Estimation of acoustic indices with CVs for Northeast Arctic saithe in the Norwegian coastal survey applying the Sea2Data StoX software

no. 1-2018 ISSN 0071-68 Estimation of acoustic indices with CVs for Northeast Arctic saithe in the Norwegian coastal survey 200 2017 applying the Sea2Data StoX software Sigbjørn Mehl, Espen Johnsen, Åsmund Skålevik and Asgeir Aglen

Project Report Report: FISKEN OG HAVET No. Year: 1-2018 Date: 2.01.2018 Title: Estimation of acoustic indices with CVs for Northeast Arctic saithe in the Norwegian coastal survey 200 2017 applying the Sea2Data StoX software Authors: Sigbjørn Mehl, Espen Johnsen, Åsmund Skålevik and Asgeir Aglen Distribution: Open Project no.: 82 Assignor(s): Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Program: Coastal ecosystems Research group: Demersal fish Number of pages in total: 19 Summary (Norwegian): Sea2Data programmet StoX er brukt til å estimere akustiske indekser med CV og lengde og vekt ved alder for nordøstarktisk sei fra det norske kysttoktet Varanger Stad i 201 til 2017. Indeksene er sammenlignet med indekser tidligere estimert med programmet BEAM, og forskjeller er i hovedsak forklart ved forskjeller i strata-areal. Summary (English): The Sea2Data software StoX was applied to estimate acoustic indices with CVs and length and weight at age for Northeast Arctic saithe from the Norwegian coastal survey Varanger - Stad in 201 to 2017. The indices are compared to indices previously estimated by the BEAM software, and differences are mainly explained by different strata areas. Emneord (norsk): 1. Nordøstarktisk sei 2. Akustiske indekser. Norskekysten Varanger-Stad. StoX programvare Subject heading (English): 1. Northeast Arctic saithe 2. Acoustic indices. Norwegian coast Varanger-Stad. StoX software

Content 1 Background... 2 Material and Methods... 2.1 Survey operation and data sampled... 2.2 Acoustic measurements...7 2. Sampling of catch and use of age-length data... 10 2. Estimation of variance... 10 2. StoX input, settings and filters... 10 Results... 11.1 Total echo abundance of saithe... 11.2 Saithe abundance indices, ratio StoX/BEAM and CVs... 12. Saithe length and weight at age... 1 Conclusions... 16 References... 17 6 Appendix 1. Annual survey reports 200-2016... 18

1 Background The Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Bergen, has performed an acoustic survey annually in October-November since 198 to obtain indices of abundance and estimates of length and weight at age of saithe north of 62ºN. The indices are the only fishery-independent data in the assessment of Northeast Arctic saithe in ICES. In autumn 200 the saithe- and coastal cod surveys were combined. A new survey was designed, with new stratification and smaller strata based on depth and fish distribution in recent years, and with new and more regular transects (Figure 2.2). However, only the part of the new combined survey representing the traditional saithe survey area have so far been included in the estimation of acoustic abundance indices for saithe in order to maintain a uniform time series for tuning of the assessment model. The new Sea2Data software StoX was applied to estimate acoustic indices with CVs for saithe for the period 200 to 2017. The main difference between the SAS based BEAM Program (Totland and Godø 2001) used for saithe until 2016 and StoX acoustic abundance estimation is that in BEAM the survey area is divided into rectangles, and for each rectangle an average acoustic density (sa) is calculated, while in StoX transects are defined within each stratum as primary sampling units (PSUs) and used to calculate acoustic density (Jolly and Hampton 1990). StoX does not use age-length keys (ALK) in the traditional sense with ALKs estimated for large areas. Missing age information is imputed from known age-length data within station. If age information is still missing StoX searches within strata, or lastly within all strata. If no age is available for a length group, the abundance estimate is presented as unknown age. StoX does also allow for uncertainty estimation by bootstrapping the transects and assigned trawl stations. /19

