Results of sample runs performed on the fishing vessels through the Observer Program are used to estimate conversion factors for raw and blanched IQF weights. This method uses the actual vessel processing line and thus provides the best estimate of these factors. The preliminary factors, based on 13 runs of raw product and 20 of blanched are 5.38 and 6.67 respectively.
Further work is needed to increase sample size and look at vessel, area and temporal variances.