An application of the annual egg production method to estimate the spawning biomass of cod (Gadus morhua L.), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) and sole (Solea solea L.) in the Irish Sea

The spawning biomass of cod (Gadus morhua), plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and sole (Solea solea) in the Irish Sea in 1995 was estimated by means of t he annual egg production method (AEPM). The area surveyed corresponded to I CES assessment area VIIa. This paper describes the sampling design, methods of analysis, estimates of biomass. and sources of error in the estimates. Estimates are also presented for spatially separated spawning grounds of co d and plaice in the eastern and western Irish Sea, the first time that info rmation at this scale has been available. The AEPM estimates of spawning bi omass of cod. sole and plaice exceeded the corresponding estimates from Vir tual Population Analysis of data from commercial fisheries and trawl survey s by factors of 2.3,2.7 and 4.3 respectively. The sources of these large di screpancies are not yet resolved.