NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-313

doi:10.7289/V5/TM-AFSC-313

Results of the 2014 Underwater 

Camera Survey of the Eastern Bering 

Slope and Outer Shelf 

by 

P. Goddard, R. Wilborn, C. Rooper, K. Williams, R. Towler, 

M. Sigler, and P. Malecha 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

February 2016 
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS

The National Marine Fisheries Service's Alaska Fisheries Science Center uses 

the NOAA Technical Memorandum series to issue informal scientific and 

technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing 

are not appropriate or feasible. Documents within this series reflect sound 

professional work and may be referenced in the formal scientific and technical 

literature.

The NMFS-AFSC Technical Memorandum series of the Alaska Fisheries 

Science Center continues the NMFS-F/NWC series established in 1970 by the 

Northwest Fisheries Center. The NMFS-NWFSC series is currently used by 

the Northwest Fisheries Science Center.

This document should be cited as follows:

Goddard, P., R. Wilborn, C. Rooper, K. Williams, R. Towler, 

M. Sigler, and P. Malecha. 2016. Results of the 2014 underwater 

camera survey of the eastern Bering Slope and Outer Shelf. U.S. Dep. 

Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-313, 304 p.

http://dx.doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-AFSC-313.

Document available: http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/Publications/AFSC-TM/NOAA-TM-AFSC-313.pdf

Reference in this document to trade names does not imply endorsement by 

the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA.
February 2016

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-AFSC-313

by

P. Goddard, R. Wilborn, C. Rooper, K. Williams, R. Towler, 

M. Sigler, and P. Malecha 

Alaska Fisheries Science Center 

Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division

7600 Sand Point Way NE

Seattle, WA 98115

www.afsc.noaa.gov

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Penny. S. Pritzker, Secretary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 Kathryn D. Sullivan, Under Secretary and Administrator

National Marine Fisheries Service

Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries 

doi:10.7289/V5/TM-AFSC-313

Results of the 2014 Underwater

Camera Survey of the Eastern Bering 

Slope and Outer Shelf
This document is available to the public through: 

National Technical Information Service 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

5285 Port Royal Road 

Springfield, VA 22161 

www.ntis.gov 
ABSTRACT
 

The results of the 2014 Underwater Camera Survey of the Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer 

shelf are presented here. The 2014 survey was the first comprehensive underwater camera survey of 

coral and sponge on the Bering Sea slope and outer shelf conducted by the National Marine Fisheries 

Service. Two-hundred fifty transects were successfully completed during the survey, which extended 

north from Bering Canyon to Pervenets Canyon. Transects were randomly selected between Unalaska 

Island and Pervenets Canyon. Each transect was assigned to one of eight geographical regions. Demersal 

populations of corals, sponges, sea whips, fishes, and crabs were sampled by drifting a stereo drop 

camera for 15 minutes at each transect. Survey results presented in this report include fish and crab 

composition and density, coral, sponge and sea whip density and height, and substrate composition 

for each transect. The Appendix lists start position, distance towed, swath, mean depth, and mean 

temperature for each transect completed. 

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iv
 
CONTENTS
 

ABSTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
 

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
 

METHODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
 

Study Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
 

Survey Design and Field Sampling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
 

Image Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
 

RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
 

CITATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
 

SITE SUMMARY: Bering Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
 

SITE SUMMARY: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
 

SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
 

SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
 

SITE SUMMARY: Pervenets Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
 

SITE SUMMARY: Outer Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
 

APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Eastern Bering Sea Canyons and Outer Shelf 2014 camera survey 

transect data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
 

v
vi
 
FIGURES
 

Figure 1. -- Eastern Bering Sea shelf, slope, and canyons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 

Figure 2. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey transect locations. . 9
 

Figure 3. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey, evidence of 

commercial fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
 

Figure 4. -- Survey transect locations, Bering Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
	

Figure 5. -- Sea whip distribution, Bering Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 

Figure 6. -- Sponge distribution, Bering Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 

Figure 7. -- Survey transect locations, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
 

Figure 8. -- Sea whip distribution, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

Figure 9. -- Sponge distribution, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

Figure 10. -- Survey transect locations, Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
 

Figure 11. -- Sea whip distribution, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
	

Figure 12. -- Coral distribution, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
	

Figure 13. -- Sponge distribution, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
	

Figure 14. -- Survey transect locations, Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . 89
 

Figure 15. -- Sea whip distribution, Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
 

Figure 16. -- Coral distribution, Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
 

Figure 17. -- Sponge distribution, Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
 

Figure 18. -- Survey transect locations, Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
	

Figure 19. -- Sea whip distribution, Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
	

Figure 20. -- Coral distribution, Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
	

Figure 21. -- Sponge distribution, Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
	

Figure 22. -- Survey transect locations, Zhemchug to Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
 

Figure 23. -- Sea whip distribution, Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . 194
 

Figure 24. -- Sponge distribution, Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
 

Figure 25. -- Survey transect locations, Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
 

Figure 26. -- Sea whip distribution, Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
 

Figure 27. -- Sponge distribution, Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
 

Figure 28. -- Survey transect locations, Outer Shelf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
	

Figure 29. -- Sea whip distribution, Outer Shelf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
 

Figure 30. -- Coral distribution, Outer Shelf.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
 

Figure 31. -- Sponge distribution, Outer Shelf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
 

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TABLES 

Table 1. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey, examples of 

substrate classifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
 

Table 2. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey fish and crab by 

species or grouping and summary of occurrences and percent occurrences for 

all 250 transects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
 

Table 3. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey coral, sponge, 

and sea whip classification, number of occurrences, and percent occurrences 

for all regions sampled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
 

Table 4. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey, evidence of 

commercial fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
 

Table 5. -- Summary of substrates identified at transects (n = 10) in Bering Canyon . . . . . . . . . . 16
	

Table 6. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 10) in Bering Canyon . . . . . 16
	

Table 7. -- Summary of corals, sponges, and sea whips identified at transects (n = 10) in 

Bering Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 

Table 8. -- Summary of corals, sponges, and sea whips taxa mean heights measured in 

Bering Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 

Table 9. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 18) between Bering Canyon 

and Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 

Table 10. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 18) between Bering 

Table 11. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 18) 

Table 12. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip heights from transects completed 

Table 15. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 35)
	

Table 16. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean heights from transects 

Table 17. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 68) between Pribilof 

Table 18. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 68) between Pribilof 

Table 19. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 68)
	

Table 20. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height from transects 

Table 22. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 25) in Zhemchug 

Table 23. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 25)
	

Table 24. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height from transects 

Table 25. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 15) between Zhemchug 

Canyon and Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 

between Bering Canyon and Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

between Bering Canyon and Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

Table 13. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 35) in Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . 50
	

Table 14. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 35) in Pribilof Canyon. . . . 51
	

in Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
	

completed in Pribilof Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
	

Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
 

Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
 

between Pribilof Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
 

completed between Pribilof Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
 

Table 21. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 25) in Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . 163
	

Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
	

in Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
	

completed in Zhemchug Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
	

Canyon and Pervenets Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
 

ix
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLES continued 

Table 26. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 15) between 

Zhemchug Canyon and Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
 

Table 27. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 15)
	

between Zhemchug Canyon and Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
 

Table 28. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height from transects 

completed between Zhemchug Canyon and Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
 

Table 29. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 12) in Pervenets Canyon . . . . . . 211
 

Table 30. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 12) in Pervenets Canyon . 211
 

Table 31. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa observed at transects (n = 12) 

in Pervenets Canyon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
 

Table 32. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height collected from 

transects in Pervenets Canyon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
 

Table 33. -- Summary of substrates identified at transects (n = 67) on the outer shelf. . . . . . . . 226
	

Table 34. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 67) on the outer shelf. . . 227
 

Table 35. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 67)
	

on the outer shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
 

Table 36. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height data from transects on 

the outer shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
 

x
 

INTRODUCTION
 

The fish and crab resources of the eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf are widely utilized 

by commercial fisheries in Alaska. It is an area of enhanced primary and secondary productivity (the 

“Bering Sea Greenbelt”). Physical processes at the shelf break enhance productivity, attracting large 

numbers of fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals (Springer et al. 1996). About 40% of U.S. commercial 

fisheries catch originates from the eastern Bering Sea, including the slope and outer shelf. The eastern 

Bering Sea slope contains five major canyons each of which incises the outer shelf (Fig. 1). In 2012, 

the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) received testimony from environmental 

organizations suggesting management measures to provide Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) protection to 

coral, sponge and other benthic habitat of fish and crab species for two of the largest eastern Bering Sea 

canyons (Pribilof and Zhemchug). 

Based on this testimony, the NPFMC requested the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) 

conduct an analysis to determine whether or not the Bering Sea canyons are unique coral and sponge 

habitats and if the fish and invertebrate assemblages make the canyons vulnerable to the effects of 

commercial fishing. An analysis of existing data was conducted and presented to the NPFMC in 2013 

(Sigler et al. 2013; Sigler et al. 2015). The conclusions of that analysis were that although there are some 

physical characteristics that distinguish the canyons from the surrounding slope and outer shelf areas, 

there are no unique features about the biology that distinguish Pribilof or Zhemchug Canyons from 

the surrounding slope areas. The major variables structuring the biological communities on the eastern 

Bering Sea slope and outer shelf are depth and latitude (Sigler et al. 2015, Hoff et al. in review). 

As part of the follow-up to the 2013 analyses, the NPFMC requested that the AFSC conduct an 

underwater camera survey at transects along the eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf. This survey 

was designed to verify predictions of benthic invertebrate presence or absence, assess species associations 

between fishes and invertebrates, and document any evidence of fishing activity that was observed. The 

objective of this report is to present detailed data collected from the underwater camera survey, as well as 

images and summaries from each transect. 

METHODS 

Study Area 

The eastern Bering Sea is dominated by a broad, shallow continental shelf that stretches east to west 

from the Alaska mainland to the shelf break roughly 700 km away (Fig. 1). The eastern Bering Sea shelf 

is commonly divided into three domains based on bathymetry and oceanographic fronts: the inner shelf 

(0 to 50 m), the middle shelf (50 to 100 m) and the outer shelf (100 to 180 m) (Coachman 1986). The 

shelf break is typically at 180 to 200 m depth, except at the northern edge of Bering Canyon, where the 

shelf break is at 500 m (Sigler et al. 2015). The eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf are made up of 

five major canyons (Bering Canyon, Pribilof Canyon, Zhemchug Canyon, Pervenets Canyon and Navarin 

Canyon) with an inter-canyon area between each (Fig. 1). There are also multiple smaller canyons along 

the shelf break, but none incise the shelf to the degree of the five largest. This report covers seven 

1
 
regions (canyon and between canyons) along the continental slope and the outer region of the eastern 

Bering Sea shelf . 

Survey Design and Field Sampling 

Two-hundred fifty of 300 randomly selected transects were successfully completed from 8 August 

to 6 September 2014 (Fig. 2; Appendix A). Due to poor weather and time constraints the majority of 

unsampled transects were north of Zhemchug Canyon. Transects were chosen on a regularly-spaced grid 

overlayed on the eastern Bering Sea outer shelf and slope with 100 m by 100 m sides. Random transects 

were chosen in two stages. For the first stage, 10 transects were chosen randomly from each of the nine 

individual canyon and between canyon areas (n = 90) to ensure that there was adequate spatial coverage 

of the entire area. For the second stage, 210 transects were randomly chosen throughout the nine slope 

areas and the outer shelf based on the probability of coral presence from the bottom-trawl model of coral 

distribution (Sigler et al. 2015). Thus, areas with a higher probability of coral presence (such as Pribilof 

Canyon and the adjacent area to the north) received more allocated transects (Fig. 2). 

A stereo drop camera system (Williams et al. 2010) was used as the primary sampling tool. The 

system is designed to be towed or drifted continuously along a linear transect at or near the seafloor. Two 

machine-vision cameras spaced approximately 30 cm apart in underwater housings were connected via 

ethernet cables to a computer also in an underwater housing. One of the paired cameras recorded 

1.45 megapixel monochromatic still images, while the other camera collected 1.73 megapixel color still 

images. Lighting was provided by four strobe lights constructed of four Bridgelux® BXRA LED arrays 

capable of producing 1,300 lumens at 10.4 W. The computer, cameras, and lights were powered by a 

28 V NiMH battery pack. Synchronous images were collected from each of the cameras at a frequency of 

one image per second and written to a hard drive on the computer. Additionally, images were taken (but 

not written to the hard drive) from the monochrome camera at a rate of four images per second. These 

images were viewed in real time on a monitor at the surface. This allowed the height of the camera to be 

actively controlled to keep it just above the seafloor using a quick response electric winch. A 3/16-inch 

diameter coaxial cable provided the video connection from the drop camera system to the winch at the 

surface and allowed image viewing in real time. 

At each occupied transect, the camera was deployed at the center of the grid cell and lowered to the 

seafloor. Once seafloor contact was made, the drop camera was drifted along the bottom for 15 minutes. 

During each deployment, the drop camera system was drifted through the water column in the direction 

of the prevailing current a speed of 0.48 to 3.34 km/hr (0.26 to 1.8 knots) approximately 1 to 2 m above 

the substrate with the cameras pointed slightly downward at an angle of approximately 35° off parallel to 

the seafloor. The research vessel’s global positioning system (GPS) was used to determine the position of 

the camera throughout the deployment. A concentrated effort was made to keep the deployment cable as 

near to vertical as possible. The distances traveled during deployments ranged from 27 m to 839 m 

(mean = 362 m, SE = 8.8). Area (m2

) was calculated by multiplying distance the camera drifted (m) by 

swath of the camera field of view (m). 

2
 
 

 

Image Analysis 

Each image pair collected during each deployment was viewed using stereo image processing 

software developed in the Python programming language (Kresimir Williams, AFSC-RACE Division, 

unpublished software). Substrates were classified by a commonly used seafloor substratum classification 

scheme (Stein et al. 1992, Yoklavich et al. 2000). The classification consists of a two-letter coding of 

substratum type denoting a primary substratum with > 50% coverage of the seafloor bottom and a 

secondary substratum with 20% - 49% coverage of the seafloor (Table 1). There were eight identified 

substratum types: mud/silt (M, distinguished from sand by presence of silt clouds), sand (S, grains often 

visible, no silt clouds), gravel (G, diameter < 6.5 cm), mixed coarse material (MC), cobble 

(C, 6.5 < diameter < 25.5 cm), boulder (B, diameter > 25.5 cm), exposed low relief bedrock (R), and 

exposed high relief bedrock, and rock ridges (K). By this classification, a section of seafloor covered 

primarily in cobble, but with boulders over more than 20% of the surface, would receive the substratum 

code Cobble.boulder (Cb) with the secondary substratum indicated by the lower-case letter. Substratum 

codes were changed if a substratum encompassed more than 10 consecutive images. 

All fishes and commercially important crabs were identified to the lowest taxonomic level 

possible and counted for each image pair. Species identification for fishes was based on Butler (2012), 

Mecklenburg (2002), and J. W. Orr (AFSC pers. comm.). Structure-forming invertebrates (corals, 

sponges, and sea whips) were also identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level and counted for 

each image pair. Species identification for corals and sponges were based on Cairns (2011), Stone et al. 

(2011), Stone (2014), R. Stone (AFSC pers. comm.), Taylor et al. (2013), and Wing and Barnard (2004). 

Demospongiae were too numerous to count on four transects. A random subsample of 135 paired frames 

was obtained and all individuals were counted. Sponges less than 10 cm in height were difficult to discern 

from other small white or yellow items on the seafloor, so these were not included in the counts or 

analyses. Individual taxon densities were calculated by dividing counts by area swept (distance observed x 

path width observed). 

Vertical habitat was defined as structure-forming invertebrates such as corals, sponges, and sea 

whips. Heights were obtained when the base and tip of the invertebrate could be clearly identified in both 

images. Sea whips with bent tips were measured to their highest point above the seafloor. For transects 

where sponge or sea whip counts exceeded 500, a random subsample of 135 paired images were selected 

to obtain approximately 200 height measurements. 

Image analysis resulted in densities of fishes, crabs, and structure-forming invertebrates (no./m2) 

for each of the 250 transects, fish lengths for each species that could be measured, heights of structure 

forming invertebrates and the proportions of each type of substrate found on the transect. Densities of 

individual taxa were calculated by dividing counts by the area swept (distance observed x path width 

observed). The image analysis software provided a range, in centimeters, from the camera to each 

individual target that was identified in an image pair. The path width was estimated from the median of 

this range for each transect. The median range of all objects counted on a transect was assumed to be 

the distance from the camera where 100% of fishes and invertebrates were detected for that transect. The 

viewing angle for each camera is known (and fixed by the camera lens). Using the median range and the 

known viewing angle, a horizontal line in front of the camera can be calculated using formulae for sizing 

3
 
 

 

triangle components. Since we have an angle (viewing angle) and the adjacent side of a triangle (range) 

for each camera, the length of the opposite side can be calculated. This opposite side is the viewing path 

width at the median range for each transect. This width was calculated for each transect and used as the 

path width in density estimation. The mean path width across all transects was 3.08 m (SE = 0.05), with 

a minimum of 1.55 m and a maximum of 5.51 m for any individual transect. 

RESULTS 

For the purpose of this report, transects were grouped into eight regions: Bering Canyon, Bering 

Canyon to Pribilof Canyon, Pribilof Canyon, Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon, Zhemchug Canyon, 

Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon, Pervenets Canyon, and Outer Shelf. Two-hundred fifty 

transects were successfully occupied between Bering Canyon and Pervenets Canyon. Depths ranged 

from 91 m to 756 m, with the shallowest (90.6 m) transect occurring in Pribilof Canyon and the deepest 

(776.8 m) between Pribilof Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. Thirty-six different fish and crab species 

or taxonomic groupings are presented in this report (Table 2). These were dominated by eelpouts 

(Zoarcidae) and Chionoecetes crabs. However, grenadiers (Macrouridae) and rockfishes (Sebastes sp., 

especially Pacific ocean perch, S. alutus) were also common. Most of the species that were found in high 

abundance tended to be small benthic dwelling fishes such as eelpouts, snailfishes (Liparidae), sculpins 

(Cottidae, Hemitripteridae, Psychrolutidae), and poachers (Agonidae). Vertical habitat consisted of over 

70,000 structure-forming invertebrates (Table 3). These were comprised of about 53% Demospongiae 

and 38% sea whips. Only 2% (< 1,500 individuals) of the total invertebrates observed were corals. 

Corals occurred on 32 of the 250 survey transects. They were identified into five taxonomic groups, 

including three families (Primnoidae, Plexauridae, and Isididae), and two genera (Plumarella sp . and 

Swiftia sp.). The most common corals were Plumarella sp . and Swiftia sp. The median depth at which coral 

occurred was 451 m (range = 201 – 770 m), much deeper than the median depth of samples (276 m). 

Corals occurred at 50% of the survey transects in Pribilof Canyon and about 18% of the transects in the 

area between Pribilof and Zhemchug Canyons. Corals were present at one transect on the Outer Shelf 

and one transect in Zhemchug Canyon. 

Sponges occurred on 113 of the 250 survey transects. They were identified into three classes: 

Hexactinellida, Demospongiae, and Calcarea. The median depth at which sponges occurred was 311 m, 

and they covered almost the entire depth range of sampling from 111 m to 781 m. Sponges were widely 

distributed and occurred in all of the sampled regions. 

Sea whips (Pennatulacea) were also widely distributed both in terms of depth and region. They 

occurred at depths from 91 m to 700 m (median = 266 m) at 105 of the 250 transects surveyed. At least 

two different species of sea whip were observed, Halipteris willemoesi and an unidentified Halipteris species. 

Sea whips occurred in all regions. 

Thirty-five different substrate combinations were identified. Substrate composition for each transect 

is presented in the site summaries as “Primary.secondary” (i.e., Sand.mud) unless primary and secondary 

substrates are identical (i.e., Sand). 

Evidence of fishing was identified in 32 transects. Trawl gear, longline gear, and trawl tracks were 

recorded (Table 4; Fig. 3). 

4
 
Survey results are presented in eight sections according geographical regions. Each section contains 

a map of transect locations and coral, sponge and sea whip distributions as well as summary tables of 

species composition, density, and height data. For each transect, we provide date, location (decimal 

degrees), area (m2), mean depth (m), mean temperature (°C), fish and crab composition; coral, sponge, 

and sea whip density and height; substrate composition; images; and a summary description. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Recognition and appreciation are extended to Tim Cosgrove, Landon Mavar, Al Mavar and Gordy 

Mendez of the FV Vesteraalen. Their cooperation, expertise, and goodwill made this survey possible. 

Appreciation is also extended to Jerry Hoff, Jay Orr, Duane Stevenson and Bob Stone of the AFSC, and 

Steve MacLean of the NPFMC. Finally, appreciation is extended to Rebecca White for graphics support, 

and Kim Rand, Mike Levine, Denise McKelvey, and Jennifer Cahalan for their technical support, 

comments, and suggestions. 

Funding for this project was provided by the NMFS Cooperative Research Program, the AFSC 

Habitat and Ecological Processes Research Program, and NOAA’s Deep Sea Research and Technology 

Program . 

5
 
6
 
CITATIONS
 

Butler, J.L., M.S. Love, T.E Laidig. 2012. A guide to the rockfish, thornyheads, and scorpionfishes of the 

northeast Pacific. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 185 p. 

Cairns, S.D. 2011. A Revision of the Primnoidae (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea) from the Aleutian Islands 

and Bering Sea. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, 634: 1-55. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.634. 

Coachman, L.K. 1986. Circulation, water masses and fluxes on the southeastern Bering Sea shelf. Cont. 

Shelf Res. 5:23-108. 

Hoff, G.R. In review. Biodiversity along the Eastern Bering Sea Slope from Trawl Survey Data. 

Submitted to Marine Biodiversity. 

Karl, H.A., P.R. Carlson, J.V. Gardner. 1996. Aleutian Basin of the Bering Sea: Styles of sedimentation 

and canyon development. In Gardner, J.V, M.E Field, D.C. Twichell, Geology of the United States 

seafloor: the view from GLORIA. Press Syndicate of the University of Chicago, Chicago IL. 

Mecklenburg, C.W., T.A. Mecklenburg, L.K Thorsteinson. 2002. Fishes of Alaska. American Fisheries 

Society, Bethesda, MD. xxxvii + 1,037 pp. + 40 plates. 

Sigler, M.F., C.N. Rooper, G.R. Hoff, R.P. Stone, R.A. McConnaughey, T.K. Wilderbuer, 2013. Are 

Bering Sea canyons unique habitats within the eastern Bering Sea? Report to North Pacific 

Fishery Management Council. Available at http://www.npfmc.org/wp-content/PDFdocuments/ 

conservation_issues/BSHC/BeringSeaCanyons_a_513.pdf. 

Sigler, M.F., C.N. Rooper, G.R. Hoff, R.P. Stone, R.A. McConnaughey, T.K Wilderbuer. 2015. Faunal 

features of submarine canyons on the eastern Bering Sea slope. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 526:21-40. 

Springer, A.M., C.P. McRoy, M.V. Flint. 1996. The Bering Sea Green Belt: shelf-edge processes and 

ecosystem production. Fish. Oceanogr., 5:205–223. 

Stein, D.L., B.N. Tissot, M.A. Hixon, W. Barss. 1992. Fish-habitat associations on a deep reef at the edge 

of the Oregon continental shelf. Fish. Bull., U.S. 90:540–551. 

Stone, R.P. 2014. The ecology of deep-sea coral and sponge habitats of the central Aleutian Islands of 

Alaska. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 16, 52 p. 

Stone, R.P., H. Lehnert, H. Reiswig, 2011. A guide to the deep-water sponges of the Aleutian Island 

Archipelago. U.S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Professional Paper NMFS 12, 187 p. 

Taylor, M.L., S.D. Cairns, D.J. Agnew, A.D. Rogers. 2013. A revision of the genus Thouarella Gray, 1870 

(Octocorallia: Primnoidae), including an illustrated dichotomous key, a new species description, and 

comments on Plumarella Gray, 1870 and Dasystenella, Versluys, 1906. Zootaxa, 3602(1): 1-105. 

Williams, K., C.N. Rooper, R. Towler. 2010. Use of stereo camera systems for assessment of rockfish 

abundance in untrawlable areas and for recording pollock behavior during midwater trawls. Fish. 

Bull., U.S. 108:352-362. 

Wing, B.L., D.R. Barnard. 2004. A field guide to Alaskan corals. U. S. Dep. Commer., NOAA Tech. 

Memo. NMFS-AFSC-146, 67 p. 

Yoklavich, M.M., H.G. Greene, G.M. Cailliet, D.E. Sullivan, R.N. Lea, M.S. Love. 2000. Habitat 

associations of deep-water rockfishes in a submarine canyon: an example of a natural refuge. Fish. 

Bull., U.S. 98:625–641. 

7
 
 

 

172°E 176°E 180° 176°W 172°W 168°W 164°W 160°W

64°N

62°N

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

52°N

50°N

^Kotzebue

20m

Eastern Bering Sea Shelf, 

Slope, and Canyons 

Bering Canyon 

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

Pribilof Canyon 

Navarin Canyon 

Bathymetry

200m

400m

800m

68°N

66°N

64°N

62°N

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

52°N

176°W 172°W 168°W 164°W 160°W

Figure 1. -- Eastern Bering Sea shelf, slope, and canyons.
	

