Ministry of Agriculture starts the 'Pelacus' campaign to characterize the pelagic system of the north coast

MADRID, 6 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Miguel Oliver oceanographic vessel of the General Secretariat of Fisheries will begin this Friday, April 7, in the port of Vigo, the 'Pelacus' campaign, whose objective is the characterization of the northern pelagic ecosystem, evaluating the main fishing resources, whose work is will extend until next April 30.

Acoustic evaluation campaigns for the study of small pelagics on the northern Spanish coast have been carried out since 1993, and have evolved towards current multidisciplinary campaigns, which allow obtaining a holistic vision of the ecosystems, and responding to the objectives set out in the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

One of the main objectives of the campaign is the determination of abundance and characteristics of the main pelagic fish species (sardines, anchovies, horse mackerel, mackerel and blue whiting, mainly), for which the ecointegration method and mapping of their species will be used. Distribution area.

The samples for the biological studies will be obtained by pelagic fishing, while for the analysis of the distribution of sardine and anchovy eggs, a Cufes continuous sampler will be used to determine their spawning area.

In addition, data will be collected that will allow knowing the characteristics of the water column and the distribution area will be mapped. Likewise, the abundances of planktonic biomass, the observation of marine mammals and birds and garbage on the surface will be analyzed, and buoys and small plastics present in the marine ecosystem will be analyzed.

This campaign is part of the National Basic Data Program of the Fishing Sector of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and responds to different commitments acquired at an international level for the sustainable management of the seas.