Newsletter European Fish Ageing Network (EFAN) 1997 - 2000
European Fish Ageing Network	No. 4-2000; November 2000	Sponsored by:
Homepage: http://www.efan.no Newsletter Editor: E. Moksness	Objectives European Fish Ageing Network (EFAN) aims to develop, conduct and coordinate collaborative research and training, and thereby ensure that age determination becomes a reliable element of the assessments underlying the scientific management advice on fisheries and environmental resources.	European Commission Concerted Action (FAIR PL. 96.1304)

Contents

Page

1. Editorial.............................................................................................. 2

2. The 5^th EFAN Plenary Meeting and Cell WSs 2000............................... 5

3. Cell 2 & 3 WS Report......................................................................... 8

4. Cell 4 WS Report.............................................................................. 17

5. Cell 5 WS Report.............................................................................. 18

6. The EFAN Award 2000..................................................................... 18

7. Exchange and Mobility Costs............................................................. 19

8. Some general information................................................................... 19

9. List of EFAN Reports........................................................................ 20

EFAN Institute of Marine Research Flødevigen Marine Research Station N-4817 His, Norway

Phone: +47 37 05 90 00 Fax: +47 37 05 90 01 Email: bente.lundin@imr.no

1. Editorial

I am sitting here preparing the last issue of EFAN Newsletter and realize how fast time flies. It is five years since a group of people met in Ghent, Belgium and prepared the proposal for what later became EFAN (European Fish Ageing Network) and by 31 November 2000 this Concerted Action ends. The catalyst for EFAN was the initial meeting in Ghent, Belgium in January 1996 to develop a proposal for a Thematic Network. The proposed topics for discussion included;

1. Standardising current methodologies

2. Libraries of methods and reference collections

3. The need for validation of the precision and accuracy of age readings

4. Training and information

5. New methodologies and the enlargement of this scientific field

6. The establishment of regional/national collections of scales and otoliths

As the meeting progressed it became clear that the range and depth of the topics being discussed were more appropriate to a Concerted Action proposal than a Thematic Network.

The principal focus of this meeting was a “brainstorming” session on the structure of the network. The participants then split up into a number of small groups to develop proposals to progress the issues rasied at the "Brainstorming" session. Each group presented its findings to a plenary discussion where a pboposal for a network structure evolved that would encompass all the emerging aims and provide a vehicle for the necessary participant interaction in addition to the exchange and dissemination of information.

This process later became known as the "Ghent exercise" and produced an inter dependant structure similar to the cells in a honeycomb that would enable the participants to progress the five proposed key areas with the assistance of a small supporting administrative core.

Figure 1. The cell structure of EFAN

The participants at the Ghent meeting then divided into the 5 groups to develop outline plans for the delivery of the Cell objectives, through programmes of workshops and Cell meetings during the four year life of the proposed Concerted Action. These groups also developed a series of Milestones and Deliverables for the work of each Cell. Following the Ghent meeting 25 fisheries institutes registered as participants in EFAN and 34 scientists indicated their interest in developing EFAN. The European Fish Ageing Network (EFAN) is a European Commission Concerted Action Sponsored by the FAIR Programme (FAIR PL. 96.1304). The Objectives of EFAN are as follows:

EFAN aims to develop, conduct and coordinate collaborative research and training, and thereby ensure that age determination becomes a reliable element of the assessments underlying the scientific management advice on fisheries and environmental resources.

The preliminary partial objectives of EFAN are:

- To test and improve the accuracy of current and new ageing procedures by utilising a range of verification procedures and adopting both classical and novel techniques (e.g. radiometry, trace element analyses, advanced staining techniques).

- To conduct practical development of existing ageing methods with a view towards rationalising current practices while satisfying the demands for speed, accuracy and consistency.

- To develop and update a library of method descriptions and reference collections for different species and stocks for use in training and intercalibration exercises.

- To stimulate international collaboration by offering services and facilities to workshops, conferences, visiting scientists and students focussing on ageing research and methods.

Over the four years, 99 scientist from Europe have participated in the project, representing 35 different Universities and Research Institutes from 16 Europeans countries. Have we achieved our principal objective to develop, conduct and coordinate collaborative research and training, and thereby ensure that age determination becomes a reliable element of the assessments underlying the scientific management advice on fisheries and environmental resources? Ultimately all fish ageing research contributes to stock assessments of one kind or another and EFAN may not have achieved all that was desirable in terms of Quality Assurance, but the door has been opened and there can be no going back on this issue.

