05 MARCH 2025: THE REPORT OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON ABUNDANCE ESTIMATES IS NOW AVAILABLE!

The NAMMCO Scientific Committee Working Group on Abundance Estimates (AEWG) held a hybrid meeting on 21 January 2025 at the Fram Centre in Tromsø, Norway, chaired by Daniel Pike (Canada). The meeting brought together core members of the AEWG to discuss the status of survey data and the next steps following the completion of NASS 2024.

Key discussions included the progress of data processing and analysis for the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and Norway, as well as challenges in data validation, particularly with identifying duplicate sightings. The Working Group outlined deadlines for species-specific analyses, aiming to review some abundance estimates in Fall 2025 and the rest in Spring 2026. The group also addressed the discontinuation of Norway’s dedicated minke whale surveys, highlighting the need to explore alternative survey methods, such as drones, acoustics, and platforms of opportunity.

The full report is now available on the NAMMCO website: Abundance Estimates Working Group Reports.