REPORT OF THE PLANNING GROUP ON HERRING SURVEYS (PGHERS)

Review of larvae surveys in 2005/2006: At the time of writing two of the seven surveys inthe North Sea remained to be carried out in January 2006. Results will be ready for theHerring Assessment Working Group (HAWG) meeting in March 2005.Coordination of larvae surveys for 2006/2007: In the 2006/2007 period, the Netherlandsand Germany will undertake seven larvae surveys in the North Sea from 1 September 2005 to31 January 2006. Germany will contribute a second vessel to the IHLS to ensure coverage inthe Orkney and Buchan area, which has not been covered in recent years; this will also takeplace in the first half of September. Thus, with the combined effort of Germany andNetherlands an almost complete coverage of the main spawning grounds is achievable. TheBaltic Sea Fisheries Institute will continue with the larvae survey in the Greifswalder Boddenarea in 2006.