Report of the Planning Group on Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Ecosystem Surveys (PGNAPES)

The report presents the results from the acoustic, hydrographic, plankton, and fish sampling during the international ICES coordinated surveys on Norwegian spring-spawning herring and blue whiting in the Norwegian Sea in May 2004 (Denmark, Faroes, Iceland, Norway and Russia), as well as the coordinated survey on the blue whiting spawning grounds west of the British Isles in March/April 2004 (Holland, Ireland, Norway, and Russia). The Planning Group on Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Ecosystem Surveys (PGNAPES) met in Murmansk, 24–27 August 2004. The survey results include the distribution and stock estimates of Norwegian spring-spawning herring and blue whiting, and the environment (oceanographic conditions and biomass of zooplankton) of the Norwegian Sea and adjacent waters in spring and summer of 2004, and the biomass estimate of spawning blue whiting in March/April. The abundance estimates are used in the fish stock assessment of Norwegian spring spawning herring and blue whiting in ICES Northern Pelagic and Blue Whiting Fisheries Working Group (WGNPBW). The collection of environmental data further improves the basis for ecosystem modelling of the Northeast Atlantic. Broad plans for the ICES coordinated surveys for 2005 are also outlined with descriptions of the relevant protocols, preliminary participants and suggested survey designs.