8
 
 

 

176°W 172°W 168°W
 

58°N

56°N

54°N

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

Bathymetery

200m

400m

800m

Bering Sea Canyons and Outer Shelf 

2014 Camera Survey 

Transect Locations 

Pribilof Canyon 

60°N

58°N

56°N

Bering Canyon 

54°N

172°W 168°W
 

Figure 2. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey transect locations.
	

9
 
Figure 3. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey, evidence of commercial fishing. 

10
Table 1. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey, examples of substrate 

classifications. 

Mud/silt (M) Cobble (C) 

Sand (S) Boulder (B) 

Gravel (G) Exposed low-relief bedrock (R) 

 Mixed coarse (C) Exposed high-relief bedrock (K) 

Off bottom (OB) 

11
 
Table 2. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey fish and crab by species or 

grouping and summary of occurrences and percent occurrences for all 250 transects. 

Number of Percent of 

Species/Grouping occurrences occurrences 

Eelpout unid. (Zoarcidae) 2,155 16% 

Chionoecetes sp . 2,068 16% 

Popeye grenadier (Coryphaenoides cinereus) 1,481 11% 

Pacific ocean perch (Sebastes alutus) 1,225 9% 

Sculpin unid. (Cottidea, Hemitripteridae, Psychrolutidae) 948 7% 

Golden king crab (Lithodes aequispinus) 746 6% 

Snailfish unid. (Liparidae) 613 5% 

Poacher unid. (Agonidae) 600 5% 

Flatfish unid. (Pleuronectidae) 531 4% 

Roundfish unid. 466 4% 

Giant grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis) 370 3% 

Shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus) 281 2% 

Northern rockfish (Sebastes polyspinis) 226 2% 

Grenadier unid. (Macrouridae) 217 2% 

Rockfish unid. (Sebastes sp .) 213 2% 

Skate unid. (Bathyraja sp .) 168 1% 

Searcher unid. (Bathymaster sp .) 154 1% 

Crab unid. 125 1% 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder (Atheresthes sp .) 123 1% 

Deepsea sole (Embassichthys bathybius) 76 1% 

Walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) 72 1% 

Rex sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus) 69 1% 

Shortraker rockfish (Sebastes borealis) 61 <1% 

Flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) 48 <1% 

Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) 33 <1% 

Harlequin rockfish (Sebastes variegatus) 31 <1% 

King crab unid. (Lithodidae) 30 <1% 

Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) 27 <1% 

Cod/pollock unid. (Gadus sp .) 15 <1% 

Blackspotted rockfish (Sebastes melanostictus) 13 <1% 

Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) 10 <1% 

Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) 8 <1% 

Rougheye rockfish (Sebastes aleutianus) 4 <1% 

Scarlet king crab (Lithodes couesi) 4 <1% 

Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus monopterygius) 2 <1% 

Dusky rockfish (Sebastes variabilis) 2 <1% 

12
 
Table 3. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey coral, sponge, and sea whip 

classification, number of occurrences, and percent occurrences for all regions sampled. 

Species/Grouping Number of occurrences Percent of occurrences 

Demospongiae 37,682 55% 

Halipteris sp. 26,782 39% 

Hexactinellida 1,952 3% 

Plumarella sp . 811 1% 

Swiftia sp . 537 1% 

Isididae 69 <1% 

Primnoidae 38 <1% 

Calcarea 31 <1% 

Porifera 27 <1% 

Plexauridae 8 <1% 

Soft coral (Alcyonacea) 5 <1% 

13
 
14
 

Table 4. -- Eastern Bering Sea slope and outer shelf 2014 camera survey, evidence of commercial fi shing.

Haul Latitude Longitude Depth Damaged Damaged Damaged Total sponge Total coral Total sea whips Longline or crab Trawl net Trawl tracks 

sponges corals sea whips observed observed observed gear observed observed observed 

14 55.81 -168.72 143 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 

28 56.07 -168.55 529 0 0 0 223 7 0 Yes No No 

33 56.11 -168.20 149 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 

35 56.13 -168.18 147 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 

43 56.09 -168.82 714 0 0 0 17 1 0 Yes No No 

46 56.31 -169.03 136 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 

47 56.27 -169.09 141 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 

76 55.99 -169.63 474 0 0 0 4 2 28 Yes No No 

79 56.17 -170.00 117 0 0 6 0 0 29 No No Yes 

88 55.97 -170.12 311 0 0 0 1,415 4 0 No Yes No 

98 56.13 -170.84 629 0 0 0 2 0 2 Yes No No 

105 56.39 -170.67 116 0 0 33 0 0 1,447 No Yes No 

117 56.47 -171.49 285 0 0 0 1,024 2 0 Yes No No 

139 56.88 -173.41 515 0 0 1 3 0 71 Yes No No 

144 56.41 -170.39 111 0 0 0 0 0 20 No No Yes 

174 57.85 -173.85 272 0 0 0 91 0 1 Yes No No 

175 57.94 -173.89 241 0 0 0 9 0 0 Yes No No 

179 58.11 -174.17 563 0 0 0 1 0 0 Yes No No 

187 58.74 -174.47 148 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 200 58.32 -175.34 375 0 0 0 6 0 0 No No Yes 208 59.10 -178.41 371 5 0 0 5 0 16 Yes No No 

216 59.38 -178.19 748 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yes No No 

223 59.47 -177.96 392 0 0 0 22 0 4 No No Yes 

225 59.26 -177.66 261 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 232 54.71 -165.68 271 0 0 1 0 0 6 No No Yes 233 54.70 -165.60 274 0 0 8 1 0 466 No No Yes 

234 54.69 -165.56 277 0 0 0 0 0 0 No No Yes 238 55.29 -167.79 217 0 0 44 0 0 1,537 No No Yes 239 55.15 -167.68 278 0 0 1 0 0 543 No No Yes 

240 55.05 -167.64 346 0 0 0 0 0 117 No No Yes 

241 54.92 -167.45 394 0 0 0 0 0 27 No No Yes 

242 54.91 -167.40 371 0 0 0 0 0 22 No No Yes
15

Ten transects were completed in Bering Canyon. Depths ranged 

from 168 m to 691 m. Seventeen taxa of fishes and crabs were 

identified (Table 6). Vertical habitat was dominated by Halipteris

sp. (Table 7). Heights ranged from 5.1 cm to 75.0 cm (Table 8).

Bering 

Canyon

3 4 5

2

237

236

235

234

233 232

166°W

166°W

167°W

167°W

165°W

55°N

55°N

54°N

54°N

Bering Canyon

Transect Locations

200m

400m

800m

Bering Canyon

Figure 4. -- Survey transect locations, Bering Canyon.
	
SITE SUMMARY: Bering Canyon
 

Bering Canyon is the southernmost canyon in the Bering Sea. It has an estimated volume of 4,300 km3 

(Karl et al. 1996). Bering Canyon may be the longest submarine canyon in the world, extending 400 km 

across the outer shelf and slope (Karl et al. 1996). Unlike all of the other canyons in the Bering Sea, it 

consists of only one channel. 

Sand was the primary substrate at 9 of the 10 transects (Table 5). Mud was the primary and secondary 

substrate at the remaining transect. For each of the transects in Bering Canyon the primary and 

secondary substrates were unchanging throughout the observations. 

Eelpouts, snailfishes, giant grenadiers, and poachers comprised 68% of the fish and crab observations 

(Table 6). Two species of crab were identified, Chionoecetes sp. and golden king crab. 

Vertical habitat primarily consisted of Halipteris sp., which only occurred at transects 232, 233, and 237 

(Figs. 5-6). Ninety-six percent of the Halipteris occurred on a sandy substrate at Transect 233 where the 

mean depth was 271 m. Demospongiae were identified at five of the transects while Hexactinellida were 

only identified at two (Table 7, Fig. 6). 

Table 5. -- Summary of substrates identified at transects (n = 10) in Bering Canyon . 

Number of transects with 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate Percent of observations 

Sand* 229 - 298 4 40% 

Sand .mud 542 - 691 4 39% 

Mud* 271 - 271 1 11% 

Sand .gravel 168 - 168 1 11% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same. 

Table 6. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 10) in Bering Canyon . 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Eelpout unid . 49 7 542 - 691 <0.01 

Snailfish unid. 46 4 271 - 691 0 .01 

Poacher unid. 35 9 271 - 691 <0.01 

Giant grenadier 29 4 542 - 691 0 .01 

Rex sole 13 2 271 - 274 0 .01 

Roundfish unid. 12 3 542 - 691 <0.01 

Flatfish unid. 9 4 229 - 298 <0.01 

Shortspine thornyhead 8 4 542 - 691 <0.01 

Pacific cod 4 2 229 - 274 <0.01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 4 3 271 - 298 <0.01 

Golden king crab 2 2 542 - 550 <0.01 

Skate unid. 2 2 229 - 691 <0.01 

Walleye pollock 2 2 271 - 298 <0.01 

Chionoecetes sp . 2 1 550 - 550 <0.01 

Pacific halibut 1 1 550 - 550 <0.01 

16
 
 

SITE SUMMARY: Bering Canyon 

Table 7. -- Summary of corals, sponges, and sea whips identified at transects (n = 10) in Bering Canyon . 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Halipteris sp . 463 2 271 - 274 0 .28 

Demospongiae 33 5 168 - 551 <0.01 

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 10 3 229 - 274 <0.01 

Hexactinellida 6 2 542 - 550 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping .
 

Table 8. -- Summary of corals, sponges, and sea whips taxa mean heights measured in Bering Canyon.
	

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Halipteris willemoesi 95 25.0 5.1 74.6 

Demospongiae 4 25.4 12.6 45.1 

Hexactinellida 1 13 .4 13 .4 13 .4 

166°W 

55°N 

55°N 

54°N 

54°N 

Bering Canyon 

Sea Whip Distribution 

Halipteris sp. 

Bering Canyon 

#!# !#

#

#

166°W

55°N

55°N

54°N

54°N

Bering Canyon 

Sponge Distribution 

# Demospongiae

! Hexactinellida

Bering Canyon 

166°W 166°W

Figure 5. -- Sea whip distribution, Bering Canyon. Figure 6. -- Sponge distribution, Bering Canyon. 

17
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 2 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/11/14 54.35 -167.06 702 691 NA 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 2: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Snailfishes and giant grenadiers accounted 

for 57% of the species seen. Poachers and eelpouts were the next most abundant species. Species density was low 

overall (0.06 individuals/m2

). No sponges or corals were identified. 

18
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 3 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/11/14 54.41 -166.95 1,664 551 3.5 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 3: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Eelpouts and snailfishes were the 

most abundant species and accounted for 77% of the species composition. Fish density was 0.04 individuals/m2

 . 

Some small Demospongiae contributed to available vertical habitat. No corals were identified. 

19
 
 

Area: Bering Canyon Transect 4 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 54.42 -166.88 1,936 550 3.5 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 4: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of sand and mud. Species abundance was evenly 

distributed between poachers, grenadiers, and thornyheads, with smaller counts of snailfishes, halibut and eelpouts. 

Fish and crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Sponge density was low (< 0.01 individuals/m2). Demospongiae 

mean heights were slightly greater than 20.0 cm, while Hexactinellida mean heights were approximately 13.0 cm. No 

corals were identified. 

20
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 5 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 54.43 -166.77 2,156 542 3.5 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 5: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of sand and mud. Giant grenadiers, eelpouts, 

and poachers comprised 81% of the fish abundance at this transect, and species density for the transect was 

0.01 individuals/m2

. Sponge counts were low (12 Demospongiae, 4 Hexactinellida), and averaged 12.6 cm in height. 

No corals were identified. 

21
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 232 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 54.71 -165.68 895 271 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 232: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Poachers, rex soles, and snailfishes 

comprised 85% of the fish species identified. Total abundance was low for this transect (0.01 individuals/ m2

) with 

only 13 fish identified, including one pollock. Six sea whips (1 damaged) were identified and one was measured 

(70 cm). No other corals or sponges were identified. 

22
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 233 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 54.70 -165.60 824 274 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 233: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Few fish were identified in this transect 

with the majority (79%) identified as rex sole or flatfishes. There were 466 sea whips identified (8 damaged) and 

their mean heights approached 25 cm. One small Demospongiae was also found, but not measured. No other corals 

were identified. 

23
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 234 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 54.69 -165.56 552 277 4 .0 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 234: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand, but the camera spent over 25% of its 

time off bottom with no visual input. Two flatfish and one poacher were counted for the entire transect resulting in 

a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

. No corals or sponges were identified. 

24
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 235 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 54.67 -165.59 475 298 3 .9 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 235: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. The transect was comprised of flatfishes 

(44%), poachers (44%), and pollock (11%), resulting in a total density of 0.02 individuals/ m2

. No corals or sponges 

were identified. 

25
 
Area: Bering Canyon Transect 236 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 54.60 -165.51 804 168 4 .2 

Fish and Crab Composition 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 236: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and gravel, respectively. One Demospongiae was 

found for the entire transect and no fish. The Demospongiae height was 45 cm providing some vertical habitat in an 

otherwise flat terrain. No other sponges or corals were found. 

26
 
 

Area: Bering Canyon Transect 237 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 54.58 -165.57 444 229 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 237: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Density for this transect was 

< 0.01 individuals/m2

 with two fish groups (skate, flatfish) and Pacific cod identified. One damaged Halipteris sp . 

was identified but not measured. No other corals or sponges were found. 

27
 
28

Bering 

Canyon 

to Pribilof 

Canyon

Eighteen transects were completed between Bering Canyon 

and Pribilof Canyon. Depths ranged from 143 m to 753 m. 

Twenty-three taxa of fishes and crabs were identified (Table 

10). Vertical habitat was dominated by Halipteris sp. (Table 11). 

Sponge and sea whip heights ranged from 2.4 cm to 266.3 cm 

(Table 12).

24

21

16

15

14

11

250

249

248

247

243

241

240

238

230

229 228

227

168°W

168°W

166°W

56°N

56°N

55°N

55°N

54°N

54°N

Bering Canyon to

Pribilof Canyon

Transect Locations

200m

400m

800m

Pribilof Canyon

Bering Canyon

Figure 7. -- Survey transect locations, Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon.
	
29

The substrate between Bering Canyon and Pribilof Canyon was consistently mud or sand and mud. 

Substrates at 17 of the 18 transects contained mud (Table 9). Transect 238 was the only transect where 

both the primary and secondary substrates were identified as sand.

Of the fish and crab species identified eelpouts, Chionoecetes sp., and snailfishes were most frequently 

observed (Table 10).

Vertical structures consisted of Halipteris sp. (98%), Demospongiae (1%), and Hexactinellida (< 1%) 

(Table 11). Halipteris sp. occurred at all depths but was most abundant at transect 238 (Fig. 8). Damaged 

Halipteris sp. were identified at 4 of the 9 transects. Halipteris heights ranged from 12.3-266.3 cm with 

the taller Halipteris willemoesi occurring at transects 16, 21, 24, and 238 (Table 12). Demospongiae was 

identified at the southern and northern boundaries of the inter-canyon region. Only one Hexactinellida 

was observed at transect 21 along the outer edge of Pribilof Canyon (Fig. 9).

Table 9. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 18) between Bering Canyon and Pribilof 

Canyon.

Substrate Depth range (m)

Number of transects with 

observed substrate Percent of observations

Mud* 346 - 753 11 64%

Sand.mud 143 - 226 6 30%

Sand* 217 - 217 1 6%

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same.

Table 10. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 18) between Bering Canyon and 

Pribilof Canyon.

Species/Grouping

Number of 

occurrences

Number of transects 

with occurrences

Mean transect 

depth range (m)

Mean density

 (individuals/m2)

Eelpout unid. 253 16 143 - 753 0.01

Snailfish unid. 128 10 143 - 753 0.04

Chionoecetes sp. 78 9 143 - 753 0.01

Roundfish unid. 65 9 143 - 394 0.01

Giant grenadier 53 4 664 - 753 0.01

Flatfish unid. 48 7 143 - 688 0.01

Popeye grenadier 42 3 670 - 753 0.01

Poacher unid. 35 11 143 - 753 <0.01

Arrow/Kam flounder 23 4 143 - 226 <0.01

Shortspine thornyhead 20 6 346 - 705 0.01

Skate unid. 13 7 150 - 753 <0.01

Sculpin 13 6 143 - 346 <0.01

Crab unid. 11 5 143 - 226 <0.01

Pacific ocean perch 9 2 217 - 226 <0.01

Rex sole 5 4 143 - 394 <0.01

Pacific cod 3 3 143 - 144 <0.01

Flathead sole 2 2 143 - 144 <0.01

King crab unid. 1 1 688 - 688 <0.01

Sablefish 1 1 664 - 664 <0.01

Rockfish unid. 1 1 150 - 150 <0.01

Scarlet king crab 1 1 705 - 705 <0.01

SITE SUMMARY: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon
 

 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon 

Table 11. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 18) between Bering 

Canyon and Pribilof Canyon. 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Halipteris sp . 2,027 9 144 - 705 0 .13 

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 383 4 144 - 226 0 .04 

Demospongiae 28 4 226 - 566 0 .01 

Hexactinellida 1 1 226 - 226 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping . 

Table 12. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip heights from transects completed between Bering

Canyon and Pribilof Canyon. 

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Halipteris willemoesi 298 97 .3 12 .3 266.3 

Halipteris sp . 122 9 .0 2 .4 71 .3 

Demospongiae 4 29 .2 11 .3 50.5 

168°W 

56°N 

56°N 

55°N 

55°N 

54°N 

54°N 

Bering Canyon to 

Pribilof Canyon 

Sea Whip Distribution 

Halipteris sp. 

Pribilof Canyon 

Bering Canyon 

!#

#

#

#

168°W

56°N

56°N

55°N

55°N

54°N

54°N

Bering Canyon to 

Pribilof Canyon 

Sponge Distribution 

# Demospongiae

! Hexactinellida

Pribilof Canyon 

Bering Canyon 

168°W 166°W 168°W 166°W

Figure 8. -- Sea whip distribution, Bering Canyon to Figure 9. -- Sponge distribution, Bering Canyon to 

Pribilof Canyon. Pribilof Canyon. 

30
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 11 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.72 -168.77 883 163 4 .1 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 11: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Crabs composed 41% of the total 

abundance. Unidentified roundfishes, flatfishes and sculpins made up the remaining 59% of the taxa found. Density 

for this transect was 0.02 individuals/m2

. No corals or sponges were identified. 

31
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 14 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.81 -168.72 1,216 143 4 .2 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 14: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Fish and crab density for this 

transect was 0.06 individuals/m2

, with crabs comprising 24% of the observations and eelpouts being the most 

abundant. Eleven taxa were identified, making this transect relatively diverse in relation to other transects. No corals 

or sponges were identified. 

32
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 15 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.82 -168.71 1,244 143 4 .2 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 15: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 76 individuals identified, 

22% were crabs. Eelpouts, flatfishes, and unidentified roundfishes accounted for another 74% of the observations. 

Species density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. No corals or sponges were identified. 

33
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 16 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.83 -168.75 1,673 144 4 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 16: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 35 individuals were 

identified, resulting in a low density (0.02 individuals/m2

). Crabs and eelpouts made up 63% of all taxa found. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 166 sea whips, 9 of which were damaged. Sea whip density was 0.10 individuals/m2

 . 

Eighty-six of the sea whips were measured for an average height of 104.5 cm. No other corals or sponges were 

found . 

34
 
 

 

Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 21 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.88 -168.91 1,375 226 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 21: Primary and secondary substrates consisted mostly of sand and mud. Flatfishes comprised 48% of 

the 56 fish and crab species identified. Six skates and 7 Pacific ocean perch were counted. Fish and crab density 

was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat was composed of sea whips, Demospongiae (n = 15), and a Hexactinellida 

(n = 1). Over half (n = 17) of the Halipteris sp. were damaged. Six undamaged Halipteris sp . were measured for a 

mean height of 97.7 cm. Vertical habitat density was 0.04 individuals/m2

 . 

35
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 24 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.86 -168.83 2,231 150 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 24: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 60 individuals identified, 

39% were crabs, and 43% were eelpouts, flatfishes, and unidentified roundfishes. One skate was identified. Total 

species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Sea whip density was 0.23 individuals/m2. There were 510 total sea whips 

counted, but 313 of them were damaged. Over 80 sea whips were measured with a mean height of 120.2 cm. No 

other vertical habitat was identified. 

36
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 227 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/2/14 55.83 -168.93 1,424 705 NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 227: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.10 individuals/m2

. Grenadiers accounted for 58% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

eelpouts (27%). Vertical habitat consisted of two Halipteris sp. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

37
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 228 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/2/14 55.41 -168.32 808 753 3 .2 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 228: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Species density for the transect was low 

(0.07 individuals/m2

) with eelpouts most frequently identified. Crabs (Chionoecetes sp.), grenadiers, poachers and 

snailfishes were identified in relatively similar abundances. One skate was identified, but no sponges or corals were 

identified. 

38
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 229 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/2/14 55.40 -168.29 1,058 575 3.5 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 229: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Species density (0.07 individuals/m2) 

was largely composed of eelpout (96%). Two sea whips (Halipteris sp.) and one skate were also identified. The mean 

height of Halipteris sp. exceeded 60 cm contributing to vertical habitat. No sponges were identified for this transect. 

39
 
 

Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 230 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/3/14 55.35 -168.17 799 688 NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 230: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Over half (67%) of the taxa identified 

were eelpouts. Total density for this transect was 0.06 individuals/m2

, with an assortment of species found in 

abundances of less than 10. Small sea whips were present (n = 16) with mean heights of 15 cm. No other corals or 

sponges were identified. 

40
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 238 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 55.29 -167.79 2,366 217 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 238: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Only 11 individuals were counted for 

this transect and 54% were flatfishes (rex sole and arrowtooth). Species density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Over 1,500 

sea whips (44 damaged) were identified in this transect and dominated the landscape (0.65 individuals/m2

) . Halipteris 

willemoesi mean height was approximately 78 cm, but few crabs or fishes seemed to associate with the H. willemoesi

No other corals or sponges were identified. 

41
 
 

Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 240 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 55.05 -167.64 534 346 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 240: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Species density was low 

(0.01 individuals/m2

), with only 8 assorted fishes counted. Sea whips were abundant (n = 117), but small. Their mean 

height was 6.9 cm, and density was 0.22 individuals/m2

. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

42
 
 

Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 241 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.92 -167.45 223 394 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 241: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Snailfishes made up almost 80% of the 

species identified. Fish density was 0.36 individuals/m2

. Sea whips (n = 27) were small (9.3 cm) with relatively low 

densities (0.12 individuals/m2

). No other corals or sponges were identified. 

43
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 243 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.82 -167.45 483 504 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 243: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Snailfish and eelpout counts combined 

for 98% of the fishes identified. Fish density was 0.12 individuals/m2

. Five Demospongiae were counted and two 

were measured. The Demospongiae mean height was 40.3 cm. No corals were identified for this transect. 

44
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 247 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.53 -167.22 764 505 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 247: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. The transect was almost evenly 

distributed between eelpouts, shortspine thornyheads, and snailfishes. Overall density for this transect was low 

(0.01 individuals/m2

). Five sponges were counted, and one sponge was measured at 25 cm. No corals were 

identified. 

45
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 248 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/5/14 54.53 -167.51 362 670 3 .4 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 248: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Only three fish were identified in this 

transect; an eelpout, poacher, and popeye grenadier. As a result, species density for the transect was very low 

(0.01 individuals/m2

). No corals or sponges were identified. 

46
 
Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 249 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/5/14 54.42 -167.40 504 664 3 .4 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 249: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Seven fish were counted resulting in a 

low transect density of 0.01 individuals/m2

. No sponges or corals were identified. 

47
 
9/5/14 54.42 -167.15 326 566 3.5 

Area: Bering Canyon to Pribilof Canyon Transect 250 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 250: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Only 7 fish were identified resulting in a 

low density (0.01 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat was largely absent with only three Demospongiae identified, and 

one measured (11.3 cm). No corals were identified. 

48
 
49

Thirty-five transects were completed in Pribilof Canyon. Depths 

ranged from 93 m to 761 m. Twenty-nine taxa of fishes and 

crabs were identified (Table 14). Vertical habitat was dominated 

by Demospongiae (Table 15). Heights ranged from 2.1 cm to 

61.6 cm (Table 16).

Pribilof 

Canyon

74

73

7172

7069

68

67 66 65

63 62

61

59 60

58

55 53

5152 50 49

48

43

42

41

36

31

30

29

27 28

26

226

169°W

170°W 169°W

56°N

56°N

Pribilof Canyon

Transect Locations

200m

400m

800m

Pribilof Canyon

Figure 10. -- Survey transect locations, Pribilof Canyon.
	
 

 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon
 

Pribilof Canyon is an elongated canyon that runs parallel to the continental shelf. It is approximately 

45 km wide at the shelf break with a 1,600 m relief. There are two branches in the canyon that merge at 

1,500 m where the canyon turns 90 degrees and eventually merges with Bering Canyon (Karl et al. 1996). 

