Fisheries research surveys: Monitoring of fish communities

Lead Institute OF Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries

Involved Institutes SF Institute of Sea Fisheries

[Translate to English:]

DCF (Data Collection Framework): Monitoring of cod, herring, sprat and flatfish stocks in the Baltic Sea in the frame of internationally coordinated research cruises to estimate independent abundance indices.

Eine Seefahrt, die ist lustig… A research vessel cruise is mainly hard work onboard at sea, according to a fixed station grid and a tight schedule, under almost any weather condition. Specialized knowledge, routine and perseverance are required here.

Background and Objective

In former times, each country conducted fisheries-independent surveys in its national waters using national standards. Fish stocks, however, do not stick to national sea boundaries. To ensure maximum comparability between national survey data, these research surveys are internationally standardized since 2000. Thus, every year large areas of the Baltic Sea are monitored simultaneously by fisheries biologist from different countries using standard procedures.

The survey results are analyzed nationally and uploaded into the data base DATRAS of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The data are used for estimation of fisheries-independent stock indices, determination of year-class strength and fishing mortality. These data are used in models to estimate stock status, together with the data collected from the fisheries.

In the past, each country conducted its own research cruises according to national standards. However, fish stocks do not adhere to national maritime boundaries and national differences in processing of the catches lead to different results. To ensure the greatest possible comparability of data, these research cruises have been standardized internationally since 2000. Thus, several times each year, large areas of the Baltic Sea are surveyed by several nations almost simultaneously according to these standards.

The results of the cruises are evaluated nationally and fed into the DATRAS database of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The data are used to estimate fishery-independent stock indices, to determine year-class strengths and fishing mortality. They are used in conjunction with fishery-derived data in stock assessment models

Approach

On the fishery research cruises, depending on the destination of the trip, precisely defined standards are adhered to in catching, processing the fish and analyzing the data. These standards are laid down in so-called survey manuals. Each research cruise is led by a scientific cruise leader. Technicians and research assistants play a central role in processing the catches on board.

Preliminary Results

Important fisheries research cruises that we undertake every year are, for example, the "Baltic International Trawl Survey" (BITS) in February and October/November for demersal fish, as well as the "Baltic Acoustic Sprat Survey" (BASS) in May/June and the "Baltic International Acoustic Survey" (BIAS) in October for the pelagic species herring and sprat. With the "Rügen Herring Larval Survey" (RHLS) in the Greifswalder Bodden, we determine the recruitment strength already at the level of freshly hatched larvae.

Based on the research cruises of Germany and the other Baltic countries, we regularly calculate important indices on the year-class strengths of the individual stocks and estimate fishing mortality. These are important input values for the population models that we need to determine stock sizes and derive meaningful catch predictions.

Thünen-Contact

Dr. Uwe Krumme

Telephone

+49 381 66099 148

uwe.krumme@thuenen.de

OF Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries

Involved Thünen-Partners

Involved external Thünen-Partners

Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE)
(Bonn, Deutschland)

Funding Body

EU - European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund of the European Union (EMFAF)
(international, öffentlich)

