Report of the Study Group on Survey Trawl Gear for the IBTS Western and Southern Areas (SGSTG)

a) review the modifications and field trials of candidate trawl gears proposed at the 2003 meeting;b) propose the candidate net and ground gear configurations to be used in the different surveys in the area, according to the results of (a);c) determine standardized trawling procedures after appropriate trawl gear has been chosen, in relation to the procedures used in the North Sea;d) define the required scope of continuing inter-calibration work required to maintain continuity in time-series, including the North Sea time-series;e) recommend appropriate survey design for multi-vessel/gear permutations such as stratification, overlap, and the combining of data to provide indices of abundance and biodiversity and any other appropriate indicators of stock and regional scales;f) review gear design proposals from commercial net manufacturers.