The research campaign to assess the anchovy population in the Bay of Biscay begins

Those responsible for developing and supervising the work are scientists from the AZTI Foundation

BILBAO, 16 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The oceanographic vessel 'Emma Bardán' of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has started the fishing research campaign in the waters of the Bay of Biscay with the main objective of evaluating and studying the abundance and biological condition of the population of juvenile anchovy.

Those responsible for the development and supervision of the work are scientists from the AZTI Foundation and the research seeks to serve as a tool for predicting incoming recruitment to the fishery the following year, as reported by sources from the foundation and the ministry itself.

In this campaign, which lasts one month, the ship, which is scheduled to return to the port of Pasaia (Gipuzkoa) on September 16, will also characterize the hydrographic conditions and the abundance and distribution of the components of the pelagic ecosystem relevant to understanding the dynamics of the recruitment process.

Likewise, the distribution and abundance of superior predators, mammals and seabirds will be studied, as well as human activities and marine litter. The oceanographic vessel 'Ángeles Alvariño', from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, along with its team of scientists, is also participating in the development of this campaign.

This campaign is carried out in coordination with the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, which holds the scientific direction. Thanks to this coordination, the Spanish Ministry facilitates the use and equipment of the boats for the research staff and makes available to the scientists "the most appropriate instrument for the specific purposes of each campaign, while trying to optimize the resources for the benefit of the best possible scientific knowledge and the best fisheries management".

The study of the anchovy fishery in the Bay of Biscay dates back to 1987 and the research vessel 'Emma Bardán' participated for the first time in 2006.