Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><DIV STYLE="font-size:12pt"><P><SPAN>This GIS feature class represents the sampling design, implemented in 2003 (and updated in 2008), for the West Coast Groundfish Bottom Trawl Survey (WCGBTS) conducted annually by the Fishery Resource Analysis & Monitoring Division (FRAM) of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries. Each polygon in this feature class was populated with statistics (minimum, maximum, and mean) on depth compiled from the NOAA's 15 arc-second Coastal Relief Model (by Divins and Metzger). The coastal relief model data was downloaded from the National Geophysical Data Center of the NOAA Satellite and Information Service. SURVEY DESCRIPTION Since 1998, FRAM has conducted annual surveys of demersal fishes, known as groundfish, off the western coast of the continental United States. This ongoing series of annual surveys, known as the West Coast Groundfish Survey, is designed to monitor long-term trends in distribution and abundance of west coast groundfish, especially those species of management concern. Each year, west coast commercial trawlers have been chartered to carry out survey sampling requirements. Survey extent and design have changed over time. Between 1998 and 2001, surveys targeted groundfish inhabiting the upper continental slope, defined by water depths of 183 to1280 meters [m] (100 - 700 fathoms [fm]), from the area off Cape Flattery, Washington (latitude [lat.] 48°10'N) south to Point Conception, California (lat. 34°30'N). In 2002, the survey area was expanded south of Point Conception to the U.S.-Mexican border (lat. 32°30'N). Prior to 2003, the survey design was composed of east-west transects, separated by 10 minutes of latitude. In 2003, a shelf stratum (55 - 183 m) was added and a stratified-random sampling design was adopted. The survey area was partitioned into ~13,000 adjacent cells of equal area (1.5 nm long. by 2.0 nm lat.) with each vessel assigned a subset of randomly selected cell stations. Sampling density was assigned to areas defined by five International Pacific Fishery Council (INPFC) management areas and three specified depth categories. Sampling locations were allocated by assigning 16 - 25% of the effort within each INPFC area. After review by assessment scientists in 2004, the survey geographic stratification was generalized to just two comprehensive geographical areas divided north from south at Pt. Conception, CA. No change in depth stratification was made. Since 2004, sampling design and density have not changed.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
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