Cruise Results: NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow (R-225), Cruise No. HB 12-06 (Parts I-IV), Fall Bottom Trawl Survey

The objectives of the cruise were to: (1) determine the seasonal distribution, relative abundance, and biodiversity of fish and invertebrate species found on the continental shelf; (2) collect biological samples for age determinations and growth studies, fecundity, maturity, and feeding ecology; (3) opportunistically test trawl gear, methods, or survey-related equipment that may benefit the trawl survey in the future; (4) collect oceanographic data, including CTD casts as well as samples of ichthyoplankton and zooplankton for relative abundance and distribution studies; (5) collect hydroacoustics data between stations.