• Observing and modelling
• Marine Climate Change Centre (MC3)
• Ecosystems and biodiversity
• Assessing human impacts
• Animal health and food safety
• Fisheries information
  • Fisheries Science Partnership
    • Previous FSP programmes
    • North Sea Codwatch
    • Northern North Sea saithe and cod
  • Commercial species
  • Discards and fishing gear technology
  • Tagging programmes
  • Ecologically important fish habitats
  • Ageing fish
  • Recreational sea angling
  • Surveys
  • Deep-water species, NE Atlantic
  • Under-utilised species
  • Freshwater fisheries
  • Non-native species
  • Salmonids
  • Eels
  • Fish stomach records
  • Fish-eating birds
  • Unusual fish
  • Species of conservation importance

Related links

• Cod - 2000+ year-class
• Cod - 2001-2003 year-class
• Cod - 2004 year-class
• Cod - 2005 year-class
• Cod - 2006 year-class
• Saithe - 2000+ year-class
• Saithe - 2001-2003 year-class
• Saithe - 2004 year-class
• Saithe - 2005 year-class
• Saithe - 2006 year-class
• Cod
• Cod spatial dynamics (CODYSSEY)

Northern North Sea saithe and cod

Intoduction

Forming part of the Fisheries Science Partnership programme this two year project monitors and collects information on the 2004 and 2005 year classes of saithe (Pollachius virens)and the 2005 and 2006 year classes of cod (Gadus morhua), using a commercial fishing vessel.

Background

The project was formed in response to an industry and science perceived absence of realistic data on the 2004 and 2005 year classes of saithe and the 2005 and 2006 year classes of cod. These saithe year classes are of particular interest as they are predicted to contribute significantly to landings in 2008, and similarly the 2005 cod year class is currently thought to be stronger than in those recent years.         

Data collection and quality control

As part of the project, fishermen fishing in the Northern North Sea saithe fishery (mainly ICES area IVa) collect quantitative data on their commercial catches of saithe and cod year-round. The information collected includes: 

• Numbers and weights of saithe and cod caught for every haul fished
• Length frequency measurements           
• Shot and haul details, tide, average speed over ground, door spread, headline height and weather/sea state. Once collected the data are collated by the Fish Producers' Organisation (FPO) and captured onto spreadsheets where software identifies any errors in recording the shot and haul positions. A final data check on the primary logsheets is undertaken at Cefas for randomly selected months.