Others will evaluate EFAN, however my feeling is that we have been rather successful over the four years. Most of the tasks we set five years ago we have been able to achieve. In addition, we have produced the EFAN Reports, which was not identified. This year nine EFAN Reports have been published, of which three are only available at the EFAN Homepage (http://www.efan.no). Over the four years, 20 EFAN reports have been published, and all are available also on the EFAN Homepage. The EFAN Homepage has been operating since April 1997. The homepage experienced an increasing interest over the four years, starting from around 6000 hits per month and increasing to around 15000 hits by September 2000 (Fig. 1). By October 2000, 6 databases are in operation on the Homepage:

· DB1 contains information on the different institutes and persons involved in EFAN

· DB2 contains information on available software and hardware for examination of otoliths and scales

· DB3 contains information on experts in age estimation techniques and species studied at various institutions.

· DB4 contains information on reference collections and check collections for reader consistency

· DB5 contain information on otolith meetings and calibration references

· DB6 Digital Image Reference DataBase

During the four years EFAN has acted as a driving wheel for those scientist in Europe concerted with fish ageing. In addition to support for several EC funded project and Workshops organised by ICES, the following projects should be mentioned:

· Support to the work by Paul Connolly (Irland) on the development of "OTO educational and reference CD-ROM for fish ageing"

· Support to the text book on Sclerochronology (Editor: Herve Troadec, France)

· Supporting an European Atlas of otoliths

Figure 2. Number of hits per month on the EFAN Homepage, from the start in April 1997 until October 2000.

Table 1. List of Cell Co-ordinators.

EFAN Cell	Cell name	Cell Co-ordinator	Country
1	Methodologies and Procedures	W. McCurdy	Northern Ireland, UK
2	Information Processing	H. Troadec	France
3	Information, Exchange and Training	J. Modin	Sweden
4	Validation of ageing	G. Eltink B. Morales-Nin	Netherlands Spain
5	Research and application of ageing methodology	P. Wright	Scotland, UK

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have participated in EFAN and made EFAN what it has became.  ,/span>A special thank goes to the cell coordinators: Willie McCurdy, Hervé Troadec, Johan Modin, Guus Eltink, Beatriz Morales-Nin and Peter Wright. Without their contribution, eager and positive attitude EFAN would not have been what it became.

Thank you all.

Erlend Moksness

2. The 5^th EFAN Plenary Meeting and Cell WSs 2000

The last EFAN Pleanary session and WSs took place in Palma de Mallorca, Spain between 2-6 October 2000. The local host was CSIC/UIB-Institut Mediterrani d´Estudis Avancats. The work was focused on preparation of the final products from EFAN:

• Guidelines and Tools for Age Reading Comparisons (EFAN Report 3-2000)

• Guidelines for Validation Studies (EFAN Report 4-2000)

• Guidelines for the Quality Assurance of Fish Age Determination (EFAN Report 5-2000)

These Guidelines are now available as EFAN Reports and represents work that took place in all workshops. In addition, Reports from three cell workshops are presented in this newsletter. In the followinmg is given a overview of the meeting.

Agenda

	2 Oct	3 Oct	4 Oct	5 Oct	6 Oct
Cell 1 WS
Cell 3 WS
Cell 2&3 WS
Cell 4 WS
Cell 5 WS
EFAN Plenary

Cell 1: Monday 2 October - Wednesday 4 October

Workshop on “Guidelines for QA and methodology”

Cell 3: Monday 2 October - Tuesday 3 October

Workshop on “Guidelines for exchange programs and WS”

Cell 2 & 3: Wednesday 4 October - Thursday 5 October

Workshop on “Guidelines for reference collections”

Cell 4: Thursday 5 October

Workshop on “Guidelines for validation”

Cell 5: Monday 2 October - Thursday 5 October

Workshop on “Conceptual models”

Plenary Meeting, Friday 6 October

Contributed session

0900 Jose Eduardo Rebelo "Relationship between fish length and weight and the same measurements in the correspondent otoliths in some estuarine fish species"

