Duration: 30 June to 20 July 2025

Cruise area: Southern North Sea

Purpose: Hydroacoustic detection of pelagic fish stocks

The cruise is part of an international hydroacoustic survey of pelagic fish stocks in the North Sea (HERAS), which is coordinated by the Working Group of International Pelagic Surveys (WGIPS) of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). It provides the most important fishery-independent data for the stock calculation of the North Sea herring. Other participants in this recording are Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland and Scotland. The study area covers almost all of ICES Divisions IIIa, IVa, IVb and VIa. The primary object of investigation is the herring (NSAS - North Sea Autumn Spawning Herring, WBSS - Western Baltic Spring Spawning Herring, MSHAS - Malin Shelf Herring, VIaN - West of Scotland Herring). In addition, an estimate is made of the sprat stocks (North Sea and Div. IIIa) and, if detectable in the study area, of anchovies and sardines.