In situ acoustic target strength of juvenile capelin

A dispersed, monospecific aggregation of juvenile (0+) capelin was detected acoustically in shallow (20-70 m) water in Bonavista Bay, northeastern Newfoundland in January 2000. This provided a rare opportunity to measure acoustic target strength (TS) of very small (mean length=51 mm) capelin in situ. Mean observed TS at 38 kHz was −61.0 dB. Observed TS was similar to TS predicted by the Norwegian-Icelandic capelin TS-length relationship (TS=19.1 log L (cm)−74), but ∼2 dB lower than predicted by the existing TS-length relationship for capelin in Newfoundland waters at 38 and 49 kHz (TS=20 log L (cm)−73.1). Combining present data with previous 38 kHz data indicates the relationship TS=23.3 log L (cm)−77.1 (r 2 =0.95, n=6) for capelin of lengths 5-14 cm in Newfoundland waters.