Commanding Officer
NOAA Ship MILLER FREEMAN

CRUISE INSTRUCTIONS:	MF97-03, ECHO INTEGRATION-TRAWL SURVEY 					OF WALLEYE POLLOCK IN SHELIKOF STRAIT, 					GULF OF ALASKA

1.0  SCHEDULE - AREA OF OPERATIONS

	1.1  Scientists from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) will conduct an echo integration-trawl (EIT) survey of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) while aboard the NOAA ship Miller Freeman March 13-26, 1997 for a total of 14 sea days.  The cruise will begin in Dutch Harbor, Alaska and end in Homer, Alaska.

	1.2  The area of operation is the Shelikof Strait area (Fig. 1).

2.0  VESSEL ITINERARY

Mar 13		Embark scientists in Dutch Harbor, AK.  Depart at
			1500

Mar 14        	Full sphere calibration in Belkofski Bay (unless a
			sphere calibration is conducted on Mar 10 during
			MF97-02

Mar 14		Transit to survey start location near Chirikof 			Island

Mar 14-25		EIT survey of Shelikof Strait area

Mar 25-26		Conduct sphere calibration; transit to Homer, AK

Mar 26		Disembark scientists; end of cruise

3.0  SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES

The principal objectives of the cruise are to:

	3.1	Collect echo integration data and midwater and bottom		trawl data necessary to determine the distribution, 		biomass, and biological composition of walleye pollock 		in the Shelikof Strait area.

	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) and water 		current profiles.

Secondary objectives of the cruise are to:

	3.5	Collect and preserve whole stomachs from walleye 			pollock, Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus),				arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), and all 		species of shark other than spiny dogfish (Squalus 		acanthius) 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.

4.0  OPERATIONAL PLANS

	4.1  Survey operations will be conducted 24 hours per day.  Acoustic data will be collected continuously along a series of parallel transects with an EK500 echo integration system incorporating two centerboard-mounted transducers operating at 38 kHz and 120 kHz, respectively.  The vessel must not operate echo sounders and other acoustic instrumentation that interfere with collection of scientific acoustic data.  It is critical that the centerboard-mounted, 38-kHz transducer can be replaced, in case of failure, with a backup unit.  Therefore, the vessel must have sufficient divers on board that can replace the transducer.   

	4.2  Parallel transect spacing planned for the survey of the Shelikof Strait area will be either 7.5 or 3.75 nm.  Coordinates of track line endpoints will be provided to the Field Operations Officer.  Ship speed is expected to average 12 knots in favorable weather conditions.

	4.3  Standard survey operations require that an Aleutian wing trawl and Poly Nor'eastern bottom trawl with roller gear be loaded onto the net reels.  A spare Aleutian wing trawl and Poly Nor'eastern bottom trawl with roller gear will serve as backups.  Marinovich trawls may also be deployed and should be readily available.  A restrictor cable will be used with the Marinovich trawl.  Fish Buster doors will be used with all trawls.  Trawl hauls will be conducted at any time based on occurrence of echosign.  About 2-3 trawl hauls per 24-hour period is anticipated.  On occasion, more frequent trawl sampling may be required. The scientist in charge will meet with the fishing officer prior to each trawl haul to discuss haul plans.  Midwater and bottom trawl hauls will be made to identify selected echosign and provide biological data and samples of pollock.  Haul durations will be long enough to collect an adequate sample.  Biological data collected from each haul will usually include species and sex compositions, length frequencies, whole fish and ovary weights, gonad maturities, otoliths, and stomachs from selected species.  Upon completion of the survey, the trawls will be removed from the net reels and stacked unless directed otherwise by the MF97-04 Field Party Chief.

	4.4  Conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) data may be collected with an AFSC Seabird SeaCat system at trawl locations and at other selected locations.  Vertical temperature profiles may be collected at selected locations along transects by using expendable bathythermographs (XBTs).  Additional temperature and depth data will be collected by using a micro-bathythermograph (MBT) attached to the headrope of selected trawls. 

	4.5  The Scientific Computing System (SCS) will be configured to log data from various sensors during the cruise using a sensor.dat file supplied to the Chief Survey Technician.  The acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) will be synchronized with the scientific acoustic system and operated continuously throughout the cruise.  The Chief Scientist will meet immediately before the cruise with the Chief Survey Technician to verify that appropriate SCS and ADCP configuration files have been supplied.  ADCP operations should be checked at least daily and at the end of the cruise.  An "ADCP Daily Log" form should be completed regularly.

	4.6  Pollock target strength data will be collected on an opportunistic basis.  Certain conditions (i.e., low fish densities, single species, and unimodal size composition) are required for this work to be successful.  Collection of target strength data 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 at collecting target strength data may be attempted.  With the vessel stopped, a 38-kHz transducer will be lowered to a depth just above the fish sign for data collection using the lowered-transducer winch assembly, if operational.  Approximately 200 meters of 2.7 cm diameter steel transducer cable will be wound onto 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 would be used to lower and raise the transducer.

	4.7  A standard sphere calibration of the centerboard-mounted scientific acoustic systems (38 kHz and 120 kHz) will be conducted at the end of the cruise at a location to be determined.  A sphere calibration will also be conducted at the beginning of the cruise provided a sphere calibration is not conducted at the end of MF97-02.  This work requires anchoring the vessel at the stern and bow, then suspending a calibration sphere assembly directly beneath the vessel’s centerboard.  A CTD cast will be conducted at this site.

	4.8  A buoy filled with echosounding equipment may be deployed and recovered during the survey on an opportunistic basis.

