AZTI-Tecnalia will launch a new fisheries research campaign on the 5th of May, “BIOMAN 09”, with the goal to evaluate the biomass of the anchovy population in the gulf of Bizkaia, the study is financed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the Basque Government and the European Commission, with the collaboration of the Secretary General of Maritime Fishing, providing the use of the Emma Bardán fishing research vessel.

During the month of May, a team of scientists from AZTI-Tecnalia will embark to carry out several samplings and studies that will enable the determination of the reproduction area, the daily production of eggs and the fertility of the anchovy in its entire distribution area in the gulf. These studies will serve to estimate the reproductive biomass of the species in the gulf of Bizkaia area. This estimation together with the information provided by the French acoustic campaign, will be given to the International Sea Exploration Council that, at the end of June, will determine the degree of recuperation of the population and they will advise the European Commission on the situation of this resource and whether the fishing grounds of this species should be closed or not.

Likewise, the campaign covers the hydrographical and biological characterisation of the anchovy habitat, an aspect that is more and more relevant in scientific fisheries research. Thus, hydrographical data from the study area including temperature, salinity and chlorophyll will be collected, and plankton samples will be taken as well as the biological characteristics of other pelagic species.

For this campaign, AZTI-Tecnalia will work with “Research” floats for the collection of plankton samples and “Emma Bardan” for adult anchovy fishing.

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