2 Material and Methods 2.1 Survey operation and data sampled Table 2.1 presents the vessels participating in the survey in 200-2017 with some basic trawl information. Table 2.1. Sea2Data cruise number, start and end data, serial numbers, number of trawl stations for vessel participating in the Norwegian acoustic coastal survey in 200-2017. Year 200 200 200 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 201 201 201 2016 2017 Vessel Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Håkon Mosby Jan Mayen Jan Mayen Håkon Mosby Jan Mayen Helmer Hansen Helmer Hansen Håkon Mosby Håkon Mosby Helmer Hansen Håkon Mosby Helmer Hansen Håkon Mosby Helmer Hansen Håkon Mosby Helmer Hansen Kristine Bonnevie Cruice number 200211 20070 200212 20070 200212 20070 200621 200670 2007212 200770 2008210 200870 200862 2009209 200970 200970 200962 2010211 201070 201121 2011722 201172 2012210 2012620 201210 20162 20181 20121 201621 201011 201211 201621 2018 2016210 2016620 201688 2017210 2017620 Start 1010 1020 1011 101 1011 101 102 1021 101 102 1028 1118 112 100 0928 1108 1201 0927 1108 1006 1016 111 1002 101 100 101 1101 1002 0926 101 1007 1002 110 1001 100 1027 100 1001 End 1108 111 1111 1109 1107 1111 1119 1118 1110 1119 1207 1120 1216 1029 1018 1112 1206 1109 1111 1028 1112 111 1029 111 1026 111 1108 101 102 1101 110 1028 1106 100 101 110 111 1107 Serial number From To 81601 81686 81801 8192 001 090 201 20 001 061 201 0 001 07 201 76 001 079 201 0 001 1 00001 00011 8 60 001 201 281 01 001 201 001 01 99 001 01 001 201 01 001 201 1 001 201 01 001 201 101 001 201 081 280 291 26 16 212 00 98 10 08 77 066 281 1 096 296 6 092 289 1 098 0 11 118 26 No. trawl stations 228 210 16 20 229 27 198 177 160 160 162 20 19 216 2 /19

Table 2.2 gives an account of the age material for demersal species sampled from all trawl hauls and Table 2. gives the area used in the saithe acoustic abundance estimates with BEAM and the corresponding default area in the StoX kysttokt_strata.txt used for saithe, by Main Areas. The StoX area used for saithe was on average 90% of the area used in BEAM. Table 2.2. Number of demersal fish measured for age in the Norwegian acoustic coastal survey 200-2017. Saithe Haddock Cod Beaked redfish Golden redfish Hake Halibut Anglerfish Year 200 189 1 90 200 11 78 29 200 102 1828 1669 2006 121 196 18 2007 118 2066 118 2008 11 180 178 1 262 1 1 2009 88 102 21 6 18 2010 1116 162 266 9 9 28 2011 1009 12 206 1 9 9 6 2012 1078 100 2196 6 226 170 9 17 201 90 108 22 106 2 9 7 201 119 1710 262 129 188 122 9 8 201 1627 1711 22 179 16 9 12 2016 18 189 291 209 77 11 69 2 2017 1612 21 26 212 918 192 9 0 Table 2.. Area (NM 2 ) used in the saithe acoustic abundance estimation with BEAM in 200-2016 and corresponding default area in the StoX kysttokt_strata.txt used for saithe, by Main Areas Year A 690-710 B 6700-690 C 60-6700 D 6200-60 Total 200 8117.6 889.0 219.8 2.8 220.2 200 82.0 8. 26. 171.8 262. 200 922.8 901.1 2. 11.6 272.9 2006 8601.8 898.8 26. 27.6 21.7 2007 8601.8 901.1 27. 27.6 271.8 2008 922.8 8219.0 70. 27.6 211.9 2009 8601.8 6876.8 29. 27.6 2270.6 2010 922.8 76. 29. 27.6 210. 2011 81.9 7161. 09. 27.6 22998. 2012 81.9 77. 170. 27.6 22228. 201 8626.8 6088. 29. 27.6 21987. 201 92.8 762.0 19. 27.6 201.8 201 822.8 7.0 276. 27.6 2271.8 2016 92.8 77.0 276. 986. 272.6 StoX saithe 8882.7 6979.2 178. 2.7 21970.0 6/19

