Report of the FIFTH MEETING OF THE PLANNING GROUP FOR THE COORDINATION OF ACOUSTIC SURVEYS OFF NORTHWEST AFRICA: Dakar, Senegal, 29-30 October 2006

摘要

The fifth meeting of the Planning Group for the Coordination of Acoustic Surveys off Northwest Africa was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 29 to 30 October 2006. 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. A total of nine scientists from the Gambia, Mauritania, Morocco, Norway, Senegal and FAO participated in the meeting. Mr Abdoulaye Sarre (Centre de recherche oceanographique de Dakar, Thiaroye [CRODT], Senegal) was the Chairperson of the Group. All of the local research vessels had carried out acousticsurveys since the 2005 meeting of the Planning group. The analysis of the results of the coordinated parallel survey carried out in the fourth quarter of 2005 had shown that the variability of the allocation of recorded acoustic energy between the localvessels and the R/V DR FRIDTJOF NANSEN had been within acceptable limits. One coordinated survey was also carried out between the R/V ITAF DEME of Senegal and the R/V AL AW AM of Mauritania. No common report had been produced after the latter survey, but the importance of doing so in the future was stressed. The countries are still working to find solutions with respect to problems related to noise levels and trawling as well as to ensure adequate funding for vessel operations. Following up on the recommendations to conduct annual regional surveys using the regional research vessels a plan to conduct a coordinated regional survey in October-December to continue the time series started with the R/V DR. FRIDTJOF NANSEN was made.