Evaluating the impacts of reduced sampling density in a systematic fisheries-independent survey design

Fisheries-independent surveys provide critical data products used to estimate stock status and inform management decisions. While it can be possible redistribute sampling effort improve survey efficiency address changing monitoring needs in the face of unforeseen challenges, is important assess consequences such changes. Here, we present an approach that relies on existing simulations evaluate impacts strategic reductions effort. We apply this potential effects reducing high density near St. Matthew Island Pribilof Islands NOAA eastern Bering Sea (EBS) bottom trawl survey. These areas contain “corner stations” were implemented for finer-scale associated blue king crab stocks ( Paralithodes platypus ) which historically supported commercial fisheries but have since declined are seldom eligible harvest. investigate removing these corner stations quality focal P. other groundfish species monitored by EBS find has negligible most stocks, except those whose distributions concentrated areas. However, was relatively low even with higher sampling, station removal had only minor assessment outcomes. The analysis here provides a generic evaluating systematic designs applied scientists managers facing similar decisions elsewhere.