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For the acoustic inference of lengths and orientation angles of Antarctic krill (krill), reliable theoretical acoustic scattering models and parameters are necessary. To measure the volume backscattering (SV) spectra, and to clarify if the spectral shapes of target strength (TS) predicted by the stochastic distorted-wave Born approximation-based deformed cylinder model (SDWBA-DCM) are in agreement with those of the measured SV, we conducted simultaneous sampling with a broadband echosounder and a rectangular midwater trawl targeting 9 aggregations in the eastern Indian sector of the Antarctic in the 2018/19 austral summer. The SV spectra were measured at 50–85 kHz and 95–255 kHz. Using the SDWBA-DCM and the length frequency distribution obtained from the trawl samples, the length-averaged TS spectra were predicted. Both spectra were normalized by SV and TS values at 120 kHz, respectively, and the relative frequency responses were compared. The spectral shapes were in reasonable agreement in the case of the aggregations dominated by krill smaller than 35 mm. On the other hand, in the case of the krill larger than 35 mm, the spectral shapes were not in agreement. The possible causes of the discrepancy included the orientation angle distribution and the shape of krill.

Target strength (TS) is an important design factor for improving the survivability of an underwater vehicle, and various efforts are ongoing to enhance it. Among the design techniques to improve TS, absorbing materials attached to the surface of an underwater vehicle can play a key role by reducing the reflected and scattered acoustic waves. In this study, the acoustic performance of target strength absorbing materials (TSAMs) is first analyzed, and then the simplified procedure of TS analysis considering TSAMs is suggested. The 4-microphone method and transfer matrix method evaluating equivalent material properties of TSAMs are derived, and their effectiveness is cross-validated through a series of analyses for a multi-layer acoustic absorbing structure. From the observed results, it is concluded that the transfer matrix method is more suitable for practical TS analysis than the 4-microphone method because of the relatively low calculation and time costs required for the acoustic performance evaluations of TSAMs. In addition, a simplified TS analysis procedure considering the echo reduction (ER) and transmission loss (TL) is proposed based on the combining method of physical optics and geometric optics (PO/GO combined method) and equivalent material properties. Using the suggested procedure, a series of TS analyses are performed using the Benchmark Target Strength Simulation (BeTSSi) to validate its applicability and effectiveness.

The ecological status of lakes based on ichthyofauna, as defined by the Water Framework Directive, is assessed using intercalibrated methods. However, the methods adopted (in Poland, the Lake Fish Index LFI-EN method, based on results of one-off fishing with multi-mesh gillnets) are labor-intensive and do not allow for frequent repeat testing. Therefore, the concept of a simple model describing changes in the relative number of single traces in the vertical profile (according to the TS target strength distribution) in a lake is presented, as well as an index (the sum of deviations from such a model), enabling quantification of the similarity of TS distributions in lakes with this model. Preliminary analyses were conducted on acoustic data collected in Lake Dejguny. This lake—the condition of which could be estimated based on historical data using the relationships between LFI and the degree of lake eutrophication (expressed by Carlson’s TSI)—was assessed as having a good status in 2006, whereas in 2021, (based on LFI-EN) it had a moderate status. The study tested the TS distribution model, calculated as the arithmetic mean of the relative number of single traces in 2 m-thick layers. It was also shown that the proposed indicator can effectively signal deterioration of ecological status—the sum of the absolute values of the TS distribution deviations in 2021 (moderate status) from the model was more than seven times greater than the sum of the deviations of the distributions from which the model was built (good status). The obtained results confirmed the hypothesis about the possibility of determining a characteristic distribution of single traces in the vertical profile when the lake was classified as being in good condition.

Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus is a migratory fish widely distributed around Japan, and is an important fishery resource. However, target strength (TS) measurements of chub mackerel are limited, and the relationship between TS and fork length has not been fully clarified, despite its importance for the estimation of chub mackerel abundance. In this study, the TS–fork length (FL) relationship in chub mackerel was evaluated under realistic conditions. TSmean and TSmax tended to increase with fork length at both 38 and 120 kHz, and TS histograms were bimodal for most individuals. In the TSmean–FL relationship, when the coefficient a was fixed at 20 (the standard for fish with swim bladders), TScm (standardized by the square of the fork length) was −67.9 dB (r2 = 0.70) at 38 kHz and −69.2 dB (r2 = 0.45) at 120 kHz. Additionally, the swimming angle had a peak of around 0° with a mean of −1.23°, and the mean swimming speed was 0.16 FL/s with a standard deviation of 0.07 FL/s. TS reached a maximum between −20° and 0° and then decreased drastically as the swimming angle increased or decreased. Our results have practical implications for the management of chub mackerel.

Accurate determination of the target strength (TS) of a fish species is essential for estimating the biomass of fish stocks using acoustic technology. This study estimated the daytime in situ target strength of Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) at 38 kHz using echosounder data collected during hake biomass acoustic-trawl surveys and research cruises conducted from 2009 to 2019 by U.S. and Canadian scientists. The intercept term for the 20-log TS regression over fish length at 38 kHz, b20 was found to be −67.9 dB re 1 m2 (CI: −68.09, −67.72), closely aligning with the currently used value of −68 dB in biomass assessments. Applying the revised b20 value of −67.9 dB in past stock assessments suggests that biomass estimates would be underestimated by less than 3%, which is well within the typical uncertainty range of fish stock assessments.

Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) is an economically important species found in the coastal waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean. To conduct effective acoustic surveys on the spawning or fishing grounds of this species, the target strength (TS, dB re 1 m2) during its growth stages must be understood. However, knowledge regarding the TS of juvenile Japanese anchovies is limited. To address this knowledge gap, we measured the TS and proposed equation models for juvenile Japanese anchovies while describing the TS differences between young and adult anchovies. We evaluated 21 live anchovies using 38, 120, and 200 kHz transducers. TS models were fitted for the juvenile stage of anchovies, considering different frequencies. The mean TS values of young and adult anchovies were similar to those reported in previous TS studies, whereas the TS values of juvenile anchovies were significantly lower. Thus, applying the same TS equation based on the acoustic characteristics of anchovies at different growth stages, especially for juvenile anchovies, may not be appropriate. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a suitable TS equation specific to the growth stages of Japanese anchovies for accurate data analysis in acoustic surveys conducted on spawning and fishing grounds.

The Northwest Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is one of the most productive, economically important fishery resources worldwide. Accurately assessing this species and ensuring adherence to total allowable catch limits are crucial owing to fluctuations in their abundance and distribution. Acoustic target strength measurements of S. japonicus were conducted at 38, 70, and 120 kHz using a split-beam echosounder of individuals from nine size groups (mean fork length, 10.8–28.3 cm) swimming freely in a net cage within a seawater tank. An underwater camera was utilized to simultaneously measure swimming angle. Least-squares regression analysis revealed that when the slope was constrained to 20, as per the generally applicable morphometric equation, the resulting values for the constant term (b20) were −67.7, −66.6, and −67.3 dB at 38, 70, and 120 kHz, respectively. S. japonicus mean swimming angle across the groups was −10.5–9.6° (standard deviation [SD], 16.3–33.3°). Furthermore, the ratio of swimbladder height to swimbladder length, the ratio of swimbladder length to fork length, and the tilt angle of the swimbladder (mean ± SD) were 0.191 ± 0.060, 0.245 ± 0.055, and 9.6 ± 3.0°, respectively. These results can be used for the acoustic stock assessment of S. japonicus in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

We built a new pulse-echo system using a small tank (1 × 1 × 1 m) for measuring the broadband target strength of weakly scattering animals such as krill and shrimp. The system transmits a linear frequency modulated signal with a frequency sweep of 20–220 kHz. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a very long (50 ms) signal is used, and pulse compression processing is applied to received echoes. To determine the accuracy and effectiveness of the system and method, the obtained measurements were compared with predictions by theoretical acoustic scattering models. According to the verification experiment for a sphere and cylinders, the mean absolute errors were < 0.30 dB and the correlation coefficients r were > 0.97 in the frequency range above 20-dB SNR (40–210 kHz for the cylinders). Our measurement system was thus very accurate. We then performed the experiment for a commercially important shrimp, sakura shrimp Lucensosergia lucens. The measured spectra of three samples (35–38 mm) were in good agreement with the predicted spectra using an assumed sound-speed contrast. The r values were > 0.88 in the frequency range above 20-dB SNR (approximately 110–190 kHz). The effectiveness of our new method for weakly scattering animals was confirmed.

The oceanic mesopelagic zone, 200–1000 m below sea level, holds abundant small fishes that play central roles in ecosystem function. Global mesopelagic fish biomass estimates are increasingly derived using active acoustics, where echosounder-generated signals are emitted, reflected by pelagic organisms and detected by transducers on vessels. Previous studies have interpreted a ubiquitous decline in acoustic reflectance towards the Antarctic continent as a reduction in mesopelagic fish biomass. Here, we use empirical data to estimate species-specific acoustic target strength for the dominant mesopelagic fish of the Scotia Sea in the Southern Ocean.We use these data, alongside estimates of fish relative abundance from net surveys, to interpret signals received in acoustic surveys and calculate mesopelagic biomass of the broader Southern Ocean. We estimate the Southern Ocean mesopelagic fish biomass to be approximately 274 million tonnes if Antarctic krill contribute to the acoustic signal, or 570 million tonnes if mesopelagic fish alone are responsible. These quantities are approximately 1.8 and 3.8 times greater than previous net-based biomass estimates. We also show a peak in fish biomass towards the seasonal ice-edge, corresponding to the preferred feeding grounds of penguins and seals, which may be at risk under future climate change scenarios. Our study provides new insights into the abundance and distributions of ecologically significant mesopelagic fish stocks across the Southern Ocean ecosystem.

Target strength (TS) is an acoustic backscatter measurement that reflects fish size, whereas fish density is an important indicator of aquatic ecosystem conditions. This study aimed to describe the distribution patterns of TS and fish density in Kapota Atoll, Wakatobi Waters, using hydroacoustic technology with a single-beam chosounder, Simrad EK-15. The results showed that TS values ranged from -51.8 dB to -37.6 dB, with an average of -42.5 dB, and tended to increase with depth, indicating the presence of larger fish. The spatial distribution of fish density varied significantly both horizontally and vertically. The highest density was detected at depths of 21–25 m, with a maximum of 45,602 individuals/1000m³ and minimum of 2 individuals/1000m³. An average density of 514 individuals/1000m³ reflects a good environmental carrying capacity. The lagoon area tended to be the center of fish aggregation because of its more complex habitat, whereas depths beyond 33 m showed a significant decrease in density. The negative relationship between TS and fish density indicates that larger fish are more commonly found in deeper layers but in lower numbers. These findings provide a scientific basis for sustainable fisheries management in the Kapota Atoll.