AZTI-Tecnalia has just published a new edition of the Journal of Marine Research: "Spawning Stock Biomass estimates of the Bay of Biscay anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.) in 2010 applying the Daily Egg Production Method".

The research survey BIOMAN2010 for the application of the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) for the Bay of Biscay anchovy was conducted in May 2010, from the 5th to the 20th, covering the whole spawning area of the population. Total egg production was calculated as the product of the spawning area and the daily egg production rate, which was obtained from the exponential decay mortality model fitted as a Generalised Linear Model (GLM) to the egg daily cohorts. The adult parameters: sex ratio, batch fecundity and weight of mature females, were estimated from the adult samples obtained during the survey and the spawning frequency was calculated as the mean from the historical series. The spawning biomass estimate resulted in 42,979 t with a coefficient of variation of 15%, which supposes an increase of about 73% over the SSB estimate of 2009 produced in a similar way by the DEPM.

 

Aquaculture or aquafarming has currently become the main source for world production of molluscs. Growing demand in the international market has made the growing of bivalves (mussels, oysters, scallops and clams) a promising and profitable business activity, capable of generating employment as well as creating wealth in coastal communities. This is why the AZTI-Tecnalia technological centre is undertaking a number of scientific analyses on the technical and socioeconomic viability and on the markets, in order to evaluate the possibility of implementing efforts for the marine offshore market, as a means of diversification in fishing activities in the marine environment.

The species studied are, mainly, the mussel (Mytilus sp.) and the flat oyster (Ostrea sp.). Nevertheless, most emphasis was placed on the mussel, for its possibilities of short to medium term exploitation.

This principal aims of this project, within the remit of the New (2009-2013) Strategic Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Basque Government, are the differential and profitable production of marine species for food; the development of diversification activities for the sustainability of the local fisheries sector; and the creation of new products for the food industry.

The project concluded a first working phase where the aspects studied were fundamentally related to: the identification of longline fishing systems and technologies for aquaculture production, for their possible application in the Bay of Biscay; the preliminary evaluation of socioeconomic and technical implications and of the market derived from the putting into operation of these activities; the selection and characterisation of the bio-physical measures and suitable zones off the Basque coast for implementing longline systems; and, finally, the design of prototypes and technologies of production appropriate for using in the context of the oceanographic conditions of the Bay of Biscay.

The results of this project have shown that there exist opportunities for the construction, installation and exploitation of longline systems out at sea, offshore from the Basque Country coast. There are also technologies, components and commercial designs adaptable to the operational and environmental conditions that can be expected in the open sea off the coast of the Basque Country.

Also identified is a clear predisposition of the fishing fleet and businesses in the local sector to collaborate, participate and invest in generating activities related to aquaculture production and involving using longline systems. Specifically, market niches (local and international), production opportunities and interesting marketing formats have been detected for species suitable for harvesting, through longline systems in the open sea. Also identified are marine zones off the Basque coast, with conditions that guarantee the correct locating of longline systems in the open sea.

In 2011 and 2012, AZTI-Tecnalia will be undertaking a pilot trial for the production of bivalve molluscs in the open sea where the following will be validated: the prototypes of designed systems of engineering, the idealness of the selected zone, the yield in growth, the survival and nutritional property of the species cultivated, the quantification of the environmental and social impacts of the activity, as well as the financial and market viability of the planned activity.

Achieving these and other targets will reveal the real opportunities for transfer to the sector existing around this activity in the Basque Country.

(Sukarrieta. 29 June 2011) AZTI-Tecnalia, the R+D centre specialising in marine and foodstuff research, will be carrying out for the Spanish Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Marine Areas various pieces of scientific research designed to contribute towards the sustainable development of fishery and aquacultural resources, according to the collaboration agreement signed by the two bodies. The carrying out of studies in the area of marine, agri-foodstuff and environmental sciences is one of the aims that AZTI-Tecnalia will be pursuing, in addition to supporting the development of technological innovation in these areas. The agreement, which will remain in force until December 2014, was signed by Alicia Villauriz, General Secretary for the Sea, and Rogelio Pozo, CEO of AZTI-Tecnalia.

To meet the objective to promote the environmentally sustainable development of sea and aquacultural resources, AZTI-Tecnalia will be undertaking the scientific work which the Ministry for the Environment will be specifying through its General Secretariat for the Sea. The agreement anticipates work like scientific campaigns to calculate the biomass of various marine species, or technical advice for the plans to revive the species that are at risk.

The relationship between AZTI-Tecnalia and the General Secretariat for the Sea dates back to 2006 and the satisfactory experience has led to the signing of this new agreement which specifies that the Basque R+D centre is the "right institution for carrying out collaboration projects that contribute towards improving the efficiency of the fishery sectors, aquaculture, and the transformation and marketing of their products."

The General Secretariat for the Sea and AZTI-Tecnalia will be carrying out joint studies of marine resources and their fishery, shellfishery and aquaculture products. In addition to studying the state of these resources, reports will be produced on the processing, transformation, preservation and marketing of sea products.

AZTI-Tecnalia believes that collaboration with the General Secretariat for the Sea constitutes an effective way of achieving greater inter-institutional co-operation and better use of the R+D resources of the two bodies. Likewise, the agreement is expected to promote greater involvement of the production sector in the development of activities to do with research and technological innovation.

Top research centre in marine and foodstuff research

The collaboration agreement highlights AZTI-Tecnalia's position as a top centre in marine and foodstuff research within Spain. The agreement stipulates that the R+D centre will be rendering information and advisory services on maritime, environmental and agri-foodstuff matters to institutions, public and private companies, and fishermen's guilds. The R+D centre will also be supporting the dissemination of the results of its research among the general public.

The work carried out by AZTI-Tecnalia for the General Secretariat for the Sea includes the following: since 2006, the campaigns to provide an estimate of young anchovy biomass (Juvena), co-funded by the Government of the Basque Autonomous Community (region); since 2008, the scientific campaigns to calculate the indices of abundance of the Greenland halibut; and since 2008, AZTI-Tecnalia has been providing the General Secretariat for the Sea with technical advice in the plans to revive the eel in Spain.

AZTI-Tecnalia and the General Secretariat for the Sea

AZTI-Tecnalia is a Foundation whose aim is to promote the research and study of the marine, agri-food, and environmental sciences and, in general, those related to natural resources and the marine environment. In this context, it contributes towards improving efficiency in the fishery sectors, aquaculture, the processing of fishery products and all the activities directly and indirectly relating to the use of the exploitation of the sea and its resources.

The General Secretariat for the Sea, which reports to the Ministry for the Environment and Rural and Marine Areas, exercises its powers in planning and executing policies in the following areas: sea fishing in external waters and aquaculture; the basic planning of the fishery sector; the bases for the marketing and processing of fishery products; and participation in research policy planning in fishery matters.

La Corporación Tecnológica Tecnalia, de la que es parte AZTI-Tecnalia, traslada sus felicitaciones a Donostia y a toda Gipuzkoa por la Capitalidad Cultural europea de 2016.

Se trata de una magnífica noticia para Donostia, Gipuzkoa y Euskadi. 2016 será un gran año en el que toda Gipuzkoa se convertirá en un referente cultural para toda Europa, aumentando su prestigio y reconocimiento internacional.

El Plan para 2016 es creativo y ambicioso, y sus proyectos darán dinamismo a la ciudad y harán de Gipuzkoa un territorio aún más vivo que redundará en el bienestar de toda la ciudadanía.

Zorionak Donostia!