Research,

2 (1984) 273-263
ELsevia Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam -Printed

273

Fisheries

in The Netherlands

THE NUMBER OF PELAGIC FISH IN LAEE PAASIYESI,

MONITORED BY I-IYDROACOUSTIC METHODS

FINLAND,

JUHA JURVELIUS, TORFINN LlNDEM= and JARMO LOUHIMO

FinnishGame
SF-00131
Institute

and Fisheries Research

Institute.
Fisheries Division, P.O. Box 193,
Helsinki 13 (F&and)
of Physics, Uniuemity of Oslo. P.O. Box 1048, Blindem, Oslo 3 (Norway)

(Accepted for publication 13 February 1984)

ABSTRACT
Jurvelius, J., Lindem. T. and Louhimo, J., 1984. The number of pelagic fish in Lake
Paasivesi, Finland, monitored by bydroacoustic methods. Fish. Res., 2: 273-263.
A Craig and Forbes algorithm-based computer program was used to make an acoustic
estimate of the number of fish in the oelaeic zone of Lake Paasivesi. The acoustic data
were collected at night. More than 95% of the estimated fish were counted as singlefish echoes. The vertical distribution of the fish in May was uniform from 4 m down
to the bottom, hut in August about 90% of the fish counted were between 4 and 18 m.
The total number of fish in the research area was 1.3 X lo6 individuals in May and
2.7 X 10 individuals in August. The mean fish density was 260 and 530 fish ha-, respee
tively. The horizontal fish distribution in this lake is unusually uniform and the fish
density unusually low in comparison with many other lakes in central Finland.

lNTRODUCTION

Acoustic instruments and techniques for counting and assessing the abundance of fish have been developed intensively in recent years. Acoustic
methods make it possible to obtain real-time data about fish stocks; especially
their size and distribution. This information, together with information from
non-acoustic studies, gives an improvement on previous stock estimates.
Initially, the acoustic method was used almost solely in seas and oceans.
When the size of the equipment was reduced and the lake fisheries grew in
importance, echo-sounding studies also began in inland waters (Johannesson,
1975; Marchal and Laurent, 1977; Mathisen et al.. 1977).
In our previous work, we looked for a lake where the echo-counting
method could be used effectively (Jurvelius et al., 1982). The low and
horizontally-even
fish density, the possibility of getting trawl-samples, and
the deep and homogenous lake basin made Lake Paasivesi very suitable for
this purpose. Our intention is to continue echo-counting
on this lake. In
future, the final results will be combined with fisheries statistics in monitoring
the oscillatii
vendace stock of the area.
0166.7836/84/$03.00

o 1984

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

274
MATERIALS

AND METHODS

Paasivesi is a 110 km* lake in eastern Finland (Fig. 1). Its mean depth
is about 21 m, the average mean depth of Finnish lakes being about 7 m.
Lake Paasivesi is usual!y frozen from November to May. Temperature
stratification
in the water is evident from the beginning of June to the end
of September. The water quality in the lake is good:
water coiour,
40-50
mg Pt 1
total P,
5-7
JJgPl_
total N,
350-400 pg N 1-r
A substantial current is the main reason for the excellent oxygen situation
in the lake; the mean water delay is about 3 months.

Fig. 1. A bathymetric map of Lake Paasivesi. The arrows show the main direction of the
water current.

275

More than 30 fish species are found in Lake Paasivesi. Vendace (Coregonus
albula), whitefish (Coregonus lauoretus), smelt (Osmerns eperlanus), perch
(Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) are usually the most abundant.
The lake is also a suitable habitat for bleak (Alburnus albumus), brown trout
(Solmo trntta), salmon (Salmo s&r), pike (Esou h&us) and pike-perch
(Stizostedion lucioperca).
The total annual fish catch in Lake Paasivesi is about 30 t (Auvinen et al.,
1983). The three most abundant species - perch, vendace and pike -make
up more than 60% of the catch. The annual catch of the most important
pelagic species - vendace, whitefish, brown trout and salmon - is about 10 t.

