California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations

The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Game, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern & central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway.  Data collected at depths down to 500 m include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.

Upcoming or Current:
Cruise dates are subject to change so check back often or check the ship's schedule

• Winter CalCOFI • 27 Jan - 14 Feb 2012 • RV New Horizon • Loading ~ 24-26 Jan 2012 
• Spring CalCOFI • 17 Mar - 10 Apr • NOAA CalCOFI cruise on RV Bell M. Shimada
• Summer CalCOFI • Aug 2012 •  NOAA CalCOFI cruise TBA
• CalCOFI 1211NH • 02 - 19 Nov 2012 • RV New Horizon • Loading 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2012

Additonal Information:
RV New Horizon Information & Schedule -- RV Bell M Shimada Information & Schedule

CalCOFI Report Vol 52, 2011 (Complete report pdf; individual pdf links below)

• Report of the CalCOFI Committee
• Review of Selected California Fisheries for 2010: Coastal Pelagic Finfish, Market Squid, Ocean Salmon, Groundfish, Highly Migratory Species, Dungeness Crab, Spiny Lobster, Spot Prawn, Kellet’s Whelk, and White Seabass. Dale Sweetnam, editor.
• State of the California Current 2010–2011: Regional Variable Responses to a Strong (But Fleeting?) La Niña. Eric Bjorkstedt, Ralf Goericke, Sam McClatchie, Ed Weber, William Watson, Nancy Lo, Bill Peterson, Bob Emmett, Ric Brodeur, Jay Peterson, Marisa Litz, Jose Gomez-Valdez, Gilberto Gaxiola-Castro, Bertha Lavaniegos, Francisco Chavez, Curtis A. Collins, John Field, Keith Sakuma, Pete Warzybok, Russell Bradley, Jaime Jahncke, Steven Bograd, Franklin Schwing, Gregory S. Campbell, John Hildebrand, William Sydeman, Sarah Ann Thompson, John Largier, Chris Halle, Sung Yong Kim, Jeff Abell.
• Publications

Since 1949, hydrographic and biological data of the California Current System have been collected on CalCOFI cruises. The 61 year hydrographic time-series includes temperature, salinity, oxygen and phosphate observations. In 1961, nutrient analysis expanded to include silicate, nitrate and nitrite; in 1973, chlorophyll was added; in 1984, C14 primary productivity incubations were added; and in 1993, CTD profiling began.

>> Hydrographic Data - 1949 to Latest Update

CalCOFI Data Reports

Hydrographic Bottle

Primary Productivity

Macrozooplankton

Spatial Patterns

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* Latest update: 201101.

Database Ready Files

MS Access MDB

CSV - Btl / Cast Files

XML - Btl / Cast Files

SQL - Btl / Cast Files

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MDB Output - 38 MB Zip •

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MDB Output - 45 MB Zip •

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* Latest update: 201101.

IEH Archive Files

IEH 128 Column

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* Latest update: 201101.

>> CTD Data - 1992 to Latest Update

CTD Zip Files

CTD Data

Data Descriptions

SBE Formats

CalCOFI Formats

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* Latest update: 201108.

Opportunities to volunteer on CalCOFI Cruises in 2012

• CalCOFI 1202NH  • 27 Jan - 14 Feb 2012 SIO RV New Horizon
• CalCOFI 1204SH  • 17 Mar - 10 Apr 2012 NOAA RV Shimada
• CalCOFI 1207NH • TBA ~Jul - Aug 2012 
• CalCOFI 1210NH • TBA ~Nov 2012 SIO RV New Horizon

Interested in participating in an oceanographic cruise? CalCOFI cruises are staffed by personnel from the following agencies: National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA), Integrative Oceanography Division at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and California Department of Fish & Game. Volunteers are recruited to help deploy equipment, collect data, and draw and analyze seawater samples. General criteria:

• sea-worthiness (experience at sea, recreational is acceptable)
• good health
• scientific background
• ability to follow detailed instructions carefully
• ability to work safely on an oceanographic cruise
• availability - most cruises are 18 - 20 days; some winter & spring cruises are longer
• ability to work a 12hr watch (noon to midnight or midnight to noon) for +18 days

Additional information is available in the CalCOFI Handbook. If you are interested in participating, please send a resume and a brief description of your seagoing experience and interests to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.