Otter Trawl

The otter trawl samples the seabed for bottom dwelling fish. It is common to sample the same area to get comparable results. For this lab, we will identify the fish and compare their normal range (normal living area) to see if there are any exotic species in the area. Exotic species may be present during “El Nino” type events and may indicate a deviation from normal conditions.

Sorting out the net and letting the otter trawl out.

It’s pulled up by an electric winch until it gets close to the boat then its all student power!

The net is coming onboard. The catch ranges from almost nothing to a full net, which can be in the hundred’s of fish.

You have to be careful when you are emptying the net. There are a number of bottom dwelling fish that have poisonous spines in the area.

This is a common flatfish found in the area. It is born with an eye on each side of it’s head, one eye migrates to the other side so it ends up with two eyes on top!

This is a sculpin, it has poisonous dorsal spines and it very common and quite tasty.