Lobster with 7 full-sized legs and one tiny leg, regrowing a lost 8th leg. Captured at a southern station on the 2018 NEFSC Fall Bottom Trawl survey. Photo Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Christine Kircun
BARNSTABLE – The Northeast Fisheries Science Center has completed its 2018 Fall Bottom Trawl Survey aboard the NOAA vessel Henry B. Bigelow.
The bottom trawl survey of fish and invertebrates, which is conducted twice per year, collects data used to understand changes in marine life and their habitats over time.
The survey began on September 4 and concluded on November 13 and finished 83 percent of planned stations.
The third leg of the survey covered Southern New England and Georges Bank.
About midway through the trip, strong winds forced operations away from eastern Georges Bank and into Cape Cod Bay.
A small hole in the aft part of the vessel during sampling causing the ship to return to Newport, RI for repairs. Strong winds, staffing issues and an electrical system replacement caused the last 7 days of the leg to be lost.
Along with collecting data, the survey was also used to test survey gear. Not as much testing was done due to lost days at sea during Legs 3 and 4.
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