REPORT OF THE PLANNING GROUP ON NORTHEAST ATLANTIC PELAGIC ECOSYSTEM SURVEYS (PGNAPES)
This present report was prepared by the Planning Group on Northeast Atlantic
Pelagic Ecosystem Surveys (PGNAPES) in Hirtshals, Denmark, from 19–22 August
2008 and contains the results of the acoustic, hydrographic, plankton and fish
sampling from two international ICES coordinated survey in 2008. The International
blue whiting spawning stock survey on the spawning grounds west of the British
Isles in March‐April 2008 with participation of Dutch, Irish Norway, Faroes, and
Russia, and International ecosystem survey in the Nordic Seas with main focus on
Norwegian spring‐spawning herring and blue whiting in the Norwegian Sea and
Barents Sea in May‐June 2008 with participation of Denmark (EU coordinated),
Faroes, Iceland; Russia and Norway. In addition the scientific study of mackerel was
performed in the Norwegian Sea in the July‐August with the chartered commercial
vessels. The survey results include the distribution and the biomass estimate of
spawning blue whiting in March‐April west of the British Isles, and the distribution,
migration and stock estimates of Norwegian spring‐spawning herring and blue
whiting, and the environment (oceanographic conditions and biomass of
zooplankton) of the Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea and adjacent waters in spring and
summer of 2008. The abundance estimates are used in the fish stock assessment of
Norwegian spring‐spawning herring and blue whiting in ICES Working Group on
Widely distributed Stocks (WGWIDE). The collection of environmental data further
improves the basis for ecosystem modelling of the Northeast Atlantic. Broad plans for
the ICES coordinated surveys for 2009 are also outlined with descriptions of the
relevant protocols, preliminary participants and suggested survey designs.
History
Published under the auspices of the following ICES Steering Group or Committee
- ACOM
- LRC