Survey report from the joint Norwegian/Russian acoustic survey of pelagic fish in the Barents Sea September-October 2000

The survey was carried out in the period 4th of September to 3rd of October 2000 and was terminated by a meeting in Vadsø 4-6th October. Four research vessels participated in the survey: Vessel Institute Cruise leader Date "Johan Hjort" IMR, Bergen H. Gjøsæter 8/9 – 3/10 "G.O.Sars" IMR, Bergen J. Røttingen 8/9 – 3/10 "AtlantNIRO" PINRO, Murmansk D. Prozorkevitch 4/9 – 3/10 “F. Nansen” PINRO, Murmansk I. Dolgolenko 5/9 – 3/10 The main aim of the survey was to estimate the sizes of two pelagic fish stocks in the Barents Sea, the capelin and the polar cod, in addition to studying their biology and geographical distribution. An estimate was also made of a third pelagic species in the area, the young herring. The survey on pelagic species formed a part of a multipurpose survey, with aim to study fish, environmental features, and plankton. This report mainly concerns the results on the pelagic fish species, but includes a general description of the hydrographical situation in the area. A list of the scientific members on all vessels is given in Appendix I. The coverage of the stock of capelin and polar cod was considered satisfactory. The young stages of Norwegian spring spawning herring were observed in the south-eastern part of the area. A total coverage of the herring, especially the 0-group, was not attempted during this survey. The capelin stock was estimated at 4.3 million tonnes, 1.6 times higher than the estimate obtained last year. About 2.1 million tonnes were assumed to be maturing. The polar cod stock was estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, about 1.2 times higher than that measured last year and the highest estimate on record. The young stages of the Norwegian Spring Spawning Herring were partly covered during the survey. About 380 000 tonnes of one-year-olds and 560 000 tonnes of two-year-olds were found in the south-eastern parts of the Barents Sea. No attempt was made to assess the number or biomass of 0-group herring