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Institute of

OF Baltic Sea Fisheries

Project

Fishes of the Baltic Sea - counted once yearly

Lead Institute OF Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries
Involved Institutes SF Institute of Sea Fisheries
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© Thünen-Instiut/D.Stepputtis
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DCF (Data Collection Framework): Assessing the stock development for cod, herring, sprat and flatfishes in the Baltic within the frame of ICES assessment working groups

What is the status of a commercially used fish stock in the Baltic Sea – and how does it develop? Given that most stocks are “shared stocks”, this question is raised annually and can only be answered in cooperation with other Baltic Sea countries. The answer is highly important for both fishing industry and anglers, and conservationist.

Background and Objective

The recruitment of fish stocks is subject to strong natural variation. An extremely strong year class allows the fisheries to prosper for years, whereas, if recruitment fails, the fisheries can be severely hit. Therefore, the status of commercially used fish stocks is usually assessed on a yearly basis. Thus, changes – both upwards and downwards – can be anticipated and taken into account by the fisheries management.

In the Baltic Sea, each spring the fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent data are compiled. This takes place within the scope of “assessment” working groups of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The ICES headquarter is in Copenhagen. There German experts participate in an international effort to calculate and estimate the stock status of the different commercially used fish stocks of the Baltic Sea.

The commercially used fish stocks in the Baltic Sea with importance for the German fisheries are cod, herring, sprat and the flatfishes flounder, plaice, dab, turbot and brill.

Important for us is the participation in the „Herring Assessment Working Group for Herring South of 62°N“ (HAWG) and „Baltic Fisheries Assessments Working Group“ (WGBFAS). These tasks are conducted within the EU-cofinanced project „Data Collection Framework“ (DCF).

Approach

The stock assessment uses fisheries-dependent and fisheries-independent data. Fisheries-dependent data are logbook information and landing slips of the commercial fisheries. These are provided by responsible control authority, the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). These data are merged with our own samplings of the commercial fisheries. At-sea observer of the OF measure the catch and length compositions on board of German commercial fishing vessels. In addition, we purchase unsorted catch samples from fishing vessels. The samples are analysed in our laboratory using standard procedure of fishery biology. We determine important parameters such as sex, maturity and age. These biological data are then used to raise the mere landing figures from the fisheries into data that can be used in stock assessment, e.g. the number age 1, age 2, age 3 etc year old fish, discard rates etc.

Parallel to these activities, we carry out elaborate, internationally coordinated fisheries-independent monitoring programmes, such as the Baltic International Trawl Survey (BITS) tailored for demersal fishes like cod and flatfishes, or the Baltic International Acoustic Survey (BIAS) for herring and sprat. They provide a measure to collect standardized information independent from the fisheries on age and frequency distribution of fish covering the whole range of entire stocks.

The large data sets are used in stock assessment models. The data are stored in national and international data bases.

Preliminary Results

Results of the annual fisheries assessment working groups are available as freely downloadable documents (see www.ices.dk).

Thünen-Contact

Dr. Uwe Krumme

Telephone
+49 381 66099 148
uwe.krumme@thuenen.de
OF Institute of Baltic Sea Fisheries

Involved Thünen-Partners

Involved external Thünen-Partners

Funding Body

  • EU - European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)
    (international, öffentlich)

Duration

Permanent task 1.2001 - 12.2027

More Information

Project status: ongoing

Publications

  1. 0

    Lordan C, Cardinale M, Gilljam D, Goni N, Haase S, Hommik K, Horbowy J, Bergenius Nord M, Ojaveer H, Putnis I, Raid T, Raitaniemi J, Smolinski S, Trijoulet V (2024) Workshop on establishing a roadmap for possible conservation measures for herring in the Baltic (WKHERBAL). Copenhagen: ICES, iii, 46 p, ICES Sci Rep 6(14), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.25310959

