Download FAR 2014/23 Acoustic estimates of the biomass in aggregations of southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) on Pukaki Rise (SBW6R) and Campbell Island Plateau (SBW6I) from a commercial vessel in September 2012

Acoustic surveys of Southern Blue Whiting (SBW) aggregations on Pukaki Rise and Campbell Island Plateau were conducted from FV San Waitaki in September 2012. The most defensible biomass estimates, (1602 t on Pukaki Rise and 14 006 on Campbell Plateau; CVs 14 and 12% respectively), both greatly underestimate total biomass due to incomplete cover and possibly, having missed the spawning peak. A new design for estimating total SBW biomass on Pukaki Rise from future such surveys is proposed.