February 13, 1997      PMC1x4:LWM

MEMORANDUM FOR:	Distribution

	/S/John C. Albright
FROM:	Rear Admiral John C. Albright, NOAA
	Director, Pacific Marine Center

SUBJECT:	Cruise Instructions MF-97-02
	Bogoslof EIT

Attached for your information is a copy of the subject instructions for NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN.  If you have any questions about these instructions or the ship's operating schedule, please contact the Fisheries Project Leader,
Larry Mordock, at the above address or telephone (206) 553-4764.

Attachment

Distribution:
C.O., MILLER FREEMAN
NC
PMC1
F/AKC
F/AKC1
R
R/E/PM
Commander, 17th Coast Guard District

                                  Alaska Fisheries Science Center
                                  7600 Sand Point Way Northeast
                                  BIN C15700, Building 4
                                  Seattle, Washington  98115‑0070

                                  February 5, 1997    F/AKC1:TH

Commanding Officer
NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN

CRUISE INSTRUCTIONS:  MF‑97‑02, ECHO INTEGRATION ‑ TRAWL SURVEY
                      OF WALLEYE POLLOCK IN THE SOUTHEASTERN
                      ALEUTIAN BASIN

1.0  SCHEDULE ‑ AREA OF OPERATIONS

     1.1  Scientists from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) will conduct an echointegration‑trawl (EIT) survey of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) in the southeastern Aleutian Basin near Bogoslof Island aboard the NOAA ship MILLER FREEMAN from February 28 to March 11, 1997 (12 sea days).  The cruise will begin and end in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

2.0  VESSEL ITINERARY

     Feb 28	Embark scientists during touch and go in Dutch Harbor, partial sphere calibration

     Mar 1‑10	Echo integration‑trawl survey of the Bogoslof Island region

     Mar 10	Full sphere calibration in Makushin Bay

     Mar 11	Arrive Dutch Harbor; end of cruise

3.0  SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of the cruise are to:

     3.1	Collect echo integration data and midwater and demersal trawl data necessary to determine the distribution, biomass, and biological composition of walleye pollock in the southeastern Aleutian Basin.

     3.2	Collect pollock target strength data for use in scaling echo integration data to estimates of absolute abundance.
     3.3	Calibrate the 38 kHz and 120 kHz scientific acoustic systems using standard sphere techniques.

     3.4	Collect physical oceanographic data including temperature and salinity profiles at selected sites, and conduct continuous monitoring of sea surface parameters (e.g. temperature, salinity, light level, and productivity) and water current profiles.

The secondary objectives of the cruise are to:

     3.5	Collect and preserve stomachs from lanternfish (myctophidae), smoothtongues (bathylagidae) and similar deep‑sea fishes as encountered for food habits studies.

     3.6	Spawn mature walleye pollock and culture the fertilized eggs for laboratory experiments on eggs and larvae.

     3.7	Collect samples of pollock ovary tissue for studying interannual variation in fecundity.

     3.8	Collect Tucker trawls and midwater trawls in one or two areas of high spawning pollock concentration to examine sex‑specific egg cannibalism and the distribution of pollock eggs in relation to adult pollock distribution.

     3.9	Collect samples of forage fishes (myctophids) and freeze them for a University of Alaska (Fairbanks) study.

     3.95	Collect and freeze whole pollock for the Observer Program at AFSC.

     3.96	Collect sample(s) of otoliths, liver and muscle tissue and gill arches from about 100 pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) and freeze for genetics studies.

     Detailed instructions and names/telephone numbers of researchers requesting each secondary project will be supplied to the Chief Survey Technician before the cruise. 

4.0  OPERATIONAL PLANS

     4.1 Survey operations will be conducted 24 hours per day.  Scientists will use the EK500 echo integration system, with two centerboard‑mounted transducers at 38/120 kHz, to continuously collect acoustic data along a series of parallel transects.  The vessel must not operate other echo sounders or acoustic equipment that interfere with collection of scientific acoustic data.  If the 38 kHz transducer fails it must be replaced with a backup unit.  Therefore the vessel must have divers on board who are capable of replacing the transducer.  Transect spacing is planned to be 10 nmi (Fig.1), although it may be reduced to 5 nmi in some areas.  Trackline endpoints will be provided to the Field Operations Officer.  Ship speed is expected to average 12 knots in favorable weather.  

