Combining acoustic and trawl data for estimating fish abundance

Objective

The principle objective of this project is to develop and apply appropriate combination methodologies for the use of both acoustic and trawl data from bottom trawl surveys. Bottom trawl surveys are the most important, fisheries independent, data source used in stock assessment of commercial ground-fish in European waters.

The inclusion of-simultaneously collected acoustic survey data, with its more resolved sampling structure, could potentially improve the precision and accuracy of these surveys at little extra cost.

Within this overall aim, the project has four main objectives:
To determine the relationships between the acoustic and trawl data.
To develop mathematical models, to calculate combined stock abundance indices.
To test the performance of these new indices within the stock assessment process.
To provide and test improved survey designs, which allow optimum collection of both types of data.

The project is based on the analysis of selected data sets of combined acoustic and bottom trawl surveys.

Programme(s)

• FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002

Call for proposal

2
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Coordinator

Participants (5)