Spanish research vessel Vizconde de Eza has sailed from the port of St. John’s (Canada) today to begin this year’s 3L Greenland halibut survey, the last one this year in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) area, where the Spanish fleet participates in fisheries for commercially important demersal species.
This campaign is being carried out by a scientific team from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO), under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. This is the eighteenth such 3L Greenland halibut survey, specific to area 3L, otherwise known as the Grand Banks of Newfoundland which has traditionally been a productive area for this species.
The objectives are to assess abundance and biomass indices, determine the population structure and obtain biological and oceanographic data relating to Greenland halibut and associated species, such as cod, mendo, plaice, black shark, ray, redfish, grenadier and shrimp.
Scientists from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography are conducting stratified random sampling. The hauls taken during the survey enable scientists to obtain data relating to size distribution, biological parameters, stomach contents, and samples for growth and reproduction studies will be obtained. In addition, data on invertebrates are identified and recorded, while information on the temperature and salinity of the water column is also collected.
This type of demersal trawling survey is one of the main methods of direct study of commercially exploited fish stocks and allows for obtaining information independent of fishing activity.
The information obtained is used by the NAFO Scientific Council to evaluate the fishing resources, as well as serving as a basis for various biological and ecological studies of the area.
According to the ministry, the continuation of this longstanding series of surveys is essential to maintain sustainable fisheries management in the long term. In addition, its development fulfils the commitments made to the European Union through the National Programme for the Collection, Management and Use of Basic Data (PNDB) of the Spanish fishing sector. The campaign is financed by the European Union.
The survey will run until 27th August, when Vizconde de Eza heads back to Vigo, concluding the survey season in the NAFO regulatory area for 2024.
