While a number of gears are presently being used
to sample micronekton in the North Pacific and other parts of the
world's oceans, there has been little effort expended in comparing
the relative sampling efficiency and selectivity of these gears.
There is also a need for intercalibration between micronekton sampling
gears and other quantifying technologies (acoustics, visual methods,
etc.). At the recommendation of PICES Working Group 14 on Effective
sampling of micronekton, a new PICES field effort to evaluate
the efficacy of sampling gears and procedures employed by different
agencies to sample micronekton in the North Pacific was launched.
This 1/2-day workshop of the Advisory Panel
on a Micronekton intercalibration experiment overseeing the
field program will discuss the goals, objectives and status of the
experiment, and will begin the formal organization and planning
process for the survey.