0930 Magnus Appelberg "Presentation of the work on QA in Sweden"

1000 Toni Lombarte "A program to analyze shape otolith image: The case of notothenoids fishes"

1100 Sarah C Swan and John D. M. Gordon "Stock discrimination of black scabbardfish in the NE Atlantic using otolith microchemistry"

1130 Peer Doering-Arjes "Report about the FAbOSA Workshop"

1200 B.Morales-Nin et al "Kronomorphos a software for shape and age analysis"

1230 A. Geffen "Otolith microchemistry data, what does it tell us?"

1300 N. Raventos "Planktonic larval duration and settlement marks on the otoliths of Mediterranean fishes"

1500 - 1700 Reports from Cell Workshops

1700 Summing up

List of participants

Participants		Country
José Pedro	Andrade	Portugal
Magnus	Appelberg	Sweden
Enrico	Arneri	Italy
Richard	Ayers	UK
Paola	Belcari	Italy
Tor	Birkeland	Norway
Loes	Bolle	The Netherlands
Orestes	Cendrero	Spain
Manuela	Cunha	Portugal
Helene	de Pontual	France ,/td>
Peer	Doering-Arjes	Germany
M.W.	Easey	UK ,/td>
Guus	Eltink	The Netherlands
Arild	Folkvord	Norway
Nuno	Formigo	Portugal
Petter	Fossum	Norway
Maria Teresa	Garcia Santamaria	Spain
Audrey	Geffen	UK
Gianfranco	Giannetti	Italy
John D.M.	Gordon	UK
Frank Ivan	Hansen	Denmark
Tore	Jakobsen	Norway
Kim	Lilliestierna	Norway
Toni	Lombarte	Spain
Paulino	Lucio	Spain
Bente	Lundin	Norway
Willie	McCurdy	N. Ireland, UK
Johan	Modin	Sweden
Maria Cristina	Morgado	Portugal
Erlend	Moksness	Norway
Beatriz	Morales-Nin	Spain
Ana	Moreira	Portugal
Ana	Moreno	Portugal
Henrik	Mosegaard	Denmark ,/td>
Andrew	Newton	UK
Conrad	Nolan	Ireland ,/td>
Isabel	Palomera	Spain
Jacques	Panfili	France
Carmen	Pineiro Alvarez	Spain
Jari	Raitaniemi	Finland
Sandra	Ramos	Portugal
Nuria	Raventos	Spain
Jose Eduardo	Rebeleo	Portugal
Filipa	Ribeiro	Portugal
Sarah	Swan	UK
Paulo	Talhadas dos Santos	Portugal
Javier	Tomas	UK
Hervé	Troadec	France
Celia	Vassilopoulou	Greece
Dawn	Woodruffe	UK
Peter John	Wright	Scotland, UK

3. EFAN Cell 2&3 Workshop Report

“Use of digital tools for exchanging annotated images of calcified structures”

CONTENTS

I. Introduction 10

A. Background 10

B. Goals for digital image users 10

II. Creation of a digitised reference collection 11

A. Software choice 11

B. Image digitisation 11

1. Image resolution and colour versus black &white......................................................... 11

Viewing limitations.............................................................................................................. 11

C. Image annotation 12

1. Image format.............................................................................................................. 12

2. Use of digital images for control collections:................................................................. 14

3. Use of agreed digital collections for training................................................................. 15

4. Digital validated collections......................................................................................... 15

5. Use of digital images for exchanges............................................................................. 15

6. Use of digital images for workshops............................................................................ 15

III. Prospects for the future 16

A. Need for custom software 16

B. Intensification of internet use 16

IV. References 16

List of participants

Table 1: Participants of the Cell 2&3 2000 Workshop held in Palma (Spain)

N°	First name	Last name	Country
1 $/td>	Richard	Ayers	UK
2	Manuela	Cunha	Portugal
3	Peer	Doering-Arjes	Germany
4	Gianfranco	Giannetti	Italy
5	Toni	Lombarte	Spain
6	Beatriz	Morales-Nin	Spain
7	Ana	Moreno	Portugal
8	Andrew	Newton	UK
9	Conor	Nolan	Ireland
10	Sandra	Ramos	Portugal
11	Filipa	Ribeiro	Portugal
12	Hervé	Troadec	France

I. Introduction

The use of digital images for age estimations of calcified structures can provide many benefits. Their ease of circulation and exchange should facilitate dialogue at national and international levels on methodology and interpretation protocols (see glossary of EFAN report 3/98).

