Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Walther Herwig III	WH466	04.05.2023 - 27.05.2023	BASS	Baltic Sea

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Haase Stefanie	Thunen-Institut fur Ostseefischerei	Bremerhaven	Bremerhaven

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

Cruise no. 466 of FRV "Walther Herwig III" was conducted as part of the international "Baltic Acoustic Spring Survey (BASS)". The main objective of this hydroacoustic survey is the annual assessment of small pelagic fish stocks, especially sprat, in the Baltic Sea. The BASS is coordinated by the ICES Working Group on Baltic International Fish Surveys (WGBIFS) where timing, survey area and the principal methods of investigation are discussed and decided. The survey has been conducted annually since 2001 and delivers the most important fisheries-independent abundance index for the annual ICES stock assessment of Baltic sprat. The German investigation area in 2023 covered ICES subdivisions 24, 25, 26, 28, and 29, and thus the major part of the investigation area of the international survey. Other parts were covered by Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland.

Messungen / Measurements