Study of the impact of the fishing fleet on vulnerable ecosystems in the area of ​​the Hatton Bank.

- Reconocimiento sistematicode las zonas de estudio con recubrimiento al 100%, con ecosonda multihaz\n- Realizacion de perfiles sismicos de alta resolucion con el sistema de sonda parametrica TOPAS\n- Toma de muestras de roca y sedimentos\n- Toma de datos sistematicos de: Perfiles de velocidad del sonido en el agua y estacion meteorologica

This survey covers the international NAFO Regulation Area in divisions 3NO. It started in 1995 with the only purpose of collecting data for stock assessment of target species down to 700 m, but its aims and research area have widened with time. Currrently, the survey covers a depth range of 50-1500 m and its goals are the following: 1. Regarding the target species (Hippoglossoides platessoides, Limanda ferruginea, Reinhardtius hippoglossoides, Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, Gadus morhua, Sebastes sp, Macrourus berglax, Centroscyllium fabricii and Raja radiata) and other species of commercial interest (Urophycis tenuis; Pandalus borealis) : a. to obtain biomass and abundance indexes, b. to estimate recruitment, c. to investigate the population structure To achieve this, biological information (length, weight, sex, maturity, stomach contents) is obtained from about 30 species, as well as otoliths and gonads from cod, Greenland halibut and roughead grenadier. The remaining fish and commercial invertebrate species are length measured and weighted. 2. Collection of oceanographic data (temperature, salinity, oxygen and fluorescence); 3. Invertebrate data collection: all species are identified to the maximum possible level on board, or otherwise photographed and preserved for later examination at the lab, counted and weighted, with the aim of investigating the benthic invertebrate faunal assemblage and presence of vulnerable species

Abundance indices, distribution patterns and faunal assemblages of demersal species in the Porcupine bank, together with the possible driving factors of their distribution. This survey belongs to the research project: ?Evaluacion de Recursos Demersales por Metodos Directos en el Area ICES?. This Project is partly funded by the DCR of the EU and the Education and Science Spanish Ministery.The main objectives of the above mentioned project related with this survey time series are: a) to obtain abundance indices of the main exploited species in the Porcupine bank; b) to estimate the strength of yearly recruitments of these species and their distribution in the bank. c) to study the structure and distribution o the demersal and benthic communities in the area.

Study of the impact of the fishing fleet on vulnerable ecosystems in the area of ​​the Hatton Bank.

Abundance indices, distribution patterns and faunal assemblages of demersal species in the Porcupine bank, together with the possible driving factors of their distribution. This survey belongs to the research project: 'Evaluación de Recursos Demersales por Métodos Directos en el Área ICES'. This Project is partly funded by the DCR of the EU and the Science and Innovation Spanish Ministry.The main objectives of the above mentioned project related with this survey time series are: a) to obtain abundance indices of the main exploited species in the Porcupine bank; b) to estimate the strength of yearly recruitments of these species and their distribution in the bank. c) to study the structure and distribution o the demersal and benthic communities in the area.

La creciente necesidad de informacion que requiere la evaluacion y gestion actuales de las especies explotadas, especialmente en el caso de la merluza, pero tambien en otros como los gallos, rapes o la cigala, hacen necesario obtener informacion independiente de las pesquerias sobre la situacion de estas poblaciones. Para lo cual se determino la realizacion de los siguientes objetivos:\nEstimacion de indices de abundancia estratificados por edad de merluza, rapes y gallos en las divisiones VIIbk.\nEstimacion de indices de abundancia estratificados de otras especies comerciales como la cigala, el mendo, las rayas o la brotola de fango.\nEstimacion de la fuerza de los reclutamientos y localizacion de las agregaciones de juveniles de merluza, rapes y gallos.\nDescripcion de los patrones de distribucion espacial de las especies demersales y bentonicas en el banco de Porcupine.\nObtencion de muestras de especies comerciales para estudios de niveles de contaminacion por arsenico y metales pesados.\nRecogida de muestras de especies para el estudio de la biologia de las principales especies comerciales en el area (otolitos, ilicios y otros).\nEstudio de la hidrografia (temperatura, salinidad y densidad de la columna de agua) del banco de Porcupine.\nMarcado de rapes para el estudio de sus migraciones y crecimiento.\nRecogida de ejemplares de jurel para estudios de genetica.

The surveys on NAFO Regulatory Area of Div. 3L (Flemish Pass) were initiated by Spain in 2003. The surveys were carried out by the R/V 'Vizconde de Eza' following the same procedures and using the same bottom trawl net type Campelen.The main objectives of this survey time series are: a) to obtain abundance indices of the main exploited species, b) to study the structure and distribution of these demersal species in the area.

The survey in Div. 3NO of NAFO Regulatory Area was initiated by Spain in 1995. Until 2001, the survey was carried out in spring (May), on board the Spanish vessel C/V Playa de Menduiña (338 GT and 800 HP) using bottom trawl net type Pedreira. Since 2001, the R/V Vizconde de Eza replaced the C/V Playa de Menduíña as the research vessel for the survey, and Campelen net replaced Pedreira net as survey gear. The main objectives of this survey time series are: a) to obtain biomass and abundance indices of the main exploited species, b) to study the structure and distribution of these demersal species in the area.

The surveys on NAFO Regulatory Area of Div. 3L (Flemish Pass) were initiated by Spain in 2003. The surveys were carried out by the R/V Vizconde de Eza following the same procedures and using the same bottom trawl net type Campelen.The main objectives of this survey time series are: a) to obtain abundance indices of the main exploited species b) to study the structure and distribution of these demersal species in the area.