WORKING GROUP ON MACKEREL AND HORSE MACKEREL EGG SURVEYS

a) co-ordinate the timing and planning of the 2001 Mackerel/Horse Mackerel Egg Surveys in the ICES Sub-areas VIto IX for estimating the spawning stock size;b) co-ordinate the planning of sampling for maturity of both mackerel and horse mackerel for analysis histologically;c) co-ordinate the planning of sampling for fecundity and atresia taking into account the recommendations of theWGMHSA regarding the level of sampling;d) review all the mackerel fecundity and atresia data collected in the western area as part of the 1998 survey andreport back to the WGMHSA on whether or not any changes should be made to the 1998 data set;e) review all information on maturity, fecundity and atresia for both mackerel and horse mackerel, analysed since thelast meeting of WGMEGS. (All relevant working documents presented to the 1999 WGMHSA should be madeavailable to this WG);f) examine the reasons for the high variance on the estimate of mackerel egg production in the southern area in 1998and decide on whether the sampling strategy needs to be revised in this area;g) present horse mackerel fecundity and atresia estimates for the southern area from sampling in 1998. Review theegg production estimate and calculate a revised estimate of SSB for the southern horse mackerel in 1998;h) review the results of the 1999 North Sea Egg Survey;i) consider producing a manual detailing all methods used in the current egg surveys from sample collection throughto the final estimate of SSB’s.