Boarfish Acoustic Survey 09 July – 26 July, 2012

Abstract

From the early 1970s the abundance of boarfish (Capros aper) was seen to increase exponentially and distribution ever increasingly spread northwards along the western seaboard and Bay of Biscay (Blanchard and Vandermeirsch, 2005). This survey represents the second exploratory research survey for boarfish undertaken along the western seaboard of Ireland. The commercial fishing vessel the MFV Father McKee, an active participant in the fishery, was equipped with a calibrated scientific echosounder (Simrad EK 60) and transducer within a towed body. Data from this survey, in addition to the extensive biological research carried out on this species forms part of a larger program aimed at increasing the knowledge of this species and its abundance outside of the commercial fishery. Data from this survey will be presented for inclusion into the ICES Planning Group meeting for North Atlantic Pelagic Ecosystem Surveys in December 2012 (WGIPS) and for the ICES assessment Working Group for Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) meeting in August 2012.