International Blue Whiting Spawning Stock Survey Spring 2010

Abstract

In spring 2010, five research vessels representing the Faroe Islands, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Russia surveyed the blue whiting spawning grounds to the west of the UK and Ireland. International co-operation allows for wider and more synoptic coverage of the stock and more rational utilisation of resources than uncoordinated national surveys. The survey was the seventh coordinated international blue whiting spawning stock survey since 2004. The primary purpose of the survey was to obtain estimates of blue whiting stock abundance in the main spawning grounds using acoustic methods as well as to collect hydrographic information. Results of all the surveys are also presented in national reports (F. Nansen: Rybakov et al. 2010; C. Explorer: O’Donnell et al. 2010; M. Heinason: Jacobsen et al. 2010; Tridens: Couperus et al. 2010) This report is based on correspondence undertaken after the International survey by all participants and during the post cruise meeting held in Bergen from May 3-4 with participation from Ireland and Norway.