The use of acoustic ground discrimination as a precursor to the estimation of shellfish abundance

Data on seabed types for any area can be assembled not only during dedicated research missions, but may be supplemented by information collected opportunistically during resource surveys in the area for other species and when the vessel is in transit. The data can be pooled from other vessels to produce a composite of the distribution of seabed types. Examples of how we have assembled such data for the Iceland scallop in the Strait of Belle Isle (NAFO Div. 4R) and for the Arctic surf clam over the vast apron of shelf commonly called the Grand Banks of Newfoundland (NAFO Div. 3LNO) are provided and discussed.