The substrates in Pribilof Canyon were more diverse than Bering Canyon or the inter-canyon area. Over 

seventy percent of the observations were sand with mud or mixed coarse (Table 13). The remaining 

substrates were a mix of cobble, boulder, and gravel. 

Golden king crabs (n = 712) were by far the most frequently observed species of crabs or fishes (Table 14). 

Ninety percent (n = 640) of the golden king crabs were identified in transect 54. Eelpouts, snailfishes, and 

Chionoecetes were the next most abundant. Rockfishes made up 6% of the species composition. 

Twelve taxa of corals, sponges, and sea whips were identified (Table 15), more than any other region 

surveyed. Sponges were the most abundant with Demospongiae (n = 4,436) occurring at 24 of the 35 

transects. Seventy-one percent of observed Demospongiae were present in transect 54. Plumarella and 

Swiftia were the most plentiful of the corals. Isididae were identified at three transects (53, 54, 73) in the 

deep water at the northwestern edge of the central canyon. 

The tallest vertical structure was Demospongiae (Table 16). Plumarella had the largest range in heights, 

3.6-52.7 cm. Corals were evenly distributed throughout the canyon (Fig. 12), while sea whips were only 

found in the northwest (Fig. 11). Demospongiae were also evenly distributed but Hexactinellida was only 

identified in the northwest and Calcarea was only seen in the southeast (Fig. 13). 

Table 13. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 35) in Pribilof Canyon. 

Number of transects with 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate Percent of observations 

Sand .mud 93 - 761 20 47% 

Mixed coarse 188 - 760 14 33% 

Sand* 502 - 717 4 11% 

Sand .gravel 215 - 659 3 3% 

Mixed coarse.cobble 201 - 446 4 3% 

Sand.mixed coarse 399 - 399 1 2% 

Mixed coarse.boulder 188 - 532 7 1% 

Sand.cobble 181 - 659 3 <1% 

Cobble* 188 - 435 2 <1% 

Cobble.boulder 188 - 435 2 <1% 

Cobble.mixed coarse 435 - 760 2 <1% 

Sand.boulder 181 - 659 2 <1% 

Mixed coarse.low bedrock 532 - 532 1 <1% 

Boulder.mixed coarse 532 - 532 1 <1% 

Gravel.mixed coarse 394 - 394 1 <1% 

Mixed coarse.gravel 524 - 524 1 <1% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same.
	

50
 
SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon 

Table 14. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 35) in Pribilof Canyon. 

Species/Grouping 

Number of 

occurrences 

Number of transects 

with occurrences 

Mean transect 

depth range (m) 

Mean density

 (individuals/m2) 

Golden king crab 712 17 188 - 533 0 .01 

Eelpout unid . 267 23 93 - 761 0 .01 

Snailfish unid. 141 19 115 - 761 0 .01 

Chionoecetes sp . 129 9 93 - 760 0 .01 

Sculpin unid. 68 25 178 - 761 <0.01 

Poacher unid. 64 13 115 - 550 <0.01 

Skate unid. 60 23 115 - 761 <0.01 

Flatfish unid. 59 21 93 - 761 <0.01 

Shortspine thornyhead 53 11 349 - 659 <0.01 

Roundfish unid. 48 17 178 - 761 <0.01 

Searcher unid. 26 5 178 - 215 <0.01 

Shortraker rockfish 23 6 327 - 532 <0.01 

King crab unid. 22 9 188 - 761 <0.01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 22 14 126 - 659 <0.01 

Giant grenadier 19 7 435 - 761 <0.01 

Pacific halibut 18 9 188 - 520 <0.01 

Crab unid. 17 6 178 - 659 <0.01 

Walleye pollock 17 5 261 - 394 <0.01 

Rockfish unid. 16 11 188 - 532 <0.01 

Pacific ocean perch 15 6 188 - 327 <0.01 

Rex sole 9 6 261 - 520 <0.01 

Flathead sole 5 4 93 - 279 <0.01 

Pacific cod 3 2 105 - 178 <0.01 

Greenland turbot 2 2 435 - 446 <0.01 

Scarlet king crab 2 1 761 - 761 <0.01 

Rougheye rockfish 2 1 215 - 215 <0.01 

Cod/pollock unid. 1 1 261 - 261 <0.01 

Grenadier unid. 1 1 550 - 550 <0.01 

51
 
SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon 

Table 15. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 35) in Pribilof 

Canyon . 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Demospongiae 4,436 1,165 178 761 0 .09 

Plumarella sp . 639 945 201 761 0 .03 

Swiftia sp . 522 716 264 761 0 .03 

Hexactinellida 290 623 188 761 0 .02 

Halipteris sp . 90 424 261 520 0 .01 

Demospongiae (damaged) 48 41 215 215 0 .03 

Primnoidae 37 243 264 760 0 .01 

Calcarea 31 165 215 532 <0.01 

Porifera 16 288 188 761 <0.01 

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 11 181 115 533 <0.01 

Isididae 7 180 349 446 <0.01 

Plexauridae 1 42 532 532 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping .
 

Table 16. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean heights from transects completed in Pribilof

Canyon . 

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Demospongiae 473 16.9 10 .0 61.6 

Plumarella sp. 202 15.5 3.6 52.7 

Hexactinellida 90 20 .4 10 .1 58.6 

Halipteris sp. 53 16.0 2 .9 54.0 

Swiftia sp. 40 10 .0 2 .1 23.6 

Primnoidae 19 10.6 3 .8 33 .0 

Calcarea 12 13 .1 10 .2 18 .2 

Isididae 5 16.0 9 .7 21.5 

Porifera 2 14 .3 13 .3 15.3 

Halipteris willemoesi 1 52.2 52.2 52.2 

Plexauridae 1 15.9 15.9 15.9 

52
 
 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon 

170°W 169°W 170°W 169°W

Pribilof Canyon Pribilof Canyon

Sea Whip Distribution Sponge Distribution

$ Calcarea

# Demospongiae

! Hexactinellida

! Halipteris sp. 

56°N 

!!!

!!

!

!

!

!

169°W 

Pribilof Canyon 

56°N

56°N 

Figure 11. -- Sea whip distribution, Bering Canyon to 

Pribilof Canyon. 

170°W 169°W

Pribilof Canyon 

Coral Distribution 

X Isididae

" Plexauridae

" Primnoidae

56°N

"

"

"

"

"

" " "

" "

"

"

"" "

""

XX

" " X

169°W

Pribilof Canyon 

56°N

Figure 12. -- Coral distribution, Bering Canyon to 

Pribilof Canyon. 

53

!!

!!

!

!

!

$

$

$

$

#

# #

#

#

#

#

#

#

#

##

# #

#

#

# # #

##

# #

169°W

Pribilof Canyon 

56°N

Figure 13. -- Sponge distribution, Bering Canyon to 

Pribilof Canyon. 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 26 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.92 -168.77 1,437 178 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 26: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Thirty-six individuals were 

identified and 31% of them were crabs. Sculpins, poachers, and unidentified roundfishes accounted for 47% of the 

observations. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat was composed of 123 Demospongiae. The 

mean height for five measured sponges was 13.2 cm. No corals were found. 

54
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 27 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 56.07 -168.61 1,087 659 3 .4 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 27: Primary and secondary substrates consisted predominantly of sand. Small patches of sand/boulder 

and mixed coarse were seen as well. Fish and crab density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts (n = 13) and snailfishes 

(n = 13) were the dominant taxa (60%). Vertical habitat consisted of eight Primnoidae (4 Plumarella sp .) as well 

as two Swiftia sp. In addition, 58 Demospongiae and 32 Hexactinellida were identified. Four Plumarella sp . were 

measured and their mean height was 20.1 cm. One unidentified primnoid measured 29.1 cm. The mean heights for 

11 Demospongiae and 9 Hexactinellida were 16.4 cm and 19.9 cm, respectively. The vertical habitat density for the 

transect was 0.09 individuals/m2

. No sea whips were found. 

55
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 28 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 56.08 -168.55 896 529 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 28: Primary and secondary substrates were almost entirely mixed coarse. Only 10 fish were 

found and snailfishes made up 40% of them. Fish density was low (0.01 individuals/m2

) . Coral density was 

< 0.01 individuals/m2

, and consisted of 7 Swiftia sp. The vertical habitat also contained 223 sponges (12 unknown, 

8, Calcarea, 178 Demospongiae, 25 Hexactinellida). Sponge density was 0.26 individuals/m2

. Measurements were 

collected from 21 Demospongiae, 6 Hexactinellida, 2 unknown sponges, and 1 Calcarea. Correspondingly, mean 

heights were 13.5 cm, 12.6 cm, 14.3 cm, and 18.2 cm. No sea ships were identified. 

56
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 29 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.10 -168.61 799 524 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 29: Primary and secondary substrates were almost entirely mixed coarse and gravel. Of the 39 fishes and 

crabs identified, 41% were shortspine thornyheads. Four skates and four king crabs were also identified. Species 

density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat was composed of Plumarella sp. (n = 35), unknown primnoid 

(n = 10), Swiftia sp. (n = 182), Demospongiae (n = 80), and Hexactinellida (n = 14). Total coral and sponge density was 

0.40 individuals/m2

. Mean heights for all vertical habitats did not exceed 15 cm. No sea whips were identified. 

57
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 30 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.15 -168.63 1,829 394 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 30: Primary and secondary substrates were almost entirely mixed coarse. Fifteen fishes and crabs were 

identified and 47% of them were king crabs. Shortspine thornyheads were the most abundant fish. Species density 

was low (0.008 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat density was 0.04 individuals/m2, and consisted of 42 Swiftia sp., 5 

Plumarella sp., 23 Demospongiae, and 2 Hexactinellida. Mean height for 4 Demospongiae was 10.6 cm. Two Swiftia 

were measured and their mean height was 5.9 cm. No sea whips were identified. 

58
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 31 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.17 -168.74 2,713 327 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 31: Primary and secondary substrates were almost entirely mixed coarse. Of the 16 fishes and crabs 

identified, 38% were shortraker rockfishes and another 31% were Pacific ocean perch. Species density was 

0.01 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat was composed of Plumarella sp. (n = 18), and Demospongiae (n = 3,167). Total 

coral and sponge density was 1.17 individuals/m2

. Mean heights for 173 measured Demospongiae was 17.1 cm. 

Nine Plumarella sp were measured (31.0 cm). No sea whips were identified. 

59
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 36 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.10 -168.46 621 309 3 .9 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 36: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mixed coarse sediments. Species density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

, and was comprised largely of golden king crabs, Lithodes aequespina, (n = 5). Arrowtooth/ 

Kamchatka flounders, other rockfishes, and Pacific ocean perch (n = 2), respectively were the next most abundant 

taxa identified. Vertical habitat density consisted of 11 Demospongiae (0.02 individuals/m2

) . 

60
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 41 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.19 -168.81 1,512 215 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 41: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of mixed coarse sediments, with approximately 5% 

of the transect composed of mixed coarse/boulder or sand/gravel sediments. Only 26 individual fish were counted, 

and Pacific ocean perch, sculpins, and skates comprised 46% of species identified. Species density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 196 Plumarella sp., 124 Demospongiae (48 damaged), 4 

Hexactinellida, and 3 Calcarea. Sponge and coral density was 0.22 individuals/m2

. No sea whips were identified. 

61
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 42 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.14 -168.79 1,298 532 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 42: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of mixed coarse sediments. Fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Shortspine thornyheads were the most abundant. Vertical habitat was composed of 

220 corals (Plexauridae, Plumarella sp., Primnoidae, and Swiftia sp.) and 134 sponges (Calcarea, Demospongiae, 

and Hexactinellida). Coral density was 0.17 individuals/m2

, and sponge density was 0.10 individuals/m2 . Two 

Hexactinellida were measured (25.7 cm) and 45 Demospongiae (13.9 cm). Two Calcarea had a mean height of 13.2, 

and the coral mean heights did not exceed 17 cm. No sea whips were identified. 

62
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 43 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.08 -168.82 598 714 3 .4 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 43: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Only 22 individuals were counted, and 

over half (59%) were snailfishes. Skates (n = 5) and eelpouts (n = 4) were the only other species identified. Fish 

density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 14 Demospongiae, 3 Hexactinellida, and 1 coral 

(Swiftia sp). Coral and sponge density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. The mean height for 2 measured Hexactinellida was 

12.1 cm. No sea whips were identified. 

63
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 48 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.18 -169.14 901 550 3 .7 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 48: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and gravel. Of the 104 individuals 

identified, 70% of them were eelpouts. Unidentified roundfishes accounted for another 10% of the observations. 

Fish density was 0.12 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

64
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 49 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.22 -169.22 1,051 279 3 .9 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 49: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 23 individuals identified, 

52% of them were flatfishes and poachers. Crabs accounted for another 17% of the observations. Crab and fish 

density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Five Demospongiae were identified. No corals were seen. 

65
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 50 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.19 -169.32 1,308 533 3.5 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 50: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Fish and crab density was 

0.05 individuals/m2

, and 57% of the observations were eelpouts. Snailfishes were the next most abundant species. 

One coral (Swiftia sp .) and 1 damaged Halipteris sp. were identified. 

66
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 51 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.20 -169.36 1,550 520 3.6 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 51: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Eighty-five individuals were 

identified, and 47% of them were eelpouts. Snailfishes accounted for another 28% of the total observations. Crab 

and fish density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Two sea whips were counted. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

67
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 52 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.21 -169.38 1,473 498 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 52: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Seventy-nine individuals were 

identified, 42% were eelpouts, and 25% were snailfishes. Fish and crab density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Fourteen sea 

whips were counted. No other coral or sponge were identified. 

68
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 53 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.22 -169.38 3,016 446 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 53: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of mixed coarse(96%). Overall fish and 

crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Golden king crab (24%) and giant grenadier (21%) accounted for over 50% 

of the observed fish and crab taxa. The next most abundant taxa were Pacific halibut (15%), sculpins (12%), and 

shortraker rockfish (13%). Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Isididae, 1 Plumarella sp., 15 Swiftia sp, 19 Demospongiae, 

and 13 Hexactinellida, with a density of 0.02 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 7) ranged from 10.1 cm to 

16.7 cm with a mean of 12.9 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 4) ranged from 11.0 cm to 19.2 cm with a mean of 

13.5 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

69
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 54 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.23 -169.43 3,371 435 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 54: Primary and secondary substrates consisted mostly of mixed coarse and mixed coarse/cobble 

(85%). The remaining substrates were cobble and boulder with mixed coarse. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.20 individuals/m2

. Of the 11 taxa identified, golden king crabs (n = 640) dominated the species composition 

(96%). Most of the crabs observed were juveniles. Vertical habitat consisted of 24 corals, and 565 sponges, with a 

density of 0.18 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 128) ranged from 10.0 cm to 61.6 cm with a mean of 

20.1 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 55) ranged from 10.1 cm to 58.6 cm with a mean of 23.6 cm. 

70
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 55 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.21 -169.44 1,620 502 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 55: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. Golden king crab (34%) and eelpouts (31%) accounted for over 60% of the enumerated 

taxa. The next most abundant taxa were snailfishes (17%). Vertical habitat consisted of 28 sea whips and 1 

Demospongiae, with a density of 0.02 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 19) ranged from 4.5 cm to 31.7 cm with 

a mean of 18.1 cm. No other corals were observed. 

71
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 58 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.42 -169.84 980 93 4.5 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 58: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. (n = 26) dominated the species composition accounting for 87% of the 

enumerated taxa. No vertical habitat was identified. 

72
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 59 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.35 -169.97 534 105 4.5 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 59: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Only 11 individuals from 3 taxa were 

identified. Overall fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

73
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 60 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.36 -169.86 833 105 4.5 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 60: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 17 individuals from four 

taxa were identified. Overall fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. The most abundant taxa were Chionoecetes 

sp. (53%). No vertical habitat was identified. 

74
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 61 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.36 -169.76 1,611 115 4.5 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Station 61: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.05 individuals/m2

. The most abundant taxa were Chionoecetes sp. (88%). Nine Halipteris sp.(damaged) were 

identified. 

75
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 62 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.31 -169.79 1,679 126 4 .4 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 62: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Only 14 individuals from three taxa 

were identified. Overall fish and crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. (n = 12) dominated the species 

composition accounting for 86% of the enumerated taxa. No vertical habitat was identified. 

76
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 63 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.31 -169.70 1,110 188 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 63: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse, cobble, and boulder (47%). The 

remaining 53% of the frames were off bottom with no visual input received. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 21 sponges, with a density of 0.02 individuals/m2. Demospongiae 

heights (n = 5) ranged from 10.2 cm to 24.8 cm with a mean of 17.7 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

77
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 65 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.30 -169.45 2,080 181 4 .2 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 65: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab 

density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Searchers accounted for 61% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 

2 Demospongiae, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. No corals were observed. 

78
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 66 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.28 -169.60 1,559 201 4 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 66: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of mixed coarse. Overall fish and crab 

density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Poachers accounted for 37% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 

174 Plumarella sp. and 11 Demospongiae, with a density of 0.12 individuals/m2

 . Plumarella sp. heights (n = 58) ranged 

from 5.7 cm to 52.7 cm with a mean of 15.1 cm. Demospongiae heights (n = 4) ranged from 10.5 cm to 17.6 cm 

with a mean of 14.4 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

79
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 67 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.26 -169.72 2,243 261 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 67: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Crabs, flatfishes, and poachers accounted for 72% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 16 Demospongiae and 2 Plumarella sp., with a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights 

(n = 6) ranged from 12.2 cm to 29.4 cm with a mean of 20.0 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

80
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 68 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.22 -169.75 2,328 261 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 68: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Species composition was more diverse than surrounding transects, 48 individuals were 

identified in 13 taxa. Poachers accounted for 35% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

walleye pollock (21%). Vertical habitat consisted of 4 sea whips, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip 

heights (n = 2) ranged from 4.1 cm to 4.2 cm with a mean of 4.1 cm. No corals or sponges were observed. 

81
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 69 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.17 -169.69 445 314 3 .8 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 69: This transect was ~22% shorter than usual, only 199 frames of data were recorded. Primary and 

secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 7 individuals from 2 taxa were identified. Overall fish 

and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Flatfishes comprised 100% of the taxa. No vertical habitat was identified. 

82
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 70 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.18 -169.58 1,105 399 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 70: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand/cobble, sand/mixed coarse, and sand/mud. 

Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 50% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical 

habitat was diverse, consisting of Plumarella sp., Swiftia sp., Halipteris sp., Demospongiae, and Hexactinellida, with a 

density of 0.15 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris sp. heights (n = 5) ranged from 7.5 cm to 54.0 cm with a mean of 30.5 cm. 

Demospongiae heights (n = 11) ranged from 11.1 cm to 27.9 cm with a mean of 14.7 cm. Hexactinellida heights 

(n = 7) ranged from 10.2 cm to 20.5 cm with a mean of 13.0 cm. Plumarella sp. heights (n = 23) ranged from 535 cm 

to 28.8 cm with a mean of 14.1 cm. 

83
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 71 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.15 -169.36 561 760 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 71: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse (81%) and sand/mud (19%). Overall fish 

and crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 63% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat 

was diverse, consisting of Plumarella sp., Primnoidae, Swiftia sp., Porifera, Demospongiae, and Hexactinellida, with 

a density of 0.13 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 6) ranged from 10.6 cm to 18.9 cm with a mean of 

13.5 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 2) ranged from 12.6 cm to 13.0 cm with a mean of 12.8 cm. No sea whips were 

observed. 

84
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 72 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.15 -169.36 581 761 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 72: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts and snailfishes accounted for 64% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat was 

diverse, consisting of 114 coral and 8 sponge, with a density of 0.21 individuals/m2

 . Plumarella sp. heights (n = 15) 

ranged from 3.8 cm to 22.2 cm with a mean of 9.2 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

85
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 73 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.09 -169.36 1,433 349 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 73: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse and mixed coarse/cobble. Overall fish 

and crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Shortspine thornyheads accounted for 45% of the enumerated taxa. The 

next most abundant taxa were sculpins (25%). Vertical habitat consisted of 5 coral taxa and Demospongiae, with a 

density of 0.02 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n =10) ranged from 10.4 cm to 36.1 cm with a mean of 

18.0 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

86
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 74 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.07 -169.45 693 264 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 74: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Poachers and snailfishes accounted for 60% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 3 coral taxa, 6 Demospongiae, and 31 sea whips, with a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris sp . heights 

(n = 14) ranged from 2.9 cm to 21.4 cm with a mean of 8.0 cm. Primnoidae heights (n = 10) ranged from 3.8 cm to 

9.5 cm with a mean of 6.6 cm. 

87
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon Transect 226 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/2/14 56.09 -168.82 373 717 3 .3 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 226: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand (63%). The remaining 37% of the frames 

were off bottom with no visual input received. Overall fish and crab density was very low, 0.01 individuals/m2

. Only 

3 individuals in 2 taxa were identified. No vertical habitat was observed. 

88
 
89

Sixty-eight transects were completed between Pribilof Canyon 

and Zhemchug Canyon. Depths ranged from 130 m to 

796 m. Thirty-five taxa of fishes and crabs were identified 

(Table 18). Vertical habitat was dominated by Halipteris sp. and 

hexactinellids (Table 19). Heights ranged from 2.2 cm to 

205.6 cm (Table 20).

Pribilof 

Canyon to 

Zhemchug 

Canyon

9899

97 96

95

94

9390

89

88

87

85

84 78

7776

75

168

167

166

165 164

163

162 161

141 142

140

139

138

137

135

134

132

130131

127129

126

124

122

121

120 119

118 117

115116

114

113

112

111

106

103

102

100

158

157156

155

151

172°W

174°W 172°W

170°W

58°N

57°N

57°N

56°N

56°N

55°N

Pribilof Canyon to

Zhemchug Canyon

Transect Locations

200m

400m

800m

Zhemchug Canyon

Figure 14. -- Survey transect locations, Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon.
	
 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon 

Nineteen different substrates were identified between Pribilof Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon (Table 17). 

The majority of the observations were sand and mud, with sand being identified as the primary substrate 

over 75% of the time. Boulders were seen at 25 of the transects. 

Fishes and crabs were plentiful and diverse (Table 18). More fish and crab taxa (35) were identified in 

the Pribilof-Zhemchug inter-canyon region than anywhere else. Popeye grenadier, sculpins, and eelpouts 

were the most abundant followed by Pacific ocean perch. Rockfishes (n = 514) comprised 19% of the 

species composition. 

Halipteris (n = 14,977) far outnumbered all of corals and sponges, occurring at 31 transects and at all 

depths observed (Table 19). Demospongiae was the next most abundant (n = 6,047) also occurring at all 

depths. Hexactinellida was identified at 30 transects. Isididae (n = 60) was the most abundant coral but 

only occurred at depths greater than 400 m. Plumarella (n = 49) the next most abundant coral was seen at 

four transects with depths ranging from 207-474 m. 

Coral, sponge, and sea whip heights ranged from 2.2 cm to 204.4 cm with Halipteris sp. being the shortest 

and Halipteris willemoesi being the tallest (Table 20). The tallest Hexactinellida (205.6 cm) of the survey 

was seen in this region at transect 97. 

Sea whips, corals, and sponges were found in fifty-two of the sixty-eight transects. Sea whips and 

sponges were found throughout the region (Figs. 15, 17). Primoidae and Isididae were only identified in 

the southern transects (Fig. 16). 

Table 17. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 68) between Pribilof Canyon and 

Zhemchug Canyon. 

Number of transects with 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate Percent of observations 

Sand .mud 130 - 770 52 61% 

Mud* 367 - 796 7 11% 

Mixed coarse 167 - 474 11 9% 

Sand.mixed coarse 142 - 770 15 9% 

Sand* 133 - 491 6 5% 

Mixed coarse.cobble 218 - 455 3 1% 

Mixed coarse.boulder 188 - 760 6 1% 

High bedrock 759 - 760 2 1% 

Sand.cobble 340 - 760 5 1% 

Sand.boulder 142 - 770 12 <1% 

Sand .gravel 455 - 770 3 <1% 

Cobble.mixed coarse 285 - 285 1 <1% 

Boulder.cobble 455 - 455 1 <1% 

Cobble.sand 474 - 474 1 <1% 

Boulder* 137 - 759 2 <1% 

Mixed coarse.sand 474 - 474 1 <1% 

Mixed coarse.mud 474 - 474 1 <1% 

Gravel.mud 148 - 148 1 <1% 

Mixed coarse.gravel 455 - 455 1 <1% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same. 

90
 
SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon 

Table 18. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 68) between Pribilof Canyon and 

Zhemchug Canyon. 

