COVID-19 plays havoc with surveys

As we all know, sound scientific stock surveys are paramount in supporting commercial fisheries.

But the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging this year's survey plans.

Last week, the National Marine Fisheries Service said it was taking the unprecedented step of canceling five major research surveys, including the Eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl survey.

Now, today brings news that the International Pacific Halibut Commission is scaling back its setline survey.