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn067806.pdf

  2. 1

    Hommik K, Bergenius Nord M, Boje J, Brown E, Bukowski C, Cardinale M, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Gilljam D, Goni N, Haase S, Horbowy J, Kaljuste O, Krumme U, Lövgren J, Mirny Z, Neuenfeldt S, Pönni J, Putnis I, Stötera S, et al (2023) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 606 p, ICES Sci Rep 5(58), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.23123768

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn066388.pdf

  3. 2

    Bergenius M, Hommik K, Berg CW, Boje J, Brown E, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Finke A, Gilljam D, Goni N, Gröhsler T, Gutkowska J, Haase S, Horbowy J, Kaljuste O, Krumme U, Lövgren J, Mirny Z, Neuenfeldt S, Stötera S, et al (2022) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 659 p, ICES Sci Rep 4(44), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.19793014

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn064915.pdf

  4. 3

    Receveur A, Bleil M, Funk S, Stötera S, Gräwe U, Naumann M, Dutheil C, Krumme U (2022) Western Baltic cod in distress: decline in energy reserves since 1977. ICES J Mar Sci 79(4):1187-1201, DOI:10.1093/icesjms/fsac042

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn064896.pdf

  5. 4

    Bergenius Nord M, Amosova V, Willestofte Berg C, Boje J, Brown E, Cardinale M, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Gilljam D, Gröhsler T, Gutkowska J, Haase S, Hommik K, Horbowy J, Hüssy K, Jounela P, Kaljuste O, Krumme U, Receveur A, Stötera S, et al (2021) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 717 p, ICES Sci Rep 3(53), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.8187

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn063649.pdf

  6. 5

    Kokkalis A, Wall Andersen M, Willestofte Berg C, Cardinale M, Eero M, Funk S, Hommik K, Krumme U, Nielsen A, Bergenius Nord M, Storr-Paulsen M, Theodorsen T (2021) Inter-Benchmark Process on Western Baltic cod (IBPWEB). Copenhagen: ICES, 76 p, ICES Sci Rep 3(87), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.5257

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn063929.pdf

  7. 6

    Polte P, Gröhsler T, Kotterba P, Nordheim L von, Moll D, Santos J, Rodriguez-Tress P, Zablotski Y, Zimmermann C (2021) Reduced reproductive success of Western Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) as a response to warming winters. Front Mar Sci 8:589242, DOI:10.3389/fmars.2021.589242

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn063306.pdf

  8. 7

    Amosova V, Boje J, Brown E, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Gröhsler T, Gutkowska J, Haase S, Hommik K, Horbowy J, Jounela P, Kaljuste O, Karpushevskaia A, Krumme U, Lövgren J, Mirny Z, Neuenfeldt S, Schade FM, Stötera S, Strehlow HV, et al (2020) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 643 p, ICES Sci Rep 2(45), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.6024

  9. 8

    Carbonara P, Coad Davies J, Damme CJG van, Aanestad Godiksen J, Allegaert W, Beier U, Bekaert K, Canha A, Farias I, Follesa MC, Gault M, Gillespie-Mules R, Haase S, Hilvarsson A, Hüssy K, Korta M, Krüger-Johnsen M, Krumme U, Stransky C, Ulleweit J, et al (2020) Working Group on Biological Parameters (WGBIOP). Copenhagen: ICES, 150 p, ICES Sci Rep 2(117), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.7651

  10. 9

    Amosova V, Berg C, Boje J, Cardinale M, Carlshamre S, Eero M, Gröhsler T, Gutkowska J, Hommik K, Horbowy J, Huwer B, Jounela P, Kaljuste O, Karpushevskiy I, Klinger R, Krumme U, Rodriguez-Tress P, Schade FM, Stötera S, Strehlow HV, et al (2019) Baltic Fisheries Assessment Working Group (WGBFAS). Copenhagen: ICES, 653 p, ICES Sci Rep 1(20), DOI:10.17895/ices.pub.5256

