Report of the Study Group on Collection of Acoustic Data from Fishing Vessels (SGAFV)

The Study Group on Collection of Acoustic Data from Commercial Vessels (SGAFV) held its first meeting at the Sea Fisheries Institute (SFI), Gdynia, Poland, prior to the 2004 meetings of ICES Fisheries Technology Committee Working Groups, WGFAST and WGFTFB. The meeting was Chaired by Dr. W. Karp (USA). Dr. Alex De Robertis (USA) acted as Rapporteur. Twenty-five scientists from six ICES member countries and three observer countries attended the meeting. The Chair opened the meeting by thanking SFI and introducing those present. The Study Group then reviewed the agenda and discussed the goals of the meeting.Major agenda items and meeting goals were agreed upon as follows:• Review Terms of Reference (TORs),• Review developments in the field,• Develop outline for final report,• Assign initial authorship responsibilities,• Reach agreement on work to be completed before the next meeting of the Study Group,• Recommend changes in the Terms of Reference if appropriate, and• Identify major agenda items for 2005 meeting of SGAFV.