2.2 Acoustic measurements The method is explained by Dalen and Nakken (198), MacLennan and Simmonds (1991) and Nedreaas (1997). The acoustic equipment has been continuously improved. Since the early 1990s Simrad EK00 echo sounder and Bergen Echo Integrator (BEI, Knudsen 1990) were used. The Simrad EK60 echo sounder and the Large Scale Survey System (LSSS, Korneliussen et al. 2016) replaced the EK00 and BEI; on R/V since the 200 survey and on R/V Helmer Hanssen since the 2008 survey. Since the 2017 survey both R/V and R/V Kristine Bonnevie have used the new Simrad EK80 echo sounder. In the mid-1990s the echo sounder transducers were moved from the hull to a retractable centreboard, on R/V since the 199 survey and on R/V Helmer Hanssen since the 2008 survey. This latter change has largely reduced the signal loss due to air bubbles in the close to surface layer. The acoustic backscattering values (s A) are stored at high resolution in LSSS. After scrutinizing and allocating the values to species or species groups, the values are stored with 10 m vertical resolution and 1 nautical mile (NM) horizontal resolution. The procedure for allocation by species is based on: - composition in trawl catches (pelagic and demersal hauls) - the appearance of the echo recordings - inspection of target strength distributions - inspection of target frequency responses For each trawl catch the relative s A-contribution from each species is calculated (Korsbrekke 1996) and used as a guideline for the allocation. If the trawl catch gives the true composition of the species contributing to the observed s A value, those catch-based s A - proportions could be used directly for the allocation. In the scrutinizing process, the scientists should evaluate to what extent these catch-based s A - proportions are reasonable, or if they should be modified based on knowledge about the fish behaviour and the catching performance of the gear. The survey area is divided into four Main Areas (A, B, C and D, Fig 2.1). Each area is divided into a number of strata, which is defined from polygons where also a donut variant exists, i.e. a stratum completely encloses another stratum. Within each stratum, the acoustic course tracks are divided into transects (Fig. 2.2). For the time series 200-2016 this was done by first running a R-script tagging all the transects as defined in the Excel spreadsheets applied for acoustic abundance estimation of haddock in the coastal survey (Mehl et al. 2016) and then the transects are inspected and in some cases edited manually in StoX. The conversion of mean nautical area scattering coefficient (NASC) (m 2 nmi 2 ) to density of fish followed a standard procedure where at least trawl stations (with a catch of more than 2 individuals of saithe) were assigned to each PSU. As a rule, all stations within a stratum was assigned to the PSUs in the same stratum, however, if less than trawl stations had been carried out in a stratum, stations in neighboring strata were assigned to the PSUs such that at least stations were assigned to each PSU. 7/19

Figure 2.1. Strata and Main Areas (A,B,C and D) used for acoustic estimations with StoX. The Main Areas were also used for acoustic estimations with BEAM. Figure 2.2. Standard transects in the new combined saithe and coastal survey. 8/19

The combined length distribution (d) was calculated for each transect (PSU (j)) as: d l, j s d s 1 l, s, j where d l,s,j is density (number by 1 n.mi. tow distance) by 1 cm length group (l) for the stations (s) assigned to PSU (j). The areal density of fish (ρ) (n per nmi 2 ) by length group l by transect j was calculated as ρ j,l = NASC j,l σ l where NASC j,l is the mean nautical area scattering coefficient by transect (j) and length group (l) and σ l is the acoustic backscattering cross-section for a fish of length l. NASC j,l is calculated as: NASC j,l = NASC j σ l,p l σ l,p where σ l,p is the acoustic backscattering cross-section for a fish of length l multiplied with the proportion (p) of a fish of length l in the total length distribution and NASC j is the mean nautical area scattering coefficient in transect. The acoustic backscattering cross-section (m 2 ) for a fish of length l is calculated as σ l = π10 (TS l 10 ) where the target strength, TS, for a fish of length l (cm) is calculated as Where m and a are constants. We applied TS l = m log 10 (l) + a TS = 20 log(l) 68 (Foote, 1987), The abundance (N) of saithe by length group (l) for stratum k is: N k,l = ρ k,l A k, where A is stratum area and the mean density of saithe of length group l and stratum k is: k, l 1 n k nk k 1 w kj kj, l where w L / L (j= 1,2, n k) are the lengths of the n k sample transects. kj kj k Estimates by length are converted to estimates by age using available age-length data from all selected (filtered) stations for the stratum, weighted by station density. The total biomass is estimated by multiplying the numbers at age by weight at age. The abundance by stratum is then summed for defined main areas (Figure 2.1). 9/19

