| Kona Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Survey (SE1401, EK60) |
| This cruise accomplished the following objectives: Oceanographic data were collected
from a total of 6 CTD casts and continuous TSG measurements along a predefined grid
off the west coast of Hawaii to assess the influence of physical dynamics on the region?s
biological productivity. CTD-mounted fluorometer measurements were carried out by
two fluorometers. Biological backscatter was monitored using the EK60 echosounder
system, both during trawl operations and along 7 acoustic transects (including at
least one daytime and one nighttime transit of each transect). One nighttime oblique
mid-water trawl was conducted prior to the net being damaged beyond repair by contact
with the seafloor. Four casts of a DIDSON imaging sonar were conducted to collect
high resolution information on the density of high sonic scattering layers. An ROV
was deployed 5 times to investigate acoustic scattering layers and adjacent layers.
Deep handline jigging was accomplished during day and night to investigate scattering
layer macrofauna. Data on cetacean distribution, school size, and school composition
were collected via daytime visual surveys on 9 days of transects coupled with several
days of small boat survey effort. Two HARP units were deployed for passive autonomous
detection of cetaceans and several sonabuoys were also deployed during daytime operations
for cetacean detection and identification. |
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