Korneliussen, R. J., Diner, N., Ona, E., Berger, L., and Fernandes, P. G. 2008. Proposals for the collection of multifrequency acoustic data. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 982–994. Acoustic surveys are used to estimate the abundance and distribution of many fish species, and have been based traditionally on data collected at a single acoustic frequency. Although it has been known for some time that the use of additional frequencies can provide information on the nature of the acoustic target, the knowledge and technology required to combine the so-called “multifrequency data” in an appropriate manner has been limited. The use of several transducers of different frequencies is now common on board research vessels and fishing vessels, so multifrequency data are often collected. In order for these data to be combined appropriately, their physical and spatial characteristics from each frequency should be as similar as possible. We detail the requirements deemed necessary to collect multifrequency data in an appropriate manner. They can be stringent and may not always be achievable, so we also consider the consequences of combining acoustic data originating in transducers with varying degrees of spatial separation and with different beam widths.

The Pélagiques Gascogne (PELGAS) integrated survey has been developed by a multidisciplinary team of Ifremer and La Rochelle University scientists since 2000, joined by commercial fishermen in 2007. Its initial focus was to assess the biomass and predict the recruitment success of anchovy in the Bay of Biscay in spring. Taking advantage of the space and versatility of R/V Thalassa II, sampling has been progressively extended to other ecosystem components. PELGAS therefore further developed the second objective of monitoring and studying the dynamic and diverse Biscay pelagic ecosystem in springtime. The PELGAS survey model has allowed for the establishment of a long-term time-series of spatially-explicit data of the Bay of Biscay pelagic ecosystem since the year 2000. Main sampled components of the targeted ecosystem are: hydrology, phytoplankton, mesozooplankton, fish and megafauna. The survey now provides two main ecosystem products: standard raster maps of ecosystem parameters, and a time series dataset of indicators of the Bay of Biscay pelagic ecosystem state. They are used to inform fish stock and ecosystem-based management, and support ecosystem research. The present paper introduces the PELGAS survey, as a practical example of an integrated, vessel-based, ecosystem survey. The evolution of the PELGAS scientific team and sampling protocols are presented and analysed, to outline factors crucial to the success of the survey. Data and results derived from PELGAS are reviewed, to exemplify scientific questions that can be tackled by integrated ecosystem survey data. Advantages and challenges of the survey are discussed and put into the context of marine ecosystem surveys in the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site. Common Fisheries Policy. Highlights ► The PELGAS integrated survey conducted since 2000 in spring in the Bay of Biscay is presented. ► PELGAS objectives have switched from the study of the anchovy stock status to ecosystem monitoring. ► Spatially-explicit data have been collected of the main pelagic ecosystem components since 2000. ► Multidisciplinary collaborative working and enough vessel space were critical success factors. ► Finding relevant common scales is essential to analyse ecosystem data within or across compartments.

Trenkel, V. M., Mazauric, V., and Berger, L. 2008. The new fisheries multibeam echosounder ME70: description and expected contribution to fisheries research. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 645–655. Recently, Simrad in collaboration with Ifremer developed a calibrated, multibeam, vertical echosounder (ME70) for fisheries research. We describe its capabilities and technical limitations. The ME70 has up to 45 beams with distinct frequencies in the range 70–120 kHz, spanning at most 150°. All beams are stabilized in vessel roll and pitch. It has reduced side-lobe levels, up to −70 dB (two-way) instead of the −25 dB (one-way) of conventional systems. We outline research areas for which the ME70 might provide new types of information and hence lead to novel insights. We illustrate the potential contributions with datasets collected in the English Channel and on the continental-shelf break of the Bay of Biscay. Finally, future research and developments using the new system are outlined.

The calibration of multibeam echosounders for backscatter measurements can be conducted efficiently and accurately using data from surveys over a reference natural area, implying appropriate measurements of the local absolute values of backscatter. Such a shallow area (20-m mean depth) has been defined and qualified in the Bay of Brest (France), and chosen as a reference area for multibeam systems operating at 200 and 300 kHz. The absolute reflectivity over the area was measured using a calibrated single-beam fishery echosounder (Simrad EK60) tilted at incidence angles varying between 0° and 60° with a step of 3°. This reference backscatter level is then compared to the average backscatter values obtained by a multibeam echosounder (here a Kongsberg EM 2040-D) at a close frequency and measured as a function of angle; the difference gives the angular bias applicable to the multibeam system for recorded level calibration. The method is validated by checking the single-and multibeam data obtained on other areas with sediment types different from the reference area.

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