2.1.3 FRAM Groundfish Survey 
Samples from the West Coast Groundfish Surveys conducted by the Fisheries 
Resource Analysis and Monitoring (FRAM) Division of the Northwest Fisheries Science 
Center (NWFSC) of NOAA were used to supplement the pool of samples available for 
tissue-contaminant body-burden analysis. FRAM surveys began in 1998 and by 2003 
had adopted a probability-based sampling design. However the design could not be 
readily integrated into that used by EMAP/NCA. The FRAM groundfish-survey area 
included depths from 30 fathoms (55m) to 700 fathoms (1287m) and was partitioned by 
International North Pacific Fishing Commission zones. Therefore, a GIS coverage of 
groundfish-survey sample locations was created, and the EMAP/NCA sample frame 
defining the region between 30 and 120 m was overlaid on this GIS data layer. A target 
sample number of 50 groundfish sites per state was established. In Oregon and 
Washington, only 28 and 21 stations, respectively, met the EMAP/NCA depth criterion, 
and thus all available sites were selected. In California, a subset of 50 sites was 
randomly selected from the list of 78 sites within the depth range. Fish from 63 sites 
were initially selected for contaminant analysis, but data from three of these sites were 
subsequently excluded from data analysis because the sites were greater than 120 m in 
depth. Sites from which fish were analyzed for contaminants are shown in Figs. 3.1.6- 
3.1.9 and are listed in Appendix Table 2. 
2.2 Water Column Sampling 
Vertical water-column profiles of conductivity, temperature, chlorophyll a 
concentration, transmissivity, dissolved oxygen, and depth were obtained with a Sea- 
Bird Electronics Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD) data sonde unit with additional 
sensors (Table 2.2.1). The unit was a SBE 9Plus with an 11 Plus deck unit to provide 
real-time data supplied by the NOAA Ship McARTHUR II. Supplemental sensors were 
supplied by Washington DOE. The unit was also equipped with 12 Niskin water sample 
bottles to acquire discrete water samples at three designated water depths: 0.5 m below 
sea surface, mid-water column, and near the seabed (Figure 2.2.1). In practice, the 
near-surface samples were collected from just below the surface to a depth of 5.3 m. 
Continuous profiles of conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a 
(fluorometer), transmissivity, and depth were recorded during the descent and ascent of 
the unit. Discrete water samples were processed for nutrients, total suspended solids 
(TSS), and chlorophyll a. For nutrients and chlorophyll a, only surface values are 
reported since this is the region of the water column most likely to be affected by 
anthropogenic influences. For temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, transmissivity 
and TSS, only surface and bottom values are reported, since these values typically 
provide the maximum range of values within a station. Data for all three depths for all 
variables are included in the study database and are available on request from the 
authors. 
In the assessment of estuarine waters in the NCA program, light availability in the 
water column was evaluated using either Secchi depth or water column 
7 
