Report of the Planning Group for Herring Surveys

Report of theTerms of Reference According to C. Res. 2003/2G05 the Planning Group for Herring Surveys [PGHERS](Chair: B. Couperus, Netherlands) will meet in Flødevigen, Norway, from 27–23 January 2004 to:a) combine the 2003 survey data to provide indices of abundance for the population within the area;b) coordinate the timing, area allocation and methodologies for acoustic and larvae surveys for herring andsprat in the North Sea, Division VIa and IIIa and Western Baltic in 2004;c) review and update the PGHERS manual for acoustic surveys to address standardisation of all samplingtools and survey gears;d) evaluate the results of the investigations of survey overlaps between vessels in the North Sea acousticsurvey;e) assess the status and future of the HERSUR database;Terms of Reference According to C. Res. 2003/2G05 the Planning Group for Herring Surveys [PGHERS](Chair: B. Couperus, Netherlands) will meet in Flødevigen, Norway, from 27–23 January 2004 to:a) combine the 2003 survey data to provide indices of abundance for the population within the area;b) coordinate the timing, area allocation and methodologies for acoustic and larvae surveys for herring andsprat in the North Sea, Division VIa and IIIa and Western Baltic in 2004;c) review and update the PGHERS manual for acoustic surveys to address standardisation of all samplingtools and survey gears;d) evaluate the results of the investigations of survey overlaps between vessels in the North Sea acousticsurvey;e) assess the status and future of the HERSUR database;f) examine digital photographs of herring maturity stages in order to harmonise their definitions.