Report of the Planning Group for Herring Surveys

The planning group for herring survcys will meet in Aberdcen, UK, from 24 to 28 Fcbruary 1997 to:

a) Coordinate the timing and area allocation of, and methodologics for, acoustic and larvae surveys for herring

in the North Sea Divisions VIa and lIla, and the Western Baltic;

b) Combine the survey data to provide estimates of abundance for the populations within the area;

c) Evaluate the usefulnes~ ofthe herring acoustic time scrics with respect to North Sea assessment;

d) Discuss the outcome of studies of the consequences of reduccd effort and area covcrage for the herring larvae

surveys;

e) Define future data proccssing nceds for combining proposed acoustic and larvae surveys data from different

countries and whcre this should be carricd out over the next few years;

f) Develop a proposal for a survcy plan for acoustic and larvae surveys which wiII provide data required far

future North Sea assessments.