Report of the Planning Group for Pelagic Acoustic Surveys in ICES Sub-Areas VIII and IX

a) analyse the results of the 1997 acoustic surveys,b) review the available information on small pelagic fish (both form the echograms and fishing stations) from theprevious surveys;c) revise the methodologies used by the different member countries, induding oceanography and environmental factors;d) propose improvements in both survey design and data analysis in order to get better understanding of the coastalpelagic ecosystem;• e) co-ordinate the timing of the surveys on Ibero-Atlantic sardine.