Research Document - 2002/044
Herring acoustic surveys for 2001 in NAFO Divisions 4WX
By G.D. Melvin, L. M.Annis, M.J. Power, F.J. Fife,
K.J. Clark, and R.L. Stephenson
Abstract
The distribution and abundance of Atlantic herring in NAFO Division 4VWX was documented from survey data collected primarily by commercial fishing vessels during structured, mapping and research surveys. Surveys were conducted on the main spawning components in accordance with a pre-season plan. The spawning stock biomass for each component was estimated by summing the results of surveys undertaken over the spawning season at scheduled intervals (i.e., >10 day). In 2001, 3 surveys were conducted in Scots Bay, 3 on Trinity Ledge and 6 on German Bank following established protocol and providing coverage of the spawning areas consistent with previous years. As a result, the estimated biomass was considered representative of the spawning components. Biomass estimates for Scots Bay, Trinity Ledge and German Bank were approximately 164,000t, 14,800t, and 191,000t for a total SSB of 370,000t in the traditional survey areas. Another 88,000t of spawning fish were observed near Spectacle Buoy, 3,000t around Seal Island and 46,000t on Browns Bank giving a total of 507,000t for the 2001 spawning season. The significant and continued decline in biomass since 1999 on German Bank is cause for concern. Biomass estimates for surveys of the coastal Nova Scotia spawning components and the offshore Scotian Shelf spring/summer feeding aggregations are also presented.
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