Echo-counting
The acoustic data were collected with a Simrad EY-M echo-sounder. This
echo-sounder
was specially designed for freshwater fish stock assessment.
It h-s two time-varied gain controls, and the signal can be reproduced on
a straight-line paper echogram recorder while being recorded on the tape.
The working frequency is 70 kHz and the duration of the transmitted pulse
0.6 ms. This gives a vertical resolution of about 0.8 m.
The ceramic transducer (type 7024 F) - diameter 10.5 cm and weight
8 kg - was mounted on a V-fin to give stability when towed by a small
boat (Fig. 2). It was towed at a depth of 1 m, which kept it away from
surface bubbles and noise from the motor and propeller. The boat speed
was 6 knots during the echo-survey. The transmitted beam angle was 11.5
measured at the -3 db level, and the side lobes were 15-20 db below the
main lobe.

Fig. 2. Schematic

drawing of the V-fin on which the echo-sounder

transducer

was mounted.

The echo data were recorded on gocd-qua!ity

C-60 magnetic casettes
with a JVC Mark II stereo tape recorder. The right channel was for echoes
and the left channel for trigger signals.
By using the echo-sounder
with a 40 log R time-varied gain control,
the echo-signals received are independent
of range, so the echo amplitude
depends only on the angular coordinates of the target. This TVG-setting

276

also improves the computing speed of the micro-computer.

When observing
scattering layers with good resolution
of single-fish echoes, the simple
algorithm proposed by Craig and Forbes (1969) can be used to remove the
effect of the beam pattern from the echo distribution received. The basic
idea behind the algorithm is that the received echo-signals with the highest
intensity (N,) must come from the biggest fish located within the central
part of the acoustic beam, class4nterval A, (Lindem, 1982). The second
highest echo-intensities, NI, must come from the second biggest fish located
in class-interval A ,, plus the biggest fish located in class-interval AI, and
so forth.
N,=d,A,
N,=d,A,+d,A,
N,, = d, A, + . ..+d.A,
Where N,...N, = number of echoes received within each class-interval.
d,...d, = fish densities within each size category.
A,...A,, = areas given by the directivity pattern.
The true fish densities d,...d, can be calculated by solving these equations.

All negative density values are given a v&m of zero. In this work, this
procedure was employed only in measuring the fish densities; it was aot
used to estimate the lengths of the fish.
The shape and duration of the echo-signal usually indicates whether
the echo comes from more than one fish. In order to get the total density
of fish in the scattering layer, we assume that the size distribution of the fish
registered singly reflects the size distribution of the fish responsible for the
multiple echoes. With the Craig and Forbes algorithm, we get the density
of the single fish, and by echo-integration
on both single-fish echoes and on
multiple echoes ai the same time, we find the proportion
between these
registrations.
In this way, the total fish density is obtained. The Mostek
Z-SO-based microcomputer
used in this experiment was built by Torfinn
Lindem in 1978. A similar system is now available from Simrad: the Simrad
QD-ZOO.
The resolution percentage indicates the proportion
of single-fish echoes
in the total fish density. The greater the resolution percentage the better
the accuracy of the estimation. About 3 100 single-fish echoes in May and
about 12 700 single-fish echoes in August are the basis for these density
estimations.

Echo-surveys
Many pelagic freshwater species, such as whitefish, smelt and vendace,
are little influenced by the noise produced by the survey boat (Lindem,
1982). Our observations
from Lake Paasivesi confirmed this statement.
No difference could be seen in the fish density on the echogram while the
engine was running and while it was not. Nor did the fish seem to be disturbed by the beam of the echo-sounder.

