• Los resultados de Bioman 2011, realizada por AZTI-Tecnalia, indican que el índice de biomasa cuadruplica el nivel de precaución, establecido en 33.000 toneladas

The results of the 2011 Bioman scientific survey, based on the measurement of the daily production of eggs and presented on 22 June in Bilbao, showed a significant increase in the provisional estimate for the biomass of anchovy - 138,000 tons -, 278% more than in the 2010 survey and quadruplicating the level of precaution, set at 33,000 tons.

This data is a record for biomass since 1987, when the Bioman surveys began, and in accord with the results for estimating young anchovies in the Juvena survey, undertaken in September 2010, which predicted high recruitment of the species over the current year.

The 2011 Bioman scientific survey was undertaken during the month of May, with a number of studies and samples throughout the whole egg-laying area for this population, thus enabling the estimation of the biomass of the species in the Bay of Biscay. The significant increase in the level of stocks has been mainly noticed in the great quantity of one-year-old anchovies.

The definitive estimate of the situation for the anchovy will be obtained from the analysis of all the available information, which includes the results of the scientific surveys for estimating the biomass: Bioman 2011, carried out by AZTI-Tecnalia, and the acoustic survey undertaken by the French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Sea (Ifremer), as well as the monitoring of catches and the composition by ages of the anchovy.

Definitive estimate to be known on 28 June

Thel definitive analysis was carried out between 24 and 28 June in the Evaluation Working group for anchovy, sardine and horse-mackerel stocks of ICES (the International Council for Exploration of the Sea). The final ICES report will be used to draw up recommendations for the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) of these species, of special importance for the Basque and Spanish fleets, for the 2012 fishing season. While Ifremer's acoustic surveys are taken into consideration by ICES, the basic pillar for the final evaluation to be undertaken by this International Council will be the data obtained by AZTI-Tecnalia with the 2011 Bioman survey.

Moreover, it should be pointed out that the results of the 2011 Bioman survey bear out the validity of the Juvena survey as a predictor of recruitment of species for the following season, when these incorporate into the adult population. This prevision enables making recommendations for anticipated allowable catches of anchovy. Juvena is carried out during the autumn and calculates the population of young anchovy using acoustic techniques.

It is nevertheless necessary to point out that the anchovy is a species of fluctuating abundance by nature. Its very short life cycle, rarely more than three years and the growth and survival of the fry, highly affected by environmental factors, mean that its abundance is highly dependent on the percentage of survival of each new generation. In order to know these changes in abundance year by year and facilitate the management of resources, AZTI-Tecnalia carries out the Bioman spring survey and the Juvena autumn survey.

Download PDF with data from the 2011 Bioman campaign

Photographs of the press conference

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