Species/Grouping 

Number of 

occurrences 

Number of transects 

with occurrences 

Mean transect 

depth range (m) 

Mean density

 (individuals/m2) 

Popeye grenadier 482 15 139 - 796 0.05 

Sculpin unid. 403 59 130 - 766 0 .01 

Eelpout unid . 385 52 130 - 796 0 .01 

Pacific ocean perch 251 20 136 - 340 0 .01 

Poacher unid. 156 45 134 - 796 <0.01 

Snailfish unid. 116 23 218 - 796 0 .01 

Shortspine thornyhead 115 22 311 - 796 0 .01 

Rockfish unid. 109 18 133 - 515 <0.01 

Grenadier unid. 108 10 662 - 777 0 .01 

Giant grenadier 106 25 370 - 796 0 .01 

Chionoecetes sp . 90 22 130 - 796 0 .01 

Flatfish unid. 84 35 130 - 726 <0.01 

Deepsea sole 74 4 695 - 770 0 .04 

Searcher unid. 27 10 137 - 218 <0.01 

Skate unid. 27 21 138 - 770 <0.01 

Rex sole 26 12 137 - 583 <0.01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 25 14 130 - 537 <0.01 

Roundfish unid. 23 17 130 - 796 <0.01 

Golden king crab 21 7 218 - 474 <0.01 

Crab unid. 20 11 138 - 770 <0.01 

Walleye pollock 20 12 130 - 431 <0.01 

Shortraker rockfish 17 2 285 - 340 0 .01 

Blackspotted rockfish 10 4 177 - 340 <0.01 

Flathead sole 10 7 130 - 515 <0.01 

Harlequin rockfish 9 3 148 - 311 <0.01 

Cod/pollock unid. 7 3 142 - 356 <0.01 

Pacific cod 7 5 168 - 306 <0.01 

Pacific halibut 6 6 134 - 474 <0.01 

Sablefish 2 2 647 - 662 <0.01 

King crab unid. 2 2 770 - 777 <0.01 

Rougheye rockfish 2 1 340 - 340 <0.01 

Greenland turbot 2 2 434 - 647 <0.01 

Atka mackerel 1 1 142 - 142 <0.01 

Northern rockfish 1 1 214 - 214 <0.01 

Scarlet king crab 1 1 721 - 721 <0.01 

91
 
SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon 

Table 19. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 68) between Pribilof 

Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Halipteris sp . 13,531 31 130 - 760 0 .49 

Demospongiae 6,043 26 148 - 770 0 .14 

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 1,446 19 130 - 719 0.06 

Hexactinellida 1,396 23 167 - 770 0 .04 

Isididae 60 4 455 - 760 0 .01 

Plumarella sp . 49 6 207 - 474 0 .01 

Swiftia sp . 13 4 455 - 770 <0.01 

Plexauridae 7 4 455 - 759 <0.01 

Demospongiae (damaged) 4 1 356 - 356 <0.01 

Porifera 3 2 721 - 760 <0.01 

Isididae (damaged) 2 2 455 - 760 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping . 

Table 20. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height from transects completed between

Pribilof Canyon and Zhemchug Canyon. 

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Demospongiae 496 15.5 10 .0 85.3 

Halipteris sp . 548 15.4 2 .2 49 .4 

Halipteris willemoesi 914 81 .3 3 .0 205.6 

Hexactinellida 392 27.5 10 .1 204 .4 

Isididae 26 53.7 20 .1 116.2 

Plexauridae 2 21 .2 14.6 27 .7 

Plumarella sp . 19 20.5 6.7 44 .0 

92
 
 

 

 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon 

174°W 172°W 174°W 172°W 

Pribilof Canyon to Pribilof Canyon to 

Zhemchug Canyon Zhemchug Canyon 

Sea Whip Distribution 

!

!

!

!!!! ! !

!

!!

!! !! !! !!

!

!

!!!!!

!

!!!

!

Zhemchug Canyon Sponge Distribution 

Halipteris sp. Hexactinellida 58°N 

! ! !! !

!!! !!!

!

!

!!

!

!!

#*#* #*##*

#*#*

!!

!

! !

* #*

#*#*#* #*#*#*

#*

#*#*

#* #*

#*

#* #*

#*#*

#* #*

!

#*

Zhemchug Canyon 

58°N Demospongiae 

57°N 57°N 

57°N 57°N 

56°N 56°N 

56°N 56°N 

55°N 55°N 

172°W 170°W 172°W 170°W 

Figure 15. -- Sea whip distribution, Pribilof Canyon Figure 17. -- Sponge distribution, Pribilof Canyon 

to Zhemchug Canyon. to Zhemchug Canyon. 

" "

"

""

"

" "

"

" " XX

X

X

174°W 172°W

58°N 

57°N 

57°N 

56°N 

56°N 

Pribilof Canyon to

Zhemchug Canyon 

Coral Distribution 

X Isididae 

" Plexauridae 

" Primnoidae 

Zhemchug Canyon 

55°N 

172°W 170°W 

Figure 16. -- Coral distribution, Pribilof Canyon to 

Zhemchug Canyon. 

93
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 75 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 56.02 -169.40 1,216 721 3 .2 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 75: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.021 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts and popeye grenadiers accounted for 64% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 1 Porifera and 1 Hexactinellida, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. No corals were observed. 

94
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 76 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 55.99 -169.63 772 474 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 76: Primary and secondary substrates were more diverse than surrounding transects. Sand/mixed coarse 

and mixed coarse accounted for over 60% of the substrate. Overall fish and crab density was 0.05 individuals/m2

 . 

Eelpouts and shortspine thornyheads accounted for 64% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 2 Plumarella sp., 28 sea whips (Halipteris sp.), 2 Demospongiae, and 2 Hexactinellida, with a density of 

0.04 individuals/m2

 . 

95
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 77 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 55.99 -169.68 1,213 583 3 .4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 77: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Shortspine thornyheads and eelpouts accounted for 44% of the enumerated taxa. Giant 

grenadiers and snailfishes were the next most abundant taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 4 Demospongiae, with a 

density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. No corals were observed. 

96
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 78 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/17/14 55.98 -169.69 848 647 3 .3 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 78: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.05 individuals/m2

. Snailfishes and eelpouts accounted for 63% of the enumerated taxa. No vertical habitat was 

observed. 

97
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 84 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.00 -169.93 1,231 218 3 .9 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 84: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse (90%), sand and mud (8%), and cobble 

(2%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Transect 84 was more diverse than most transects in 

the area with 11 taxa identified. Sculpins, golden king crabs, and searchers were the most abundant species. Vertical 

habitat consisted of 8 Demospongiae with a mean height of 17.3 cm. No corals were observed. 

98
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 85 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.01 -170.00 1,387 141 4 .0 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 85: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Species composition consisted of 31 individuals in 9 taxa. Sculpins comprised 52% of 

the individuals, with flatfishes being the next most abundant. Vertical habitat consisted of 394 sea whips ranging in 

height from 10.3 to 205.6 cm, and a mean of 97.8 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

99
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 87 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.00 -170.06 1,814 167 4 .1 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 87: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mixed coarse. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 55% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa 

were eelpouts at 16%. Vertical habitat consisted of 15 Demospongiae and 48 Hexactinellida, with a density of 

0.04 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 8) ranged from 10.1 cm to 28.7 cm with a mean of 28.7 cm. 

Hexactinellida heights (n = 18) ranged from 10.1 cm to 47.8 cm, with a mean of 18.4 cm. No corals were observed. 

100
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 88 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 55.97 -170.12 1,621 311 3 .9 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 88: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse (86%), sand with mixed coarse (14%), and 

boulders (1%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 44 % of the 

enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were rockfishes at 23%. Vertical habitat consisted of Demospongiae, 

Hexactinellida, and Plumarella sp. with an overall density of 0.88 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 1,025) 

ranged from 10.1 cm to 46.4 cm with a mean of 15.8 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 155) ranged from 10.1 cm to 

134.4 cm, with a mean of 23.6 cm. Plumarella sp. (n = 2) ranged from 21.4 to 27.8 with a mean of 24.6cm. Derelict 

fishing gear was observed wrapped around a large boulder. 

101
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 89 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.01 -170.28 1,210 340 3 .8 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 89: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse(68%), mixed coarse and boulders 

(< 1%), sand and cobble (< 1%), and sand and mud (32%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

 . 

Shortspine thornyheads accounted for 26% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

blackspotted rockfishes and golden king crabs at 17% each%. Vertical habitat consisted of Demospongiae (n = 19) 

and Hexactinellida (n = 3), with a density of 0.02 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 4) ranged from 

14.5 cm to 21.5 cm with a mean of 17.4 cm. Only one Hexactinellida was measured, with a height of 15.1 cm. No 

corals were observed. 

102
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 90 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.06 -170.32 84 420 3 .8 

Fish and Crab Composition 

NA 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 90: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Only 12% of the frames were on 

bottom. The camera spent approximately 88% of the time off bottom with no visual input. No fishes, crabs, 

sponges, or corals were observed. 

103
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 93 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.10 -170.45 1,018 177 4 .4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 93: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse and sand-mud . Overall fish and crab 

density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 40% of the enumerated taxa. The next most 

abundant taxa were sculpins at 20%. Vertical habitat consisted of Demospongiae (n = 9) and Hexactinellida (n = 5), 

with a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 3) ranged from 11.3 cm to 17.2 cm with a mean 

of 13.5 cm. Hexactinellida were not measured. No corals were observed. 

104
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 94 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.10 -170.46 712 188 4 .4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 94: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud (2%), mixed coarse (30%), and mixed 

coarse with boulders (69%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 

69% of the enumerated taxa. Sculpins, Pacific cod, and poachers comprised the remaining 31% of the observations. 

Vertical habitat consisted of Demospongiae (n = 8) and Hexactinellida (n = 5), with a density of 0.02 individuals/m2

 . 

Demospongiae heights (n = 4) ranged from 10.9 cm to 18.6 cm with a mean of 14.1 cm. Hexactinellida heights 

(n = 3) ranged from 10.3 cm to 23.9 cm, with a mean of 14.9 cm. No corals were observed. 

105
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 95 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.10 -170.57 722 523 3 .7 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 95: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.05 individuals/m2

. Giant grenadier accounted for 26% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa 

were poachers, eelpouts and shortspine thornyheads comprising at 62% of the observed individuals. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 1 Demospongiae and 2 Hexactinellida, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. No sponge height 

measurements were recorded for Demospongiae or Hexactinellida. No corals were observed. 

106
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 96 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.13 -170.66 667 759 3 .3 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 96: Primary and secondary substrates for Transect 96 were very diverse. Sand and mud (78%) dominated 

the transect but high bedrock (18%), sand and boulder (2%), sand and gravel (1%), and boulder (< 1%) were 

also identified . Overall fish and crab density was 0.162 individuals/m2

. Popeye grenadier accounted for 55% of 

the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were grenadiers and eelpouts for a combined 32%. Vertical 

habitat consisted of Isididae, Plexauridae, Swiftia sp., Demospongiae, and Hexactinellida, with a total density 

of 0.17 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae (n = 71) and Hexactinellida (n = 39) were the most abundant. No height 

measurements were taken for any of the taxa. 

107
 
 

 

 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 97 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.11 -170.77 1,509 455 3 .8 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 97: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse and cobble (69%), mixed coarse (10%), 

sand and gravel (10%), mixed coarse and boulder (6%), and boulder and cobble (3%). Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Giant grenadier accounted for 58% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant 

taxa were shortspine thornyheads at 26%. Flatfishes, rockfishes, and poachers were also identified. Vertical habitat 

consisted of Hexactinellida (n = 93), Demospongiae (n = 118), Isididae (n = 23), and Plumarella sp. (n = 8), Swiftia sp . 

(n = 2), and Plexauridae (n = 2), with an overall density of 0.16 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 16) ranged 

from 10.0 cm to 24.3 cm with a mean of 15.9 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 30) ranged from 14.3 cm to 204.4 cm, 

with a mean of 39.5 cm. Isididae (n = 13) ranged from 20.1 cm to 62.0 cm, with a mean of 35.2 cm. Plumarella sp . 

heights (n = 13) ranged from 14.4 cm to 34.6 cm, with a mean of 21.4 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

108
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 98 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.13 -170.84 930 629 3.6 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 98: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud (99%) and sand and boulder (< 1%). 

Overall fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Poachers and eelpouts accounted for 56% of the enumerated 

taxa. Chionoecetes sp., giant grenadier, sculpins, and snailfishes comprised the remaining taxa. Vertical habitat consisted 

of sea whips and Demospongiae, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. Only one height measurement (21.4 cm) 

was recorded for Halipteris sp. No other corals were observed. 

109
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 99 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.14 -170.76 512 357 3 .9 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 99: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mixed coarse. Overall fish and crab 

density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Shortspine thornyheads accounted for 47% of the enumerated taxa. The next most 

abundant taxa were eelpouts and poachers at a combined 36%. Vertical habitat consisted of Demospongiae (n = 2) 

and Hexactinellida (n = 1), with a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

. No heights were collected for this transect. No 

corals were observed. 

110
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 100 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.16 -170.78 431 148 4 .3 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 100: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud (97%). The remaining 3% of the 

substrate was a mixture of sand, mixed coarse, boulder, gravel, and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.05 individuals/m2

. Sculpins and harlequin rockfish accounted for 55% of the enumerated taxa. The next most 

abundant taxa were searchers, unidentified roundfishes, and crabs. Vertical habitat consisted of 2 Demospongiae, 

with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. One Demospongiae was measured at 13.4 cm. No corals were observed. 

111
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 102 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.20 -170.88 491 142 4 .3 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 102: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.07 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 83% of the enumerated taxa. Eelpouts, unidentified roundfishes, 

and crabs comprised the remaining 17%. No vertical habitat was identified. 

112
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 103 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.24 -170.85 750 132 4.5 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 103: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud). Overall fish and crab density was 

0.01 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. (n = 4) accounted for 50% of the enumerated taxa. Eelpouts and sculpins 

comprised the remaining 50%. Vertical habitat consisted of 17 sea whips of which 14 were damaged, with a density 

of 0.02 individuals/m2

. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

113
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 106 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.28 -170.89 1,145 130 NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 106: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. accounted for 44% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa 

were arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder, sculpins and flatfishes, comprising 36% of the remaining observations. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 295 (212 damaged) sea whips, with a density of 0.27 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip heights 

(n = 8) ranged from 45.9 cm to 118.1 cm with a mean of 97.9 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

114
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 107 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.26 -170.96 714 137 4 .4 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 107: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud (99%) and a boulder (1%). Overall 

fish and crab density was 0.12 individuals/m2

. Sculpins, Chionoecetes sp., and eelpouts accounted for 86% of the 

enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 sea whip that was not measured. No other corals or sponges were 

observed. 

115
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 108 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.29 -171.00 1,193 131 4 .4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 108: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.04 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 44% of the enumerated taxa. Sculpins, Chionoecetes sp., and flatfishes 

accounted for 49% of the taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 69 sea whips (32 damaged), with a density of 

0.06 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 3) ranged from 90.4 cm to 112.9 cm, with a mean of 102.8 cm. No other 

corals or sponges were observed. 

116
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 111 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.29 -171.10 451 134 4 .3 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 111: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.09 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 57% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

sculpins (21%) and Chionoecetes sp. (12%). Vertical habitat consisted of 8 sea whips (7 damaged), with a density of 

0.02 individuals/m2

. No height measurements were recorded. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

117
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 112 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.27 -171.13 204 138 4 .3 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 112: Primary and secondary substrates entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.05 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 40% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

poachers at 20%. No vertical habitat was identified. 

118
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 113 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.23 -171.31 214 726 3 .4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 113: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. Species composition was evenly distributed between all of the taxa. Vertical habitat consisted 

of sea whips and Isididae, with a density of 0.03 individuals/m2

. Only 1 sea whip was measured at 11.43 cm. Two 

Isididae were measured at 59.9 cm and 101.4. No sponges were observed. 

119
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 114 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.26 -171.33 1,918 238 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 114: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse (86%) and sand with mixed coarse 

(16%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch and rockfishes accounted for 

84% of the enumerated taxa. Poachers, Chionoecetes sp., and sculpins accounted for the remaining 16% of the 

observations. Vertical habitat consisted of Demospongiae (n = 3,220) and Hexactinellida (n = 388), with a density 

of 1.88 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 58) ranged from 10.1 cm to 24.2 cm with a mean of 14.1 cm. 

Hexactinellida heights (n = 85) ranged from 10.3 cm to 62.1 cm, with a mean of 22.0 cm. No corals were observed. 

120
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 115 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.40 -171.37 1,549 210 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 115: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mixed coarse (99%) and sand with mud 

(< 1%). Overall fish and crab density was very low with only 0.01 individuals/m2

. Poachers, rockfishes, and 

searchers were the most abundant accounting for 78% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 

Plumarella sp. (n = 11), Demospongiae (n = 297), and Hexactinellida (n = 30), with a density of 0.22 individuals/m2

 . 

Demospongiae heights (n = 28) ranged from 10.2 cm to 22.9 cm with a mean of 14.3 cm. Hexactinellida heights 

(n = 4) ranged from 15.2 cm to 29.1 cm, with a mean of 21.9 cm. Plumarella sp. (n = 2) ranged from 12.0 cm to 

24.6 cm, with a mean of 18.3 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

121
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 116 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.42 -171.38 1,957 207 4 .1 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 116: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mixed coarse (96%). The remaining 4% 

consisted of sand, boulders, and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Rockfishes (30%), 

Pacific ocean perch (27%), and sculpins (15%) accounted for 73% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted 

of Demospongiae (n = 196), Hexactinellida (38), and Plumarella sp. (n = 22), with a density of 0.13 individuals/m2

 . 

Demospongiae heights (n = 29) ranged from 10.2 cm to 25.0 cm with a mean of 13.3 cm. Hexactinellida heights 

(n = 9) ranged from 14.7 cm to 48.2 cm, with a mean of 25.2 cm. Plumarella sp. (n = 10) ranged from 6.7 cm to 

42.6 cm, with a mean of 16.7 cm. A large number of skate egg cases were observed but not counted. No sea whips 

were observed. 

122
 
 

 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 117 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.47 -171.49 1,519 285 3 .9 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 117: Substrates for Transect 117 were more diverse than most transects in the area. Primary substrates 

were mostly mixed coarse and sand. Secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse, boulders, and cobble. Overall 

fish and crab density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Other rockfishes (n = 20) accounted for 36% of the enumerated 

taxa. The next most abundant taxa were shortraker rockfish (25%) and Pacific ocean perch (21%). Vertical habitat 

consisted of Demospongiae (n = 939), Hexactinellida (n = 85), and Plumarella sp. (n = 2), with a total density of 

0.68 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 128) ranged from 10.1 cm to 34.1 cm with a mean of 15.7 cm. 

Hexactinellida heights (n = 17) ranged from 10.9 cm to 43.7 cm, with a mean of 23.1 cm. One Plumarella sp. (n = 1) 

was measured at 44.4 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

123
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 118 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.47 -171.74 806 281 3 .9 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 118: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 33% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

flatfishes and poachers at 15% respectively, and walleye pollock and Pacific ocean perch at 11% respectively. No 

vertical habitat was identified. 

124
 
 

 

 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 119 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.45 -171.85 1,235 760 3 .3 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 119: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of high bedrock (64%) for more than half of the transect, 

and sand with boulders, cobble, and mud for the remainder. Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

 . 

Sculpins accounted for 33% of the enumerated taxa. Flatfishes, poachers, Pacific ocean perch, and walleye pollock 

accounted for 52% of the remaining observations. Vertical habitat consisted of Isididae, sea whips, Demospongiae, 

Hexactinellida, and other sponges, with a density of 0.18 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 3) ranged from 

13.7 cm to 85.3 cm with a mean of 37.6 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 43) ranged from 10.8 cm to 161.5 cm, with 

a mean of 54.6 cm. Isididae (n = 11) ranged from 31.0 cm to 116.2 cm, with a mean of 70.8 cm. Halipteris sp. (n = 2) 

heights ranged from 13.0 cm to 15.4 cm, with a mean of 14.2 cm. 

125
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 120 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.54 -172.12 1,000 537 3 .7 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 120: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 31% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

eelpouts (22%) and giant grenadiers (19%). No vertical habitat was identified. 

126
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 121 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.58 -172.24 1,308 370 3 .9 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 121: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Species composition was not dominated by any one taxon. Sculpins (26%), rex sole 

(22%), flatfishes (15%), poachers (11%), and Chionoecetes sp. (11%) comprised 85% of the taxa observed. Vertical 

habitat consisted of sea whips (n = 11) and Demospongiae (n = 1), with a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

. One 

Demospongiae measured was at 11.5 cm. Sea whip heights (n = 7) ranged from 9.5 cm to 22.6 cm, with a mean of 

16.4 cm. No other corals were observed. 

127
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 122 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.59 -172.36 982 434 3 .8 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 122: Primary and secondary substrates were 99% sand and mud and 1% sand and mixed coarse. Overall 

fish and crab density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Shortspine thornyheads accounted for 48% of the enumerated taxa. 

The next most abundant taxa were eelpouts (23%) and sculpins (15%). Vertical habitat consisted of sea whips 

(n = 110), with a density of 0.11 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris sp. heights (n = 36) ranged from 6.3 cm to 21.8 cm with a 

mean of 10.3 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

128
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 123 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.65 -172.43 2,124 139 4 .3 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 123: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 63% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant 

taxa were eelpouts (15%) and sculpins (12%). Vertical habitat consisted of 397 sea whips (175 damaged), with 

a density of 0.19 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 13) ranged from 104.3 cm to 157.2 cm with a mean of 

132.9 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

129
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 124 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.59 -172.52 2,201 214 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 124: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud (99%) and sand and boulder (1%). 

Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch (n = 45) accounted for 64% of the 

enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were flatfishes at 13%. Vertical habitat consisted of 407 sea whips 

(10 damaged), with a density of 0.19 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris sp. (n = 9) heights ranged from 3.8 cm to 32.1 cm 

with a mean of 17.8 cm. Halipteris willemoesi (n = 90) heights ranged from 8.9 cm to 151.8 cm, with a mean of 

76.6 cm. No other corals were observed. 

130
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 125 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.51 -172.72 1,337 356 3 .9 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 125: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 34% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

Gadus sp. and poachers for a combined abundance of 29%. Vertical habitat consisted of 548 sea whips (5 damaged), 

Demospongiae (n = 7), and Hexactinellida (n = 7), with a density of 0.42 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris sp . heights 

(n = 36) ranged from 4.1 cm to 13.8 cm with a mean of 7.8 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 2) ranged from 12.8 cm 

to 19.4 cm, with a mean of 16.1 cm. No other corals were observed. 

131
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 126 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.45 -172.72 474 757 3 .2 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 126: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Grenadiers (n = 7) accounted for 77% of the enumerated taxa. No vertical habitat was 

identified. 

132
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 127 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/21/14 56.48 -172.71 874 557 NA 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 127: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Species composition was evenly 

distributed between the 7 taxa identified. Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat 

was identified. 

133
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 128 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.46 -172.67 1,090 662 3 .3 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 128: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Popeye grenadier (n = 42) accounted for 61% of the enumerated taxa. The next most 

abundant taxa were grenadiers at 16%. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Hexactinellida. No corals were observed. 

134
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 129 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.46 -172.75 915 713 3 .3 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 129: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts and grenadiers accounted for 53% of the enumerated taxa. Poachers and 

popeye grenadiers accounted for another 30% of the abundance. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Plexauridae and 

1 Demospongiae, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. No sea whips were observed. 

135
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 130 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.50 -172.74 1,289 431 3 .8 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 130: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 48% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

poachers, shortspine thornyheads, and eelpouts at 42%. Vertical habitat consisted of 399 sea whips (18 damaged) 

and 10 Hexactinellida, with a density of 0.31 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 126) ranged from 3.1 cm to 

19.4 cm with a mean of 9.14 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 2) ranged from 11.6 cm to 20.2 cm, with a mean of 

15.9 cm. No other corals were observed. 

136
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 131 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.54 -172.79 2,009 306 3 .9 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 131: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 66% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant 

taxa were other rockfishes at 17%. No vertical habitat was observed. 

137
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 132 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.56 -172.73 195 168 4 .0 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 132: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.11 individuals/m2

. Species composition was evenly distributed. Sculpins, Pacific ocean perch, and walleye 

pollock accounted for 71% of the enumerated taxa. No vertical habitat was observed. 

138
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Can n yo Transect 133 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.63 -172.95 1,477 142 4 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 133: Primary and secondary substrates were 96% sand and mud. The remaining substrates were a mixture 

of sand, mixed coarse, and boulder (2%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch 

and sculpins accounted for 78% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were other rockfishes at 

12%. Vertical habitat consisted of 486 sea whips (194 damaged), with a density of 0.33 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip 

heights (n = 76) ranged from 65.0 cm to 130.9 cm with a mean of 100.8 cm. No other corals or sponges were 

observed. 

139
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 134 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.66 -173.07 1,499 142 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 134: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was very low, 0.01 individuals/m2

. Only 7 individuals were identified with sculpins accounting for 75% of the 

enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 131 sea whips (116 damaged), with a density of 0.09 individuals/m2

 . 

Sea whip heights (n = 3) ranged from 56.4 cm to 74.6 cm with a mean of 64.2 cm. No other corals or sponges were 

observed. 

140
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 135 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.66 -173.14 1,790 214 3 .9 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 135: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of 98% sand and mud and 2% sand and boulders. Overall 

fish and crab density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 50% of the enumerated taxa. The 

next most abundant taxa were sculpins at 21%. No vertical habitat was observed. 