27-l

The precision of the echo-survey estimates was tested by two runs, made
as nearly as possible over the same transect, at night in August. The second
run was completed within 40 min of the first. The difference in the total
fish density between the two runs was about 1%.
Dembinski (1971) reported that in some Poiish lakes, pelagic fish tend to
be in dense schools during the day and dispersed at night. Basigos (1975)
found that in Lake Tanganyika, night-sample observations of fish biomass
were four times higher than those made during the day. To some extent,
this behavior was also found in Lake Paasivesi (Table I).
TABLE

Day-night
Depth
Cm)

layer

variation

in fish densities

Run 1
12.00-12.30

5-15
15-25
25-35
35-45

in Auwst

Run 2
18.00-18.30

in Lake Paasivesi

40
170
50
20

370
20
20
20

2RO

In

run 1, all the fish found

were in dense
i9.25

Run 3
01.00+1.30

-430
schools

on the bottom.

(fish ha-)

218

wi

19.25'

Ib)

12.

aKt4

&!.!.

PMHVESI

Fig. 3. (a) Echo-survey route and fish densities in Lake Paasivesi, 19-20 May 1982.
(b) Echo-survey route and fish densities in Lake Paasivesi. 9-10 August, 1962. Borderlines between the varying densities inter-merge.
30-200

fib ha-,

401-600

fish ha-,

201-400

fish ha,

601-800

fish ha-.

In order

to get the maximum

quantity

of dispersed fish for the echo-

countings, the acoustic field-work was done at night. The depth-layers for
these computer-based
fish-countings
were determined by fish traces on the
echogram.
The research area was about 50 km in the central part of the lake. Water
depths within the area varied from 15 to 60 m. The echo-soundings were
done at night between 22.00 and 03.30 h on 19-20 May and 9-10 August
1982. The paper speed of the echo-sounder was 12 mm min-r in May and
24 mm min- in August. The length of the echo-sounding route was 46 km
in May and 50 km in August (Fig. 3).
Acoustic data were recorded along the whole 95-km echo-sounding
route. Forty kilometres of this route - 18 km in May and 22 km in August were analysed with the Craig and Forbes algorithm. By analysing varying

279

fish densities from the echcgram, we tried to estimate the density variance
in the lake. If the fish density seemed to be hcmogeneous within the transect,
we analysed only one run from it. The number of runs was 13 in May and
15 in August. The length of a run was from 1 190 to 1400 m. Water-depth
varied very little within each run.
The Craig and Forbes results were extrapolated
manually from the echogram to the whole echo-survey route, and these results were extrapolated
with the help of the echo-survey tracks to the whole research area.
RESULTS

The mean resolution in Lake Paasivesi was 97.4% (var. 80-100%).

The
number of runs was 31. This confirmed our previous belief List acoustic
fish schools are very rsr? in Lake Paasivesi (Jurvelius et al., 1982).
In August 1982, more than 90% of the fish counted with the Craig and
Forbes algorithm were between 4 and 18 m deep (Table II). From the
echograms, we could see that in May the fish were distributed more homogenously in the whole water volume (Fig. 4). In August 1979, 94% of the
fish counted from the echogram in Lake Paasivesi were between 10 and 20
m deep (Jurvelius et al., 1982).
TABLE II
The vertical fish distribution in Lake Paasivesi in August 1982
Depth layer

Mean fish

Standard

Number

(m)

density
(fish ha-l)

error

of runs
(n)

4-18
X3-50

600
40

54.5
6.5

6
6

The horizontal distribution

of pelagic fish was more uniform in May
than in August. In May, the greatest fish density was in front of the western
sounds (Fig. 3a). The densest area in August was more in the east and south
(Fig. 3b). Another high-density area was in the northeast corner of the lake.
No logical correlation could be found between the depth and the fish density
of the research area either in May or in August.
The mean fish density in August was twice that of May (Table III). The
total number of fish in the research area was accordingly about 1.3 X lo6
f 0.15 X lob individuals in May and shout 2.7 X lo6 c 0.20 X LO6 individuals
in August.
DISCUSSION

The fish density in Lake Paasivesi is about the same as in Lake Randsfjorden, Norway (Llndem, 1981), and Lake Toisvesi, Finland. In Lake

Om-

IOm-

(b)

Fig. 4. Two echograms

from Lake Paazivesi.
(a) 19 May 1982,23.30-24.00
h. The speed
of the recording
paper
was 12 mm mine.
Estimated
fish density
was 390 fish ha-.
(b) 9 August
1932, 22.30--23.00
h. The speed of the recording
paper wee 24 mm min-.
Estimated
fish density
was 790 fish ha-.
TABLE
Night-time

111
fish densities

in May

Fisb density

May
Acgust
--

and August

in Lake

Paasivesi

(fish ha?)