EIT survey operations require that the Aleutian wing trawl and a poly Nor'eastern bottom trawl with roller gear be loaded on to the net reels.  A second wing trawl and poly Nor'eastern will be stowed on board the vessel as backup gear.  A Marinovich trawl will also be deployed and should be readily available.  Fishbuster doors will be used with all trawls.  A restrictor line will be used on the Marinovich.  We request that the chief boatswain keep a trawl gear logbook to record any modifications made to trawl gear during the cruise.  

Trawl hauls may be conducted at any time based on occurrence of echo sign.  Prior to trawl hauls we request that the scientist in charge meet with the fishing officer to discuss haul plans.  An average of 2‑3 trawl hauls per 24‑hours is anticipated.  On occasion, more frequent trawling may be required.  Midwater trawl hauls will be made to identify selected echo sign and provide biological data and pollock samples.  Occasionally bottom trawl hauls may be made to sample demersal pollock.  Haul duration will be kept to the minimum necessary to ensure an adequate sample.  Biological data collected from each haul will include species composition, sex composition, length frequencies, whole fish and ovary weights, maturities, otoliths and whole stomachs from selected species.

Temperature/depth data will be collected with a microBT attached to the headrope of all trawls.  Conductivity‑temperature‑depth (CTD) data will be collected with the AFSC Seabird system at calibration sites and selected locations.  While transecting, we will collect temperature‑depth profile data at other locations using expendable bathy‑thermographs (XBT's).

The Scientific Computing System (SCS) will be configured to log data from various sensors during the cruise using the Sensor.Dat file supplied to the chief survey technician.  We request that the chief survey technician create daily ASCII files of the SCS thermosalinograph data.  Ideally, these files would be named to indicate the collection date, and would contain regular outputs (each minute) of date, time, latitude, longitude, bottom depth, temperature and salinity.  They would be provided to the Chief Scientist at cruise end.  The acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) will be synchronized with the scientific acoustic system and operated continuously throughout the cruise.  Immediately before the cruise, the chief survey technician and the chief scientist will ascertain that appropriate ADCP and SCS configuration files were supplied for cruise data collection.  The ADCP operation should be checked daily.  The "ADCP Daily Log" form should be completed regularly.

     4.2  Pollock target strength data will be collected on an opportunistic basis.  Certain conditions (i.e., low fish densities, single species, unimodal size composition, appropriate depth range) are required to ensure success.  Target strength data collection typically involves repeated passes over an aggregation of fish at a vessel speed of approximately 3‑5 knots.  One or two trawl hauls are made to provide species composition and biological data.  Whenever calm seas are encountered along with the above‑mentioned conditions, a second approach to target strength data collection will be attempted.  With the vessel stopped, a 38 kHz transducer will be lowered to a depth just above the fish sign for data collection.  Approximately 200 meters of 2.7 cm diameter steel transducer cable will be wound on to the net reel over the bottom trawl and fed through a block attached to the A‑frame on the stern of the vessel.  The net reel winch will be used to lower and raise the transducer.

     4.3  A partial calibration of the acoustic systems will be made at the start of the survey.  At the survey's end, a full standard sphere calibration will be conducted in Makushin Bay.  Calibration requires the vessel to be anchored at bow and stern, and involves lowering a calibration sphere assembly over the side.  A CTD cast will be taken.

5.0  SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL

     5.1  The principal investigator is Neal Williamson (206) 526‑6417, AFSC, Seattle, WA.

     5.2  The Chief Scientist has the authority to revise or alter the technical portions of the instructions provided that after consultation with the Commanding Officer, it is ascertained that the proposed changes will not:  1) jeopardize the safety of personnel on the ship; 2) exceed the time allotted for the project; 3) result in undue additional expense; or 4) alter the general intent of the cruise instructions.

     5.3  All scientific personnel are required to have an approved NOAA Health Services questionnaire aboard before embarking.

5.4  Scientific Staff:

				Sex/           
	Name			Nationality	Position		   Organization

Neal Williamson	M/USA		Chief Scientist	AFSC
Daniel Twohig		M/USA		Electronics Tech.	AFSC
Taina Honkalehto	F/USA		Fish. Biologist	AFSC
Steve de Blois		M/USA		Fish. Biologist	AFSC
Mike Guttormsen	M/USA		Fish. Biologist	AFSC
Kevin Landgraf		M/USA		Fish. Biologist	AFSC
Vidar Wespestad	M/USA		Fish. Biologist	AFSC
Jerzy Janusz		M/Poland		Fish. Biologist	MIR
Seok‑Gwan Choi		M/Korea		Fish. Acoustician	NFRDA
TBN				 /China		Fish. Biologist	YSFRI

AFSC  ‑ Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA
MIR   ‑ Morski Intytut Rybacki, Gdynia, Poland
NFRDA ‑ National Fisheries Research and Development Agency,
        Pusan, Korea
YSFRI ‑ Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Qingdao, China

6.0  EQUIPMENT

     6.1  Scientific gear will be loaded and mounted onto the vessel prior to its departure from Seattle on February 10.  The exact loading schedule will be arranged with the Field Operations Officer.