141
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 137 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.75 -173.23 880 138 4 .2 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 137: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts and arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder accounted for 67% of the enumerated taxa. 

One skate was identified. No vertical habitat was observed. 

142
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 138 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.84 -173.33 926 163 4 .2 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 138: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Sculpins (57%), Pacific ocean perch (29%) and skates (14%) accounted for 100% of the 

enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Halipteris. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

143
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 139 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.88 -173.41 1,004 515 3 .7 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 139: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of primarily of sand and mud (60%) and sand and 

mixed coarse (34%). The remaining 6% was sand and boulder or cobble. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.07 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 42% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

poachers, snailfishes, and eelpouts which combined for 39%. Vertical habitat consisted of 71 sea whips (1 damaged), 

1 Demospongiae, and 2 Hexactinellida, with a density of 0.07 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 22) ranged from 

6.8 cm to 29.7 cm with a mean of 13.9 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 2) ranged from 34.2 cm to 58.4 cm, with a 

mean of 46.8 cm. No other corals were observed. 

144
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 140 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.89 -173.38 1,338 273 4 .0 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 140: Primary and secondary substrates consisted primarily of sand and mixed coarse (90%). Overall fish 

and crab density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Pacific ocean perch accounted for 60% of the enumerated taxa. The 

next most abundant taxa were other rockfishes at 33%. Vertical habitat consisted of 97 sea whips (1 damaged), 

71 Demospongiae, and 7 Hexactinellida, with a density of 0.13 individuals/m2

. Sea whips were identified as 

Halipteris sp . and Halipteris willemoesi for height measurements . Halipteris sp. heights (n = 25) ranged from 5.5 cm to 

21.4 cm with a mean of 11.8 cm. Halipteris willemoesi heights (n = 2) ranged from 111.4 cm to 111.7 cm with a mean 

of 111.5 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 3) ranged from 11.8 cm to 24.4 cm, with a mean of 19.1 cm. No other 

corals were observed. 

145
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 141 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/23/14 56.94 -173.67 1,005 770 3 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 141: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of sand and mixed coarse (75%) and sand 

and mud (26%). Overall fish and crab density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 27% of the 

enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were snailfishes at 17%. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Swiftia sp., 

13 Hexactinellida, and 2 Demospongiae, with an overall density of 0.16 individuals/m2

. Hexactinellida heights 

(n = 8) ranged from 10.5 cm to 31.2 cm, with a mean of 16.8 cm. No sea whips were observed. 

146
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 142 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/23/14 56.95 -173.43 1,025 519 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 142: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Seventeen individuals were identified in eight taxa. Eelpouts (29%), poachers (24%), and 

shortspine thornyheads (18%) accounted for 71% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 2 sea whips. 

No other corals or sponges were observed. 

147
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 151 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.67 -174.13 1,312 136 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 151: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only four fish were counted 

for this transect resulting in a low species density (< 0.01 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat consisted entirely of sea 

whips (n = 73). Over half (n = 38) of these sea whips were damaged. Sea whip density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Six 

sea whips were measured and their mean height was 115.1 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

148
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 154 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.59 -174.00 1,630 132 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 154: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Fish density was low 

(0.01 individuals/m2

), with only 13 individuals counted. Vertical habitat consisted of 530 sea whips (32 damaged). 

Sea whip density was 0.33 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 35 measured Halipteris willemoesi was 113.7 cm. No other 

corals or sponges were identified. 

149
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 155 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.57 -173.98 1,752 134 4 .1 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 155: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 36 individuals counted, over 

half (53%) were eelpouts, and another 42% were sculpins and flatfishes. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

 . 

Vertical habitat consisted of 179 sea whips (25 damaged). Sea whip density was 0.10 individuals/m2

. Mean height 

for 24 measured Halipteris willemoesi was 109.3 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

150
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 156 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.57 -174.04 1,375 141 4 .1 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 156: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand. Of the 35 individuals counted, 69% were 

sculpins, and another 23% were flatfishes. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 

4,185 sea whips (94 damaged). The second highest sea whip density (3.04 individuals/m2

) was at this transect. Most 

of the individuals observed were short Halipteris willemoesi, mean height for 193 individuals was 12.4 cm. No other 

corals or sponges were identified. 

151
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 157 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.58 -173.99 1,322 133 4 .1 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 157: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand. Only 11 individuals were counted for this 

transect, resulting in a low species density (0.01 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat consisted of 260 sea whips. Sea 

whip density was 0.20 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 67 measured Halipteris willemoesi was 124.1 cm. No other 

corals or sponges were identified. 

152
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 158 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.50 -174.00 469 796 3 .2 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 158: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Of the 164 individuals counted, 

65% were popeye grenadiers, and another 27% were eelpouts and giant grenadiers. Species density was 

0.35 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

153
 
 

 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 161 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.00 -173.50 1,380 695 3 .3 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 161: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud or sand and mixed coarse 

(98%). Sand and boulders accounted for the remaining 2% of the transect substrate. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Grenadiers accounted for 53% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxon was 

shortspine thornyheads at 18%. Vertical habitat consisted of 61 sponges, 8 Swiftia sp., 2 Plexauridae, and 1 sea whip, 

with a density of 0.05 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 2) ranged from 13.3 cm to 21.4 cm with a mean 

of 17.3 cm. Hexactinellida heights (n = 8) ranged from 18.6 cm to 48.3 cm with a mean of 32.5 cm. Plexauridae 

heights (n = 2) ranged from 14.6 cm to 27.7 cm with a mean of 21.2 cm. 

154
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 162 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.03 -173.82 1,380 695 3 .3 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 162: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.08 individuals/m2

. Popeye grenadiers accounted for 47% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxon 

was snailfishes at 27%. No vertical habitat was observed. 

155
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 163 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 56.99 -173.92 1,293 777 3 .2 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 163: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.04 individuals/m2

. Popeye grenadiers accounted for 73% of the observed individuals. No vertical habitat was 

observed. 

156
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 164 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.11 -173.96 681 766 3 .2 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 164: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish and crab density was high at 

0.35 individuals/m2

. Popeye grenadiers accounted for 62% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa 

were eelpouts at 11%. No vertical habitat was observed. 

157
 
 

 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 165 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.24 -173.94 686 491 3 .7 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 165: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 55% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

snailfishes at 25%. Vertical habitat consisted of 3 sea whips, with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip 

heights (n = 3) ranged from 12.8 cm to 32.3 cm with a mean of 20.2 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

158
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 166 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.26 -173.98 464 719 3 .2 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 166: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.27 individuals/m2

. Deepsea sole accounted for 55% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

popeye grenadiers (13%) and poachers (11%). Vertical habitat consisted of 3,872 sea whips (31) damaged, with a 

density of 8.35 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 195) ranged from 5.1 cm to 49.4 cm with a mean of 26.1 cm. 

No other corals or sponges were observed. 

159
 
 

Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 167 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.28 -173.88 583 367 3 .8 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 167: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of mud. Overall fish density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Shortspine thornyheads accounted for 36% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant 

taxa were rex sole (14%) and snailfishes (14%). Vertical habitat consisted of 114 sea whips (2 damaged), with a 

density of 0.20 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 68) ranged from 2.3 cm to 10.1 cm with a mean of 3.1 cm. No 

other corals or sponges were observed. 

160
 
Area: Pribilof Canyon to Zhemchug Canyon Transect 168 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.28 -173.93 772 591 3.5 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 168: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 30% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

poachers, snailfishes, and Chionoecetes sp., at 61% combined. No vertical habitat consisted was observed. 

161
 
162

Zhemchug 

Canyon

Twenty-five transects were completed in Zhemchug Canyon. 

Depths ranged from 121 m to 744 m. Thirty-one taxa of fishes 

and crabs were identified (Table 22). Vertical habitat was 

dominated by sponges (Table 23). Heights ranged from 1.7 cm 

to 134.5 cm (Table 24).

197

195

194

193

192

190

189

184

182

181

180

179

178

177

176

175

174

173172

171

170

149

148

174°W

176°W 174°W

59°N

58°N

58°N

Zhemchug Canyon

Transect Locations

200 m

400 m

800 m

Zhemchug Canyon

Figure 18. -- Survey transect locations, Zhemchug Canyon.
	
 

 

 

 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon 

Zhemchug Canyon is known for its rugged steep walls. The elongated canyon runs almost parallel to the 

shelf break. It cuts a gorge 106 km long and 30 km wide, with 2,600 m of relief and a floor 10 km wide 

(Karl et al. 1996). 

Twenty-three distinct substrates were identified in Zhemchug Canyon (Table 21). The primary substrate 

was sand with mud, gravel, cobble, boulders, mixed coarse, and bedrock mixed in. Transect 149 was the 

most diverse in the canyon with 13 different substrates being identified and boulders comprising 48% of 

the composition. 

Fish and crab composition was also diverse with thirty-one taxa being identified (Table 22). Pacific ocean 

perch (n = 846) and harlequin rockfish (n = 11) were the most abundant, of which 813 were identified at 

transect 149. Northern rockfish (n = 167) were also present at this transect. 

Demospongiae (n = 9,294) from transect 149 were the most abundant of the corals, sponges, and 

sea whips (Table 23). Heights ranged from 1.7 cm to 134.5 cm with Halipteris being the shortest and 

Demospongiae being the tallest (Table 24). Swiftia sp. was the only coral observed other than Halipteris

Sea whips and Demospongiae were distributed throughout the canyon (Figs. 19, 21). The one Plexauridae 

(Swiftia sp.) was located in the southern tip of the canyon (Fig. 20). 

Table 21. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 25) in Zhemchug Canyon. 

Number of transects with 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate Percent of observations 

Sand .mud 153 - 744 18 64% 

Sand* 288 - 659 5 12% 

Sand .gravel 122 - 485 7 10% 

Sand.mixed coarse 288 - 744 3 4% 

Sand.cobble 121 - 130 3 3% 

Boulder.high bedrock 129 - 129 1 2% 

Mixed coarse 121 - 121 2 1% 

Cobble.sand 129 - 129 1 1% 

Sand.boulder 121 - 121 8 1% 

Gravel.sand 129 - 129 2 <1% 

High bedrock.boulder 121 - 129 1 <1% 

Gravel* 129 - 129 1 <1% 

Low bedrock.boulder 121 - 121 1 <1% 

Boulder.low bedrock 129 - 129 1 <1% 

Mixed coarse.boulder 121 - 121 1 <1% 

Sand.low bedrock 288 - 288 3 <1% 

Cobble.low bedrock 129 - 129 1 <1% 

Boulder .sand 129 - 129 2 <1% 

High bedrock 121 - 121 1 <1% 

Sand.high bedrock 485 - 485 1 <1% 

Cobble.boulder 129 - 129 1 <1% 

Mixed coarse.sand 121 - 121 1 <1% 

Low bedrock 121 - 121 1 <1% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same. 

163
SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon 

Table 22. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 25) in Zhemchug Canyon. 

Species/Grouping 

Number of 

occurrences 

Number of transects 

with occurrences 

Mean transect 

depth range (m) 

Mean density

 (individuals/m2) 

Pacific ocean perch 846 6 121 - 402 0 .10 

Eelpout unid . 168 16 251 - 744 0 .01 

Northern rockfish 168 2 121 - 288 0.06 

Poacher unid. 115 21 129 - 744 0 .01 

Popeye grenadier 84 4 659 - 737 0 .02 

Sculpin unid. 69 17 121 - 677 0 .01 

Rockfish unid. 60 8 121 - 582 0 .01 

Searcher unid. 52 1 121 - 121 0 .04 

Giant grenadier 51 11 422 - 744 <0.01 

Flatfish unid. 36 12 121 - 737 <0.01 

Snailfish unid. 35 10 236 - 744 <0.01 

Roundfish unid. 31 16 121 - 744 <0.01 

Shortspine thornyhead 27 9 363 - 737 <0.01 

Shortraker rockfish 18 5 347 - 563 <0.01 

Chionoecetes sp . 17 10 153 - 701 <0.01 

Skate unid. 11 8 251 - 582 <0.01 

Harlequin rockfish 11 1 121 - 121 0 .01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 10 7 251 - 677 <0.01 

Crab unid. 8 4 122 - 485 <0.01 

Walleye pollock 4 2 121 - 363 <0.01 

Rex sole 3 2 422 - 427 <0.01 

Flathead sole 3 1 485 - 485 <0.01 

Greenland turbot 3 1 468 - 468 <0.01 

Pacific cod 3 3 121 - 288 <0.01 

Grenadier unid. 2 2 468 - 677 <0.01 

Blackspotted rockfish 2 2 121 - 347 <0.01 

King crab unid. 2 2 236 - 701 <0.01 

Golden king crab 2 2 241 - 402 <0.01 

Pacific halibut 1 1 122 - 122 <0.01 

Dusky rockfish 1 1 121 - 121 <0.01 

Atka mackerel 1 1 121 - 121 <0.01 

164
 
SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon 

Table 23. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 25) in Zhemchug 

Canyon . 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Demospongiae 9,495 10 121 - 737 0.69 

Halipteris sp . 583 11 236 - 744 0.05 

Hexactinellida 195 8 121 - 677 0.05 

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 8 3 288 - 479 <0.01 

Porifera 6 1 677 - 677 0 .01 

Swiftia sp . 2 1 402 - 402 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping .
 

Table 24. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height from transects completed in Zhemchug

Canyon . 

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Demospongiae 281 22 .9 10 .1 134.5 

Halipteris sp . 154 6.3 1 .7 28 .2 

Halipteris willemoesi 12 38 .4 11 .7 103 .4 

Hexactinellida 61 20.5 10 .4 78 .2 

Porifera 1 21 .8 21 .8 21 .8 

Swiftia sp . 1 14 .7 14 .7 14 .7 

165
 
 

SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon 

176°W 174°W 176°W 174°W

! !

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

! !

Zhemchug Canyon

Sea Whip Distribution 

! Halipteris sp. 

Zhemchug Canyon 

59°N 

!

! !

!

!

!

!

!

#

# #

#

#

#

## #

#

Zhemchug Canyon 

Sponge Distribution 

# Demospongiae

! Hexactinellida

Zhemchug Canyon 

59°N

58°N 58°N

58°N 58°N

174°W 174°W

Figure 19. -- Sea whip distribution, Zhemchug Figure 21. -- Sponge distribution, Zhemchug 

Canyon . Canyon . 

"

176°W 174°W

59°N

58°N

58°N

Zhemchug Canyon

Coral Distribution 

" Plexauridae

Zhemchug Canyon 

174°W

Figure 20. -- Coral distribution, Zhemchug Canyon. 

166
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 148 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.75 -174.11 375 129 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 148: Primary and secondary substrates for 75% of the transect were sand and mixed coarse. The 

remaining substrate consisted entirely of mixed coarse. Species density was extremely low (0.01) individuals/m2

 . 

Only two fish were identified. Sponge densities were 0.29 individuals/m2

, with 20 Demospongiae and 

90 Hexactinellida identified. One Demospongiae was measured (21.0 cm) and the mean height of 15 measured 

Hexactinellida was 15.7 cm. No corals were observed. 

167
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 149 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.69 -174.05 1,392 121 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 149: Substrate composition for this transect was very diverse. Almost 50% of the substrate consisted of 

boulder and high bedrock. Another 26% of the substrate was sand. Of the 1,095 individuals counted, 813 were 

Pacific ocean perch and 167 were northern rockfish, accounting for 89% of all fishes counted. Fish density was 

0.79 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat was composed of four Hexactinellida and 9,294 Demospongiae for a density of 

6.678 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 233 measured Demospongiae was 24.5 cm. One Hexactinellida was measured 

(78.2 cm). No corals were identified. 

168
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 170 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.67 -173.78 436 130 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 170: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand, with < 10% a sand/gravel mix. 

Fish and crab density for this transect was 0.02 individuals/m2

, and 70% of individuals identified were sculpins. No 

vertical habitat was identified. 

169
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 171 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2

) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.69 -173.88 727 122 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 171: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and cobble. Fish and crab density for this 

transect was low (0.02 individuals/m2

), and consisted largely of crabs and unidentified roundfishes. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 80 sponges (9 Demospongiae, 71 Hexactinellida). Sponge density was 0.11 individuals/m2

. Mean height 

for 6 measured Demospongiae was 18.9 cm, while the mean height for 31 measured Hexactinellida was 16.9 cm. No 

corals were identified. 

170
 
 

Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 172 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.76 -173.76 794 402 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 172: Primary and secondary substrates for 75% of the transect were sand and gravel. A cobble/ 

sand sediment mix comprised another ~20% of the substrate identified. Of the 25 individuals counted, 32% 

were poachers and 20% were sculpins. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 

2 corals (Swiftia sp.), 1 sea whip, and 13 sponges (4 Demospongiae, 9 Hexactinellida). Vertical habitat density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Mean heights of four Demospongiae and seven Hexactinellida were 32.1 cm and 23.8 cm, 

respectively. One Swiftia sp. was measured (14.7 cm). 

171
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 173 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.76 -173.85 684 485 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 173: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 74 individuals counted, 62% 

were eelpouts, and another 22% were snailfishes. Species density was 0.11 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 3 sea whips. Mean height for 2 of those sea whips was 9.3 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

172
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 174 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.85 -173.85 964 272 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 174: Primary and secondary substrates for over half of the transect were sand and mud. The remainder 

of the tow consisted of a mixture of sand, mixed coarse, boulder, and low bedrock. Of the 33 individuals 

counted, 52% were Pacific ocean perch, and another 27% were unidentified rockfishes. Species density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 sea whip, 90 Demospongiae and 1 Hexactinellida. Vertical 

habitat density was 0.10 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 27 Demospongiae was 13.1 cm, while the one sea whip was 

103.4 cm tall. 

173
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 175 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.95 -173.89 655 241 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 175: Primary and secondary substrates for over half of the transect were sand and mud. A sand/gravel 

sediment mix comprised another ~25% of the substrate identified. Only 11 individuals were counted for this 

transect and poachers were the most abundant. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Nine Demospongiae were 

identified, and 3 of them were measured (14.9 cm). Sponge density was low (0.01 individuals/m2

). No corals were 

identified. 

174
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 176 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.96 -173.92 577 363 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 176: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 14 individuals 

were counted for this transect, and counts were evenly distributed between species. Species density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

175
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 177 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 58.01 -174.02 685 422 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 177: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Only 13 individuals were counted for 

this transect and poachers were the most abundant. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was 

identified. 

176
 
 

Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 178 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 58.07 -174.14 900 677 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 178: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud, with < 5% a mix of 

sand/boulder. Of the 26 individuals counted, 38% were eelpouts, and another 23% were poachers. Species density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 18 Hexactinellida and 6 unidentified sponges. Sponge density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Mean height for six Hexactinellida was 36.5 cm. One unidentified sponge was measured 

(21.8 cm). No corals were identified. 

177
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 179 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.11 -174.17 846 563 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 179: Primary and secondary substrates were sand and mud. Of the 28 individuals counted, 54% were 

eelpouts, and another 14% were giant grenadiers. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. One Hexactinellida was 

counted and measured (25.4 cm). No corals were identified. 

178
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 180 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.20 -174.23 1,218 427 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 180: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 87 individuals counted, 

30% were eelpouts, and another 28% were poachers. One skate and 4 crabs were also identified. Species density was 

0.07 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

179
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 181 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.31 -174.35 1,149 347 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 181: Primary and secondary substrates for over half of the transect were sand and mud. A sand/ 

gravel sediment mix comprised another ~35% of the substrate identified. Only 24 individuals were counted, and 

42% were Pacific ocean perch. Shortraker rockfish comprised another 29% of the total fish count. Fish density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. One sea whip was counted and measured (61.4 cm). No other corals or sponges were 

identified. 

180
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 182 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.33 -174.40 987 582 3.5 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 182: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 38 individuals counted, 

eelpouts, poachers and grenadiers were the most abundant. One skate and 2 crabs were also identified. Species 

density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

181
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 184 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.45 -174.50 307 153 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 184: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 27 individuals counted, 

sculpins, unidentified roundfishes, and poachers were the most abundant. Species density was 0.09 individuals/m2

 . 

No vertical habitat was identified. 

182
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 189 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.62 -174.58 596 236 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 189: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2, 

and 66% of the species identified were poachers and snailfishes. Vertical habitat consisted of 21 Demospongiae 

and 1 sea whip. Sponge density was 0.04 individuals/m2

, and the mean height of 3 Demospongiae was 12.4 cm. No 

other corals were identified. 

183
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 190 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.63 -174.61 1,109 251 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 190: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 57 individuals counted, 

39% were flatfishes, and 47% were sculpins and poachers. Species density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 3 Demospongiae and 357 sea whips. Habitat density was 0.32 individuals/m2

, and the mean height of 

107 sea whips was 3.9 cm. No other corals were identified. 

184
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 191 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.57 -174.71 1,194 701 3 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 191: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of sand. Of the 64 individuals counted, popeye 

grenadier were most abundant. Species density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

185
 
 

Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 192 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.56 -174.79 1,031 737 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 192: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 57 individuals 

counted, popeye grenadier and eelpouts (n = 12) were most abundant. Species density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. One 

Demospongiae was observed. No corals were identified. 

186
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 193 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.56 -174.82 679 744 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 193: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 42 individuals counted, 

55% were eelpouts. Fish density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 19 sea whips. Sea whip 

density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

187
 
 

 

Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 194 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.64 -175.00 970 288 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 194: Primary and secondary substrates consisted mostly of sand and gravel. Only 23 individuals were 

counted, and eelpouts were the most abundant. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 79 sea whips (2 damaged), 44 Demospongiae, and 1 Hexactinellida. Habitat density was 0.13 individuals/m2

 . 

Mean height of 4 measured Demospongiae was 11.1 cm. Measured sea whips were divided into Halipteris sp. (n = 20) 

and Halipteris willemoesi (n = 2), and their mean heights were 6.2 cm and 73.0 cm, respectively. 

188
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 195 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.49 -175.15 785 659 3 .4 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 195: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 21 individuals were 

identified, and the counts were evenly distributed among the groups. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

 . Two 

sea whips were counted and measured (21.0 cm). No other corals or sponges were identified. 

189
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 196 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.36 -175.09 1,281 479 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 196: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 23 individuals were 

identified, and giant grenadiers were the most abundant. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 60 sea whips (4 damaged). Mean height for 10 measured sea whips was 17.3 cm. No other corals or 

sponges were identified. 

190
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon Transect 197 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.32 -175.15 1,645 468 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 197: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 30 individuals counted, 

poachers were the most abundant. One skate, 1 crab, and 3 Greenland turbot were also identified in this transect. 

Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 67 sea whips (2 damaged). Mean height for 21 

measured sea whips was 16.2 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

191
 
Zhemchug 

to Pervenets 

Canyon

Fifteen transects were completed between Zhemchug Canyon and 

Pervenets Canyon. Depths ranged from 215 m to 770 m. Twentythree taxa of fishes and crabs were identified (Table 26). Very little 

vertical habitat was observed (Table 27). Heights ranged from 3.8 

cm to 46.8 cm (Table 28).

213

212

211

210

208

205

203

202 201

200

176°W

178°W 176°W

60°N

59°N

59°N

58°N

58°N

Zhemchug Canyon to

Pervenets Canyon

Station Locations

200 m

400 m

800 m

Zhemchug Canyon

Pervenets Canyon

Figure 22. -- Survey transect locations, Zhemchug to Pervenets Canyon. 

192
 

 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon
 

Transects between Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon were concentrated around the northern and 

southern ends of the region due to time constraints (Fig. 22). All substrates observed contained sand as 

the primary substrate. Boulders were identified in two transects (Table 25). 

Popeye grenadiers was the most abundant species of crabs or fishes observed, occurring at a mean depth 

of greater than 571 m (Table 26). Eelpouts and sculpins were the next most frequently identified. Overall, 

twenty-three taxa of fish and crabs were identified. 

Demospongiae and Halipteris provided the only vertical habitat (Table 27, Figures 23 and 24). Heights 

ranged from 3.8 cm to 46.8 cm with Halipteris willemoesi being the tallest (Table 28). 

Table 25. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 15) between Zhemchug Canyon and 

Pervenets Canyon . 

Number of transects with Percent of observed 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate substrate 

Sand .mud 215 - 770 15 97% 

Sand* 571 - 571 1 2% 

Sand .gravel 571 - 571 1 1% 

Sand.mixed coarse 571 - 571 1 <1% 

Sand.boulder 571 - 723 2 <1% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same.
	

