Report of the Planning Group for Herring Surveys

a) coordinate the timing, area allocation and methodologies for acoustic and larval surveys for herring in the North Sea,Division VIa and lIla and the Western Baltic;b) combine the survey data to provide estimates of abundance for the population within the area;c) hold a Workshop on acoustic echogram examination procedures;d) assess the results of studies on the separation of west coast and North Sea herring stocks within the acoustic surveytime series; the examination of the pre-1991 surveys for possible under-estimation duc to signal saturation in theelectronies; the inter ship-calibration and the study of variability of trawl performance between participants;e) review the results of the above studies and then report on the applicability of further study on the herring survey timeseries.