The purse seine fishing sector collaborates with IPMA to monitor the sardine resource status
2015-04-01 (IPMA)
Given the pronounced decrease of the sardine stock in recent years, the sardine fishery stakeholders asked for the collaboration of IPMA to intensify the resource monitoring. IPMA increased the monitoring of fishing activity with on-board observers within PNAB/DCF and implemented regional acoustic surveys with purse seiners, to improve knowledge on the distribution and relative abundance of sardine.
Three acoustic surveys covering the southwest and south coastal waters of Portugal took place last February and March on board the purse seiners Jonas David (SN-874-C, Setúbal), Flor da Beira (O-2093-C, Olhão) and Mário Luis (SA-556-C, Portimão) (Figure). The surveyed areas are near three important ports for the sardine fishery: Setúbal, Olhão and Portimão. Purse seiners were equipped with a portable echosounder (Simrad EK60 “Split beam” 38KHz and 120KHz), with transducers on a pole mounted structure aside the hull of the vessel, connected to a laptop for the acquisition and treatment of acoustic data. The surveys followed pre-determined zig-zag transects and fish samples for biological analysis were collected by normal purse seine sets. The surveys were funded by the SARECOOP project (Avaliação do recrutamento da sardinha para a gestão sustentável da pescaria do cerco - Cooperação entre os agentes da pescaria, PROMAR).
Five IPMA scientists and technicians (from projects SARECOOP and PNAB/DCF) have collaborated in the collection of acoustic data and sardine biological information. The analysis of results of the surveys is still on progress. These results are foreseen to help clarify the current situation of the sardine resource. IPMA acknowledges the collaboration of ANOPCERCO and purse seine Producer Organizations, namely Sesibal, Olhãopesca and Barlapescas for the organization of the surveys and the crews of the vessels for their warm welcome.
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