Table 26. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 15) between Zhemchug Canyon and
	

Pervenets Canyon . 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2

) 

Popeye grenadier 408 5 571 - 770 0.05 

Eelpout unid . 93 12 328 - 770 0 .01 

Sculpin unid. 76 13 215 - 761 <0.01 

Flatfish unid. 47 13 215 - 571 <0.01 

Roundfish unid. 37 15 215 - 770 <0.01 

Poacher unid. 36 11 215 - 770 <0.01 

Giant grenadier 27 8 371 - 770 <0.01 

Snailfish unid. 25 10 305 - 770 <0.01 

Chionoecetes sp . 22 9 328 - 770 <0.01 

Skate unid. 14 6 215 - 710 <0.01 

Shortspine thornyhead 13 6 359 - 571 <0.01 

Grenadier unid. 12 3 571 - 761 <0.01 

Walleye pollock 9 5 247 - 372 <0.01 

Rex sole 7 4 359 - 412 <0.01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 5 2 247 - 305 <0.01 

Rockfish unid. 5 3 371 - 412 <0.01 

Shortraker rockfish 3 1 371 - 371 <0.01 

Sablefish 2 2 305 - 571 <0.01 

Flathead sole 2 1 412 - 412 <0.01 

Deepsea sole 2 2 723 - 761 <0.01 

Pacific ocean perch 1 1 305 - 305 <0.01 

Greenland turbot 1 1 412 - 412 <0.01 

Cod/pollock unid. 1 1 247 - 247 <0.01 

193
 
 

 

 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon 

Table 27. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 15)between 

Zhemchug Canyon and Pervenets Canyon. 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Demospongiae 239 10 215 761 0 02 

Halipteris sp 192 7 305 571 0 02 

Demospongiae (damaged) 12 3 305 412 <0.01 

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 3 2 328 372 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp grouping

Table 28. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height from transects completed between

Zhemchug Canyon and Pervenets Canyon. 

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Halipteris sp 61 9 2 3 8 30 7 

Demospongiae 41 15.5 10.6 26.6 

Halipteris willemoesi 15 19 9 12 2 46.8 

178°W 176°W 178°W 176°W

Zhemchug Canyon to 

Pervenets Canyon 

Sea Whip Distribution 

! Halipteris sp. 

!!

!

!

!!

!

176°W 

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

Zhemchug Canyon to 

Pervenets Canyon 

60°N Sponge Distribution 

#*#*

#*

#*#*

#*#*

#*

#*#*

#*

176°W

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

60°N

#* Demospongiae

59°N 59°N

59°N 59°N

58°N 58°N

58°N 58°N

Figure 23. -- Sea whip distribution, Zhemchug Figure 24. -- Sponge distribution, Zhemchug 

Canyon to Pervenets Canyon . Canyon to Pervenets Canyon . 

194
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 198 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.32 -175.26 1,390 385 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 198: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 27 individuals counted, 

poachers were the most abundant. Fish density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 2 sea whips. 

One sea whip was measured (6.3 cm). No other corals or sponges were identified. 

195
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 199 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.32 -175.28 1,047 372 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 199: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 17 individuals 

were identified, and sculpins, poachers, unidentified roundfishes and flatfishes accounted for 72% of the 

observations. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 5 sea whips (1 damaged), and 

1 Demospongiae. One sea whip was measured (8.8 cm) as well as 1 Demospongiae (13.6 cm). No other corals were 

identified. 

196
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 200 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.32 -175.34 849 375 3 .8 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 200: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 21 individuals were 

identified, and species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 6 Demospongiae. Sponge 

density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. One Demospongiae was measured (12.4 cm). No corals were identified. 

197
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 201 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/29/14 58.24 -175.34 1,311 770 3 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 201: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 68 individuals 

identified, 41% of them were popeye grenadiers. Eelpouts and giant grenadiers comprised another 44% of the total 

observations. Fish and crab density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

198
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 202 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 58.24 -175.53 2,141 710 3 3 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 202: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 290 individuals 

identified, 85% were popeye grenadiers. Another 10% of the observations were eelpouts. Species density was 

0.14 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

199
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 203 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 58.40 -175.60 2,220 328 3 9 

Summary - description of transect

Images

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 203: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 49 individuals counted, 

29% were flatfishes and 27% were sculpins. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 35 sea whips (2 damaged) and 4 Demospongiae. Sponge and sea whip density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. One 

Demospongiae was measured (11.3 cm) and the mean height of 8 sea whips was 8.9 cm. No other corals were 

identified. 

200
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 205 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.06 -178.33 1,565 247 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 205: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 20 individuals were 

identified, and 45% were flatfishes. Skates comprised another 20% of the observations. Species density was 

0.01 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 8 Demospongiae. Sponge density was 0.01 individuals/m2. One 

Demospongiae was measured (23.5 cm). No corals were identified. 

201
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 206 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.07 -178.39 1,288 571 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 206: Primary and secondary substrates of over half the transect were sand and mud. Sand was the second 

most common substrate identified. Of the 28 individuals identified, 82% were eelpouts and grenadiers. Species 

density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 sea whip. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

202
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 207 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.06 -178.45 1,395 761 3 .3 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 207: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 94 individuals 

identified, 78% were eelpouts and grenadiers. Species density was 0.07 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 198 Demospongiae. Sponge density was 0.14 individuals/m2

. Mean height of 28 measured Demospongiae was 

14.2 cm. No corals were identified. 

203
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 208 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.10 -178.41 1,242 371 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 208: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 35 individuals 

identified, 54% were sculpins. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 5 damaged 

Demospongiae and 16 sea whips. Sponge and sea whip density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Mean height of 8 measured 

sea whips was 21.2 cm. 

204
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 209 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.11 -178.42 983 412 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 209: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 27 individuals 

identified, 52% were sculpins and shortspine thornyheads. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 2 Demospongiae (1 damaged) and 49 sea whips. Sponge and sea whip density was 0.05 individuals/m2

 . 

Mean height of 17 measured sea whips was 16.4 cm 

205
 
 

8/30/14 59.13 -178.48 1,241 723 3 .4 

Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 210 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 210: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud. Of the 107 individuals 

identified, 73% were grenadiers. Eelpouts (n = 17) were the 2nd most abundant group of fishes. Fish density was 

0.09 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Demospongiae. No corals were identified. 

206
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 211 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.18 -178.46 865 359 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 211: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Only 24 individuals were identified, 

and 42% were sculpins and poachers. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 

1 Demospongiae. No corals were identified. 

207
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 212 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.19 -178.41 912 215 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 212: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 16 individuals were 

identified, and 69% were sculpins and flatfishes. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 18 Demospongiae. Sponge density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Mean height of 8 measured Demospongiae was 

19.4 cm. No corals were identified. 

208
 
Area: Zhemchug Canyon to Pervenets Canyon Transect 213 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.27 -178.39 969 305 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 213: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Only 25 individuals were identified, 

and 52% were sculpins and flatfishes. Species density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 

87 sea whips and 7 Demospongiae (1 damaged). Sponge and sea whip density was 0.10 individuals/m2

. One 

Demospongiae was measured (20.3 cm), and the mean height of 41 measured sea whips was 7.9 cm. 

209
 
Pervenets 

Canyon

Twelve transects were completed in Pervenets Canyon. Depths 

ranged from 261 m to 748 m. Sixteen taxa of fishes and crabs were 

identified (Table 30). Very little vertical habitat was observed (Table 

31). Heights ranged from 3.8 cm to 46.8 cm (Table 32).

225

224

223

222

221

220 219

218217 214

178°W

178°W

60°N

59°N

59°N

Pervenets Canyon

Transect Locations

200 m

400 m

800 m

Pervenets Canyon

Figure 25. -- Survey transect locations, Pervenets Canyon. 

210
 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Pervenets Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon is 70 km across on the shelf at its widest point. It narrows to 40 km at the shelf break. 

There are two main channels that merge to form one channel at 600 m and then join Navarin Canyon 

at 3,500 m. Pervenets has a volume of 1,700 km3

 which is approximately one third the size of Navarin 

Canyon to the north (Karl et al. 1996). 

Seventy percent of the observed substrates in Pervenets Canyon were comprised of sand (Table 29). Mud 

was present at 4 transects (29% of observations). 

Fish and crab diversity was lower than Zhemchug and Pervenets Canyons with only sixteen taxa 

identified (Table 30). Popeye grenadier, Chionoecetes, and eelpouts were the top three species present. 

Vertical habitat diversity was low with only Halipteris, Demospongiae, and Hexactinellida present (Table 

31, Figs. 26-27). Demospongiae and Hexactinellida both occurred at the same two transects (223, 224). 

Ninety-eight percent of the Halipteris were identified at transect 219 (Fig. 26). 

Table 29. -- Summary of substrates observed at transects (n = 12) in Pervenets Canyon . 

Number of transects with 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate Percent of observations 

Sand .mud 364 - 748 6 53% 

Mud* 261 - 561 4 29% 

Sand* 273 - 602 2 17% 

Sand .gravel 738 - 738 1 1% 

Sand.cobble 611 - 611 1 <1% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same.
	

Table 30. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 12) in Pervenets Canyon .
 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2

) 

Popeye grenadier 465 5 561 - 748 0 .09 

Chionoecetes sp . 393 8 364 - 748 0 .04 

Eelpout unid . 232 13 364 - 748 0 .01 

Poacher unid. 101 10 261 - 748 0 .01 

Grenadier unid. 94 4 611 - 748 0 .01 

Giant grenadier 80 6 516 - 738 0 .01 

Snailfish unid. 63 9 364 - 748 0 .01 

Sculpin unid. 48 9 273 - 748 <0.01 

Flatfish unid. 29 8 261 - 748 <0.01 

Roundfish unid. 20 6 273 - 748 <0.01 

Skate unid. 17 9 273 - 738 <0.01 

Shortspine thornyhead 6 4 494 - 738 <0.01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 3 2 273 - 392 <0.01 

Golden king crab 3 1 364 - 364 <0.01 

Greenland turbot 2 2 516 - 561 <0.01 

King crab unid. 1 1 738 - 738 <0.01 

211
 
 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Pervenets Canyon 

Table 31. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa observed at transects (n = 12) in Pervenets 

Canyon . 

Number of Number of transects Mean transect Mean density

Species/Grouping occurrences with occurrences depth range (m) (individuals/m2) 

Halipteris sp . 308 3 273 - 392 0 .09
 

Demospongiae 32 2 273 - 392 0 .01
 

Hexactinellida 7 2 273 - 392 <0.01
	

Halipteris sp. (damaged) 2 1 494 - 494 <0.01
	

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping .
 

Table 32. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height collected from transects in Pervenets

Canyon . 

Number Mean height Minimum height Maximum height 

Species/Grouping measured (cm) (cm) (cm) 

Halipteris sp . 62 10 .0 3 .3 34 .8 

Demospongiae 8 13 .4 10 .2 21 .0 

Hexactinellida 2 12.6 11 .0 14 .1 

Halipteris willemoesi 1 95.8 95.8 95.8 

59°N 

178°W 178°W

Figure 26. -- Sea whip distribution, Pervenets Figure 27. -- Sponge distribution, Pervenets 

Canyon . Canyon . 

!(

!(

!(

178°W 

Pervenets Canyon 

Sea Whip Distribution 

!( Halipteris sp. 

Pervenets Canyon 

60°N 

59°N

59°N 

!(

!(

#*

#*

178°W

Pervenets Canyon 

Sponge Distribution 

#* Demospongiae

!( Hexactinellida

Pervenets Canyon 

60°N

59°N

212
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 214 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.30 -178.33 907 494 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 214: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 59 individuals counted, 67% 

were eelpouts and poachers. Species density was 0.07 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 2 damaged 

Halipteris sp. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

213
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 215 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.35 -178.21 815 738 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 215: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud. Approximately 5% 

of the substrate was sand and gravel. Of the 219 individuals counted, 81% were grenadiers. Two skates were also 

identified. Species density was 0.27 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

214
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 216 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.38 -178.19 1,219 748 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 216: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 856 individuals counted, 42% 

were crabs (Chionoecetes sp.) and 30% were grenadiers. Species density was 0.70 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat 

was identified. 

215
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 217 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.35 -178.16 1,784 696 3 .4 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 217: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 98 individuals counted, 78% 

were grenadiers. Two skates were also identified. Species density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was 

identified. 

216
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 218 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.32 -178.23 1,518 611 3.5 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 218: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 57 individuals counted, 62% 

were grenadiers. One skate was also identified. Species density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was 

identified. 

217
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 219 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.30 -178.14 1,190 364 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 219: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 54 individuals counted, 43% 

were sculpins. Unidentified roundfishes and crabs accounted for another 24% of the observations. Five skates were 

also identified. Species density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 303 sea whips. Sea whip density 

was 0.25 individuals/m2

. One Halipteris willemoesi was measured (95.8 cm), as well as 59 Halipteris sp. (9.2 cm). No 

other corals or sponges were identified. 

218
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 220 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.34 -178.04 1,328 602 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 220: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Of the 95 individuals counted, 44% 

were grenadiers. Snailfishes and eelpouts accounted for another 36% of the observations. Species density was 

0.07 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

219
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 221 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.38 -178.01 1,559 516 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 221: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Only 35 individuals were counted, 

and 43% were grenadiers. Eelpouts and sculpins were the next most abundant groups. Species density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

220
 
Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 222 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.38 -178.07 2,052 561 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 222: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Of the 66 individuals counted, 56% 

were grenadiers. Eelpouts and poachers accounted for another 27% of the observations. Species density was 

0.03 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

221
 
 

Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 223 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/31/14 59.46 -177.97 1,946 392 3 7 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 223: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Only 7 individuals were counted, 

and 72% were sculpins and flatfishes. One eelpout and 1 crab were also identified. Species density was very low 

(< 0.01 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat consisted of 4 sea whips, 18 Demospongiae and 4 Hexactinellida. Sponge 

and sea whip density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 7 measured Demospongiae was 12.7 cm. One 

Hexactinellida was measured (14.1 cm), and 3 sea whips (24.0 cm). 

222
 
 

 

Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 224 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/1/14 59.43 -177.63 1,593 273 3.5 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 224: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand. Fish density was low (0.01 individuals/m2), 

with only 8 individuals counted for the entire transect. Skates, sculpins and flatfishes were found in equal numbers 

(n = 2 each). Skate egg cases were observed in this transect. Vertical habitat density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. One sea 

whip was identified, as well as 14 Demospongiae and 3 Hexactinellida. Mean heights for 3 measured Demospongiae 

and Hexactinellida were 18.3 cm and 11.0 cm, respectively. 

223
 
 

Area: Pervenets Canyon Transect 225 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/1/14 59.26 -177.66 735 261 3 .4 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 225: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mud. Only 3 fish were identified resulting in a low 

density (< 0.01 individuals/m2

). No vertical habitat was identified. 

224
 
225

Sixty-seven transects were completed on the Outer Shelf. Depths 

ranged from 91 m to 513 m. Twenty-eight taxa of fishes and crabs 

were identified (Table 34). Vertical habitat was dominated by 

Demospongiae and sea whips (Table 35). Heights ranged from 

2.7 cm to 230.1 cm (Table 36).

Outer Shelf

9

8

7

6

92

91

86

82

64

5657

47

46

45

44

40

37 38

35

34

32

25

23

13

252

251

245

244 242

239

204

188 187

186 185

183

169

160

153159

152

146147

145

144

136

109110

104

101

168°W

168°W

172°W

176°W 172°W

60°N

58°N

58°N

56°N

56°N

54°N

54°N

52°N

Outer Shelf

Transect Locations

200m

400m

800m

Pribilof Canyon

Bering Canyon

Zhemchug Canyon

Pervenets Canyon

Figure 28. -- Survey transect locations, Outer Shelf.
	
 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Outer Shelf 

Transects in the Outer Shelf region had the largest spread in latitude, occurring as far south as 166.99°N 

and as far north as 178 .29°N (Fig. 28). The boundaries of the outer shelf are defined in Sigler et al. 2015. 

The Outer Shelf substrate was dominated by sand and mud. Over 80% of the primary substrate was 

identified as sand (Table 33). Boulders and bedrock were observed in less than 2% of the images. 

Chionoecetes sp. were identified more than any other fish or crab occurring at 49 of 67 transects (Table 

34). Although Halipteris sp. occurred at more transects (25) than Demospongiae (29), the frequency 

of occurrences of Demospongiae was almost twice as much as Halipteris (Table 35). Halipteris willemoesi 

and Demospongiae dominated the vertical habitat with heights ranging from 4-230 cm and 10-73 cm, 

respectively. 

Sea whips and sponges were distributed throughout the region (Figs. 29, 31). Primnoidae (Plumarella sp .) 

was the only coral present, occurring at transect 40 (Fig. 30). 

Table 33. -- Summary of substrates identified at transects (n = 67) in the Outer Shelf region. 

Number of transects with Percent of observed 

Substrate Depth range (m) observed substrate substrate 

Sand .mud 91 - 451 57 72% 

Mud* 278 - 513 8 11% 

Sand* 110 - 174 14 6% 

Mixed coarse 174 - 252 6 6% 

Sand.mixed coarse 171 - 181 4 2% 

Boulder.high bedrock 110 - 110 1 1% 

Mixed coarse.sand 181 - 181 1 1% 

Gravel.mixed coarse 181 - 181 1 <1% 

Sand .gravel 146 - 181 2 <1% 

Sand.boulder 110 - 171 4 <1% 

High bedrock.boulder 110 - 110 1 <1% 

Sand.cobble 158 - 158 1 <1% 

Boulder* 110 - 110 1 <1% 

*Primary and secondary substrates were the same.
	

226
 
 

 

SITE SUMMARY: Outer Shelf 

Table 34. -- Summary of fishes and crabs identified at transects (n = 67) in the Outer Shelf region. 

Species/Grouping 

Number of 

occurrences 

Number of transects 

with occurrences 

Mean transect 

depth range (m) 

Mean density

 (individuals/m2) 

Chionoecetes sp. 1,337 49 91 - 252 0 .02 

Eelpout 708 45 91 - 513 0 .02 

Sculpin 271 49 91 - 252 0 .01 

Roundfish unid. 230 47 110 - 513 <0.01 

Flatfish unid. 219 48 91 - 451 <0.01 

Pacific ocean perch 103 6 110 - 252 0 .01 

Crab unid. 69 19 92 - 206 <0.01 

Snailfish 59 10 140 - 513 0 .01 

Poacher 58 32 116 - 513 <0.01 

Northern rockfish 57 1 110 - 110 0 .04 

Searcher 49 10 110 - 212 <0.01 

Shortspine thornyhead 39 7 321 - 513 0 .01 

Arrowtooth/Kamchatka flounder 31 22 111 - 451 <0.01 

Flathead sole 26 20 112 - 451 <0.01 

Skate 24 18 112 - 472 <0.01 

Rockfish unid. 22 3 110 - 212 0 .01 

Walleye pollock 20 9 117 - 164 <0.01 

Harlequin rockfish 11 1 110 - 110 0 .01 

Pacific cod 7 5 133 - 164 <0.01 

Pacific halibut 7 6 116 - 453 <0.01 

Cod/pollock unid. 6 6 111 - 164 <0.01 

Golden king crab 6 2 212 - 252 <0.01 

Rex sole 6 6 117 - 371 <0.01 

Giant grenadier 5 4 451 - 513 <0.01 

Sablefish 3 1 137 - 137 <0.01 

King crab unid. 2 2 206 - 252 <0.01 

Blackspotted rockfish 1 1 110 - 110 <0.01 

Dusky rockfish 1 1 110 - 110 <0.01 

Table 35. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip taxa identified at transects (n = 67) in the Outer 

Shelf region . 

Species/Grouping 

Number of 

occurrences 

Number of transects 

with occurrences 

Mean transect 

depth range (m) 

Mean density

 (individuals/m2) 

Demospongiae 17,261 25 110 - 513 0.54 

Halipteris sp . 9,588 29 91 - 453 0 .23 

Halipteris sp. (damaged)* 790 25 91 - 278 0 .03 

Plumarella sp . 123 1 212 - 212 0 .07 

Hexactinellida 57 7 110 - 212 0 .01 

Demospongiae (damaged) 51 2 206 - 252 0 .02 

Porifera 2 1 150 - 150 <0.01 

Primnoidae 1 1 212 - 212 <0.01 

*Halipteris sp. (damaged) is not accounted for in the Halipteris sp . grouping . 

227
 
SITE SUMMARY: Outer Shelf 

Table 36. -- Summary of coral, sponge, and sea whip mean height data from transects in the outer shelf

region . 

Species/Grouping 

Number 

measured 

Mean height 

(cm) 

Minimum height 

(cm) 

Maximum height 

(cm) 

Halipteris willemoesi 852 109 .4 4 .1 230 .1 

Demospongiae 665 18 .9 10 .0 73 .1 

Halipteris sp . 308 12.6 2 .7 133 .0 

Plumarella sp . 48 16.2 6.5 29.6 

Hexactinellida 25 15.7 10 .2 35.3 

228
 
 

SITE SUMMARY: Outer Shelf 

176°W 172°W 168°W 176°W 172°W 168°W

58°N 

56°N 

54°N 

52°N 

!!!! ! !!!!! ! !!!!!!

!! !!!!!! !

!!

!!

Outer Shelf 

Sea Whip Distribution 

! Halipteris sp. 

Pribilof Canyon 

Bering Canyon 

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

60°N 

58°N

58°N 

56°N

56°N 

54°N

54°N 

52°N

!

!!

!!

!!!!

!

!

! !

!

!

!

!!!

!

!

!

!!#

##

##

####

#

#

# #

#

#

#

###

#

#

#

##

60°N

58°N

56°N

54°N

Outer Shelf 

Sponge Distribution 

# Demospongiae

! Hexactinellida

Pribilof Canyon 

Bering Canyon 

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

172°W 168°W 172°W 168°W

Figure 29. -- Sea whip distribution, Outer Shelf. Figure 31. -- Sponge distribution, Outer Shelf. 

"

176°W 172°W 168°W

60°N

58°N

58°N

56°N

56°N

54°N

54°N

52°N

Outer Shelf 

Coral Distribution 

" Primnoidae

Pribilof Canyon 

Bering Canyon 

Zhemchug Canyon 

Pervenets Canyon 

172°W 168°W

Figure 30. -- Coral distribution, Outer Shelf..
	

229
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 6 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 54.53 -166.96 724 451 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 6: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Transect 6 had overall low species 

abundance (0.03 individuals/m2

) with only 18 fishes identified. Shortspine thornyheads were 50% of the 

species identified, with eelpouts and flatfishes accounting for another 40% of the observations. Fish density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae occurred at low frequencies (n = 3), and averaged 38.6 cm in height. No corals 

were identified. 

230
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 7 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.77 -168.42 3,441 137 4 .4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 7: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud, respectively. Five crabs and 19 fish were 

counted for this transect, resulting in a density of 0.01 individuals/m2

 . Eelpouts and Chionoecetes sp. accounted for 

42% of all species seen. Vertical habitat consisted of 1132 sea whips (26 damaged), and 1 Demospongiae. Sea whip 

and sponge density was 0.33 individuals/m2

. The mean height of 256 measured sea whips was 143.3 cm. Although 

the Demospongiae was alone, it contributed 73.1 cm to the vertical habitat. No other corals were identified. 

231
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 8 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.73 -168.66 367 140 4 .2 

Images 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 8: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. The camera spent almost 85% of 

its time off bottom with no visual input. Six crabs and 2 eelpouts comprised 100% of the fish and crab density 

(0.02 individuals/m2

). One Demospongiae was identified, but not measured. No corals were identified. 

232
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 9 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.72 -168.66 596 140 4 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 9: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud for (99%). Crabs (Chionoecetes sp .) were the 

most abundant taxon seen and made up 86% of all species identified. Species density was 0.05 individuals/m2

. One 

Demospongiae was identified and measured (10.2 cm). No corals were found. 

233
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 10 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.72 -168.70 851 142 4 .2 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 10: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud 97% of the transect, and just sand for 

the remainder. Crabs and eelpouts were 92% of the species identified. Species density was 0.13 individuals/m2

. One 

damaged Halipteris sp. and one Hexactinellida were counted. No corals or Demospongiae were identified. 

234
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 12 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.77 -168.71 1,592 141 4 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 12: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Of the 123 individuals identified, 78% 

were crabs. Eelpouts, flatfishes, and unidentified roundfishes accounted for another 14% of the observations. 

Species density was 0.08 individuals/m2

. One small sea whip was counted and measured (4.8 cm). No other corals or 

sponges were found . 

235
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 13 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/12/14 55.78 -168.64 1,589 140 4 .3 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 13: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 172 individuals 

identified for Transect 13, 55% were crabs. Eelpouts, flatfishes, and unidentified roundfishes accounted for another 

40% of the observations. Species density was 0.11 individuals/m2

. One damaged Halipteris sp. was counted. No 

other corals or sponges were identified. 

236
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 17 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.84 -168.69 1,230 143 4 .2 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

NA 

Transect 17: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud. Of the 163 individuals 

identified, 50% were crabs, and almost 30% were eelpouts. One skate was identified. Total species density was 

0.13 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

237
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 18 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.86 -168.68 1,237 145 4 .2 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 18: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud. Of the 186 individuals 

identified, 62% were crabs, and 35% were eelpouts, flatfishes, and unidentified roundfishes. One skate was 

identified. Total species density was 0.15 individuals/m2

. One Demospongiae was counted and measured (18.9 cm). 

No corals were identified. 

238
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 19 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.89 -168.70 1,185 150 4 .2 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

Transect 19: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 122 individuals 

identified, 50% were crabs, and 36% were eelpouts, sculpins, and unidentified roundfishes. Total species density 

was 0.10 individuals/m2

. One Demospongiae was counted and measured (12.7 cm). No other vertical habitat was 

identified. 