2. Sampling of catch and use of age-length data Sorting, weighing, measuring and sampling of the catch are done according to instructions given in Mjanger et al. (2017). Since 1999 all data except age are recorded electronically by Scantrol Fishmeter measuring board, connected to stabilized scales. The whole catch or a representative sub sample of most species was length measured on each station. At each trawl station age (otoliths) were sampled from saithe per cm length-group. 2. Estimation of variance The acoustic survey indices of saithe made with StoX are presented together with an estimate of uncertainty (coefficient of variation; CV). These estimates were made using StoX with a stratified bootstrap routine treating each transect as the primary sampling unit. In addition, a bootstrap routine for all trawl stations by strata is carried out by run. The estimated CV (Standard Deviation 100/mean) is estimated from 00 iterations and is strongly dependent on the choice of estimator for the indices. 2. StoX input, settings and filters StoX version 2. and Rstox 1.7 was used for estimation of acoustic indices and CVs (http://www.imr.no/forskning/prosjekter/stox/en). R for Windows version.. was used in the R calls (https://www.r-project.org/). Biotic and acoustic XML-files were with a few exceptions downloaded from: http://tomcat7.imr.no:8080/datasetexplorer/v1/html/main.html. In FilterAcoustic, FreqExpr was set to frequency=8000. In NASCExpr, acocat was 22 for saithe. In NASC and LayerType was set to WaterColumn. Under FilterBiotic and FishStationExpr, the following filter were applied: fs.getlengthsamplecount('sei') > 2 filtering out stations with less than three specimen (see Johnsen et al. 2016 for more info about filters). Under StationLengthDist and LengthDistType, NormLengthDist was used, and under RegroupLengthDist and LengthInterval, 1.0 is applied. In DefineStrata, kysttokt_strata.txt. In StratumArea and AreaMethod, Accurate was applied. Under BioStationAssignment and AssignmentMethod, UseProcessData was used, i.e. assignments from the KT-program with adjustments for 200-2016. EstLayers was set to 1~PELBOT. Under BioStationWeighting and WeightingMethod, SumWeightedCount was used. In AcusticDensity, m was set to 20 and a to -68. Under SuperIndAbundance and AbundWeightMethod, StationDensity was used, with LengthDist set to RegroupLengthDist. 10/19

Results.1 Total echo abundance of saithe Table.1 presents the time series of total echo abundance (echo density multiplied by area) of saithe in the investigated areas for StoX and BEAM estimates, and ratio between StoX and BEAM echo abundance estimates. Table.1. Total echo abundance of saithe in Norwegian acoustic coastal survey 200-2017 (m 2 reflecting surface 10 - ) estimated by StoX and BEAM (until 2016), and ratio StoX/BEAM. Year StoX BEAM Ratio 200 162 121 1.2 200 187 2102 0.89 200 1179 18 0.87 2006 1160 1270 0.91 2007 1000 110 0.88 2008 60 82 0.7 2009 90 1098 0.87 2010 76 97 0.79 2011 667 0.80 2012 801 899 0.89 201 606 76 0.82 201 719 906 0.79 201 8 91 0.91 2016 97 1091 0.89 2017 89 The highest and lowest total echo abundance ratio StoX/BEAM was 1.2 and 0.7, while the average ratio over all years was 0.88. The differences are explained by the differences in areas used, in StoX the areas were on average 90% of the areas used in BEAM (Table 2.). In 200 the areas used for the southernmost Area D was 1. times higher in the StoX estimates than what was originally used in BEAM. The BEAM areas for Area D was adjusted in 200. In 2008, the year with the lowest ratio, the BEAM areas in area C was about twice the size of the areas used in StoX. There was a better coverage of Area C in 2008, beyond the saithe standard areas, and this was used in the BEAM estimates in 2008 but not in the present StoX estimates. 11/19

.2 Saithe abundance indices, ratio StoX/BEAM and CVs Table.2.1 presents acoustic abundance indices for saithe age groups 1-1+, where 1+ is the sum of indices for age group 1 and older, in 200 to 2017. Table.2.2 gives the ratio between StoX and BEAM indices by age groups 1-10+, total index and total biomass in 200 to 2016. The highest and lowest single index ratio for age 2-10+ was 2.9 and 0.2, while the highest and lowest average ratio over all age groups in one year was 1.9 and 0.7, and the highest and lowest average ratio for one age group over all years was 1.17 and 0.8. The overall average index ratio was 0.9, the average total index ratio was 0.91 and the average total biomass ratio was 0.91. Except for 200 and 2008, the StoX indices are in general about 10% lower than the indices estimated by BEAM. As for the total echo abundance, this is explained by the differences in areas used. In StoX the areas were on average 90% of the areas used in BEAM (Table 2.). In 200 the area used for Area D was 1. times higher in the StoX estimates than what was originally used in BEAM, while in 2008 the BEAM areas in area C was about twice the size of the areas used in StoX. Table.2. presents estimates of coefficients of variation (%) for age groups 1-1. Estimates are based on a stratified bootstrap approach with 00 replicates (with transects being primary sampling unit). A CV of 20 % or less could be viewed as acceptable in a traditional stock assessment approach if the indices are unbiased (conditional on a catchability model). Values above this indicate a highly uncertain index with little information regarding year class strength. CVs for age groups 2- are at an acceptable level in most years, for age groups 6-7 in less than half of the years while for age group 1 and age groups older than 8 years CVs are above what could be considered as acceptable in all years. 12/19

