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Council approves integrated west‑coast pelagic survey methods; SSC calls for paired trials to quantify net effects
Summary
The Pacific Council approved the integrated west-coast pelagic survey (IWCPS) methodology, including use of a new multifunction troll net. The SSC and review panel said the new net appears more efficient but called for paired-trial experiments and sensitivity analyses to quantify species and length selectivity differences.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council on April 9 approved the methodology products for the coastal pelagic species (CPS) integrated west‑coast pelagic survey (IWCPS), allowing National Marine Fisheries Service survey output from the new survey design to be used in future stock assessments.
Panel findings and council action: A method review panel evaluated the change from the Nordic 264 surface troll to a multifunction troll (MFT). The body found that the MFT "appears to be more efficient and have higher catch volumes for CPS," but panelists could not definitively quantify selectivity changes because paired trials were not available. The SSC endorsed the panel report and the council approved the survey products for assessment use after a unanimous vote.
What that means: The survey combines acoustic backscatter and daytime/nighttime troll catch composition. NMFS scientists will continue to monitor and test for changes in species and length composition that could affect abundance indices; the SSC specifically recommended paired-trolling experiments or simulation/sensitivity analyses to better quantify differences in selectivity.
Quotes and context: "The panel concluded that the MFT appears to be more efficient and have higher catch volumes for CPS," the panel report stated. Dr. Annie Yao (Southwest Fisheries Science Center) told the council the 2025 inaugural IWCPS deployed advanced technologies including eDNA sampling and cloud-based acoustics streaming, improving real-time shore-side support for acoustic analysis.
Next steps: The council accepted the methodology and scientists will continue experimental work, paired comparisons and long-term monitoring of length/species composition to ensure survey indices remain comparable across years and net types.
