Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Walther Herwig III	262	17.03.2004 - 22.04.2004	WGMEGS	Bay of Biscay North Atlantic Ocean

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Ulleweit Jens	Deutsche Wissenschaftliche Kommission fur Meeresforschung (DWK) im vTI (BFA) Hamburg	Bremerhaven	Bremerhaven	Karte Map

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The survey forms a part of an ICES-co-ordinated international study in the Eastern North Atlantic conducted during the first part of 2004. This investigation takes place trienially since the late seventies and is organised by the ICES Working Group WGMEGS.The main objective of this series of cruises from January until August is to produce both an index and a direct estimate of the biomass of the the north east Atlantic mackerel stock and the southern and western horse mackerel stocks. This survey is the only source providing fishery independent information of these stocks.The method is to quantify the freshly spawned eggs in the water column on the spawning grounds on the one hand. This is done by using a plankton sampler with an online probe. On the other hand the fecundity of the females must also be determined. This is done by sampling sufficient numbers of gonads by trawling.

Messungen / Measurements