Report of the Planning Group on Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Ecosystem Surveys (PGNAPES) [16-18 August 2005 Galway, Ireland]
Original version
This report is not to be quoted without prior consultation with the General Secretary.Abstract
The Planning Group on Northeast Atlantic Pelagic Ecosystem Surveys (PGNAPES) met in
Galway, Ireland 16–18 August 2005. This report presents the acoustic, hydrographic,
plankton, and fish sampling results from two main international ICES coordinated surveys in
2005. The International blue whiting spawning stock survey on the spawning grounds west
of the British Isles in March-April 2005 with participation of Norway, Faroes, Russia and the
Netherlands along with Ireland (EU coordinated), and International ecosystem survey in the
Nordic Seas with main focus on Norwegian spring-spawning herring and blue whiting in the
Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea in May 2005 with participation of Denmark (EU
coordinated), Faroes, Iceland, Norway, and Russia. In addition the Norwegian Sea was
covered during June-July and in August 2005. The survey results include the distribution and
the biomass estimate of spawning blue whiting in March-April west of the British Isles, and
the distribution, migration and stock estimates of Norwegian spring-spawning herring and
blue whiting, and the environment (oceanographic conditions and biomass of zooplankton) of
the Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea and adjacent waters in spring and summer of 2005. The
abundance estimates are used in the fish stock assessment of Norwegian spring spawning
herring and blue whiting in ICES Northern Pelagic and Blue Whiting Fisheries Working
Group (WGNPBW). The collection of environmental data further improves the basis for
ecosystem modelling of the Northeast Atlantic. Broad plans for the ICES coordinated surveys
for 2006 are also outlined with descriptions of the relevant protocols, preliminary participants
and suggested survey designs.
Description
Contributors: Mikko Heino, Jens Christian Holst, Webjørn Melle, Øyvind Tangen
Publisher
ICESSeries
ICES CM documents2005/D:09