239
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 20 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.86 -168.77 1,315 146 4 .2 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 20: Primary and secondary substrates consisted mostly of sand and mud. Crabs were the dominant taxa. 

Eelpouts and flatfishes accounted for 44% of the taxa counted. Species density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. No vertical 

habitat was identified. 

240
 
 

 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 22 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.89 -168.83 1,449 164 4 .1 

NA 

Images 

Summary - description of transect 

NA 

Transect 22: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Eelpouts (n = 20) and 

unidentified roundfishes (n = 16) accounted for 58% of the 62 individuals identified. Diversity was high when 

compared to other transects, and included 12 taxa. Species density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was 

found . 

241
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 23 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.89 -168.77 1,081 153 4 .2 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 23: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. The camera spent approximately 

15% of its time off bottom with no visual input. Species density was 0.08 individuals/m2

. Crabs made up 35% of 

the individuals identified. Eelpouts, flatfishes, and unidentified roundfishes composed 53% of the 82 fishes and 

crabs found. No vertical habitat was identified. 

242
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 25 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/13/14 55.88 -168.80 1,511 152 4 .1 

NA 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

Transect 25: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 103 individuals 

identified, 48% were crabs. Eelpouts accounted for another 28% of the observations. Species density was 

0.07 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

243
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 32 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.02 -168.06 1,205 139 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 32: Primary and secondary substrates were composed entirely of sand and mud. Of the 43 individuals 

counted, 72% were crabs and another 12% were unidentified roundfishes. Species density was 0.04 individuals/m2

 . 

No vertical habitat was identified. 

244
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 33 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.11 -168.20 1,309 149 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 33: Primary and secondary substrates were composed entirely of sand and mud. Ninety-two individuals 

were counted. Crabs and sculpins were 88% of the observations. Species density was 0.07 individuals/m2

. No 

vertical habitat was identified. 

245
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 34 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.15 -168.12 2,179 143 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 34: Primary and secondary substrates were composed entirely of sand and mud. Species density was 

0.05 individuals/m2

, and was comprised largely of crabs. All other species were found in frequencies less than 10, 

including 2 skates. No vertical habitat was identified. 

246
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 35 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.14 -168.18 800 147 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 35: Primary and secondary substrates were composed entirely of sand and mud. Species density was 

0.06 individuals/m2

, and was comprised largely of crabs. Sculpins were the second most abundant taxon identified. 

No vertical habitat was found. 

247
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 37 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.15 -168.49 1,421 252 3 9 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 37: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse (99%) and sand/mud (1%). Overall fish 

and crab density was 0.01 individuals/m2

, golden king crabs, sculpins, and flathead soles. Chionoecetes sp were the 

most abundant taxa. Vertical habitat density consisted of Demospongiae (0.09 individuals/m2

) with an average 

height of 13.7 cm. 

248
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 38 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.19 -168.52 1,166 206 4 1 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 38: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse sediments. Species density was 

0.01 individuals/m2

, with 13 individuals identified. Skate egg cases were abundant (n = 38). Vertical habitat consisted 

of 117 Demospongiae (4 damaged) and 1 Hexactinellida. Sponge density was 0.10 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 

10 measured Demospongiae was 12.3 cm. 

249
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 39 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.23 -168.44 1,496 174 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 39: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of mixed coarse for 75% of the transect and another 

~24% was sand/mud. Only 16 individuals were counted, and 38% were crabs (Chionoecetes sp.). Another 50% of 

the observations were comprised of skates and sculpins. Species density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat 

consisted of 35 Demospongiae and 2 Hexactinellida. Sponge density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 

7 measured Demospongiae was 11.6 cm. No corals were identified. 

250
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 40 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/14/14 56.21 -168.62 1,859 212 4 0 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 40: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mixed coarse sediments. Only 15 individuals 

were counted, and 47% were Pacific ocean perch. Species density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted 

of 124 corals (Plumarella sp. and Primnoidae), 22 Demospongiae, and 3 Hexactinellida. Sponge and coral density was 

0.08 individuals/m2

. Mean height for all measured corals and sponges was 15.7 cm. No sea whips were identified. 

251
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 44 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.49 -168.65 1,598 110 4 0 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 44: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Sixty individuals were counted 

for this transect and 59 of them were crabs (Chionoecetes sp.). One unidentified roundfish was also seen. Crab and 

fish density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

252
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 45 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.46 -168.70 1,408 112 4 1 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 45: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Species composition was 

dominated by crabs. Crab and fish density was 0.07 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

253
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 46 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.31 -169.03 1,477 136 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 46: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 16 individuals were 

counted in this transect, and 50% of them were crabs (Chionoecetes sp.). Eelpouts accounted for another 25% of the 

observations. Crab and fish density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

254
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 47 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/15/14 56.27 -169.09 1,353 141 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 47: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 47 individuals identified, 

36% of them were crabs (Chionoecetes sp.). Unidentified roundfishes accounted for another 30% of the observations. 

Crab and fish density was 0.03 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat was identified. 

255
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 56 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.44 -169.81 711 91 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 56: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.11 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. dominated the species composition accounting for 88% of the enumerated taxa. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 24 sea whips (1 damaged), with a density of 0.03 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris willemoesi 

heights (n = 12) ranged from 2.7 cm to 8.7 cm, with a mean of 4.5 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

256
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 57 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.43 -169.80 1,055 92 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 57: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.09 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. dominated the species composition accounting for 94% of the enumerated taxa. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 4 sea whips (2 damaged), with a density of < 0.01 individuals/m2

. No other corals or 

sponges were observed. 

257
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 64 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/16/14 56.31 -169.58 1,039 158 NA 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 64: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab 

density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Searchers, sculpins, and flatfishes accounted for 73% of the enumerated taxa. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 1 Demospongiae. No corals were observed. 

258
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 79 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.17 -170.00 492 117 4.5 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 79: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Twenty-nine individuals were identified, and 38% were eelpouts. Chionoecetes sp was 

the next most abundant taxon at 28%. Vertical habitat consisted of 29 sea whips (6 damaged) with a density of 

0.06 individuals/m2

 . Two Halipteris sp and 1 Halipteris willemoesi were measured. No other corals or sponges were 

identified. 

259
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 80 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.15 -170.07 582 117 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 80: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.12 individuals/m2

. Species composition was dominated by eelpouts. The next most abundant taxa were flatfishes. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 23 sea whips, 13 of which were damaged. Two sea whips were measured at 9.8 cm and 

132.7 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

260
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 81 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.13 -170.00 975 120 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 81: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Eelpouts were 79% of the fish 

and crab composition. Flatfishes and sculpins were the next most abundant taxa. Overall density for fishes and crabs 

was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Sixty-two sea whips were observed, and averaged 105.4 cm. No other corals or sponges 

were identified. 

261
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 82 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.10 -169.95 1,115 123 NA 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 82: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Chionoecetes sp., eelpouts, 

flatfishes and sculpins comprised 87% of the species composition, and species density for the transect was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. One hundred sixty-seven sea whips (22 damaged) were observed with a mean height of 

92.9 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

262
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 83 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.03 -169.89 653 131 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

Images 

Transect 83: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Species density for the 

transect was low (0.02 individuals/m2

) with only 16 individuals identified. Sculpins comprised 69% of the species 

composition. One Demospongiae was observed. No corals were identified. 

263
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 86 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.05 -170.05 552 128 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 86: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Twenty-four fishes and 3 crabs were identified. Sculpins accounted for 56% of the taxa. 

Flatfishes (15%), Chionoecetes sp. (11%), and poachers (11%) were the next most abundant taxa. No corals or sponges 

were observed. 

264
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 91 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.08 -170.29 639 135 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 91: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud . Overall fish and crab density was 

0.04 individuals/m2

. Sculpins and other crabs accounted for 64% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant 

taxa were Chionoecetes sp. at 11%. No vertical habitat was identified. 

265
 
 

 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 92 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/18/14 56.18 -170.26 1,174 118 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 92: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.02 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 80% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 200 sea 

whips (8 damaged), with a density of 0.18 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris willemoesi heights (n = 5) ranged from 105.8 cm 

to 166.6 cm with a mean of 105.8 cm., while Halipteris sp. heights (n = 2) ranged from 6.3 cm to 10.5 cm, with a 

mean of 8.4 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

266
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 101 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.22 -170.68 710 127 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 101: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.03 individuals/m2

. Sculpins accounted for 39% of the enumerated taxa. Eelpouts, Chionoecetes sp., and 

flatfishes were 43% of the remaining taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 90 sea whips (33 damaged), with a density 

of 0.13 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights ranged from 64.4 cm to 116.2 cm with a mean of 84.6 cm. No other corals 

or sponges were observed. 

267
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 104 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.40 -170.89 970 122 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 104: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts dominated the transect accounting for 74% of the enumerated taxa. The 

remaining 26% of the transect was comprised of crabs flatfishes, poachers, sculpins, and a walleye pollock. Vertical 

habitat consisted of 290 sea whips and 1 Demospongiae, with a combined density of 0.30 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip 

heights (n = 21) ranged from 74.6 cm to 114.3 cm with a mean of 96.8 cm. The Demospongiae measured 15.7 cm. 

No other corals were observed. 

268
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 105 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/19/14 56.39 -170.67 1,335 116 4.5 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 105: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density was 

0.62 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 78% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa were 

sculpins at 7%. Vertical habitat consisted of 1,447 sea whips (33 damaged), with a density of 1.08 individuals/m2

 . 

No other corals or sponges were observed. 

269
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 109 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.32 -171.09 627 133 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 109: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.10 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts, Chionoecetes sp., and sculpins accounted for 94% of the observed individuals. 

Vertical habitat consisted of 128 sea whips (43 damaged), with a density of 0.20 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip heights 

(n = 10) ranged from 77.6 cm to 202.1 cm with a mean of 117.5 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

270
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 110 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/20/14 56.34 -171.13 1,298 133 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 110: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.05 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts, flatfishes, sculpins, and Chionoecetes sp. accounted for 95% of the enumerated 

taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 890 sea whips (50 damaged), with a density of 0.69 individuals/m2

 . Sea whip 

heights (n = 54) ranged from 108.1 cm to 230.1 cm with a mean of 164.6 cm. No other corals or sponges were 

observed. 

271
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 136 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/22/14 56.76 -173.17 1,004 135 4 2 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

NA 

NA 

Images 

Transect 136: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Only 3 taxa, eelpouts, flathead sole, and sculpins with 17 individuals were identified in 

Transect 136. Sculpins and eelpouts accounted for 94% of the enumerated taxa. No vertical habitat was observed. 

272
 
 

 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 143 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/24/14 56.39 -170.40 865 112 4 4 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 143: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

 . Chionoecetes sp. accounted for 47% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxa 

were eelpouts and flatfishes at 42%. Vertical habitat consisted of 43 sea whips (3 damaged), with a density of 

0.05 individuals/m2

. Sea whips were identified as Halipteris sp and Halipteris willemoesi for height measurements

Halipteris sp. heights (n = 7) ranged from 2.9 cm to 8.6 cm with a mean of 5.3 cm. Halipteris willemoesi heights (n = 7) 

ranged from 106.0 cm to 171.3 cm, with a mean of 138.3 cm. No other corals were observed. 

273
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 144 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/24/14 56.41 -170.40 755 111 4.5 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 144: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.07 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 88% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 20 sea 

whips, with a density of 0.03 individuals/m2

. Sea whips were identified as Halipteris sp and Halipteris willemoesi for 

height measurements . Halipteris sp. heights (n = 5) ranged from 3.9 cm to 8.4 cm with a mean of 5.6 cm. Only 

1 Halipteris willemoesi was measured at 53.5 cm. No other corals or sponges were observed. 

274
 
 

 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 145 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/24/14 56.40 -170.43 1,281 110 4 4 

Images 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Transect 145: Primary and secondary substrates consisted mostly of boulder and high bedrock respectively. Overall 

fish and crab density was 0.13 individuals/m2

. Species composition was dominated by rockfishes (88%). Six out 

of 8 of the enumerated taxa were rockfishes. Pacific ocean perch (39%) and northern rockfish were the most 

abundant (33%). Vertical habitat consisted of 16,812 Demospongiae and 21 Hexactinellida, with a density of 

13.12 individuals/m2

. Demospongiae heights (n = 535) ranged from 10.0 cm to 70.7 cm with a mean of 19.8 cm. 

Hexactinellida heights (n = 8) ranged from 13.3 cm to 35.3 cm, with a mean of 19.8 cm. No corals were observed. 

275
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 146 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/24/14 56.90 -172.23 1,264 120 4 3 

Images 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Transect 146: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

(0.01 individuals/m2

) was very low. Only 9 individuals were observed. Chionoecetes sp. and eelpouts accounted for 

88% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 51 Halipteris willemoesi (4 damaged) and 3 Demospongiae, 

with a density of 0.04 individuals/m2

. Sea whip heights (n = 10) ranged from 27.8 cm to 106.6 cm with a mean of 

62.8 cm. No other corals were observed. 

276
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 147 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 56.93 -172.23 1,442 119 4 3 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 147: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.01 individuals/m2

. Eelpouts accounted for 63% of the enumerated taxa. The next most abundant taxon was 

flatfishes at 21%. Vertical habitat consisted of 254 sea whips (12) damaged, with a density of 0.18 individuals/m2

 . 

Sea whip heights (n = 58) ranged from 5.9 cm to 85.6 cm with a mean of 39.9 cm. No other corals or sponges were 

observed. 

277
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 150 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.68 -174.00 1,679 125 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 150: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Species density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

, with eelpouts, flatfishes, and sculpins accounting for 79% of the 40 individuals 

identified. Vertical habitat was comprised entirely of 278 sea whips (15 were damaged). Sea whip density was 

0.17 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 36 measured Halipteris willemoesi was 120.3 cm. No other corals or sponges 

were identified. 

278
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 152 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.66 -174.09 1,383 133 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 152: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Fish density was low 

(0.01 individuals/m2

), with only 11 individuals counted. Vertical habitat consisted of 1246 sea whips (217 damaged). 

Sea whip density was 0.90 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 90 measured Halipteris willemoesi was 115.8 cm. No other 

corals or sponges were identified. 

279
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 153 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/25/14 57.64 -174.08 1,665 133 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 153: Primary and secondary substrates consisted of sand and mud. Species density was low 

(0.01 individuals/m2

), with only 15 individuals counted. Vertical habitat consisted of 2,244 sea whips (208 damaged). 

Sea whip density was 1.3 individuals/m2

. Mean height for Halipteris willemoesi (n = 106) was 118.9 cm. No other corals 

or sponges were identified. 

280
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 159 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.64 -173.81 1,010 129 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 159: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Only 2 individuals were counted for 

this transect, resulting in a low species density (< 0.01 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat consisted of 40 sea whips 

(15 damaged). Sea whip density was 0.04 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 5 measured Halipteris willemoesi was 

111.0 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

281
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 160 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/26/14 57.41 -173.52 1,721 121 4 2 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 160: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Overall fish and crab density 

was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Only 33 individuals from 2 taxa were identified. Unidentified roundfishes accounted for 

94% of the enumerated taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 342 Halipteris willemoesi (7 damaged,) with a density of 

0.20 individuals/m2

 . Halipteris willemoesi (n = 38) ranged from 4.1 cm to 142.5 cm with a mean of 73.3 cm. No other 

corals or sponges were observed. 

282
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 169 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/27/14 57.63 -173.74 496 125 4 .1 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 169: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand. Fish and crab density for this 

transect was 0.03 individuals/m2

, and 50% of individuals identified were sculpins. Vertical habitat consisted of 

2 Demospongiae, averaging 14.7 cm height. No corals were identified. 

283
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 183 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.43 -174.43 1,249 156 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 183: Primary and secondary substrates consisted almost entirely of sand, with a small patch of boulders. 

Of the 77 individuals counted, 32% were Pacific ocean perch and 29% were sculpins. One skate and 2 crabs were 

also identified. Species density was 0.06 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 702 sea whips (41 damaged) 

and 5 Demospongiae. Sponge and sea whip density was 0.57 individuals/m2

. Mean height for 3 measured 

Demospongiae was 26.8 cm. Sea whips were spilt between Halipteris sp . and Halipteris willemoesi. Mean heights for 

16 Halipteris sp . and 27 Halipteris willemoesi were 12.3 cm, and 103.0 cm, respectively. No other corals were identified. 

284
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 185 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.64 -174.37 760 157 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 185: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 27 individuals 

counted, 52% were unidentified roundfishes, 22% were sculpins, and 15% were flatfishes. Species density was 

0.04 individuals/m2

. Vertical habitat consisted of 14 Demospongiae, for a transect density of 0.02 individuals/m2 . 

Mean height of 3 measured Demospongiae was 16.2 cm. No corals were identified. 

285
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 186 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.66 -174.40 1,241 171 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 186: Primary and secondary substrates consisted largely of sand and mud. Only 16 individuals were 

counted, and 75% were sculpins. Fish density was low (0.01 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat consisted of 

108 Demospongiae and 28 Hexactinellida. Sponge density was 0.11 individuals/m2

. Mean heights did not exceed 

15 cm for either sponge type. No corals were identified. 

286
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 187 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.74 -174.46 927 148 3 .8 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

NA 

NA 

Transect 187: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Of the 80 individuals counted, 

Chionoecetes sp., and flatfishes were the most abundant. Species density was 0.09 individuals/m2

. No vertical habitat 

was identified. 

287
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 188 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/28/14 58.64 -174.51 1,239 181 3.6 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 188: Primary and secondary substrates were split between sand/mixed coarse, mixed coarse/sand, 

gravel/mixed coarse, and sand/gravel. Species density was 0.01 individuals/m2

, and 47% of the species counted 

were unidentified flatfishes. Vertical habitat consisted of 34 Demospongiae. Sponge density was 0.03 individuals/m2

, 

and the mean height of 10 Demospongiae was 13.5 cm. No corals were identified. 

288
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 204 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

8/30/14 59.07 -178.29 1,285 150 3 .3 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 204: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of sand and mud. Only 20 individuals were 

identified, and Chionoecetes sp. and sculpins were the most abundant. Species density was 0.02 individuals/m2

. Vertical 

habitat consisted of 8 Demospongiae and 2 unidentified sponges. Sponge density was 0.01 individuals/m2

. One 

Demospongiae was measured (14.6 cm). No corals were identified. 

289
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 239 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 55.15 -167.68 1,215 278 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 239: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Snailfishes and flatfishes comprised 88% 

of the species seen, and fish density for the entire transect was < 0.01 individuals/m2

. Sea whips were abundant 

(n = 543, 1 damaged) and transect density was 0.44 individuals/m2

 . The sea whips were small with mean heights of 

15.2 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

290
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 242 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.91 -167.40 404 371 3 .9 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 242: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Overall fish density for this transect was 

low (0.03 individuals/m2

). Shortspine thornyheads were the most abundant fish. Twenty-two sea whips (Halipteris 

sp.) were counted, and their mean height was 8.9 cm. No other corals or sponges were identified. 

291
 
 

Area: Outer Shelf Transect 244 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.86 -167.17 765 321 4 .0 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 244: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Over half (61%) of the fishes identified 

were poachers and shortspine thornyheads. Total fish density was low (0.02 individuals/m2

). Vertical habitat 

consisted of 93 sea whips and 2 Demospongiae. Mean heights were 8.9 cm and 16 cm, respectively. Sponge and sea 

whip density was 0.12 individuals/m2

. No other corals were identified. 

292
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 245 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.66 -167.19 406 453 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 245: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Snailfish and eelpout frequencies 

accounted for 84% of the species identified. Fish density was 0.12 individuals/m2

. One sea whip was identified and 

measured (31.1 cm). No other corals or sponges were identified. 

293
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 246 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/4/14 54.58 -167.12 787 451 3 .7 

Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 246: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Transect 246 had more diversity 

than many transects in this region (8 taxa), but a low density (0.04 individuals/m2

). Snailfishes and shortspine 

thornyheads accounted for 71% of the species seen. One skate was identified. Available vertical habitat was 

composed of 12 sponges and 3 sea whips reaching mean heights of approximately 24 cm. No other corals were 

identified. 

294
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 251 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/5/14 54.44 -167.05 471 513 3.6 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 251: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Fish density for the transect was 

0.05 individuals/m2

, and snailfishes were the most abundant taxa. Vertical habitat consisted of 10 Demospongiae, 

averaging 11.6 cm height. No corals were identified. 

295
 
Area: Outer Shelf Transect 252 

Date (mm/dd/yy) Start Position (DD) Area (m2) Mean Depth (m) Mean Temp (°C) 

9/5/14 54.49 -167.02 356 472 3 7 

Summary - description of transect Summary - description of transect 

Images 

Transect 252: Primary and secondary substrates consisted entirely of mud. Only seven fish were identified in this 

transect, resulting in a transect density of 0.02 individuals/m2

. Five Demospongiae were identified and 3 were 

measured (16.2 cm). No corals were identified. 

296
 
 

APPENDIX
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Eastern Bering Sea Canyons and Outer Shelf 2014 camera survey transect 

data . 

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ Transect Date Start Start Distance Swath Area Depth Temp . 

Region # (mm/dd/yy) Lat. Long. (m) (m) (m2) (m) (°C) 

Bering 1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 

Bering 2 8/11/2014 54.35 -167.06 239 .8 2 .9 702 691 NA 

Bering 3 8/11/2014 54.41 -166.95 444 .1 3 .7 1,664 551 3.5 

Bering 4 8/12/2014 54.42 -166.88 510.6 3 .8 1,936 550 3.5 

Bering 5 8/12/2014 54.43 -166.77 542.5 4 .0 2,156 542 3.5 

Outer Shelf 6 8/12/2014 54.53 -166.96 225.2 3 .2 724 451 3 .7 

Outer Shelf 7 8/12/2014 55.77 -168.42 624.7 5.5 3,441 137 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 8 8/12/2014 55.73 -168.66 108 .0 3 .4 367 140 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 9 8/12/2014 55.72 -168.66 205.5 2 .9 596 140 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 10 8/12/2014 55.72 -168.70 301 .8 2 .8 851 142 4 .2 

Bering to Pribilof 11 8/12/2014 55.72 -168.77 328 .7 2 .7 883 163 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 12 8/12/2014 55.77 -168.71 538.7 3 .0 1,592 141 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 13 8/12/2014 55.78 -168.64 542.4 2 .9 1,589 140 4 .3 

Bering to Pribilof 14 8/12/2014 55.81 -168.72 463.5 2.6 1,216 143 4 .2 

Bering to Pribilof 15 8/12/2014 55.82 -168.71 434 .8 2 .9 1,244 143 4 .2 

Bering to Pribilof 16 8/13/2014 55.83 -168.75 310 .8 5.4 1,673 144 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 17 8/13/2014 55.84 -168.69 389.5 3 .2 1,230 143 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 18 8/13/2014 55.86 -168.68 362.4 3 .4 1,237 145 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 19 8/13/2014 55.89 -168.70 426.0 2 .8 1,185 150 4 .2 

Outer Shelf 20 8/13/2014 55.86 -168.77 438 .8 3 .0 1,315 146 4 .2 

Bering to Pribilof 21 8/13/2014 55.88 -168.91 382 .1 3.6 1,375 226 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 22 8/13/2014 55.89 -168.83 441 .1 3 .3 1,449 164 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 23 8/13/2014 55.89 -168.77 399 .0 2 .7 1,081 153 4 .2 

Bering to Pribilof 24 8/13/2014 55.86 -168.83 469.3 4 .8 2,231 150 4 .0 

Outer Shelf 25 8/13/2014 55.88 -168.80 525.8 2 .9 1,511 152 4 .1 

Pribilof 26 8/13/2014 55.92 -168.77 473 .1 3 .0 1,437 178 4 .0 

Pribilof 27 8/13/2014 56.07 -168.61 290 .2 3 .7 1,087 659 3 .4 

Pribilof 28 8/13/2014 56.08 -168.55 268.7 3 .3 896 529 3 .7 

Pribilof 29 8/14/2014 56.10 -168.61 240.5 3 .3 799 524 3 .7 

Pribilof 30 8/14/2014 56.15 -168.63 459.5 4 .0 1,829 394 3 .8 

Pribilof 31 8/14/2014 56.17 -168.74 499.6 5.4 2,713 327 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 32 8/14/2014 56.02 -168.06 384 .2 3 .1 1,205 139 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 33 8/14/2014 56.11 -168.20 568.2 2 .3 1,309 149 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 34 8/14/2014 56.15 -168.12 662.9 3 .3 2,179 143 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 35 8/14/2014 56.14 -168.18 241.5 3 .3 800 147 4 .3 

Pribilof 36 8/14/2014 56.10 -168.46 182 .4 3 .4 621 309 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 37 8/14/2014 56.15 -168.49 466.1 3 .0 1,421 252 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 38 8/14/2014 56.19 -168.52 403.5 2 .9 1,166 206 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 39 8/14/2014 56.23 -168.44 448 .0 3 .3 1,496 174 4 .3 

297
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Outer Shelf 40 8/14/2014 56.21 -168.62 542.9 3 .4 1,859 212 4 .0 