The methods and technologies used in the capture and processing of digital images is a dynamic area that requires researchers to exchange information regularly. Hence, guidelines provided below are frequently supposed being updated.

As a first step in the interpretation of calcified micro and macro structures, used in the determination of age, a detailed analysis of each structure is required. Analyses should identify and describe basic structures and their associated problems and incorporate these in the development of general, standardised interpretation procedures.

Resulting protocols should be objective and comparable, recognising intra and inter specific structural variability in their construction and incorporating recognised terminology in the formulation of instructions.

Such objectivity will assist in the resolution of subsequent, subjective interpretation of the image (e.g. subjectivity due to species life histories, geographical areas of occurrence) and the associated age estimation of the calcified structure.

Background

EFAN Cell 2 (Information Processing), a collaboration of software developers and users of digital image processing software, developed simple protocols for the exchange of interpreted digital images as a result of a workshop held in the University of Porto (Portugal, 1998; EFAN Report 3-98). These protocols were used and adapted in a subsequent workshop on whiting otoliths (Hirtshals, Denmark) where a reference collection of annotated images was created (Newton, 1998). These protocols are in a continuous state of update and development and depend on continued communication between users and software developers for their successful application (EFAN Report 1/2000, Iraklion, 1999).

Goals for digital image users

· The establishment of a digital image reference database of calcified structures (e.g. otoliths, statoliths, scales, spines etc.) of species aged with computer assisted age estimation tools (semi-automatic or automatic). Such a database should preferably be web based for maximum accessibility and include control, agreed and/or validated reference collections (e.g. EFAN Cell 2 “Digital Image Reference DataBase of Interpreted Calcified Structures”),

· The establishment of digital image exchange programmes using standardised protocols,

· The organisation of ad hoc workshops to resolve interpretation problems,

· The initiation, where possible, of dialogue between the users and developers of image analysis software.

II. Creation of a digitised reference collection

A. Software choice

The choice of a specific software package must be guided by the kind of use that is required (e.g. creation of the image set, interpretation of images, automatic post-processing of the results) and by the tools that are required to produce a correct interpretation (e.g. measurements, back-calculation, focusing). Software available on the market can be divided into three types :

1. graphics packages or photo retouching packages providing tools enabling basic image and graphic overlay manipulation (e.g. Paintshop-Pro, PhotoShop). They allow the marking of basic structure information required for calcified structure interpretation. Digitisation is generally limited to TWAIN drivers that are not sufficiently flexible in most cases require the use of more specialist imaging packages.

2. scientific imaging packages provide the features described in (1) along with sophisticated digitising capabilities and measurement tools. Some packages provide functions more or less adapted to age estimation on calcified structures (e.g. Image-Pro, NIH, Optimas, Visilog).

3. specialised imaging software can provide in addition to all the features described in (1) and (2) more specific functions like real-time back-calculation, ring location, curved profile acquisition, mosaic building (e.g. OTO, Bony-Parts, TNPC/Visilog). They are also able to manage basic structure co-ordinates, which can be of a great help for post-processing of large amounts of readings.

Image digitisation

The digital image of a calcified structure is only a representation of the ‘operators’ preferred view for interpretation. The ‘operator’ may be a group of experts or a single technician. Associated with each reference collection, files should be provided detailing the source of the images and the method used to capture them. As a collection evolves, it is important that the images within that collection remain comparable regarding acquisition conditions.

1. Image resolution and colour/Black & White

Sensor resolution is constantly increasing but digital images are still not of a quality comparable to that observed by the human eye through a microscope. The specification of the otolith collection should attempt to provide images with the best resolution and the best dynamic range. Cameras providing images in excess of 1Mb are becoming more widely available and must be preferred to those of lower resolution. The choice of colour or black and white images should be made after discussion with expert readers who can give guidance on their use of colour gradients when making interpretations.

2. Viewing limitations

When an age reader is working with an original sample it is possible to alter all the viewing parameters e.g. lighting, orientation, magnification or focus, using digital images restricts the parameters that can be altered by each reader. This effectively restricts the reader to choices made by whoever digitised the sample.

