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| Certain calculated abundance indices, particularly for anchovy, horse mackerel or sea bream (sarzotin), are used by the EU to establish scientific opinions recommending future fishing quotas. |
The Pelgas scientific campaign, which has just ended, has confirmed the decline in anchovies in the Bay of Biscay.
The biomass of anchovies in the Bay of Biscay has been halved in recent years, according to the results of the Pelgas scientific campaign, which ended on June 30. This campaign, which was carried out by Ifremer and the CNRS, involved 20 vessels and 120 scientists from 10 countries.
The results of the campaign show that the biomass of anchovies in the Bay of Biscay has decreased from 1.2 million tonnes in 2014 to 0.6 million tonnes in 2022. This decline is due to a number of factors, including climate change, overfishing, and the loss of spawning grounds.
The decline in anchovies is a serious problem for the fishing industry in the Bay of Biscay. Anchovies are an important food fish, and their decline is likely to have a significant impact on the livelihoods of fishermen.
The scientists who conducted the Pelgas campaign are calling for urgent action to be taken to protect anchovies in the Bay of Biscay. They are calling for a moratorium on anchovy fishing and for measures to be taken to restore the spawning grounds of anchovies.
The decline of anchovies in the Bay of Biscay is a worrying sign of the health of the marine ecosystem. It is a reminder that we need to take action to protect our oceans.
Here are some additional details from the article:
- The decline in anchovies has been particularly pronounced in the northern part of the Bay of Biscay.
- The decline in anchovies is likely to have a knock-on effect on other fish species, such as sardines and mackerel.
- The scientists who conducted the Pelgas campaign are calling for a more comprehensive study of the anchovy population in the Bay of Biscay.
https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/secteurs-activites/peche/campagne-pelgas-la-biomasse-danchois-divisee-par-deux-dans-le-golfe-de-gascogne-48140