Pribilof 41 8/15/2014 56.19 -168.81 499 .4 3 .0 1,512 215 4 .0 

Pribilof 42 8/15/2014 56.14 -168.79 361.2 3.6 1,298 532 3.6 

Pribilof 43 8/15/2014 56.08 -168.82 211.6 2 .8 598 714 3 .4 

Outer Shelf 44 8/15/2014 56.49 -168.65 491 .7 3 .2 1,598 110 4 .0 

Outer Shelf 45 8/15/2014 56.46 -168.70 466.4 3 .0 1,408 112 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 46 8/15/2014 56.31 -169.03 562.4 2.6 1,477 136 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 47 8/15/2014 56.27 -169.09 536.3 2.5 1,353 141 4 .3 

Pribilof 48 8/15/2014 56.18 -169.14 339 .9 2 .7 901 550 3 .7 

Pribilof 49 8/15/2014 56.22 -169.22 384 .0 2 .7 1,051 279 3 .9 

Pribilof 50 8/15/2014 56.19 -169.32 435.7 3 .0 1,308 533 3.5 

Pribilof 51 8/15/2014 56.20 -169.36 605.5 2.6 1,550 520 3.6 

Pribilof 52 8/16/2014 56.21 -169.38 565.9 2.6 1,473 498 3.6 

Pribilof 53 8/16/2014 56.22 -169.38 839 .3 3.6 3,016 446 3 .7 

Pribilof 54 8/16/2014 56.23 -169.43 774 .1 4 .4 3,371 435 3 .7 

Pribilof 55 8/16/2014 56.21 -169.44 575.9 2 .8 1,620 502 3.6 

Outer Shelf 56 8/16/2014 56.44 -169.81 301 .2 2 .4 711 91 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 57 8/16/2014 56.43 -169.80 405.1 2.6 1,055 92 4 .4 

Pribilof 58 8/16/2014 56.42 -169.84 383 .9 2.6 980 93 4.5 

Pribilof 59 8/16/2014 56.35 -169.97 194 .4 2 .7 534 105 4.5 

Pribilof 60 8/16/2014 56.36 -169.86 290 .0 2 .9 833 105 4.5 

Pribilof 61 8/16/2014 56.36 -169.76 467.6 3 .4 1,611 115 4.5 

Pribilof 62 8/16/2014 56.31 -169.79 424 .2 4 .0 1,679 126 4 .4 

Pribilof 63 8/16/2014 56.31 -169.70 236.1 4 .7 1,110 188 4 .0 

Outer Shelf 64 8/16/2014 56.31 -169.58 372 .3 2 .8 1,039 158 NA 

Pribilof 65 8/16/2014 56.30 -169.45 612.3 3 .4 2,080 181 4 .2 

Pribilof 66 8/17/2014 56.28 -169.60 445.6 3.5 1,559 201 4 .2 

Pribilof 67 8/17/2014 56.26 -169.72 598.3 3 .7 2,243 261 3 .9 

Pribilof 68 8/17/2014 56.22 -169.75 589.6 3 .9 2,328 261 4 .1 

Pribilof 69 8/17/2014 56.17 -169.69 102 .9 4 .3 445 314 3 .8 

Pribilof 70 8/17/2014 56.18 -169.58 513.0 2 .2 1,105 399 3 .7 

Pribilof 71 8/17/2014 56.15 -169.36 280 .1 2 .0 561 760 3 .3 

Pribilof 72 8/17/2014 56.15 -169.36 248.6 2 .3 581 761 3 .3 

Pribilof 73 8/17/2014 56.09 -169.36 582.6 2.5 1,433 349 3 .8 

Pribilof 74 8/17/2014 56.07 -169.45 387 .0 1 .8 693 264 3 .8 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 75 8/17/2014 56.02 -169.40 436.8 2 .8 1,216 721 3 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 76 8/17/2014 55.99 -169.63 326.2 2 .4 772 474 3 .7 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 77 8/17/2014 55.99 -169.68 466.1 2.6 1,213 583 3 .4 

298
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 78 8/17/2014 55.98 -169.69 372 .7 2 .3 848 647 3 .3 

Outer Shelf 79 8/18/2014 56.17 -170.00 226.9 2 .2 492 117 4.5 

Outer Shelf 80 8/18/2014 56.15 -170.07 274.5 2 .1 582 117 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 81 8/18/2014 56.13 -170.00 442 .7 2 .2 975 120 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 82 8/18/2014 56.10 -169.95 360.0 3 .1 1,115 123 NA 

Outer Shelf 83 8/18/2014 56.03 -169.89 373 .0 1 .8 653 131 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 84 8/18/2014 56.00 -169.93 497 .8 2.5 1,231 218 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 85 8/18/2014 56.01 -170.00 432 .8 3 .2 1,387 141 4 .0 

Outer Shelf 86 8/18/2014 56.05 -170.05 268.8 2 .1 552 128 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 87 8/18/2014 56.00 -170.06 730 .2 2.5 1,814 167 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 88 8/18/2014 55.97 -170.12 511.2 3 .2 1,621 311 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 89 8/18/2014 56.01 -170.28 421 .9 2 .9 1,210 340 3 .8 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 90 8/18/2014 56.06 -170.32 27 .3 3 .1 84 420 3 .8 

Outer Shelf 91 8/18/2014 56.08 -170.29 313 .2 2 .0 639 135 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 92 8/18/2014 56.18 -170.26 363.2 3 .2 1,174 118 4 .4 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 93 8/19/2014 56.10 -170.45 378 .4 2 .7 1,018 177 4 .4 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 94 8/19/2014 56.10 -170.46 237 .8 3 .0 712 188 4 .4 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 95 8/19/2014 56.10 -170.57 276.9 2.6 722 523 3 .7 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 96 8/19/2014 56.13 -170.66 216.0 3 .1 667 759 3 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 97 8/19/2014 56.11 -170.77 466.4 3 .2 1,509 455 3 .8 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 98 8/19/2014 56.13 -170.84 425.9 2 .2 930 629 3.6 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 99 8/19/2014 56.14 -170.76 277 .7 1 .8 512 357 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 100 8/19/2014 56.16 -170.78 244 .3 1 .8 431 148 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 101 8/19/2014 56.22 -170.68 299 .7 2 .4 710 127 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 102 8/19/2014 56.20 -170.88 249.5 2 .0 491 142 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 103 8/19/2014 56.24 -170.85 398 .9 1 .9 750 132 4.5 

Outer Shelf 104 8/19/2014 56.40 -170.89 353.2 2 .7 970 122 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 105 8/19/2014 56.39 -170.67 600.6 2 .2 1,335 116 4.5 

299
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 106 8/20/2014 56.28 -170.89 391 .3 2 .9 1,145 130 NA 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 107 8/20/2014 56.26 -170.96 389 .7 1 .8 714 137 4 .4 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 108 8/20/2014 56.29 -171.00 496.2 2 .4 1,193 131 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 109 8/20/2014 56.32 -171.09 254.1 2.5 627 133 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 110 8/20/2014 56.34 -171.13 385.4 3 .4 1,298 133 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 111 8/20/2014 56.29 -171.10 240 .7 1 .9 451 134 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 112 8/20/2014 56.27 -171.13 127 .9 1.6 204 138 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 113 8/20/2014 56.23 -171.31 84 .9 2.5 214 726 3 .4 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 114 8/20/2014 56.26 -171.33 614.4 3 .1 1,918 238 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 115 8/20/2014 56.40 -171.37 664.3 2 .3 1,549 210 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 116 8/20/2014 56.42 -171.38 748 .9 2.6 1,957 207 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 117 8/20/2014 56.47 -171.49 554.6 2 .7 1,519 285 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 118 8/20/2014 56.47 -171.74 370 .2 2 .2 806 281 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 119 8/20/2014 56.45 -171.85 346.5 3.6 1,235 760 3 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 120 8/21/2014 56.54 -172.12 451.4 2 .2 1,000 537 3 .7 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 121 8/21/2014 56.58 -172.24 579.2 2 .3 1,308 370 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 122 8/21/2014 56.59 -172.36 376.5 2.6 982 434 3 .8 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 123 8/21/2014 56.65 -172.43 533.1 4 .0 2,124 139 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 124 8/21/2014 56.59 -172.52 545.8 4 .0 2,201 214 4 .0 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 125 8/21/2014 56.51 -172.72 477.5 2 .8 1,337 356 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 126 8/21/2014 56.45 -172.72 99 .4 4 .8 474 757 3 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 127 8/21/2014 56.48 -172.71 337 .0 2.6 874 557 NA 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 128 8/22/2014 56.46 -172.67 301 .8 3.6 1,090 662 3 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 129 8/22/2014 56.46 -172.75 287 .7 3 .2 915 713 3 .3 

300
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 130 8/22/2014 56.50 -172.74 448 .9 2 .9 1,289 431 3 .8 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 131 8/22/2014 56.54 -172.79 537.7 3 .7 2,009 306 3 .9 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 132 8/22/2014 56.56 -172.73 66.4 2 .9 195 168 4 .0 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 133 8/22/2014 56.63 -172.95 349 .8 4 .2 1,477 142 4 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 134 8/22/2014 56.66 -173.07 439 .7 3 .4 1,499 142 4 .0 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 135 8/22/2014 56.66 -173.14 496.3 3.6 1,790 214 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 136 8/22/2014 56.76 -173.17 452.2 2 .2 1,004 135 4 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 137 8/22/2014 56.75 -173.23 357.9 2.5 880 138 4 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 138 8/22/2014 56.84 -173.33 372 .0 2.5 926 163 4 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 139 8/22/2014 56.88 -173.41 360.0 2 .8 1,004 515 3 .7 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 140 8/22/2014 56.89 -173.38 359.4 3 .7 1,338 273 4 .0 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 141 8/23/2014 56.94 -173.67 310.6 3 .2 1,005 770 3 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 142 8/23/2014 56.95 -173.43 283.5 3.6 1,025 519 3.6 

Outer Shelf 143 8/24/2014 56.39 -170.40 312.5 2 .8 865 112 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 144 8/24/2014 56.41 -170.40 337 .9 2 .2 755 111 4.5 

Outer Shelf 145 8/24/2014 56.40 -170.43 392 .2 3 .3 1,281 110 4 .4 

Outer Shelf 146 8/24/2014 56.90 -172.23 352.7 3.6 1,264 120 4 .3 

Outer Shelf 147 8/25/2014 56.93 -172.23 416.2 3.5 1,442 119 4 .3 

Zhemchug 148 8/25/2014 57.75 -174.11 119 .3 3 .1 375 129 4 .1 

Zhemchug 149 8/25/2014 57.69 -174.05 335.9 4 .1 1,392 121 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 150 8/25/2014 57.68 -174.00 435.5 3 .9 1,679 125 4 .0 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 151 8/25/2014 57.67 -174.13 332 .0 4 .0 1,312 136 4 .0 

Outer Shelf 152 8/25/2014 57.66 -174.09 344 .2 4 .0 1,383 133 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 153 8/25/2014 57.64 -174.08 418 .4 4 .0 1,665 133 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 154 8/25/2014 57.59 -174.00 383 .4 4 .3 1,630 132 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 155 8/25/2014 57.57 -173.98 460.2 3 .8 1,752 134 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 156 8/25/2014 57.57 -174.04 417 .0 3 .3 1,375 141 4 .1 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 157 8/25/2014 57.58 -173.99 282 .8 4 .7 1,322 133 4 .1 

301
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 158 8/25/2014 57.50 -174.00 148 .2 3 .2 469 796 3 .2 

Outer Shelf 159 8/26/2014 57.64 -173.81 188 .7 5.4 1,010 129 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 160 8/26/2014 57.41 -173.52 481.5 3.6 1,721 121 4 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 161 8/26/2014 57.00 -173.50 370 .0 3 .7 1,380 695 3 .3 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 162 8/26/2014 57.03 -173.82 458.0 2.6 1,211 573 3.5 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 163 8/26/2014 56.99 -173.92 341 .4 3 .8 1,293 777 3 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 164 8/26/2014 57.11 -173.96 218 .3 3 .1 681 766 3 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 165 8/26/2014 57.24 -173.94 215.0 3 .2 686 491 3 .7 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 166 8/26/2014 57.26 -173.98 150.9 3 .1 464 719 3 .2 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 167 8/27/2014 57.28 -173.88 212 .2 2 .7 583 367 3 .8 

Pribilof to 

Zhemchug 168 8/27/2014 57.28 -173.93 298 .0 2.6 772 591 3.5 

Outer Shelf 169 8/27/2014 57.63 -173.74 215.2 2 .3 496 125 4 .1 

Zhemchug 170 8/27/2014 57.67 -173.78 188 .1 2 .3 436 130 3 .7 

Zhemchug 171 8/27/2014 57.69 -173.88 182 .0 4 .0 727 122 4 .0 

Zhemchug 172 8/27/2014 57.76 -173.76 223 .1 3.6 794 402 3 .8 

Zhemchug 173 8/27/2014 57.76 -173.85 298 .8 2 .3 684 485 3 .7 

Zhemchug 174 8/27/2014 57.85 -173.85 257.2 3 .7 964 272 3 .8 

Zhemchug 175 8/27/2014 57.95 -173.89 215.6 3 .0 655 241 3 .7 

Zhemchug 176 8/27/2014 57.96 -173.92 179 .4 3 .2 577 363 3 .8 

Zhemchug 177 8/27/2014 58.01 -174.02 241 .2 2 .8 685 422 3 .8 

Zhemchug 178 8/27/2014 58.07 -174.14 228 .8 3 .9 900 677 3 .3 

Zhemchug 179 8/28/2014 58.11 -174.17 230 .9 3 .7 846 563 3.6 

Zhemchug 180 8/28/2014 58.20 -174.23 380 .7 3 .2 1,218 427 3 .8 

Zhemchug 181 8/28/2014 58.31 -174.35 382.6 3 .0 1,149 347 3 .9 

Zhemchug 182 8/28/2014 58.33 -174.40 336.6 2 .9 987 582 3.5 

Outer Shelf 183 8/28/2014 58.43 -174.43 252.2 5.0 1,249 156 3 .7 

Zhemchug 184 8/28/2014 58.45 -174.50 119 .4 2.6 307 153 3 .8 

Outer Shelf 185 8/28/2014 58.64 -174.37 285.9 2 .7 760 157 3 .7 

Outer Shelf 186 8/28/2014 58.66 -174.40 353.7 3.5 1,241 171 3.6 

Outer Shelf 187 8/28/2014 58.74 -174.46 321 .4 2 .9 927 148 3 .8 

Outer Shelf 188 8/28/2014 58.64 -174.51 395.7 3 .1 1,239 181 3.6 

Zhemchug 189 8/28/2014 58.62 -174.58 238.6 2.5 596 236 3.6 

Zhemchug 190 8/28/2014 58.63 -174.61 420 .3 2.6 1,109 251 3 .7 

Zhemchug 191 8/29/2014 58.57 -174.71 282.5 4 .2 1,194 701 3 .2 

302
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Zhemchug 192 8/29/2014 58.56 -174.79 291 .3 3.5 1,031 737 3 .3 

Zhemchug 193 8/29/2014 58.56 -174.82 268.8 2.5 679 744 3 .3 

Zhemchug 194 8/29/2014 58.64 -175.00 363.8 2 .7 970 288 3 .8 

Zhemchug 195 8/29/2014 58.49 -175.15 253.7 3 .1 785 659 3 .4 

Zhemchug 196 8/29/2014 58.36 -175.09 426.8 3 .0 1,281 479 3 .7 

Zhemchug 197 8/29/2014 58.32 -175.15 485.6 3 .4 1,645 468 3 .7 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 198 8/29/2014 58.32 -175.26 401.6 3.5 1,390 385 3 .9 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 199 8/29/2014 58.32 -175.28 370 .8 2 .8 1,047 372 3 .9 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 200 8/29/2014 58.32 -175.34 316.0 2 .7 849 375 3 .8 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 201 8/29/2014 58.24 -175.34 284 .2 4.6 1,311 770 3 .2 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 202 8/30/2014 58.24 -175.53 496.9 4 .3 2,141 710 3 .3 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 203 8/30/2014 58.40 -175.60 754.4 2 .9 2,220 328 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 204 8/30/2014 59.07 -178.29 474 .1 2 .7 1,285 150 3 .3 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 205 8/30/2014 59.06 -178.33 457.3 3 .4 1,565 247 3 .8 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 206 8/30/2014 59.07 -178.39 352.3 3 .7 1,288 571 3 .7 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 207 8/30/2014 59.06 -178.45 375.5 3 .7 1,395 761 3 .3 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 208 8/30/2014 59.10 -178.41 410 .4 3 .0 1,242 371 3 .9 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 209 8/30/2014 59.11 -178.42 311 .4 3 .2 983 412 3 .8 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 210 8/30/2014 59.13 -178.48 328 .4 3 .8 1,241 723 3 .4 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 211 8/30/2014 59.18 -178.46 307.5 2 .8 865 359 3 .9 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 212 8/30/2014 59.19 -178.41 310 .4 2 .9 912 215 3 .7 

Zhemchug 

-Pervenets 213 8/30/2014 59.27 -178.39 338 .8 2 .9 969 305 3 .9 

Pervenets 214 8/31/2014 59.30 -178.33 358.5 2.5 907 494 3 .7 

Pervenets 215 8/31/2014 59.35 -178.21 207 .8 3 .9 815 738 3 .3 

Pervenets 216 8/31/2014 59.38 -178.19 327 .2 3 .7 1,219 748 3 .3 

Pervenets 217 8/31/2014 59.35 -178.16 455.6 3 .9 1,784 696 3 .4 

Pervenets 218 8/31/2014 59.32 -178.23 406.3 3 .7 1,518 611 3.5 

Pervenets 219 8/31/2014 59.30 -178.14 399 .7 3 .0 1,190 364 3 .8 

Pervenets 220 8/31/2014 59.34 -178.04 373 .3 3.6 1,328 602 3.6 

Pervenets 221 8/31/2014 59.38 -178.01 389 .8 4 .0 1,559 516 3.6 

303
 
 

Appendix Table A1. -- Continued.
	

Mean Mean 

Canyon/ 

Region 

Transect 

# 

Date 

(mm/dd/yy) 

Start 

Lat. 

Start 

Long. 

Distance 

(m) 

Swath 

(m)

 Area 

(m2) 

Depth 

(m) 

Temp . 

(°C) 

Pervenets 222 8/31/2014 59.38 -178.07 518.9 4 .0 2,052 561 3.6 

Pervenets 223 8/31/2014 59.46 -177.97 491 .3 4 .0 1,946 392 3 .7 

Pervenets 224 9/1/2014 59.43 -177.63 464.6 3 .4 1,593 273 3.5 

Pervenets 225 9/1/2014 59.26 -177.66 213 .7 3 .4 735 261 3 .4 

Pribilof 226 9/2/2014 56.09 -168.82 165.5 2 .3 373 717 3 .3 

Bering to Pribilof 227 9/2/2014 55.83 -168.93 395.8 3.6 1,424 705 NA 

Bering to Pribilof 228 9/2/2014 55.41 -168.32 248 .4 3 .3 808 753 3 .2 

Bering to Pribilof 229 9/2/2014 55.40 -168.29 248.5 4 .3 1,058 575 3.5 

Bering to Pribilof 230 9/3/2014 55.35 -168.17 270 .3 3 .0 799 688 NA 

Bering to Pribilof 231 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 

Bering 232 9/3/2014 54.71 -165.68 338.6 2.6 895 271 4 .0 

Bering 233 9/3/2014 54.70 -165.60 317 .8 2.6 824 274 4 .0 

Bering 234 9/3/2014 54.69 -165.56 149 .2 3 .7 552 277 4 .0 

Bering 235 9/3/2014 54.67 -165.59 226.1 2 .1 475 298 3 .9 

Bering 236 9/3/2014 54.60 -165.51 220 .1 3 .7 804 168 4 .2 

Bering 237 9/3/2014 54.58 -165.57 207 .3 2 .1 444 229 4 .0 

Bering to Pribilof 238 9/4/2014 55.29 -167.79 555.6 4 .3 2,366 217 4 .1 

Outer Shelf 239 9/4/2014 55.15 -167.68 372 .7 3 .3 1,215 278 4 .0 

Bering to Pribilof 240 9/4/2014 55.05 -167.64 228 .1 2 .3 534 346 3 .9 

Bering to Pribilof 241 9/4/2014 54.92 -167.45 143 .7 1.6 223 394 3 .9 

Outer Shelf 242 9/4/2014 54.91 -167.40 160.1 2.5 404 371 3 .9 

Bering to Pribilof 243 9/4/2014 54.82 -167.45 215.4 2 .2 483 504 3.6 

Outer Shelf 244 9/4/2014 54.86 -167.17 282 .8 2 .7 765 321 4 .0 

Outer Shelf 245 9/4/2014 54.66 -167.19 210 .8 1 .9 406 453 3 .7 

Outer Shelf 246 9/4/2014 54.58 -167.12 275.3 2 .9 787 451 3 .7 

Bering to Pribilof 247 9/4/2014 54.53 -167.22 266.9 2 .9 764 505 3.6 

Bering to Pribilof 248 9/5/2014 54.53 -167.51 166.2 2 .2 362 670 3 .4 

Bering to Pribilof 249 9/5/2014 54.42 -167.40 214 .8 2 .3 504 664 3 .4 

Bering to Pribilof 250 9/5/2014 54.42 -167.15 128 .4 2.5 326 566 3.5 

Outer Shelf 251 9/5/2014 54.44 -167.05 212 .0 2 .2 471 513 3.6 

Outer Shelf 252 9/5/2014 54.49 -167.02 162.1 2 .2 356 472 3 .7 

304
 
305
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECENT TECHNICAL MEMORANDUMS
 

Copies of this and other NOAA Technical Memorandums are available from the 

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311 GUTHRIE, C. M. III, HV. T. NGUYEN, and J. R. GUYON. 2016. Genetic stock composition analysis of 

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PB2016-101398. 

310 GUTHRIE, C. M. III, HV. T. NGUYEN, and J. R. GUYON. 2016. Genetic stock composition analysis of 

the Chinook salmon bycatch from the 2014 Bering Sea walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl 

fishery, 25 p. NTIS No. PB2016-101397. 

309	 GUTHRIE, C. M. III, Hv. T. NGUYEN, and J. R. GUYON. 2016. Genetic stock composition analysis of 

the Chinook salmon bycatch from the 2014 Bering Sea walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) trawl 

fishery, 25 p. NTIS No. PB2016-101396. 

308	 DALY, B. J., C. E. ARMISTEAD, and R. J. FOY. 2015. The 2015 eastern Bering Sea continental shelf 

bottom trawl survey: Results for commercial crab, 167 p. NTIS No. PB2016-100681. 

307	 FAUNCE, C. H. 2015. An initial analysis of alternative sample designs for the deployment of observers 

in Alaska, 33 p. NTIS No. PB206-100705. 

306	 HIMES-CORNELL, A., S. KASPERSKI, K. KENT, C. MAGUIRE, M. DOWNS, S. WEIDLICH, and S. 

RUSSELL. 2015. Social baseline of the Gulf of Alaska groundfish trawl fishery: Results of the 2014 

social survey, 98 p. plus Appendices. NTIS No.PB2016-100045. 

305	 FISSEL, B. E. 2015. Methods for the Alaska groundfish first-wholesale price projections: Section 6 of 

the Economic Status of the Groundfish Fisheries off Alaska, 39 p. NTIS No. PB2016-100044 . 

304	 HIMES-CORNELL, A., and K. KENT. 2015. Industry perceptions of measures to affect access to quota 

shares, active participation, and lease rates in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries. U.S. 

Dep. Commer., 67 p. NTIS No. PB2016-100043. 

303	 GRAY, A. K., C. J. RODGVELLER, and C. R. LUNSFORD. 2015. Evidence of multiple paternity in 

quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger), 25 p. NTIS No. PB2016-100036. 

302	 FAUNCE, C., J. GASPER, J. CAHALAN, S. LOWE, R. WEBSTER, and T. A’MAR. 2015. Deployment 

performance review of the 2014 North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Program, 55 p. NTIS 

PB2015-105670. 

301	 ALLEN, B. M., and R. P. ANGLISS. 2015. Alaska marine mammal stock assessments, 2014, 304 p. 

NTIS No. PB2015-105669. 

300	 HELKER, V. T., B. M. ALLEN, and L. A. JEMISON. 2015. Human-caused injury and mortality of 

NMFS-managed Alaska marine mammal stocks, 2009-2013, 94 p. NTIS No. PB2015-105160. 

299	 LEW, D. K., G. SAMPSON, A. HIMES-CORNELL, J. LEE, and B. GARBER-YONTS. 

2015. Costs, earnings, and employment in the Alaska saltwater sport fishing charter sector, 2011­

2013, 134 p. NTIS No. PB2015-104937. 

298	 PRESCOTT, M. M., and M. ZIMMERMANN. 2015. Smooth sheet bathymetry of Norton Sound, 23 p. 

NTIS No. PB2015-104936. 

297	 VON SZALAY, P. G. 2015. The impact of sample size reduction on the precision of biomass estimates 

in the Gulf of Alaska, 17 p. NTIS No. PB2016-100042.