Publication Abstract

Description and evaluation of the International Beam Trawl Surveys of the European Continental Shelf

S.I. Rogers, U. Damm, G.J. Piet, A.D. Rijnsdorp and W. Vanhee

Samples of the demersal fish fauna have been collected during beam trawl surveys in the coastal waters of North-west Europe (49° - 57° N, 8°W - 9°E) by the UK, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, since the mid 1980’s. The purpose of the surveys is to collect year class strength information for commercially important demersal species, especially sole and plaice, for use in assessment. Catch densities for all other non-target fish, most by length group, are also collected. The by-catch of invertebrate macrofauna is recorded. This paper provides a technical description of the survey methods, a summary of the data that are routinely produced, and an analysis of the quality of the data. Opportunities for making better use of the surveys, for improving the quality of the data collected, and for developing the scope of the surveys, are discussed.

Reference:

S.I. Rogers, U. Damm, G.J. Piet, A.D. Rijnsdorp and W. Vanhee, 1997. Description and evaluation of the International Beam Trawl Surveys of the European Continental Shelf. ICES Copenhagen, CM1997/Y:23, 7pp + figs. tabs.