AZTI and the Basque government have presented the preliminary results of Bioman’s scientific campaign, which estimates a mature anchovy biomass at about 230,000 tons by 2022. The minimum value guaranteeing the sustainability of the species is 21,000 tons.
Euskaraz irakurri: Antxoaren egoera ona da Bizkaiko Golkoan
biomanthe annual scientific campaign of the anchovieswho runs the technology center ASTIAconfirmed this Thursday that the good condition of the kind in the Bay of Biscay For example, AZTI and the Basque government presented the preliminary results of the campaign, which is estimated to be completed before 2022 mature anchovy biomass of about 230,000 tons the minimum value guaranteeing the durability of the species is 21,000 tons, so the estimated figure is, AZTI specifies, “well above” that minimum.
In this context, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Policy of the Basque Government, Bittor Oroz, the General Director of AZTI, Rogelio Pozo, and several representatives of the sector presented the data of the anchovy campaign this Thursday in San Sebastian, which took place during the coastal period of 2022 has recorded catches by Basque vessels of 6528 tonswith an average market price of €1.58/kg
“The results confirm the good state of the stock of the species in the Bay of Biscay. Excellent news that highlights our longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and, in the Basque fishing sector, to a resource that provides jobs to more than 3,500 people in Euskadi,” Oroz emphasized.
For its part, the general manager of AZTI, Rogelio Pozo, has emphasized the positive trend in the results of these campaigns in recent years and is optimistic about next year’s coastal campaign. “Of the total number of individuals in the population, 55% of the specimens are 1 year old, a medium to high figure, which is above the average of the historical series and which seems to predict that the 2023 coast could also have positive results” he explained.
The campaign was conducted in May aboard the oceanographic vessels Emma Bardán and Vizconde de Eza of the General Secretariat of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with subsequent analysis of samples in the AZTI laboratories. At the end of the year, the final estimate of the anchovy biomass will be obtained, based on the joint analysis of the data collected not only from Bioman 2022, but also from the Pelgas 2022 and Juvena 2022 campaigns and coastal catches.
Moreover, since 2016, in addition to analyzing anchovy biomass, Bioman has adopted an ecosystem approach. According to AZTI, it is a comprehensive commitment to the sustainability of the seas, which in addition to the biomass of the fish also evaluates their diet (study of zooplankton and ichthyoplankton); or its habitat, in terms of predators (including cetaceans and birds), oceanographic variables (essential physical properties of seawater such as temperature, salinity, etc.): “Over the past 35 years we have observed an upward trend in food for anchovy. Zooplankton , and more specifically copepods, the small crustaceans that make up almost 70% of zooplankton, have increased by 2.4% per decade, which is good news, since without food there would be no fish,” they confirm from the technology center.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