  11. 10

    Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2014) Annex 6: Cruise reports from other acoustic surveys in the area : Annex 6a: Western Baltic acoustic survey ; Survey report for FRV "Solea" ; German Acoustic Autumn Survey (GERAS), 30 September 2013 - 19 October 2013. In: Report of the Working Group of International Pelagic Surveys (WGIPS) ; 20-24 January 2014. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 224-251

  12. 11

    Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2014) Survey Report for FRV "Solea" German Acoustic Autumn Survey (GERAS) 30 September 2013 - 19 October 2013. In: Report of the Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) : 24-28 March 2014 ; Gdynia, Poland. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 250-258

  13. 12

    Oeberst R, Gröhsler T, Schaber M, Larson N (2013) Applicability of the Separation Function (SF) in 2011 and 2012. In: Report of the Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) : 20-25 March 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 399-405

  14. 13

    Oeberst R, Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2013) Applicability of the stock separation function (SF) on the first period of GERAS in 1994-2004. Working Document WKPELA2. Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 4 p

  15. 14

    Gröhsler T (2013) Assessment input database. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 417-437

  16. 15

    Oeberst R, Gröhsler T (2013) Comparison of stock indices based on GERAS estimated with the standard procedure and by the new proposed method : Working document Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) 20-25 March 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 9 p

  17. 16

    Gröhsler T (2013) Die Lage der Fischbestände im Skagerak/Kattegat und in der Ostsee : Stand 27.08.2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 26 p

  18. 17

    Gröhsler T, Oeberst R, Schaber M, Larson N, Kornilovs G (2013) Discrimination of western Baltic spring-spawning and central Baltic herring (Clupea harengus L.) based on growth vs. natural tag information. ICES J Mar Sci 70(6):1108-1117, doi:19.1093/icesjms/fst064

  19. 18

    Gröhsler T, Neuenfeldt S (2013) Exploration of different assessment units. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on Baltic multispecies assessments (WKBALT): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 249-265

  20. 19

    Gröhsler T, Neuenfeldt S (2013) Exploration of new M values derived from SMS. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on Baltic multispecies assessments (WKBALT): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 332-344

  21. 20

    Gröhsler T (2013) Exploration of XSA settings. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on Baltic multispecies assessments (WKBALT): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 314-331

  22. 21

    Gröhsler T, Oeberst R, Schaber M (2013) Implementation of the Stock Separation Function (SF) on German commercial landings. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 379-386

  23. 22

    Gröhsler T, Oeberst R, Schaber M (2013) Implementation of the stock separation function (SF) within GERAS in 2005-2011. Working Document WKPELA 1. Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 6 p

  24. 23

    Oeberst R, Gröhsler T, Schaber M (2013) Investigations on quality of Stock Separation Function (SF). Working Document WKPELA4. Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 22 p

  25. 24

    Bartolino V, Gröhsler T, Vitale F, Krischansson B, Johansson M (2013) Maturity at age in the WBSSH herring : motivation of the study and background. In: Report of the benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA): 4-8 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 470-475

  26. 25

    Oeberst R, Gröhsler T (2013) Quality of age determination. Working Document WKPELA7. In Benchmark workshop on pelagic stocks (WKPELA), WBSSH 04-08 February 2013. Copenhagen: ICES, 3 p

  27. 26

    Schaber M, Gröhsler T (2013) Survey Report for FRV "Solea" 2-21 October 2012. In: Report of the Baltic International Fish Survey Working Group (WGBIFS) : Annex 8: Cruise reports of acoustic surveys BASS and BIAS in 2012. Copenhagen: ICES, pp 266-289

  28. 27

    Barz K, Gröhsler T, Zimmermann C (2013) Zustand und Entwicklung ausgewählter Fischbestände in der Ostsee: der ICES-Advice für 2014. Fischerei Fischmarkt MV 13(3):44-49

  29. 28

    Velasco A (2010) Bericht über die 629. Reise des FFS "Solea" vom 28.10. bis zum 19.11.2010. 8 p

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