Distribution and abundance of sprat in the North Sea in winter 1979-1980 determined by acoustic methods.

1980

This report is not to be quoted without prior consultation with the General Secretary.

To estimate the size of the North Sea sprat stock acoustically

two cruises were carried out in November 1979-January 1980. The

method is described and the size of the sprat stock was estimated

to about 1 million tons. This is probably an underestimate due

to the fact that some of the sprat stock were distributed close

to the bottom orsea surface and therefore out of range of the

acoustic equipment, and also due to the fact that the applied

average target strength possibly is too high.

ICES

ICES CM Documents;1980/H:41