Rapport De La Quatri Me R Union Du Groupe De Planification Pour La Coordination Des Campagnes Acoustiques Au Large De L Afrique Du Nord Ouest

The report finds that all of the local research vessels conducted acoustic surveys in 2005 and major improvements have been made in standardisation of procedures and processing of data. Some problems still persist, such as problems with trawling using the pelagic trawl and problems related to noise levels, but these issues are now being addressed. Plans were made for a second parallel survey and intercalibration exercise to take place in October- December 2005. It was recommended that the countries in the Northwest African region, Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania and Morocco should co-ordinate their survey effort to conduct two annual regional acoustic surveys, during the cold and warm seasons respectively.

The second meeting of the Planning Group for the Coordination of Acoustic Surveys off Northwest Africa was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 28 to 29 October 2003. The general objective of the Planning Group is to plan the coordination of acoustic surveys in the region including intercalibration of research vessels and to act as a forum for discussion on issues important to acoustic surveys such as standardization of methods, acoustic research and training. The Planning Group noted that the three countries that possess their own research vessels had all conducted acoustic surveys in 2003 and that progress had been made in terms of planning and implementation of surveys as well as in data analysis and reporting. Nevertheless, there are still some issues that need to be addressed including the coordination of the national surveys to ensure complete coverage of the pelagic stocks, studies to reduce the noise level of the different research vessels, and the operation of the pelagic trawl to improve sampling of the target pelagic species.--Publisher's description.

The scientists from the Northwest African region expressed their commitment to conduct their own acoustic surveys. All of the local research vessels conducted acoustic surveys in 2004. The ability of running acoustic surveys in the sub-region has developed to a good level and focus in the future should be on the development of human capacity and to resolve the recurrent technical problems of trawl performance, noise discrimination and data storage. The timeframe of the continued surveys with R/V DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN and the support through the Nansen Programme is unknown and high priority must therefore be given to the improvement of scientists skills in acoustic abundance estimation.

On cover and title page: International cooperation with the Nansen Programme GCP/INT/730/NOR

The report finds that all of the local research vessels conducted acoustic surveys in 2005 and major improvements have been made in standardisation of procedures and processing of data. Some problems still persist, such as problems with trawling using the pelagic trawl and problems related to noise levels, but these issues are now being addressed. Plans were made for a second parallel survey and intercalibration exercise to take place in October- December 2005. It was recommended that the countries in the Northwest African region, Senegal, the Gambia, Mauritania and Morocco should co-ordinate their survey effort to conduct two annual regional acoustic surveys, during the cold and warm seasons respectively.

The fifth meeting of the FAO Working Group on the Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish off Northwest Africa was held in Nouadhibou, Mauritania, from 26 April to 5 May 2005. The meeting continued to focus on data quality and on the analysis of trends in the basic data (landings, catch, effort, abundance, length and age distribution) and trends in the fishery independent survey data. The structure of the report is the same as that of the previous Working Group report (FAO, 2004), with the addition of two chapters, one on bonga (Ethmalosa fimbriata) and one on anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus). A separate section is devoted to each of the main groups of species (sardine, sardinella, horse mackerel, chub mackerel, bonga and anchovy). For each of these, standardised information is given on stock identity, fisheries, abundance indices, sampling, biological data, assessment, management recommendations and future research. In the absence of reliable length and/or age compositions, the Working Group used production models for all stocks. The results of the assessments indicate that the sardine stock in Zone C is not fully exploited and the Working Group hence noted that the total catch level may be temporarily increased but should be adjusted to natural changes in the stock. A constant monitoring of the stock abundance and structure, by scientific surveys, independent from catch data, should be ensured, to detect unanticipated changes that may require urgent management measures. As regards the central stock of sardine (Zones A+ B), it is recommended not to increase catches above the average level of the last five years (600 000 tonnes). The stock of round sardinella was found to be fully exploited and it was hence recommended not to increase catches of sardinella above the current level of 400 000 tonnes (2004). As a precautionary approach, the Working Group recommended not to increase catches above the average level of the last five years for the horse mackerels (80 000 tonnes for Trachurus trachurus and 170 000 tonnes for T. trecae) and not to increase catches above the 2004 level for chub mackerel (220 000 tonnes). For bonga the Working Group recommended as a precautionary measure that the catch level should not exceed the average over the last five years (42 000 tonnes) and for anchovy the catch level should not exceed the average over the last three years (160 000 tonnes). In formulating the results of the assessments, the Working Group noted that it lacked a set of uniform reference points and management objectives for all stocks in the area. The Group noted that the selection of appropriate reference points required more time than was available during the meeting. It was therefore decided that some members will look further into this problem, working by correspondence, and present a working paper at the 2006 meeting. At that meeting the Working Group will attempt to agree on a common policy concerning the way it presents its management advice for the various stocks.

FRIDTJOF NANSEN.

The Group assessed the status of the small pelagic resources in Northwest Africa and make projections on the development of the status of the stocks and on future effort and catch levels. As a precautionary measure, the catch level for this species should not exceed the average over the last three years of 115 000 tonnes. For bonga, the recommendation from 2006 is maintained as no new information is available on this species, and the Working Group recommended that the catch level should not exceed 42 000 tonnes. - Le Groupe a examine l'etat actuel des ressources de petits pelagiques en Afrique nord occidentale en fait des projections sur le developpement, l'effort futur et les niveaux de capture. Comme mesure de precaution, le niveau de capture pour cette espece ne devrait pas depasser la moyenne de 115 000 tonnes des trois dernieres annees. Pour l'ethmalose, la recommandation de 2006 est maintenue car aucune information nouvelle n'est disponible pour cette espece et le Groupe de travail a recommande que le niveau de capture ne depasse pas 42 000 tonnes"