A comparison of volume scattering strength data with model calculations based on quasisynoptically collected fishery data

Volume reverberation measurements were made between 800 and 5000 Hz in the Norwegian Sea in August 1988 and west of Great Britain in April 1989. Coincidentally, extensive fishery surveys were conducted at about the same time near the two experimental areas. A comparison of acoustic results with model calculations based on the fishery data provided the means to determine if volume reverberation can be reliably predicted from high-quality biological information. Good correlation between acoustic data and model results was obtained after several plausible modifications were made to the fishery information. Results indicate that blue whiting are the major scatterers off Great Britain and that both blue whiting and redfish are important scatterers in the Norwegian Sea. Before this study, blue whiting were expected to dominate in both areas and redfish had been assumed to be unimportant. The study shows that volume scattering strengths can be accurately predicted if the characteristics of the scatterers are well known.