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FFS Walther Herwig III 358

Cruise summary report

Cruise Info. 
Ship name (ship code)FFS Walther Herwig III (06NI)
Cruise identifier358
Cruise period2012-09-13 — 2012-09-24
StatusCompleted
Port of departureBremerhaven, Germany
Port of returnBremerhaven, Germany
PurposeResearch
ObjectivesInternational Herring Larvae Survey in the North Sea.

The cruise was part of the German contribution to the international herring larvae surveys in the North Sea (IHLS). These surveys are conducted during the autumn and winter herring spawning activity. The studies monitor the spatial distribution and abundance of herring larvae on an annual basis. They are coordinated by ICES. The survey time series dates back to 1972. Almost all countries surrounding the North Sea have participated in the history of the IHLS, while in recent years the Netherlands and Germany contribute most to the surveys. The resulting survey index is used as an important estimator of herring spawning stock biomass and provides valuable information for herring stock assessment and the fixation of fishing quotas.

All stations could be covered as scheduled and the coverage is adequate to describe the spatial extension on newly hatched larvae in the area. The spatial distribution was found to be comparable to previous years, and large quantities of newly hatched larvae were caught during the survey.
Chief scientistNobert Rohlf (Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries, Hamburg)
ProjectInternational Herring Larvae Survey
Coordinating bodyInternational Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)
Cruise reportFFS Walther Herwig III 358 cruise report waltherherwigiii_358.pdf (0.28 MB) 
Ocean/sea areas 
GeneralNorth Sea
SpecificOrkney and Shetland