Simrad ES80 Reference Manual page 273

User interface
Note
If you have other echo sounders or sonars running asynchronous with the ES80, these
systems may cause interference. The ES80 may detect and measure the transmit pulses
from other hydroacoustic systems, and these pulses have an effect on the biomass
calculations. To avoid all interference, a full synchronization of the various acoustic
instruments is required. If your own vessel produces excessive noise this will also be
taken into the biomass calculations and give you inaccurate data.
The ES80 records all the targets from the smallest plankton to the largest whale. The
biomass value is an indicator to how much fish you currently have in the beam. Every
single fish will emit an echo, and the sum of all these registered echoes are presented as
a number. Smaller organisms such as plankton will also emit echoes, but these are so
weak that they will hardly influence on the total biomass.
The biomass value provides you with information about the fish abundance, and as such
it may help you to decide if it pays off to start fishing. However, you must consider if the
biomass value is a result of large amounts of plankton or bait, or if you have "real fish"
below the keel. The biomass value is relative, and after some use your experience will be
a valuable factor when the decision is made.
You can change the scale of the curve to fit the vertical space available on the echogram.
To enable the Biomass Line function and change the scale, use the page in the
Lines
dialog box. The dialog box is located on the menu.
Echogram Echogram Active
Tip
You can also measure the biomass in the Biomass information pane. The Biomass
information pane displays an index of the biomass in the current echogram view. The
biomass index is the same as the NASC (Nautical area scattering strength) with unit
m 2 /nmi 2 .
The changes made with the settings have no have an effect on
Calculation Interval
the Biomass Line.
Related tasks
Enhancing the bottom contour in the echograms, page 118
Adding vertical marker lines to the echogram, page 119
Adding horizontal depth lines to the echograms, page 120
Adding a variable depth line to the echogram, page 121
Investigating the biomass, page 132
Changing the calculation parameters for the Biomass information pane, page 133
Related information panes
Biomass information pane description, page 239
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