Acoustic surveys are generally carried out on spawning and pre-spawning aggregations of fish. Outside of the spawning season many pelagic species are generally very scattered over a large geographical area and difficult to detect using acoustic methods. A cruise track is first formulated with data from previous surveys, commercial catch data and the help of the fishermen and fishing industry.
Purpose of Survey
The aim of an acoustic survey is to determine the relative abundance of the target species. This information is then used to determine catch rates and management advice for the following year.
How Acoustic Surveys Work
These surveys use sound waves emitted from a "transducer" to estimate the density of plankton and fish shoals. The survey vessel tows the transducer under water, which is linked to an echo sounder in the vessel which records the shoals of fish as "marks" on a screen or paper trace.
The species composition of each mark is then identified by taking trawl samples. The density and number of marks are then converted into biomass (weight) of the different species. Acoustic surveys are particularly effective on shoaling species that have a large swim bladder like herring and blue whiting.
Marine Institute Acoustic Survey Programme
Every year FSS carries out two Herring Acoustic Surveys on the RV Celtic Explorer, the Northwest Herring Acoustic Survey (NWHAS) in early January and the Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey (CSHAS) in the fourth quarter of the year. Ireland also participates in an International Blue Whiting Acoustic Survey (IBWAS), which involves vessels from Norway, Russia and the Netherlands in spring each year.
Recent Survey Results
Herring Acoustic Survey
Download the most recent survey reports from the 2008 Northwest Herring Acoustic Survey 2009 Northwest Herring Acoustic Survey (PDF, 3 MB) and the 2008 Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey 2008 Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey (PDF 4.1MB).
Survey Tracks for spawning and pre spawning Herring Acoustic surveys
Blue Whiting Acoustic Survey
The International Blue Whiting Acoustic Survey (IBWAS) survey covers a total area of some 150,000 nmi2 (nautical miles) with the Irish component covering over 28,000 nmi2. In spring 2009, five research vessels representing the Faroe Islands, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Russia surveyed the spawning grounds of blue whiting west of the British Isles. Download the 2009 International Collaborative Survey Report (PDF, 14.4MB).
The Irish component of the survey was carried out on the RV Celtic Explorer, this report Spring 2009 Irish Blue Whiting Acoustic Survey (PDF, 5.1MB) is also available to download.
International Survey Track for Blue whiting Acoustic Survey 2009
Combined CTD stations overlaid onto vessel cruise tracks. WP II: Indicates plankton trawl. CE: Celtic Explorer; MH: Magnus Heinason; TD: Tridens; FN: Fridtjof Nansen: NO: Brennholm. March-April 2009.