the use of ship-board and moored mid-frequency sonar for the detection and resolution of fish schools at long range (kilometer scale) in the context of propagation and scattering in a shallow water waveguide. Toward the goal of integrating mid to geometric frequency scattering measurements, we will observe the relationship of high-frequency echosounder and multibeam measurements to mid-frequency short-range measurements (direct path scattering) and mid-frequency long-range measurements (waveguide scattering). In doing so, we will correlate the results of the longer-range measurement (less understood and more complex scattering geometries) with more traditional (better understood) higher frequency and geometric scattering regimes and techniques. We will also investigate the ability of higher frequency multibeam techniques to assess the internal structure of detected schools. A 200 kHz multibeam capable of collecting water column data will be integrated into an autonomous underwater vehicle (REMUS). Deploying this cutting edge instrument on an autonomous platform will allow us to access fish at greater depths, while sampling the high spatial resolution necessary to measure the geometry of fish in an aggregation.

The success of REMUS-deployed instruments was demonstrated mapping bioluminescence patches at the ONR and NOPP-sponsored experiments. During our field efforts in years 2 and 3 of the project, the multibeam-equipped AUV will fly in a grid within the range of the mid-frequency, horizontally looking multibeam sonar while a surface ship collects echosounder data at multiple frequencies and conducts collection trawls. The intensive acoustic sampling from the three platforms will permit us to integrate data on mid- and high-frequency acoustic scattering, providing information on basic acoustics, biological sources of acoustic clutter, and schooling of fish.

All field sampling will be conducted within the New Jersey Shelf Observing System, which provides real-time data throughout the Mid-Atlantic Bight. The surveys will be positioned adaptively using real-time data collected with the international constellation of ocean color satellites, a nested grid of HF radars, and an operational fleet of autonomous Webb Gliders. The goal is to use the environmental data to optimize ship and AUV acoustic surveys by using the observatory to identify specific water masses, frontal boundaries, and subsurface phytoplankton plumes. The surveys will then identify and track schools of fish associated with this hydrographic and biological structure. This approach will provide a context for the fish schooling information, allowing us to begin to look for correlations between the fish biology and environmental variability. Results will be passed into the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) ensuring that biological data is integrated into the Census of Marine Life.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $489,366

Partners:

Oregon State University

University of Washington

Rutgers University

Simrad USA

A Novel Technique to Detect Epipelagic Fish Populations and Map their Habitat

Lead PI: Dr. James Churnside, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The main objective of this interdisciplinary and interagency project is to develop and apply a new sampling technique by coupling airborne data collections (LIDAR and instrument package) with traditional ship-based methods and satellite-derived data to detect and enumerate species-specific fish schools and to synoptically map their habitat. Data collected will form a nested array of spatial and temporal scales that will be analyzed and modeled in a spatial GIS-based environment. Our ultimate goal is to substantially improve our understanding of the relation between ecologically important key fish species (e.g. sardine and albacore) and the physical environment by collecting synoptic measurements with improved spatial and temporal resolution of observations. The coupled airborne surveys enable collection of data at high temporal resolution, allowing measurements of fish movement and behavior not possible using traditional ship-based methods alone.

Developments of new measurement techniques and spatially explicit habitat modeling are sorely needed because relationships among spatial and temporal varying biological and physical processes are poorly understood, resulting in impaired management. While we know that many important species congregate in areas of the sharpest physical gradients, key forcing mechanisms causing variability in the temporal phasing and distribution of these congregations are relatively unknown.

The outreach portion of this project includes 1) development of a web site with downloadable information for educational purposes, 2) data sharing for the purpose of data inclusion into the Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) developed by the Census of Marine Life program, 3) and seminars and meetings with fishing or other coastal communities for the purpose of information sharing, education, and cooperative research planning.

Results from this project will aid in filling research gaps and thus improving management of resources and associated environmental problems. Future utility and application of results for management is maximized through the partnerships established within the project between the government agency responsible for management, academic and government researchers, and the fishing industry. Increased basic, gap-filling research, development of new techniques partnered with traditional methods, and development of cooperative interagency-industry research efforts are crucial as we enter an era of decreasing fish stocks, rapidly changing environmental conditions, and declining or insufficient research funding sources.

Number of Years: 3

Requested Funds: $1,485,200

Partners: