Estimation of target strength of Sardina pilchardus and Sardinella aurita by theoretical approach

The target strength (TS) patterns of Sardina pilchardus and Sardinella aurita at 38 and 120 kHz were estimated by a prolate-spheroid model, using measurements of swimbladder length and width. The ratio of swimbladder length to total length (TL) was similar in both species, however the ratio of swimbladder width to TL was smaller and more variable for S. aurita. Assuming a normal distribution of fish swimming orientation angle (θ fish) with mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 0 ± 10°, the normalized (by TL) average TS (b 20) was estimated to be −64.0 dB (38 kHz) and −65.2 dB (120 kHz) for S. pilchardus, and −66.2 dB (38 kHz) and −67.2 dB (120 kHz) for S. aurita. Compared with currently applied b 20 values at 38 kHz, our results under four different θ fish assumptions (0 ± 10°, 0 ± 15°, −5 ± 10°, and −5 ± 15°) were 6–9 dB higher for S. pilchardus and 5–7 dB higher for S. aurita. This suggests four- to eightfold overestimation risk for S. pilchardus and three- to fivefold overestimation risk for S. aurita when using the currently applied b 20 values.