5.0  SCIENTIFIC PERSONNEL

	5.1  The principal investigator is Chris Wilson, (206) 526-6435, AFSC, Seattle, WA.

	5.2  The Chief Scientist has authority to revise or alter 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 a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire aboard before embarking.  Clearances are valid for 2 years for scientists under age 50 and 1 year for age 50 and over.  

	5.4  Scientific Staff:
				   Sex/
  Name	Nationality		Position	   Organization

Chris Wilson		   M/USA		  Chief Scientist	  AFSC
Dan Twohig		   M/USA		  Electronics Tech.	  AFSC
Steve de Blois		   M/USA		  Fish. Biologist	  AFSC
Mike Guttormsen	   M/USA		  Fish. Biologist	  AFSC 
Taina Honkalehto	   F/USA		  Fish. Biologist	  AFSC
 Kevin Landgraf	   M/USA		  Fish. Biologist	  AFSC 
Tom Wilderbuer	   M/USA		  Fish. Biologist	  AFSC
Skip Zenger	   M/USA		  Fish. Biologist	  AFSC

AFSC  - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA

6.0  EQUIPMENT

	6.1  Scientific gear will be loaded and mounted onto the vessel prior to its departure from Seattle on February 4, 1997.  An exact loading schedule will be arranged with the Field Operations Officer.

	6.2  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

	6.3  Trawling Equipment  Amount   Vessel  Project

		Aleutian wing trawl               	2       --       X
			w/accessories
 		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 (333µm) and accessories  1       --       X
		Miscellaneous supplies            Misc.    --       X

	6.4  Oceanographic Equipment	 	Amount   Vessel  Project  
		
		Seabird CTD System       		2       --       X
		XBT launcher and recorder		1	    X      --
		XBTs						*       --       X

		ADCP with PC computer and
		  Syquest drives        	 	*        X      --
  		MicroBTs 					2	   -- 	  X
		Syquest removable cartridge	     1       --       X

     6.5  Biological Sampling Equipment  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
     
	6.6  Computing equipment            Amount   Vessel  Project

		PC computers                    *      --        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

     6.7  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 MSDSs and appropriate neutralizing agents, buffers, and/or absorbate in amounts adequate to address spills of a size equal to the amount of chemicals brought aboard.  The Chief Scientist is required to provide an inventory of materials brought aboard.

7.0  RECORDS AND REPORTS

     7.1  Marine Operations Abstract (MOA):  A MOA will be maintained during the cruise.  All times should be recorded in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  Other forms required by the Chief Scientist for each of the operations will be integrated into the MOA.

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

	  7.2.1  Nautical work charts displaying track line, trawl 		     haul locations, CTD/XBT positions, etc.  Work 		     charts will be supplied by the scientific party.

	  7.2.2  A copy of the MOA.  Positions will be recorded 		     every 30 minutes and for all significant changes 		     in speed, heading, or operations.

	  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).
		     This will include, but is not limited to, the 		     following data sources:  thermosalinograph, ADCP, 		     GPS, XBT, depth, and weather.

	  7.2.6  ADCP daily log forms and Syquest removable disk 		     cartridge containing ADCP pingdata files.

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

     7.4  Operational Reports:  Pertinent reports per PMC OPORDER  1.3 will be completed and forwarded.

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 will be performed so as to not interfere with what has been 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 and Piggyback Projects:

       8.2.1  Definition:  Ancillary projects are secondary to		      the objectives of the cruise and should be
			 treated as additional investigations.

  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, vision, etc.

     9.2 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 Scientist and Commanding Officer to sign on behalf of the scientific party.  The Chief Scientist will provide the Commanding Officer with appropriate accounting codes.

	9.3  A pre-cruise meeting between the Commanding Officer and the Chief Scientist will be held prior to the start of each cruise leg.  Its purpose will be to identify day-to-day requirements of the project in order to best utilize shipboard personnel resources and to identify overtime requirements and logistic support.

10.0 COMMUNICATIONS

     10.1  A daily communication schedule will be maintained between AFSC and the Miller Freeman Monday through Friday.  A scientific progress report will be sent to AFSC via marine operator, telephone patch via KVJ, Kodiak Lab KWL-38, Rapifax, JFT, or other means when requested by the Chief Scientist.

     10.2  Because scientific staff must sometimes communicate with other research vessels, commercial vessels, and shore-based NOAA facilities, the Chief Scientist or his designee may request to use radio transceivers aboard the vessel.  The acoustics van/lab is equipped with a VHF radio, has a station license, and will use this radio occasionally for communications.  Scientific personnel will notify the bridge before using the van/lab’s VHF radio.

     10.3  The Miller Freeman is equipped with INMARSAT, a telephone/teletype satellite communication system.  If scientific personnel use this system, they will be obligated to pay for their calls, which are estimated at $6.018 per minute for voice and $4.00 per minute for telex.  Rapifax will be available at voice rate.  The Rapifax is used quite often by scientific personnel and is considered essential for successful operations.

	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  Communications with the commercial fishing fleet provide information that helps the scientific party to direct their efforts more efficiently.  The bridge will notify the Chief Scientist or his designee whenever such communication is received.

	10.6  The Miller Freeman is equipped with cellular telephone capability.  If scientific personnel use this system, they will be obligated to pay for incoming and outgoing calls.  Cost for calls is estimated at $0.90 per minute for airtime, plus any applicable long-distance charges billed to the ship’s number.  All INMARSAT calls and faxes will be logged in the radio room.

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