Acoustic data in the Beaufort Sea: BREA marine fishes 2012-2014

• Main Authors: Fortier, Louis, Geoffroy, Maxime, Gauthier, Stéphane, Majewski, Andrew, Reist, James D.
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Cryospheric Information Network 2013
• Subjects: Abundance; Acoustic; Arctic cod; Beaufort Sea; Biomass; Fishes; ArcticNet Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada; Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment; Arctic; Canada; ArcticNet; Zooplankton
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5443/11562; https://www.polardata.ca/pdcsearch/?doi_id=11562

The data set is composed of raw files recorded with a SIMRAD EK60 three-frequency (38, 120, 200 kHz) split-beam echosounder that was operated continuously during the 2012, 2013, and 2014 BREA cruise aboard the F/V Frosti. This entry also includes EK60 data collected during the ArcticNet cruise aboard the CCGS Amundsen in 2014. All three 7° transducers were hull-mounted and calibrated prior to departure. The acoustic signal was recorded continuously on a PC using ER60 software version 2.0.0. Ping interval was set around 1 s and the pulse length was set at 1.024 ms. : Purpose: Arctic cod is the most abundant and dominant pelagic fish in the Arctic marine food web, transferring the energy from zooplankton to top predators. In the Canadian Arctic, the large biomass of this key species that must exist to support predator consumption estimates has eluded detection. Sampling difficulties in the harsh environment usually limit studies of Arctic cod to coastal shallow waters during summer and to the immediate under-ice water. The purpose of this study is to estimate Arctic cod's biomass distribution and describe cod behavior from acoustic backscatter data collected in the Canadian Beaufort Sea. : Summary: Not Applicable