Var.

SE.

30-430
310-800

260
630

29.1
39.6

13
16

var.=variation;

1932

.? = arithmetic

mean:

SE.

= standard

error;

n = number

of runs.

281

Karjalan Pyhiij&vi, Finland, the pelagic fish density varies from a few fish
oer ha to 16 000 fish aer ha (J. G.S+velius.T. Lindem and J. Louhimo.
unpublished data, 1982): The great variatisn depends much on the hydrography of the lake;the deep basins usually containing more fish. The variation within one lake seems to be smaller if the pelagic area is continuous.
Lake OulujSrvi and Lake PyhLelkl are such lakes. They are more eutrophicated than Lake Paasivesi and their mean fish density is about seven times
greater than that of Lake Paasivesi. From our echo-sounding
experience,
we conclude that the fish density in Lake Paasivesi is low and that its horizontal fish distribution is unusually uniform.
According to our echo-soundings,
the number of fish individuals in the
pelagic zone of Lake Paasivesi in August is twice that in May. This trend
can also be seen from the commercial trawl catches; the catch per unit
effort is much bigger in August. From trawl catches on 10 August 1982, we
conclude that more than 80% of the fish individuals counted by echosounder are vendace, about 15% smelt, and the rest are mainly whitefish.
The species frequency was about the same in May 1982.
The main reason for the greater number of individuals in the research
area in August could be that in spring, vendace is feeding in the bays and
smelt is spawning in the small streams and sounds in the littoral zone of the
lake. In August, adults and fingerlings of both species usually live in the
pelagic area. The 1981 year-class was most abundant in vendace in both
May and August (Fig. 5). In the August trawl catches, the O+ vendace also
appeared with masses uf 0+ smelt.
Lengths of the echo-counted fish were divided into three groups according
to the echo-strength distribution (all single-fish echoes greater than -37 db
are truncated and shifted down into the (-38, -37) db size-group).
Fish length (cm)
> 20

db
-38 to -43

10-20
< 10

-44
-50

to -49
to -57

The echo-counted

fish were bigger in August than in May.

Fish length (cm)

> 20
10-20
< 10

May (W) August (%)

3
19
3;
78
56
100

100

From the catch statistics of the lake, we know that the great majority of
the fish bigger than 20 cm are whitefish. Most of the fish in the lengthgroup lo-20 cm are vendace, and the shift from the group smaller than

10 cm to the lo-20-cm
vendace.

group could be largely because of the growth of

282

Hamrin and Bertilson (1980) and Bagenal et al. (1982) have noticed
differences in the vertical movements of vendace and smelt. Also, the fishermen in Lake Paasivesi know from trawling experience that vendace appear
in the surface waters at sunset and sunrise. Smelt, however, tend to be in
the surface layers during the hours of darkness. We tried to consider these
observations in our echo-counting%
The pelagic area of Lake Paasivesi, with its low fish density, is very suitable
for echo-counting
studies, because the Craig and Forbes algorithm is based
on the echo-strengths
of individual fish. In spite of this, the estimation of
the high fish densities in the banks around the pelagic zone and the migrations of fish between the pelagic and littoral zone must be stressed in future
echo-sounding work.

Y31!XI

ASS

Fig. 5. Samples from the vendace trawl catches

85% oC the fish in the catches were vendace.

LiEKIn

CM

on 18 May and 10 August

1982. About

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank Hannu Kokko, Antti Pesonen, Petri Suuronen

and Outi Heikinheimo-Schmid
for the many helpful suggestions that have
improved our work.

283
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