International Symposium on Fisheries and Plankton Acoustics
This symposium, organised by the International Council for the
Exploration of the Sea (ICES) will be held at the Aberdeen Conference
and Exhibition Center, Aberdeen, Scotland from 12-16 June 1995.
Objectives and Scope
Acoustics has been used extensively for observation and measurement in
oceans, lakes, and rivers. Scales of study extend from a few
centimetres to hundred of kilometres, and from individual organisms to
entire populations of fish or plankton. Acoustics provides a means to
obtain continuous observation and assessment of underwater resources.
There are many common problems and requirements in the use of underwater
acoustics for aquatic studies. This Symposium will provide a forum for
the presentation and discussion of a wide range of topics relevant to
the use of acoustics for the study of fish, shellfish, micro-nekton, and
plankton. This will be the fourth in a series of Symposia on acoustics
sponsored by ICES, with previous ones being held in Bergen in 1972 and
1982 and in Seattle in 1987.
The 1995 Symposium will review and discuss the developments in
technology and understanding of acoustic methods in the aquatic
environment. Particular emphasis will be on improvements in techniques,
development of technology, assessment of current problems, and
identification or future directions for study. Papers reporting ongoing
research, as well as those identifying areas for development, are
invited on the following themes:
- Acoustic survey design and data analysis methods for pelagic and demersal fish stocks and for survey techniques which combine data from different sources. Methods for estimating precision, bias in acoustic surveys, and the effects of spatial or temporal change. The use of ancillary variables such as water temperature, salinity, or plankton distributions in survey design and data analysis. Papers which only report survey results will not be included in plenary sessions, but those dealing with the validation of survey results will be welcomed.
- Near-boundary problems. Studies of near-surface and sea bed measurement problems, including investigations of both aquatic organisms and their habitat. Acoustic observation and classification of sea or river bed in relation to biological phenomena. Observation of fish in situations where the interference between echoes from targets and boundaries is important.
- Multi-dimensional acoustics, including studies with instrumentation specifically designed for 3D observation and methods that require reconstruction using data from electronic and mechanical scanning systems or sequential observation. Observations on fish schools, and spatial relationships between predators and fish.
- Signal classification and identification procedures, including both acoustic observation methods and statistical techniques for classification of targets. Object size and shape characterization from systems. Wide-band or multi-frequency methods particularly for target sizing and species identification.
- Biology, including acoustic observation of behaviour, and studies of physiology using acoustics. The effects of sound on fish, including explosive shock waves and infra-sound, studies of fish hearing and the sounds generated by fish.
- Target-strength measurement, data collection, methodology, and analysis techniques, and the use of models. Target-strength studies of fish, plankton, and micro-nekton. Target-strength distributions and relationships with target aspect and behaviour.
- Validation and comparison of acoustic and other methods of assessment of fish, micro-nekton, and plankton.
Preference will be given to recent innovative research or validation of
established methods. Papers on particular topics whether on techniques,
technology, methodology, analysis, or results will be included in the
same sessions.
Structure and Organization
The Symposium will be organized in consecutive plenary sessions, arranged
by defined topics, at which contributed papers will be presented and
discussed. Papers will be limited to a maximum of two per author and
there will be a maximum of 100 presented papers. In addition a number
of poster sessions will be organized for contributions more suited to
this method of presentation. These sessions will be introduced with
brief descriptions of each poster. The Symposium will be conducted in
English.
Manuscripts
A Second Announcement and call for papers will be issued in early 1994
giving full instructions on the submission of titles, abstracts, and
manuscripts, including the deadlines for publication. It is intended
that selected contributions will be published, following peer review by
ICES.
Participation
The Symposium, for which there will be a nominal registration fee (to be
specified in the Second Announcement), will be open to all interested
scientists who announce their participation to the Convener by not later
than 31 March 1995. Further information on the venue, hotel
accommodation, and other practical matters will be provided following
announcement of participation. Those wishing to be included on any
subsequent mailing lists should notify the Convener.
For further information, publication, registration and accomodation
please contact the convenor:
Convener
Mr E. John Simmonds
Marine Laboratory
P.O. Box 101, Victoria Road
Aberdeen, Scotland AB9 8DB, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 224 876544
Fax: +44 224 295511
Steering Committee
Dr Francois Gerlotto
ORSTOM Centre Montpellier
B.P. 5045, 34032 Montpellier, Cedex 1, France
Fax: +33 67 54 78 00
Dr D. Vance Holliday
Tracor Applied Sciences
Analysis and Applied Research Division
9150 Chesapeake Drive
San Diego, CA 92123, USA
Telephone: + 1 619 268 9777
Fax: + 1 619 268 9775
Mr David N. MacLennan
Marine Laboratory
P.O. Box 101, Victoria Road
Aberdeen, Scotland AB9 8DB
United Kingdom
Fax: +44 224 29.5511
Dr. Egil Ona
Institute of Marine Research
P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes
5024 Bergen, Norway
Fax: +47 5 23 83 87
Dr. Jim Traynor
Alaska Fisheries Science Center
7600 Sand Point Way
Seattle, WA 98115-0070