     6.2  All scientific gear will remain onboard for use during cruise MF‑97‑03.

     6.3  Acoustic Equipment		   Amount   Vessel   Project

     Acoustic system in van/lab		1		‑‑		X
     Backup EK500 system				1		‑‑		X
     Simrad ES38 transducer			3		‑‑		X
     Simrad ES38D transducer			1		‑‑		X
     Simrad ES120 transducer			1		‑‑		X
     Standard target & suspension
     assembly						*		‑‑		X
     Transducer cable & block			*		‑‑		X
     
     6.4  Trawling Equipment          Amount   Vessel   Project

     Aleutian wing trawl
       w/accessories				2		--		X
     Marinovich trawl w/restrictor		2		‑‑		X
     Poly Nor'eastern bottom trawl
       with roller gear,accessories	2		‑‑		X
     Fishbuster doors w/accessories	2 sets	‑‑		X
     Spare webbing & twine			‑‑		‑‑		X
     Spare net hardware				‑‑		‑‑		X
     3rd wire WesMar net sonar w/
       winch and accessories			1		X		‑‑
     Furuno headrope transducer		2		X		‑‑
     Tom weights (2‑750 lbs.,1‑1000)	3 sets	‑‑		X
     EQ50 Bridge sounder (50/38 kHz)	1		X		‑‑
     Bongo net (333mm) and accessories	1		‑‑		X
     Tucker trawl and accessories		1		‑‑		X
     Miscellaneous supplies			Misc.	‑‑		X

     6.5  Oceanographic Equipment     Amount   Vessel   Project  
          
     Seabird CTD System				2		‑‑		X
     XBT launcher and recorder		1		X		‑‑
     XBT's						*		‑‑		X
     ADCP with PC computer and
       Syquest drives				*		X		‑‑
     MicroBT's						2		‑‑		X
     Syquest removable cartridge		1		‑‑		X

     6.6  Biological Sampling Equip.  Amount   Vessel   Project
  
     Catch sorting and weighing table	1		X		‑‑
     Dynamometer					2		‑‑		X
     Basket platform scale (mechanical)	2		‑‑		X
     Fish baskets					30		‑‑		X
     Polycorder					3		‑‑		X
     Specimen platform scale (elec.)	2		‑‑		X
     Ethanol (gallons)				*		‑‑		X
     Formalin (gallons)				*		‑‑		X
     Biological supplies (misc.)		*		‑‑		X
     
     6.7  Computing equipment         Amount   Vessel   Project

     IBM compatibles				*		‑‑		X
     SUN workstations				3		‑‑		X
     Printers						*		‑‑		X
     Trawl house computer monitor		1		‑‑		X
     Magnetic tapes (8 mm)			2		‑‑		X
     Colorado tape drive				1		‑‑		X
     QD2120 magnetic tapes			6		‑‑		X
     Scientific Computing System (SCS)	1		X		‑‑
     
Note:  "*" indicates amount not specified

     6.8  The Chief Scientist shall be responsible for complying with NC Instruction 6280B, Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Policy, Guidance, and Training, dated May 8, 1991.  By federal law, the ship may not sail without a complete inventory of MSDS and appropriate neutralizing agents, buffers, and/or absorbants in amounts adequate to address spills of a size equal to the amount of chemicals brought aboard.  When loading the materials, the chief scientist is required to provide an inventory of those materials actually brought aboard.

7.0  RECORDS AND REPORTS

     7.1 Operations will be recorded using Seaplot software.  An appropriate track logging interval must be chosen.  Specific events (and frequency) to be recorded will be decided at the beginning of the cruise.  The bridge Seaplot computer must be on an uninterruptable power supply, and adequate backup procedures must be in place.  If the navigation device fails, positions should be recorded manually in Seaplot.  A Marine Operations Abstract will also be maintained during the cruise to record major events as determined at the beginning of the cruise.  All times should be recorded as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

     7.2  The data set requested by the Chief Scientist from the ship's officers will include the following:

       7.2.1	Seaplot files of all operations logged during the cruise.

       7.2.2	A copy of the Marine Operations Abstract.

       7.2.3	Copies of XBT (SEAS and project) data disks.

       7.2.4	Completed trawl haul forms.  Forms will be collected by the scientific party after each       trawl haul.  Forms will be supplied by the scientific party.  Bridge officers should note any changes in gear configuration on the trawl sheet and accompanying gear information sheet.

