Publications:
Assessment of the Herring Population in Prince William Sound during Spring 2003, R.E. Thorne

Deliverables:
Quarterly and annual reports

Project Summary

Surveys are conducted to determine the populations of adult herring and pollock biomass. Concentrations are estimated seasonally using scientific acoustic equipment. This is a cooperative project with ADF&G. Both ADF&G vessels and locally-charted fishing vessels were used on the surveys. Survey areas were determined using all available aerial, vessel and historic data. Acoustic data were collected using a current model echo sounder with a GPS receiver, a downward-looking transducer within a towed body and a computer hardware and software onboard the vessel. The acoustic data were converted into estimates of fish density and biomass within each of the sample areas.

The 2003 total estimate represents a substantial increase compared to the previous year and represents the second consecutive annual increase.