Table.2.1. SAITHE. Abundance indices (numbers in millions) from the Norwegian coastal acoustic surveys 200-2017 estimated by StoX software. + indicates < 0.00. Age group Biomass Year 1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 1 1+ Total ( 000 t) 200 19.8 1.6 128.7 172.1 7.0 8.18 8.0 1.71 1.6 1.17 0.71 0.29 0.16 0.0 0.07 1. 7.8 200 0.01 19.8 196.0 11.7 8.2 16.9.2 2.2 2.2 0.61 0.90 0.0 0.18 0.06 0.0 26.6 2. 200.8 18.1 211. 9.8 16.1 11.9 7.17 1.8 1.11 0. 0.2 0.2 0 0 0 22.7 262. 2006.6 88.6 2.2 12.1 1.6.0 8.91.60 2.11 1.07 0.88 0.0 0.26 0.0 0.0 0. 28.8 2007 2.02 0. 90.1 2.8 8. 6.79.06.8.88 0. 0.67 0.10 0 0 0 26. 22.2 2008 0.01 0.9 8.2 16.9 8.2 9.8 2.98 0.90 1.7 0.99 0.16 0.2 0 0.0 0 10.8 12.6 2009 0 0. 97. 61. 7.09.0 6.11 1.9 1.90 1.8 0.7 0.80 0.19 0 0 2.1 210.0 2010 0.02 7.60 1.0 22. 17.1.9 1.68.8 0. 0.2 0.18 0.0 0.01 0.20 0 200.8 167.1 2011 0 1.2 2.7 9.6.61.2 1.07 0.81 0.78 0.19 0.0 0.06 0 0 0 129. 117.7 2012 0.08 68. 69.0 29.7 18.8.8 2.8 0.2 0.8 0.6 0.08 0.0 0 0 0 19.9 18.6 201.02 12. 77.1 16. 1. 11.6 2.19 1.21 0.61 0.9 0.02 + 0.10 0.1 0 10. 19.1 201 2.9 28. 0.1 70.8 8.7.62. 1.61 0. 0.18 0. 0.10 0 0 0.02 16.0 166.0 201 0.06 9. 72. 22.7 0.1 6.08.22 1.8 0.20 0.1 0.07 0.0 0 0 0 21. 177.6 2016 0.76 72.6 1.7 2.0 10. 11.2.1 2.0 1.6 0.1 0.22 0.12 0.02 0.0 0 281.1 196.0 2017. 2.6 91.1 6.9 1. 2.76. 2.21 0.62 0.6 0.01 0.02 0.0 0 0.0 28.8 177.2 1/19

