Description of work
The data collection will be organised in coordination with present monitoring but under an independent regime. Traditional platforms and methodology will be used along with a number of modern techniques that may supply new and unique information essential to new models and alternative approaches. Particularly, attention is needed to establish quantitative information about dynamics and interaction. Priorities are defined by the impact certain data may have on quality of assessments of harvestable resources.  The challenge here is to choose a realistic sampling regime that distribute effort in time and space in a way that secure the production of the key products as defined in the assessment WP.

The observation needed include the basic data collected in standard monitoring systems and a set of new data types for improving our ability to assess the dynamic. Two factors are of great importance for the sampling: The first is associated with the goal that the data are to be used to establish assessment of marine resources independent of fisheries data. Further, to meet the ambition of reflecting ecosystem dynamics, including migration, growth, species interaction etc. a set of new observations is needed.  In the real world this has to be met by a combination of reliable observations and validated data modelling. Further, the use operational data models may substantially reduce the demand for field sampling.

Example 1. Measures from trawl and acoustics are presently used as independent observations of density of cod in the Barents Sea. The goal of an on going Research Council SIP (Absolute abundance estimation of marine resources) is to establish a combined density measure based on these two observations. In this WP we will secure that observations of appropriate type and quality are collected to feed the data models that produce the appropriate state variable to be used to describe system state and dynamics.

Example 2. Species interaction is presently based on information about sizes of stocks of predators and preys, predator stomach contents, and assumptions about species overlap. The observation regime aim at feeding migration and distribution models that more accurately describe overlap and interaction.

The observation system will be composed of six components:
1. Traditional survey observations where sampling is designed by the modelling framework. This will supply density and distribution information comparable with time series and facilitate a link to traditional methods.
2. Details about the temporal dynamics will be observed through a limited number of stationary platforms equipped with acoustic and environmental sensors. Such technology is already developed and under testing in several projects (Research Council project: Ocean Hub Monitoring--)
3. Sensors onboard vessels of opportunity will expand the temporal and spatial resolution of the same type of data as collected under 1 and 2.  Systems for sampling scientific acoustic and biological data on fishing vessels and cargo vessels are already tested (Research Council project Spatial and temporal variability of currents and transport of warm waters towards the Nordic Seas, IMR project 10235).
4. A grand picture of surface dynamics can be obtained from satellite observations will be coupled to oceanographic models.
5. New laser techniques used from vessels ore aeroplanes are underway and will be used when needed (Research Council project: SUMMAREL Surface monitoring of marine resources by lidar). 
6. A systematic approach to replace resource and time consuming methodologies with remote sensing cost efficient techniques based on results from ongoing projects (see above bullets).

Table 1. Sensors, platforms and observations

Relation to other WPs
This WP delivers required data to the other WPs. Its main independent task is to establish the best possible observation framework the available technology can offer and combine the technology and updated knowledge in a systematic manner. No technology development will take place in this project although some adjustments might be needed to combine instrumentation and fit sensors to the available platforms.