scientific echosounders are commonly used by international, federal, state and local government and management agencies, as well as private-sector consultants working for these public agencies. academic institutions have realized and are teaching the value of sampling non-invasively with sound to enhance both the spatial coverage and objectivity of fisheries sampling. fisheries management agencies such as the membership of ices and the united states national marine fisheries service (nmfs) commonly use scientific sonar for stock assessment purposes, such as herring biomass assessment for resource management purposes.