Hydro-acoustic surveys as tool of monitoring of pelagic fish abundance in the Black Sea

Abstract

The hydro-acoustic surveys became today one of the main standard methods for estimation of fish abundance like trawl and larval surveys. After Soviet Union period any hydro-acoustic survey was not carried out in the Russian waters of the Black Sea. Taking into account experience and the current knowledge which the VNIRO scientists received by research activities on water areas of the Mediterranean sea, it is offered to renew hydro-acoustic monitoring of pelagic fish stocks on shelf zones of Black Sea with participation of all Black sea countries for estimation of distributions fish biomass within all Black Sea pool using identical methodical approaches and devices.