Focusing problem

One of these limitations is that digitising only provides images in one focal plane. The choice of focal plane can vary according to the operator and can be considered as subjective. Today there is no solution available to this problem but ideally a sequence of images could be acquired while varying the focus i.e. in different focal planes. If measurements are required, a microscope with a motorised Z-axis will be necessary in order to precisely interpret this third dimension. This will produce a huge image file and its ease of manipulation will rely heavily on the memory (RAM) available on the computer. Additionally, it will require some programming and tests prior to validation and approval.

Limited field of view

An image may be a single captured image showing the whole structure or a mosaic of captured images (elements) joined to form the whole structure. When creating a mosaic image it is important that as many of the viewing parameters remain the same for each element of the mosaic. Mosaics can be built by manually overlaying each element (e.g. with a graphics or photo retouching package) or by using automatic mosaic builders, which attempt to find common areas. When using automatic mosaic building systems the stability of the viewing parameters is more important than that when building mosaics manually. Altering the viewing parameters can reduce the likelihood of an automatic system finding a correlation between elements.

Image format

Digitisation should be made in a format that does not result in degradation of image quality. A lossless image format is preferred e.g. TIFF LZW and users should be aware of the manner in which their software manages file compression.

Image ownership

With increasing use of digital images the ownership of an image may become an issue. For each collection of images, ownership should be detailed and their allowed use specified. Digital watermarking of images is a way of indelibly stamping ownership into an image without materially affecting it.

Image annotation

When collecting images for a reference collection the previous comments regarding operator preference should be given consideration (part II-A and II-B).

The image collection will be composed of calibrated digital images with a resolution that still enables the reader to estimate the age. A graphic interpretation will be associated with each image in order to describe the location of each basic structure identified by the reader as being required for its age estimation. Rejected information produced by the interpretation process (e.g. false annuli) will be also included in the graphic information.

Large numbers of images can become a problem to manage. To aid the manager or co-ordinator an agreed file-naming convention should be adopted as one of the first steps in building an image collection. The convention should take into account the platforms across which the images may be used as some systems may not support extended filenames.

Image format

If no measurements or back-calculations are required from the image collection then Paintshop-Pro (version 5 and later) can be used as a tool for producing annotated images. Otherwise the selection of software will be governed by the tools required (see II-A), and similar procedures as described for Paintshop-Pro can be applied.

The PaintShop-Pro file format (version 5) ™ (JASC Corporation, http://www.jasc.com) will be used as the file format with additional layers containing symbols and/or text annotation regarding the interpretation of the image.

Graphic interpretation : Layer Descriptions

The layer identified as ‘Background’ contains the image of the calcified structure. When there is a need to merge layers from different files, a square reference point will be marked in an area away from the structure (Figure 1). This reference point must be duplicated in each new layer created by readers. The reference point allows accurate overlaying of marks from different readers into 1 image file for comparison.

Figure 1: Reference point in the 'Background' layer.

Layer identified as "Nucleus", identifies the position of the nucleus with either a dot or a ring.

Layer identified as "Rings" contains the agreed checks or rings that the age reader should be attempting to identify. The rings are be identified with dots that contrast with the sample colours.

Layer identified as "Info" highlights other features within the image that the reader feels would aid other readers when interpreting the visible structures e.g. false annuli. These identified features should be backed up with remarks in the text layer.

Layer identified as "Text" contains remarks relating to features highlighted in the info layer and comments relating to the image and its interpretation.

Co-ordinators should consider the facility to use different colour marks for the parameters they wish to study (Figure 2) e.g. For a between reader analysis a different colour would be used for each reader. Using different colours will also facilitate the post-processing of exchange exercises.

Figure 2: Schematic representation of a calcified structure image annotated with graphic layers.

External data file

In addition to the image files, there will be a data file for each image set. This file contains information about the sample, how it was prepared and information on the equipment used to capture the image. The data file will be CSV format with 1 line per image file.

