GEOSTATISTICS FOR FISH STOCK ASSESSMENTS - A REVIEW AND AN ACOUSTIC APPLICATION

As opposed to the random sampling theory, geostatisties accounts for spatial correlation. Because the structure is specified the sampling may be undertaken on regular grids and the precision of the stock’s total abundance can be derived Two geoslat ist ical methods relevant for total assessments are reviewed, then applied to an acoustic survey performed along regularly spaced parallel transects. For such surveys a very simple and general procedure for calculating the precision is suggested: the geoslatistical transitive theory can be used in one-dimension (1-D) on the transect cumulated data. The procedure is explained and compared to the more complicated compulation that could be undertaken in the two-dimensional (2-D) longitude-latitude plane. © 1993 Conseil International pour l’Exploration de la Mer.