Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP)
The Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel (NTAP) is a joint advisory panel of the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils. It is composed of Council members, fishing industry, academic, and government and non-government fisheries experts who provide advice and direction on the conduct of trawl research.
The NTAP was established to bring commercial fishing, fisheries science, and fishery management professionals in the northeastern US together to identify concerns about regional research survey performance and data, to identify methods to address or mitigate these concerns, and to promote mutual understanding and acceptance of the results of this work among their peers and in the broader community.
Charter for Northeast U.S. Trawl Advisory Panel, revised 7/28/21
NTAP Member Roster, updated 4/23/2026
NTAP Operational Manual and Orientation Document, created 7/6/23
NTAP Working Group Member Roster, updated 10/21/2026
Contact
Hannah Hart, hhart@mafmc.org, (302) 526-5263
Regional Industry Based Trawl Survey (RIBTS)
Phase I work included evaluating the ability to conduct nighttime operations. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Anna Mercer
The NTAP has played a central role in developing the Regional Industry-Based Trawl Survey (RIBTS), a collaborative effort to explore a long-term, industry-based bottom trawl survey for the Northeast region. The long-term goal of RIBTS is to reduce uncertainty and increase accuracy in resource assessments. Following an initial pilot that evaluated survey operations and sampling requirements, the project is moving into a second phase focused on testing operations across multiple vessels and a broader geographic area and developing standardized, reproducible methods for a potential full-scale survey.
Phase II Request for Proposals: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is currently seeking applicants to execute Phase II of RIBTS. The anticipated timeframe to conduct the Phase II Survey is fall 2027. Proposals are due December 4, 2026. Please see the Request for Proposals for more details, qualifying requirements, and submission instructions.
The NTAP Working Group is continuing to meet on a monthly basis to discuss RIBTS Phase II pilot project as well as planning for a full-scale survey. See NTAP meetings below for Working Group meetings throughout the remainder of 2026.
NTAP Meetings
Click on a meeting title below to view briefing materials and additional meeting details.
Upcoming Meetings
Background Information & Resources
2015–2017 Northeast Trawl Advisory Panel Rockhopper Catch Efficiency Study
Bridle herding efficiency of a survey bottom trawl with different bridle configurations — Politis and Miller, 2017
Bigelow Tow performance: Percentage of Non-Representative Bottom Trawl Survey Tows 2009-2023
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Bottom Trawl Survey Protocols for the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow — Politis et al., 2014
Trading expertise: The rise and demise of an industry/government committee on survey trawl design — Johnson and McCay, 2012
Estimation of Albatross IV to Henry B. Bigelow Calibration Factors — Miller et al., 2010
Survey Vessels and Gear Modifications and their Possible Effects on Assessment Analysis — Byrne, Forrester, and Hayes
Comparison of the Fishing Power of Two Fishing Vessels — Byrne and Fogarty, 1985
A Brief Historical Review of the Woods Hold Laboratory Trawl Survey Time Series — T. Azarovitz, 1981
An Analysis of Some Factors Affecting Catchability of Fish by Trawls — Sissenwine and Bowman
Groundfish Survey Methods (Origins of NEFSC Bottom Trawl Survey) — M.D. Grosslein, 1969