Report by correspondence of the Baltic Herring Age Reading Study Group

According to resolutions adopted at 1996 Annual Science Conference, 84"' Statutory Meeting (C.Res.199612:45), a Baltic Herring Age Reading Study Group (BHARSG) will be established (Chairman: Mr G. Kornilovs, Latvia) and will work by correspondence in 1997 to:
1. establish a Baltic herring otolith exchange programme on a regular basis between laboratories involved;
2. establish a reference collection of otoliths from different sub-divisions, seasons and length groups of Baltic herring to reach a common interpretation of otolith structure;
3. establish a protocol for the age determination of otoliths using diagrams and photographs to illustrate age reading criteria;
4. prepare a detailed programme for a Study Group meeting (5 days) to be held in 1998 to:
a) intercalibrate the age reading and age determination methodology of Baltic herring and describe a protocol for handling Baltic herring otoliths,
b) organize a comparative age determination of otoliths and evaluate results using the methods described by the Working Group on Sampling Strategies for Age and Maturity,
c) in the light of the Study Group meeting results, identify new research and actions needed to improve the consistency of age reading,
d) prepare a manual of standard procedures on Baltic herring age-reading.