"We intend on sampling 525 stations in 2024, with the first hooks expected to hit the water on May 25," the Seattle-based commission says.
It's a drastic reduction from last year's survey, which was planned for 958 stations with 864 ultimately sampled.
We presume the commission's financial troubles factor into the severe downsizing of this year's survey.
The biggest factor in this story is that they can't find boats to do the surveys anymore.
ReplyDeleteHere are longline vessels the IPHC is chartering to conduct the survey:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.iphc.int/2024/02/16/iphc-2024-mr-003-notification-of-iphc-fishery-independent-setline-survey-fiss-2024-contract-awards/