Data Required :

1. Submitting institute

2. Species: Latin name

3. NODC code

4. Institute assigned identifier -- Allows the original sample to be re processed if necessary.

5. Type of hard part (Otolith, Scale, Statolith, Spine, Vertebra, Tooth)

6. Length of individual (mm)

7. Sex of individual (M,F,U)

8. Maturity stage

9. Estimated age

10. Known age

11. Age units (Years, Days, Seasons)

12. Date of capture (DD/MM/YY)

13. Position of capture

14. Image presented by (Contact person in institute)

15. Preparation method of the sample

16. Lighting method (Reflected, Transmitted, Polarised, Filtered)

17. Camera type

18. Frame grabber type

19. Image resolution at capture

20. Magnification (pixel size or calibration for measurements)

21. Pre-processing completed before submission

22. Filename -- note possible problems with long filename support on some platforms

23. File size -- Kb

Use of digital images for control collections:

Digital control collections allow a greater flexibility for quality assurance (QA) procedures as they enable the control of a number of parameters that can affect an age estimate (e.g. lighting, sample degradation). The problem of sample degradation over time, which reduces precision, is solved with the use of a digital source. A digital file will remain static for as long as its storage media is viable. The image file would remain in a read-only state on a master device with copies being made each time the image is needed. By providing annotations in addition to age when interpreting a control collection the reader can give the QA manager a way to investigate the source of any detected imprecision.

The image format used for control collections will need, as a minimum, the ’Background’ layer (i.e. the basic image of the structure) and the ‘Rings’ layers. There must be also in place measures to keep track of information on the reader and the date of the estimation (e.g. this may be in the form of agreed filenames).

A larger control collection would reduce the problem of ‘reader memory’ memory’ (i.e. recognition of individual otoliths and the recollection of prior age estimates) but requires larger manpower input at the beginning of the process to capture images and provide a first estimate for each reader.

Although the viewing parameters were fixed when the image was captured it is possible for an age reader to adjust the image by the use of filters (e.g. brightness, contrast, etc). Due to the effect that digital filters can have on bias in the estimations, the use of such filters should be considered as part of the reading protocol.

When a reader is allocated a sample of digital images to read they will be given copies of the master image containing only the ‘Background’ layer. In the process of making their estimation, they will create a new ‘Rings’ layer duplicating the reference square. They will then mark their interpretation of the structure onto the new layer and save the file. Once they have completed all the samples required the marked files will be returned to the co-ordinator with their age estimations. If a problem in precision arises the co-ordinator can discuss the problem with the reader using their interpretation and historically marked images.

Use of agreed digital image collections for training

Because the images within an agreed collection contain the results of multiple interpretations of the structures they become useful to new readers to see a wider range of interpretations without the need for all the experienced readers to be present.

The image format for this type of collection should use all the layer types described above (i.e. IIC1 et seq.). The ‘Rings’ layer should contain the agreed interpretation with additional ‘Rings’ layers containing the interpretation of each of the agreeing readers.

validated digital image collections

Validated collections are an extremely valuable resource. Digital versions of validated collections would allow much wider use of these collections without the inherent risks involved in transporting original samples.

The image format for validated collections should include all the described layer types with text layer including information on or references to the method of validation.

Use of digital images for exchanges

One of the major problems with standard sample exchanges is the time-lag as the samples are passed to each reader. In order to increase the speed of the exchange, database and software access might be proposed in different ways:

· By sending the database on CD-Rom (650Mb) or DVD-Rom (4.7 Gb),

· By downloading the database from an ftp site.

Co-ordinators should survey the participating institutes to identify a suitable level of hardware compatibility (e.g. the media type to be used for distribution, the operating platform to be used).

Use of digital images for workshops

Digitisation is the first stage in all uses of images and should form part of the introductory session of the workshop. The protocols used by individual institutes should be available for discussion and the co-ordinator should consider whether it is appropriate to digitise a sample of the structures during the first part of the workshop.

The images that will be used in the workshop should, where possible, be digitised to a previously agreed standard.

The co-ordinator should consider the use of networked facilities for holding the source images, in a read-only form, and the result images of the workshop sessions. These files must be included in routine secure backups.

At some point during the workshop it will become necessary to discuss images and results in a plenary session and facilities such as a large screen projector connected to a PC should be available.

If information such as length, region of capture, season of capture are considered important factors in the estimation of age, it should be made available in an accessible form. It may be appropriate to include the information as part of each image.

III. Prospects for the future

Adapted software requirement

Using collection management software it would be possible to allocate samples to be read by a selected reader, pass those images to the reader, collect the resulting age estimations and compute agreement levels for constructing an agreed collection. The management software would assist the post-processing of the interpretation results (e.g. compare ring locations automatically, track and report changes in precision and provide additional analyses).