Table.2.2. SAITHE. Ratio new/old acoustic abundance indices and total biomass from the Norwegian coastal acoustic surveys 200-2016. Age group Year 1 2 6 7 8 9 10+ Total Biomass 200 1.1 1.66 1.7 1.1 1.80 1.2 1.2 1. 2. 1.88 1.1 1.1 200-0.92 0.92 0.97 0.98 0.88 0.92 0.7 0.76 0.70 0.9 0.96 200.02 0.81 0.9 0.7 0.79 0.72 0.9 0.8 0.66 1.00 0.88 0.88 2006 0.79 0.90 0.99 0.92 0.70 0.96 1.0 1.00 1.02 0.7 0.9 0.96 2007 0.0 0.89 0.81 0.9 0.9 0.86 0.70 0.9 0.89 1.0 0.88 0.9 2008 0.1 0.92 0.60 0.8 0.60 0.8 0.7 0.8 1.1 0.88 0.70 0.7 2009-0.9 0.79 0.79 0.97 0.78 0.91 2.28 2.9 1.69 0.8 0.9 2010 0.08 0.97 0.77 0.7 0.77 0.99 0.88 1.08 1.62 0.6 0.78 0.8 2011-1.19 0.91 0.77 0.89 0.7 1.11 0.2 0.9 2.9 0.8 0.80 2012 1.98 0.9 0.69 0.8 0.80 0.92 0.90 1.0 0.79 1.1 0.81 0.86 201 1.81 0.96 0.68 0.8 1.22 1.0 0.77 0.89 0.80 0.9 0.81 0.86 201 0.87 1.1 1.00 0.81 0.9 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.0 0.78 0.87 0.81 201 0. 1.18 1.00 0.78 0.88 0.81 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.6 1.00 0.92 2016 0.6 1. 1.08 0.7 0.68 0.70 0. 0.66 0.70 0.62 1.02 0.88 Table.2.. SAITHE. Estimates of coefficients of variation (%) for acoustic abundance indices from Norwegian coastal acoustic surveys 200-2017. Year 1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 1 200 0.0 0.2 0.19 0.16 0.1 0. 0.1 0.2 0. 0.7 0.0 0.6 0. 0.97 200 1.67 0.21 0.19 0.2 0.28 0.28 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.88 200 0. 0. 0.1 0.21 0.1 0.26 0.28 0.7 0. 0.80 0.80 0.80 - - 2006 0.6 0.19 0. 0.27 0.22 0.1 0.0 0. 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.8 0. 0.71 2007 0. 0.27 0.22 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.60 0.7 - - 2008 1.1 0.20 0.20 0.2 0.0 0.17 0.18 0.1 0. 0. 0.1 0.1-1.08 2009-0.9 0.21 0.12 0.28 0.27 0.2 0.9 0. 0.0 0. 0.6 0. - 2010 1.68 0.2 0.19 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.20 0.27 0.60 0. 0.7 0.8 1.20 0.76 2011-0.2 0.18 0.16 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.8 0. 1.11 1.0 1.00 - - 2012 0.68 0.16 0.1 0.18 0.2 0.21 0. 0.68 0. 0.60 0.79 1.29 - - 201 0.6 0.17 0.12 0.1 0.1 0.19 0. 0.1 0.2 0.62 1.09.11 0.9 0.82 201 0.7 0.21 0.22 0.2 0.18 0.21 0.18 0.1 0. 0.6 0. 0.8 - - 201 1.60 0.17 0.16 0.20 0.22 0.26 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.72 0.9 0.8 - - 2016 2.2 0.17 0.10 0.1 0.17 0.19 0.22 0.0 0.2 0.81 0.8 0.60 0.6 0.8 2017 0. 0.61 0.1 0.17 0.20 0. 0.8 0. 0.9 0.26 0.7 0.9 0.92-1/19

