Size estimation of walleye pollack (Theragra chalcogramma) by using a broadband split-beam system

Recently, broadband quantitative echo sounders have been developed. These systems can measure single echo traces from individual fish with high range resolution. They can be used for the accurate size distribution by measuring the target strength. On the other hand, walleye pollack is one of the important species for stuck management in Japan. They form a school at juvenile stage. We compared the captured fish size using bottom trawl net with the acoustically estimated values. We conducted the survey in July 2015 in east side of off Hokkaido, Japan, using the fisheries research vessel Kaiyo-maru No. 5 (495 tons), which is equipped with narrowband echo sounder transducers (EK-60, Kongsberg, 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz). The broadband split-beam transducer (FSS-SBX, Furuno) was deployed at the ship sideboard. All of the clock of the system were synchronized for comparison of data. More single echo traces could be measured using the broadband system than those measured by the narrowband system. Fork lengths wer...