Abundance of minke whales in the Northeast Atlantic based on survey data collected over the period 2002-2007

To estimate abundance of Northern minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the Northeast Atlantic, partial surveys have been conducted over the period 2002-2007. Each year two vessels equipped with two independent observer platforms each, surveyed an area approximately corresponding to a Small Area as used in the RMP implementation for North Atlantic minke whales. The total abundance for the areas covered over the period 2002-2007 is 108,000 (CV 0.23). Of these, 81,000 (CV 0.23) minke whales are within the Eastern Medium Area. These estimates are in accordance with the corresponding estimates from the previous survey period 1996-2001, but the uncertainty is larger. The uncertainty estimates are corrected for inter-annual variationin the spatial distribution of minke whales (additional variance).