       7.2.5	Magnetic tape (8 mm) backup of all sensor data logged to the Scientific Computer System (SCS).

       7.2.6	ADCP daily log forms and ASCII files of daily thermosalinograph data; Syquest removable disk cartridge containing ADCP pingdata files.

     7.3  Data Disposition:  The Chief Scientist will represent the AFSC lab director for data disposition.  A single copy of all data gathered by the vessel will be delivered to the Chief Scientist for forwarding to the AFSC lab director, who in turn will be responsible for distributing data to other investigators desiring copies.

8.0  ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS

     8.1  Additional Investigations:  Any other work done during the cruise period will be subordinate to the main project and  performed so as not to interfere with that outlined in these  instructions.  The Chief Scientist will be responsible for  determining the priority of additional work relative to the main project.

     8.2  Ancillary Projects:

          8.2.1  Definition:  Ancillary projects are secondary to the objectives of the cruise and should be treated as additional investigations.  An ancillary project does not have representation aboard and is accomplished by the ship's personnel.

          8.2.2  Ancillary Projects: Ancillary task will be accomplished in accordance with the NOAA Fleet Standing Ancillary Instructions.

9.0  MISCELLANEOUS

     9.1  Navigation Control:  Primary control during the project will be GPS, and LORAN‑C, supplemented by radar, visual, etc.
  
       9.2  Meals:

          9.2.1  Payment for Meals:  All scientists (passengers) will pay for their meals at a rate of $8.20 per day for two or more meals and $4.10 a day for one meal, in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 203‑100 PMC Directive 87‑04.  The Commanding Officer will furnish NOAA Form 75‑90, Authorization of Mess Obligation, for the Chief Scientists's and Commanding Officer's signatures for all the scientists' meals.  The Chief Scientist will provide the Commanding Officer with the appropriate accounting codes.

       9.3 Pre‑ and post‑cruise meetings will be held between the Commanding Officer and the Chief Scientist.  The pre‑cruise meeting will identify day to day project requirements with regard to overtime and logistic support in order to best utilize ship personnel resources.  If serious problems are identified during the post‑cruise meeting, the Commanding Officer shall notify the marine center by the most direct means available. The Chief Scientist shall document identified problems in the Ship Operations Evaluation Form.

10.0 COMMUNICATIONS

     10.1  A daily JFT schedule via the Internet will be maintained between AFSC and the MILLER FREEMAN.  Radio contact will be maintained when possible.  A scientific progress report will be sent to AFSC via the marine operator, Rapifax, JFT, or other means when requested by the Chief Scientist.  An AFSC cellular telephone will be used for scientific communications where possible.

     10.2  Since it is sometimes necessary for the scientific staff to communicate with other research vessels, commercial vessels, and shore‑based NOAA facilities, the Chief Scientist or his designee may request the use of radio transceivers aboard the vessel.  The acoustics van/lab has a VHF radio and a station license.  Scientific personnel will occasionally use the van/lab radio for communications and will notify the bridge before doing so.

     10.3  The MILLER FREEMAN is equipped with INMARSAT (a telephone/teletype satellite communication system) cellular telephone service and Rapifax.  The scientific staff will be obligated to pay for any incoming or outgoing calls on these systems. INMARSAT is estimated at $6.02 per minute for voice and $4. per minute for telex.  Cellular telephone calls cost an estimated $0.90 per minute for air time, plus any applicable long‑distance charges billed to the ship's number.  Rapifax will be available to scientists at the estimated $6.02 voice rate.  As the Rapifax is used quite often by scientific personnel it is considered essential for successful operations.  All INMARSAT calls and faxes will be logged in the radio room.

       10.4  A telephone link (via ship's phone system) will be established between the bridge and the acoustics van/lab to facilitate timely communications.

       10.5  Communication with the commercial fishing fleet provides information that allows scientists to direct their efforts more efficiently.  The bridge will notify the Chief Scientist or his designee whenever such communication is received.

/S/John C. Albright                /S/James W. Balsiger
_______________________________    _____________________
John C. Albright                   Dr. James W. Balsiger
Rear Admiral, NOAA                 Science and Research
Director, Pacific Marine Center    Director, Alaska Region