Intensification of internet use

A more intensive use of internet would provide a solution for many current problems :

· A virtual workshop would ensure a quick and cheap collection of the data,

· Standard web browsers may be the solution to the hardware compatibility problems,

· Remote access to existing software via Web conferencing software (e.g. NetMeeting, Microsoft ä) or to a specific Web-designed software would ensure interpretative tool harmonisation of tools and protocols and eventually more in a more efficient post-processing of the data.

References

EFAN, 1998. Report of the EFAN Cell 2 Workshop on the " Establishment of a digital image reference database” held at the University of Porto, 28-29 September 1998, EFAN Report 3/98, Editor: H. Troadec, 42 p.

EFAN, 1999. Report of the EFAN Cell 2 Workshop on the Contrast enhancement and pre-processing of calcified structure images” held at the Candia Maris Hotel Heraklion, Greece, 4-5 October 1999, EFAN Report 1/2000, Editor: H. Troadec, available at :http://www.efan.no/rep2000/C2Rep99.htm.

Newton, A. W., 1998. Report of the ICES/FAIR Otolith Ageing of North Sea Whiting Working Group at Hirtshals, Denmark October 1998.

4. Cell 4 WS Report “Validation of ageing”

Cell Co-ordinator Beatriz Morales-Nin (Spain)

The Cell ordinary meeting was held on October 5^th at the University of the Balearic Islands. The participants reviewed the tasks and deliverables for the Cell and agreed on the work to be carried out at the meeting.

The first issue in the agenda was to review the database on validated age studies for selected species, which has been updated and which constitutes one of the deliverables of the Cell. The database contains now 84 references with validation information, selected form several hundred papers reviewed by the Cell members.

The database shows that the validation studies are based evenly on: analysis of the marginal structure, fishes of known age, and corroborative studies with length frequency analysis (Fig.1). Marking experiments are less frequent Other method used is otolith microstructure analysis.

The second item in the agenda was the presentation of a study on different calcified structures of fish of known and unknown age by Jari Ratainemi. This study has been published has a Finnish guidebook with abundant graphic material.

Tagging experiments, with external tagging plus marking of calcified tissues by tetracycline, were submitted by Paulino Lucio. These experiments are part of European Projects, and deal on horse mackerel in captivity and hake and anglerfish in the wild.

Finally, the Cell members reviewed the Cell guidelines for validation studies, a draft of which was previously distributed. The edited text has been submitted as an EFAN Report and is included in the web page.

5. Cell 5 WS Report

The cell received an update of research projects by cell 5 members for the data base. However, despite considerable effort in setting up the questionnaire and advertising it at conferences the response and use of this database has generally been poor, especially for researchers who are not members of EFAN. The propsal is called “Integrated approach to the Biological basis of Age estimation in Commercially important fish Species” (IBACS).

The need for an objective approach to the interpretation of micro- and macro-structures was identified as the most urgent requirement for future research at the joint meeting with cell 4 in 1999. A sub-group of cell 5 has since put together a proposal for the October 2000 V^th Framework round.

6. EFAN Award 2000

This year the EFAN Award was given to Magnus Appelberg from Institute of Freshwater Research, Sweden. Below is the argument for giving the 2000 EFAN award to Magnus Appelberg:

Magnus Appelberg : He has developed the aims of EFAN in a model way, by getting all the persons involved in fish age determination in Sweden (freshwater, coastal and marine) to work together to implement Quality Assurance for their work.

6. Exchange and Mobility Costs

Below you will find the cost of the previous meetings and the estimated cost of the Mallorca meeting in October 2000.

