Distribution, biomass, and demographics of coastal pelagic fishes in the California current ecosystem during summer 2024 based on acoustic-trawl sampling

This report provides: 1) a detailed description of the acoustic-trawl method (ATM) used by NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center for direct assessments of the dominant coastal pelagic species (CPS; i.e.: Pacifc Sardine Sardinops sagax, Northern Anchovy Engraulis mordax, Pacifc Mackerel Scomber japonicus, Jack Mackerel Trachurus symmetricus, Pacifc Herring Clupea pallasii, and Round Herring Etrumeus acuminatus) in the California Current Ecosystem of the west coast of the United States (U.S.) and portions of Canada and Baja CA, Mexico; 2) a description of the new multi-function trawl (MFT) system and sea trials conducted during fve days at sea (DAS) at the beginning of the survey; and 3) estimates of the biomasses, distributions, and demographics of those CPS encountered in the survey area between 30 June and 30 September 2024.