. Saithe length and weight at age Tables..1 and..2 present the time series of mean length and mean weight at age for age groups 1-1 in the standard saithe area. Age groups with few observations are marked with +, while no observations are marked with -. Since StoX does not use age-length keys (ALKs) in the traditional sense with an ALK estimated for large areas as done by the BEAM Program, there are differences in length and weight at age for some age groups in some years. However, the overall average ratio StoX/BEAM 200-2016 was 1.01 for age 1-8 lengths and for age 1-7 weights it was also 1.01. Table..1. SAITHE. Length at age in the Norwegian coastal acoustic surveys 200-2017 estimated by StoX software. + indicates few samples. Year 1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 1 200 26.1.0 9.7.1 9.0 9.2 6.6 6.9 69.8 7.2 81.8 + + + 200 28.0 2. 9.9 6.1. 8.2 70.1 76.1 7. 77.9 76.6 + + + 200 28.0 6. 9..6 1. 9.1 6.0 68.0 70.9 70. + + - - 2006 26.2.1 0.7. 1. 7.7 6.9 67.1 70.2 72. 7. + + + 2007 27.0 6.2 0.8 6.7 1.0 7.9 6.7 67.8 68.6 72.7 80.9 + - - 2008 26.0 6.8 1.6 8.0 2.1 8. 61.0 67. 72. 76.6 + + - + 2009 -.8 1.6 7.6 7.9 62. 66. 6.7 68. 7.9 7.0 77.8 + - 2010 2.2. 8. 7.1 7. 61.0 6.0 66.9 68.9 7.8 + + + + 2011-6.8 1.7.7 6.7 62.8 69. 6.7 76.0 + + + - - 2012 29.0 6. 2. 7. 1.6 60. 66. 71.8 66.9 79. 82.9 87.0 - - 201 26.0 6.7 1.1 8.7.2 60.0 68.8 7. 7. 7. 78.8 + + + 201 2..8.0 6.7.8 60.6 61. 72. 76.6 80.2 79. 8.8 - - 201 29..7 1.1 8.8.6 60.0 6.8 71. + + + + - - 2016 28..2 8.8 7.1.1 60.0 67.0 70. 72. 81.8 + + + + 2017 2.1 2.6 9.9.7. 6.7 69.6 69.6 69.8 7.1 + + + - Table..2. SAITHE. Weight at age in the Norwegian coastal acoustic surveys 200-2017 estimated by StoX software. + indicates few samples. Year 1 2 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 1 200 169 91 69 828 11 210 282 292 8 6017 + + + 200 20 8 622 920 19 191 10 62 276 71 88 + + + 200 2 00 626 898 1290 20 29 291 9 202 + + - - 2006 178 682 79 17 1882 2600 2926 6 98 1 + + + 2007 188 71 69 927 12 178 292 2911 29 6 761 + - - 2008 19 9 66 986 127 186 210 2817 6 2 + + - + 2009-76 690 1010 1828 27 2879 266 297 00 771 + - 2010 16 09 6 1016 181 2227 262 281 116 6 + + + + 2011-0 7 8 17 2267 02 298 2 + + + - - 2012 20 6 682 9 1212 1907 281 088 28 7 78 870 - - 201 171 81 690 1097 11 200 170 799 020 80 0 + + + 201 1 826 1006 18 2096 2201 28 269 679 762 67 - - 201 27 80 62 102 161 19 267 90 + + + + - - 2016 227 8 18 9 122 2009 270 11 690 77 + + + + 2017 12 76 882 177 211 16 277 26 76 + + + - 1/19

log(number (millions)) 0e+00 1e-06 2e-06 e-06 e-06 e-06 Conclusions The StoX acoustic estimates deviates somewhat from those obtained by the BEAM Program, mainly due to the use of different strata areas (10%) in the two methods. It is recommended that the present time series of acoustic abundance indices for the period 200-2017 obtained by StoX become the official time series that are used for stock assessment and other purposes. It is further recommended that StoX is used to estimate acoustic indices with CVs from future coastal surveys. At present indices for age groups -7 are used in the assessment model. The CV estimates indicates that indices of saithe older than 7 years should not be used for assessment purposes, and it should be investigated how the CVs of age groups 6-7 could be reduce through a better survey design. However, cohort plots show that the survey tracks a year class reasonably well beyond age 7 (Figure.1), and the next benchmark assessment for Northeast Arctic saithe should investigate this further. 6 7 6 6 8 7 6 7 98 6 7 10 9 8 6 76 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 10 12 11 6 6 7 7 7 6 8 8 8 9 9 10 1 12 11 10 9 11 1 12 10 1 1 1 1 12 11 200 2006 2008 2010 2012 201 2016 Survey year Figure.1. Log abundance curves for each cohort of Northeast Arctic saithe age 1 from the Coastal Surveys in 200-2017. 16/19

