Comparison of data-processing algorithms for the lidar detection of mackerel in the Norwegian Sea

A broad-scale lidar survey was conducted in the Norwegian Sea in summer 2002. Since then, various data-processing techniques have been developed, including manual identification of fish schools, multiscale median filtering, and curve fitting of the lidar profiles. In the automated techniques, applying a threshold to the data, as carrried out already to eliminate plankton scattering, has been demonstrated previously to improve the correlation between lidar and acoustic data. We applied these techniques to the lidar data of the 2002 survey and compared the results with those of a mackerel (Scomber scombrus) survey done by FV "Endre Dyroy" and FV "Tronderbas" during the same period. Despite a high level of variability in both lidar and trawl data, the broad-scale distribution of fish inferred from the lidar agreed with that of mackerel caught by the FV "Endre Dyroy". This agreement was obtained using both manual and automated processing of the lidar data. This work is the first comparison of concurrent lidar and trawl surveys, and it demonstrates the utility of airborne lidar for mackerel studies.