Requirements and capabilities of modern fishery research ships

Modern fishery research ships are required to conduct fisheries resource assessments using acoustic and trawling techniques and collect oceanographic samples and data on the same cruise. Additional requirements are the capabilities to conduct marine mammal and shellfish surveys and perform sample analysis, manipulative experimentation, and data analysis at sea. This paper describes how these sophisticated operational and mission requirements can be accommodated. The information obtained on fishery research cruises is provided to marine resource managers so that informed decisions regarding fishery regulations can be made. To avoid fishery regulations that are either too strict or too lax the best scientific information possible must be supplied to the resource regulators and managers.