ICES WGFAST 2018 REPORT ECOSYSTEM OBSERVATION STEERING GROUP ICES CM 2018/EOSG:11 REF ACOM AND SCICOM Interim Report of the Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, Science and Technology (WGFAST) 20-23 March 2018 Seattle, USA International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44–46 DK-1553 Copenhagen V Denmark Telephone (+45) 33 38 67 00 Telefax (+45) 33 93 42 15 www.ices.dk [email protected] Recommended format for purposes of citation: ICES. 2018. Interim Report of the Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, Science and Technology (WGFAST), 20-23 March 2018, Seattle, USA. ICES CM 2018/EOSG:11. 49 pp. The material in this report may be reused using the recommended citation. ICES may only grant usage rights of information, data, images, graphs, etc. of which it has owner- ship. For other third-party material cited in this report, you must contact the original copyright holder for permission. 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This document is the product of an Expert Group under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and does not necessarily represent the view of the Council. © 2018 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Contents Executive summary ........................................................................................................................ 1 1 Administrative details .......................................................................................................... 2 2 Terms of Reference a) – d) ................................................................................................... 3 3 Summary of Work plan ........................................................................................................ 6 4 List of Outcomes and Achievements of the WG in this delivery period .................... 7 5 Progress on ToRs and workplan ........................................................................................ 9 5.1 Progress and fulfillment by ToR .............................................................................. 9 5.1.1 ToR a: Produce a list of papers originating from the community of the WGFAST working group ................................................................... 9 5.1.2 ToR b: Present recent work in fisheries acoustics ...................................... 9 5.1.3 ToR c: Organize training session on use of acoustics for biomass estimation ...................................................................................................... 13 5.1.4 ToR d: Provide guidance for calibrating echosounders on fishing vessels ............................................................................................................ 14 5.1.5 ToR e: Organize joint sessions at ICES ASC ............................................. 14 5.1.6 ToR f: Define a data format for omni fisheries sonars ............................. 14 5.1.7 ToR g: Work towards developing and recommending procedures for collecting and processing quality acoustic data in inclement weather .......................................................................................................... 14 5.1.8 Other ToRs..................................................................................................... 15 5.2 Changes/Edits/Additions to ToR ........................................................................... 16 5.3 Cooperation with other WGs .................................................................................. 16 5.4 Cooperation with Advisory structures .................................................................. 16 5.5 Cooperation with other IGOs ................................................................................. 16 5.6 Science Highlights .................................................................................................... 17 6 Revisions to the work plan and justification ................................................................. 19 7 Next meetings ...................................................................................................................... 20 Annex 1: List of participants..................................................................................................... 21 Annex 2: Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 26 Annex 3: Meeting Agenda ........................................................................................................ 27 Annex 4: Abstract of contributions ......................................................................................... 31 WGFAST 1. Applications of acoustic methods to characterize ecosystems ................. 31 WGFAST 2. Acoustic properties of marine organisms ................................................... 37 WGFAST 3. Behaviour ........................................................................................................ 39 WGFAST 4. Emerging technologies, methodologies, and protocols ............................ 41 Interim Report of the Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, | 1 Science and Technology (WGFAST) Executive summary The ICES Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, Science and Technology (WGFAST) is the major international forum where individuals working in fisheries acoustics net- work to discuss ongoing developments in the technique. As such, it is highly success- ful, attracting 91 participants from 18 countries to its meeting in Seattle, USA from 20- 23 March 2018. Highlights The major themes addressed during the WGFAST meeting included: • Behaviour; • Acoustic properties of marine organisms; • Emerging technologies, methodologies, and protocols; • Applications of acoustic methods to characterize ecosystems. A separate session was held for each theme, where the participants first presented the latest results of their work, followed by a discussion. The abstracts and discussion sum- maries are given in the report. The contributions highlighted the wide range of appli- cations of acoustics for ecosystem characterization and monitoring, as well as for abun- dance surveys. Advancing acoustic technology and alternative sampling platforms (e.g. autonomous vehicles, ocean observatories) has led to increases in the volume of acoustic data, which has created challenges for data processing and storage. A discus- sion group was held in association with the WGFAST meeting to discuss development of Python-based and other automated processing and analysis tools. Several presentations highlighted research and increasing applications of acoustic wideband technologies. WGFAST organized a second ICES Training Course on 'Prin- ciples and Methods of Broadband/Wideband Technologies: Application to fisheries acoustics' in December 2017. Wideband systems are expected to replace the current standard narrowband scientific echosounders, but there is a need for future quantita- tive assessment of the impact of this change on abundance surveys. WGFAST proposes a session on “Application of new technologies (e.g. wideband acoustics) for fisheries surveys and ecosystem investigation” for the 2019 ASC conference. WGFAST provided a training course on ‘Introduction to abundance estimation from fisheries acoustic surveys’ in June 2017, and will co-chair theme session J at the 2018 ICES ASC meeting on “Survey data products for stock and ecosystem assessments: challenges and future directions”. A topic group on 'Collecting Quality Underwater Acoustic Data in Inclement Weather’ (TG-QUAD) was held in conjunction with the 2018 WGFAST meeting. 2 | ICES WGFAST 2018 Report 1 Administrative details Working Group name The Working Group on Fisheries, Acoustics, Science and Technology (WGFAST) Year of Appointment within the current three-year cycle 2018 Reporting year concluding the current three-year cycle 2 Chair(s) Richard O’Driscoll, New Zealand Meeting venue(s) and dates Seattle, United States of America 20-23 March 2018 Interim Report of the Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, | 3 Science and Technology (WGFAST) 2 Terms of Reference a) – d) ToR Description Background Duration Expected Deliverables a Collate information on a) Science Require- 3 Filled in acoustic related re- ments template for search and surveys by WGFAST re- b) Advisory Re- Country represented in port quirements WGFAST b Present recent work Create a venue for 1, 2, 3 Report within the topics “Ap- informing the group plications of acoustic members on recent methods to characterize activities and seek- ecosystems”, “Acoustic ing input to further properties of marine or- development. An ganisms“, “Behaviour“, overview of the dif- and “Emerging technol- ferent contributions ogies, methodologies, will be presented in and protocols“ the annual report c Organize training ses- Introductory course 1 ICES sion on use of acoustics on use of acoustic training for biomass estimation for abundance esti- course mation, including survey design and data analysis d Provide guidance for Fishing vessels in- 1 or 2 Report calibrating echosound- creasingly collect ers on fishing vessels acoustic data. To al- (topic group) low quantitative use of these data, suita- ble calibration pro- cedures for fishing conditions are needed e Organize joint sessions 2 or 3 Topic ses- at ICES ASC