Duration

Permanent task 1.2001 - 12.2027

More Information

Project status: ongoing

Publications

0
Hommik K, Bergenius Nord M, Boje J, Brown E, Bukowski C, Cardinale M, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Gilljam D, Goni N, Haase S, Horbowy J, Kaljuste O, Krumme U, Lövgren J, Mirny Z, Neuenfeldt S, Pönni J, Putnis I, Stötera S, et al (2023) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 606 p, ICES Sci Rep 5(58), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.23123768
https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn066388.pdf
1
Kaljuste O, Sepp E, Aleksejeva E, Börjesson P, Canseco Rodriguez JA, Goni N, Haase S, Larson N, Lilja J, Lövgren O, Parner H, Pönni J, Radtke K, Schmidt B, Sics I, Soni V, Spegys M, Storr-Paulsen M, Strods G, Velasco A, et al (2023) Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS). Copenhagen: ICES, iv, 90 p, ICES Sci Rep 5(70), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.23675049
https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn066592.pdf
2
Bergenius M, Hommik K, Berg CW, Boje J, Brown E, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Finke A, Gilljam D, Goni N, Gröhsler T, Gutkowska J, Haase S, Horbowy J, Kaljuste O, Krumme U, Lövgren J, Mirny Z, Neuenfeldt S, Stötera S, et al (2022) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 659 p, ICES Sci Rep 4(44), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.19793014
https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn064915.pdf
3
Plambech Ryberg M, Huwer B, Nielsen A, Dierking J, Buchmann K, Sokolova M, Krumme U, Behrens JW (2022) Parasite load of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua in the Baltic Sea assessed by the liver category method, and associations with infection density and critical condition. Fish Manag Ecol 29(1):88-99, DOI:10.1111/fme.12516
4
Receveur A, Bleil M, Funk S, Stötera S, Gräwe U, Naumann M, Dutheil C, Krumme U (2022) Western Baltic cod in distress: decline in energy reserves since 1977. ICES J Mar Sci 79(4):1187-1201, DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsac042
https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn064896.pdf
5
Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2014) Annex 6: Cruise reports from other acoustic surveys in the area : Annex 6a: Western Baltic acoustic survey ; Survey report for FRV "Solea" ; German Acoustic Autumn Survey (GERAS), 30 September 2013 - 19 October 2013. In: Report of the Working Group of International Pelagic Surveys (WGIPS) ; 20-24 January 2014. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 224-251
6
Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2014) Survey Report for FRV "Solea" German Acoustic Autumn Survey (GERAS) 30 September 2013 - 19 October 2013. In: Report of the Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) : 24-28 March 2014 ; Gdynia, Poland. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 250-258
7
Krumme U, Gröhsler T (2013) Analysis of the questionaires concerning the issue of species misreporting in the mixed pelagic fisheries in the Baltic Sea (sprat-herring mix). In: Report of the benchmark workshop on Baltic multispecies assessments (WKBALT): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 266-276
8
Oeberst R, Gröhsler T, Schaber M, Larson N (2013) Applicability of the Separation Function (SF) in 2011 and 2012. In: Report of the Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) : 20-25 March 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 399-405
9
Oeberst R, Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2013) Applicability of the stock separation function (SF) on the first period of GERAS in 1994-2004. Working Document WKPELA2. Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 4 p
10
Gröhsler T (2013) Assessment input database. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 417-437
11
Oeberst R, Gröhsler T (2013) Comparison of stock indices based on GERAS estimated with the standard procedure and by the new proposed method : Working document Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) 20-25 March 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 9 p
12
Gröhsler T (2013) German herring and sprat fisheries & stock assessment data in the Baltic Sea in 2012. In: Report of the Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS): 10-17 April 2013; Working Document 2. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 735-761
13
Gröhsler T (2013) German herring fisheries & stock assessment data in the Western Baltic in 2012. In: Report of the Herring Assessment Working Group (HAWG) . Copenhagen: ICES, pp 806-818
14
Gröhsler T, Oeberst R, Schaber M (2013) Implementation of the Stock Separation Function (SF) on German commercial landings. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 379-386
15
Gröhsler T, Oeberst R, Schaber M (2013) Implementation of the stock separation function (SF) within GERAS in 2005-2011. Working Document WKPELA 1. Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 6 p
16
Oeberst R, Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2013) Investigations on quality of Stock Separation Function (SF). Working Document WKPELA4. Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 22 p
17
Bartolino V, Gröhsler T, Vitale F, Krischansson B, Johansson M (2013) Maturity at age in the WBSSH herring : motivation of the study and background. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 470-475
18
Krumme U, Gröhsler T (2013) Sprat (BS)/Central Baltic Herring (CBH): Analysis of the questionnaires concerning the issue of species misreportning in the mixed pelagic fisheries in the Baltic Sea (sprat-herring mix). In: Report of the benchmark workshop on Baltic multispecies assessments (WKBALT): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 266-276
19
Schaber M, Gröhsler T (2013) Survey Report for FRV "Solea" 2-21 October 2012. In: Report of the Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) : Annex 8: Cruise reports of acoustic surveys BASS and BIAS in 2012. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 266-289
20
Oeberst R, Velasco A, Mieske B (2012) Measuring the international standard trawl for Baltic demersal surveys (TV3-520 Meshes) : working paper Working group of Baltic International Fish Survey, 26 – 30 March 2012. Copenhagen: ICES, 4 p
21
Velasco A, Oeberst R (2012) Ungewöhnliche Gewichtsabnahme von Dorsch im 2. Jahresquartal im Bornholm Becken (ICES-Gebiet 25) und der Arkonasee (ICES-Gebiet 24). Inf Fischereiforsch 59:19-23, DOI:10.3220/Infn59_19-23_2012
https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn050368.pdf
22
Velasco A (2010) Bericht über die 629. Reise des FFS "Solea" vom 28.10. bis zum 19.11.2010. 8 p