Unsupported Browser Detected

Internet Explorer lacks support for the features of this website. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

Near Real-time Temperatures from the Aleutian Islands Bottom Trawl Survey 2024

Water temperature affects many species' spawning times, access to food, growth rates, and overall range. Collecting temperature data helps better understand species’ habitats and the larger ecosystem.

Alaska

Table of Contents

Survey Progress and Bottom Temperatures

Map showing ocean bottom temperatures from the Aleutian Islands
NOAA Fisheries AFSC Groundfish Assessment Program is conducting the Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey. The near real-time ocean bottom temperatures depicted were collected June 7-June 24. On June 24, stations 302-60 (53.58°N, -167.36°W; >5–5.5°C), 299-59 (53.55°N, -167.58°W; >5–5.5°C), 300-58 (53.51°N, -167.52°W; >5.5–6°C), 303-62 (53.68°N, -167.31°W; >5–5.5°C), 303-62 (53.71°N, -167.26°W; >5–5.5°C), and 303-61 (53.64°N, -167.3°W; >5–5.5°C) were surveyed by the F/V Alaska Provider. No stations were surveyed by the F/V Ocean Explorer. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

The goal of the Aleutian Island bottom trawl survey is to collect data on the distribution and abundance of fish, crab and other bottom-dwelling species found around the Aleutian Islands. Temperature heavily influences these ranges and populations, so ocean bottom temperatures are recorded from all the areas the survey collects catch samples. During this year's surveys, we are sharing these temperatures in near real-time. NOAA Fisheries has conducted this standardized survey since 1991, except in 2008 and 2020 (culminating in 13 survey-years of data over 3 decades of sampling!). 

All data collected on these surveys are and will be publicly accessible from:

This PDF (and the color-blind friendly version PDF) provides static maps of each day's progress and bottom temperatures (degrees Celsius; °C). The last page includes a map of the Aleutian bottom trawl survey four main districts: Central Aleutians, Eastern Aleutians, Southern Bering Sea, and Western Aleutians.

Animated map showing ocean bottom temperatures from the Aleutian Islands
NOAA Fisheries AFSC Groundfish Assessment Program is conducting the Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey. The near real-time ocean bottom temperatures depicted were collected June 7-June 24. On June 24, stations 302-60 (53.58°N, -167.36°W; >5–5.5°C), 299-59 (53.55°N, -167.58°W; >5–5.5°C), 300-58 (53.51°N, -167.52°W; >5.5–6°C), 303-62 (53.68°N, -167.31°W; >5–5.5°C), 303-62 (53.71°N, -167.26°W; >5–5.5°C), and 303-61 (53.64°N, -167.3°W; >5–5.5°C) were surveyed by the F/V Alaska Provider. No stations were surveyed by the F/V Ocean Explorer. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Survey Dates

This year, the Aleutian Island trawl survey will be conducted from June 4 to August 3 aboard the F/V Ocean Explorer and the F/V Alaska Provider. This year, start dates are staggered for the two vessels conducting the surveys, the F/V Ocean Explorer (departing Dutch Harbor on June 4) and the F/V Alaska Provider (departing Dutch Harbor on June 5). We will keep the communities informed of our survey progress by posting daily updates of our survey progress via the website and social media. Look out for preliminary results from the survey in the September Joint Groundfish Plan Team presentation. 

Left image is the boat called Ocean Explorer and the right image is the boat called Alaska Provider.
Left: F/V Ocean Explorer. Right: F/V Alaska Provider. Credit: NOAA Fisheries.

Survey Location

The Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey begins in Unimak Pass in June, sweeping westward along the north side of the Aleutian archipelago until reaching Samalga Pass.

In Samalga Pass and at the Islands of Four Mountains (Chuginadak), the survey begins trawling on both the north and south sides of the archipelago as it continues to sweep westward through the Aleutian Islands chain. Crew changes occur twice during the summer in late June and again in late July at Adak Island. 

The survey ultimately sails past Attu Island (the last U.S. island in the Aleutian chain) and steams to Stalemate Bank to collect the last of our samples in early August. Both vessels then return to Dutch Harbor to demobilize and the survey scientists return to Seattle and Alaska to finalize and report the data collected.

Area of research in the Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey. This survey covers the Central Aleutians, Eastern Aleutians, Southern Bering Sea, and Western Aleutians districts. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Pictures From the Field

What does survey life and research look like? Explore our photo gallery to see this current survey’s photos from scientists in the field. These photos show the incredible places that NOAA scientists go and showcase our mission in ways that words cannot.

More Information

More Information

Last updated by Alaska Fisheries Science Center on 06/25/2024

Research in Alaska