Plenary Meeting/WS	Cost in NOK	Approx. cost in EUR
Past Meeting/WS
Arendal January 1997	304.905	37.184
Brest May 1997	451.126	55.015
Cell 5 WS, Bergen June 1998	47.628	5.808
Porto, Portugal October 1998	329.289	40.157
Cell 1 WS, Ireland June 1999		2.500
Iraklion, Greece October1999		96.000
Palma de Mallorca, Spain March 2000		7.000
Palma de Mallorca, Spain October 2000		42.000
Total sum		285.664

*) Exchange rate: 1 ECU = 8.20 NOK

7. Some general information

The 3^rd International Symposium

on

Fish Otolith Research and Application

will be held in Cairns, Australia in year 2003

Convener: John M. Kalish

Fisheries and Forestry Sciences Division

Bureau of Rural Sciences

PO Box E11 KINGSTON

ACT 2604

Australia

Phone: +61-2-6272-4045

Fax: + 61-2-6272-4014

Email: John.Kalish@brs.gov.au

8. List of EFAN Reports

EFAN Report 1-97: . Beatriz Morales Nin (Spain). REVIEW ON THE EUROPEAN HAKE AGE DETERMINATION AND VALIDATION PROBLEMS

EFAN Report 2-97: Eugenia Lefkaditou (Greece). BRIEF NOTES ON AGEING PROCEDURES USED FOR STATOLITHS OF SQUIDS COLLECTED FROM THE AEGEAN SEA (GREECE)

EFAN Report 1-98: The present status of otolith research and applications. Proceedings of a workshop, held at ORSTOM, Brest, France 27-29 May, 1997

EFAN Report 2-98: Otolith preparation and analysis. Proceedings of a workshop held at the University of Bergen, Norway, June 18-20, 1998

EFAN Report 3-98: Establishment of a digital image reference database. Proceedings of a workshop held at the University of Porto, Portugal, 28-29 September, 1998

EFAN Report 4-98: by Mª Teresa García Santamaría "Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) otolith exchange (1997 - 1998)"

EFAN Report 1-99: by Andrew W. Newton "NORTH SEA COD OTOLITH EXCHANGE SCHEME 1997-1998"

EFAN Report 2-99: Computer assisted age reading. Proceedings of a workshop held at IFREMER, Brest, France, 26-28 May, 1997

EFAN Report 3-99: by Beatriz Morales-Nin "BLACK SCABBARD FISH (Aphanopus carbo) OTOLITH EXCHANGE (1998-1999)"

EFAN Report 4-99: by M^a Teresa García Santamatía "Information on age validation studies of sardine (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) and anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus Linnaeus, 1758)"

EFAN Report 5-99: by Mc Curdy William J, Cornelius Hammer and Magnus Appelberg "EFAN in the Context of Quality Assurance and Quality Control Working Document for the EFAN Annual Meeting 1999, Crete "

EFAN Report 1-2000: Report of the EFAN Cell 2 Workshop on "Contrast enhancement and pre-processing of calcified structure images", 4-5 October 1999, held at the Institute of Marine Biology of Crete. By H. Troadec. Available at the EFAN Homepage.

EFAN Report 2-2000: 3^rd International Ageing Workshop on European Anglerfish. IPIMAR, Lisboa, 8-12 March 1999. . Available at the EFAN Homepage.

EFAN Report 3-2000: Guidelines and Tools for Age Reading Comparisons

EFAN Report 4-2000: Guidelines for Validation Studies

EFAN Report 5-2000: Guidelines for the Quality Assurance of Fish Age Determination

EFAN Report 6-2000: Carmen Piñeiro Alvarez "Report on workshop on hake otolith age reading, Vigo, 23-27 June, 1997"

EFAN Report 7-2000: Anon. "Report on the 2^nd Intenational workshop on hake otolith age reading, Vigo, 15-19 February, 1999". Available at the EFAN Homepage.

EFAN Report 8-2000: Use of digital tools for exchanging annotated images of calcified structures. Proceedings an EFAN Cell 2 & 3 workshop held at Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 4 – 5 October 2000.

EFAN Report 9-2000: Centre for Fish Ageing in Sweden. Quality assurance by Swedish fish ageing laboratories – a progress report. (Eds.: M. Appelberg, J. Modin and H. Svedäng).

Hammer. C, W. McCurdy, J. Modin, E. Moksness, B. Morales-Nin, H. Troadec and P. Wright 2000. EFAN (European fish ageing network): A cooperative effort to exchange experience and protocols between European fish institutes. 3^rd World Fisheries Congress, Bejing, China, October 2000.

McCurdy, W.J. and E. Moksness 1997. The establishment of EFAN - The European network of fish ageing laboratories. ICES CM 1997/HH:01 (Poster)

Anon. 1998. EFAN - The European Fish Ageing Network. Third European Marine Science and Technology Conference, 23-27 May 1998, Lisbon, Portugal (Poster)