For several years ICES survey expert groups (IBTSWG and WGISUR) have discussed unavoidable changes in surveys due to technical reasons as well as changes desired for expending the survey objectives towards ecosystem monitoring. Technical changes such as replacement of vessel or replacement of trawl material (from nylon to polyethylene) will happen in the near future.
Improvements of the survey design such as implementation of a more efficient survey stratification, station and area allocation to the participating countries, and possibly a shorter tow duration could provide the possibility for sampling components of the ecosystem other than the current target fish and shellfish species without increasing total survey time. These changes, however, may impair the consistency of the existing time series for fish stock and environmental assessments in the North Sea.
This workshop aims to bring together survey experts with end users of the survey results to advice on the best possible strategy to implement unavoidable changes and a prioritization of additional sampling.
Please contact the Chair Kai Wieland and ICES Supporting Officer Julie Krogh Hallin, to register and for further questions. Deadline for registrations: 3 June.
