Using ocean observing systems and local ecological knowledge to nowcast butterfish bycatch events in the Mid-Atlantic Bight longfin squid fishery

Through an interdisciplinary workgroup of habitat scientists, oceanographers, fishery managers, social scientists, and commercial fishermen we developed ecologically informed models for the specific purpose of reducing butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) bycatch in the longfin squid (Doryteuthis pealeii) fishery in the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB). We used generalized additive modeling (GAM) to associate butterfish biomass collected during National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) bottom trawl surveys with benthic and pelagic habitat characteristics. Pelagic variables were obtained from the trawl survey CTD, satellite and high-frequency radar. The sea surface measures of temperature and color from the satellites and the surface current fields from the HF radar were provided through the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS), a regional component of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).