One important component of the Trawl Program is developing methods for training commercial fishermen to record scientifically acceptable data during normal fishing operations.

To date, the project has primarily utilized New Bedford Harbor-based bottom trawlers that fish on the north flank of Georges Banks.In the first year, SMAST technicians trained the crews of twenty vessels that logged 4508 hauls over 721 fishing days. In year two the project has trained eight crews and logged 1813 hauls in 50 trips over 302 fishing days.

The design and implementation of the project relied on the ability of technicians to design a data collection system that made sense to fishermen and was useful for analysis and processing by SMAST scientists. The technicians worked closely with fishermen on Georges Bank during normal fishing operations and at SMAST in order to develop the data collections methods currently used.

SMAST Fisheries Home