Expedtionsrapport BITS, februari 2014

The survey was conducted using the TV3L demersal trawl according to the Baltic International Trawl Survey (BITS) manual (Anon., 2013a). Sweden was assigned 50 randomly selected hauls of which R/V Dana realized 41 valid stations. Seven stations were not visited because of prohibition from the Swedish Armed Forces. Overall, Dana made 45 hauls with TV3L demersal trawl (including five fictitious hauls which were not trawled because the oxygen concentration close to the bottom was <1.5 ml/l) and covered parts of SD 25, 27 and 28 this year. During the whole survey, acoustic data were continuously recorded. During this survey 25 fish species were caught. The total catch, in terms of weight, was dominated by herring, cod, sprat and flounder. The hydrographical conditions were observed and measured at most of the stations. Only the oxygen concentration at the bottom is presented here.