References Dalen, J. and Nakken, O. 198. On the application of the echo integration method. ICES CM 198/B: 19, 0 pp. Foote, K.G. 1987. Fish target strengths for use in echo integrator surveys. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 82: 981-987. Johnsen, E., Totland, A., Skålevik, Å., Holmin, A. J. and Dingsør, G. 2016. StoX Reference Guide. Version 2016100. Havforskningsinstituttet, Institute of Marine Research. 167 p. (http://www.imr.no/forskning/prosjekter/stox/documentation/en). Jolly, G. M., & Hampton, I. (1990). A stratified random transect design for acoustic surveys of fish stocks. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 7(7), 1282-1291. Knudsen, H.P. 1990. The Bergen Echo Integrator: an introduction. - Journal du Conseil International pour l Exploration de la Mer, 7: 167-17. Korneliussen, R. J., Heggelund, Y., Macaulay, G. J., Patel, D., Johnsen, E., & Eliassen, I. K. (2016). Acoustic identification of marine species using a feature library. Methods in Oceanography, 17, 187-20. Korsbrekke, K. 1996. Brukerveiledning for TOKT12 versjon 6.. Intern program dokumentasjon., Havforskningsinstituttet, september 1996. 20s. (upubl.). MacLennan, D.N. and Simmonds, E.J. 1991. Fisheries Acoustics. Chapman Hall, London, England. 6pp. Mehl, S, Aglen, A., Berg, E. Dingsør, G. and Korsbrekke, K. 2016. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kyst-torsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2016. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2016. Toktrapport/Havforsknings-instituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 1 2016. 8s. Mjanger, H., Svendsen, B.V., Fotland, Å., Mehl, S., Salthaug, A. 2017. Håndbok for prøvetaking av fisk og krepsdyr. Versjon.0. Januar 2017. (In Norwegian). Nedreaas, K.H. 1997. Evaluation of the North-East Arctic saithe (Pollachius virens) acoustic survey. ICES CM 1997/Y:20. Totland, A. and Godø, OR. 2001. BEAM an interactive GIS application for acoustic abundance estimation. In T. Nishida, P.R. Kailola and C.E. Hollingworth (Eds): Proceedings of the First Symposium on Geographic Information System (GIS) in Fisheries Science. Fishery GIS Research Group. Saitama, Japan. 17/19

6 Appendix 1. Annual survey reports 200-2016 Berg, E., Korsbrekke, K. og Mehl, S. 200. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og ungsild Finnmark Møre, hausten 200. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and juvenile herring Finnmark Møre Autumn 200. Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ISSN 10-629/Nr. 2 200. 2s. Berg, E., Korsbrekke, K., Mehl, S. og Nybakk, A. 200. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og ungsild Finnmark Møre, miljøundersøkingar i fjordar, hausten 200. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and juvenile herring Finnmark Møre Autumn 200. Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ ISSN 10-629/Nr. 22 200. 2s. Aglen, A., Berg, E., Mehl, S. og Sunnanå, K. 200. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og ungsild Finnmark Møre hausten 200. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and juvenile herring Finnmark Møre Autumn 200. Toktrapport, Havforskningsinstituttet, ISSN 10-629, Nr. 2 200. 20s Aglen, A., Berg, E., Mehl, S. og Sunnanå, K. 2007. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og ungsild Finnmark Møre hausten 2006. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and juvenile herring Finnmark Møre Autumn 2006. Toktrapport, Havforskningsinstituttet, ISSN 10-629, Nr. 1 2007. 2s Aglen, A., Berg, E., Mehl, S. og Sunnanå, K. 2008. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og ungsild Finnmark Møre hausten 2007. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and juvenile herring Finnmark Møre Autumn 2007. Toktrapport, Havforskningsinstituttet, ISSN 10-629, Nr. 1 2008. 2s. Aglen, A., Berg, E., Mehl, S. og Sunnanå, K. 2009. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2008. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2008. Toktrapport, Havforskningsinstituttet. ISSN 10-629/Nr. -2009. 29s. Mehl, S, Berg, E. og Aglen, A. 2009. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2009. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2009. Toktrapport, Havforskningsinstituttet, ISSN 10-629, Nr. 11 2009. 29s. Mehl, S, Aglen, A og Berg, E. 2010. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2010. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2010. Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 9 2010. 29s. Mehl, S, Aglen, A, Berg, E. og Korsbrekke 2011. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2011. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2011. Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 2 2011. 0s. Mehl, S, Berg, E. Dingsør, G. and Korsbrekke, K. 2012. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2012. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2012. Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 2012. 2s. Mehl, S, Aglen, A., Berg, E. Dingsør, G. and Korsbrekke, K. 201. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 201. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 201. Toktrapport/Havforsknings-instituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 201. s. Mehl, S, Aglen, A., Berg, E. Dingsør, G. and Korsbrekke, K. 201. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 201. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 201. Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 1 201. 8s. Mehl, S, Aglen, A., Berg, E. Dingsør, G. and Korsbrekke, K. 201. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kysttorsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 201. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 201 Toktrapport/Havforskningsinstituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 201. 8s. Mehl, S, Aglen, A., Berg, E. Dingsør, G. and Korsbrekke, K. 2016. Akustisk mengdemåling av sei, kyst-torsk og hyse Finnmark Møre hausten 2016. Acoustic abundance of saithe, coastal cod and haddock Finnmark Møre Autumn 2016. Toktrapport/Havforsknings-instituttet/ISSN 10-629, Nr. 1 2016. 8s. 18/19

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