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

The main objective of the project ATLANTIS is the study of fishing activities and marine resources of commercial interest in the FAO statistical subareas 41.3.1 and 41.3.2, within an ecosystem approach, paying particular attention to interactions between fishing activities and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, mainly on the High Seas of the SW Atlantic. From 1988 the IEO scientific observers onboard programme, gives commercial, biological, oceanographic and physical data (bathymetry, surface and sea bed temperatures, etc). A series of research cruises were carried out from 2007, on board the R/V Miguel Oliver, with the main objective of said research cruises was the quantitative, qualitative and geographical study and identification of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and of the vulnerable organisms in the taxonomic groups who could live in the study area, including the proposal of marine areas to be protected, to allow sustainable exploitation of fishing resources without endangering the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. During the research cruises undertaken, from the surface to 1,500 m, in the south western Atlantic waters between 42ºS and 48ºS, a variety of data was obtained from the fieldwork on geology, geomorphology, benthos, fisheries and physical oceanography. The results include: a detailed cartographic and bathymetric study of the area, a description of the geological substratum and of the benthic features, an analysis of the abundance and distribution of the species of largest commercial fishing interest, a footprint analysis of the fishery, an identification and a description of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The research undertaken and its main findings led to the delineating of several areas to be protected, with a total area of 41,000 km2, according to presence of organisms classified as vulnerable.

The main objective of the project ATLANTIS is the study of fishing activities and marine resources of commercial interest in the FAO statistical subareas 41.3.1 and 41.3.2, within an ecosystem approach, paying particular attention to interactions between fishing activities and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, mainly on the High Seas of the SW Atlantic. From 1988 the IEO scientific observers onboard programme, gives commercial, biological, oceanographic and physical data (bathymetry, surface and sea bed temperatures, etc). A series of research cruises were carried out from 2007, on board the R/V Miguel Oliver, with the main objective of said research cruises was the quantitative, qualitative and geographical study and identification of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and of the vulnerable organisms in the taxonomic groups who could live in the study area, including the proposal of marine areas to be protected, to allow sustainable exploitation of fishing resources without endangering the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. During the research cruises undertaken, from the surface to 1,500 m, in the south western Atlantic waters between 42ºS and 48ºS, a variety of data was obtained from the fieldwork on geology, geomorphology, benthos, fisheries and physical oceanography. The results include: a detailed cartographic and bathymetric study of the area, a description of the geological substratum and of the benthic features, an analysis of the abundance and distribution of the species of largest commercial fishing interest, a footprint analysis of the fishery, an identification and a description of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The research undertaken and its main findings led to the delineating of several areas to be protected, with a total area of 41,000 km2, according to presence of organisms classified as vulnerable.

The main objective of the project ATLANTIS is the study of fishing activities and marine resources of commercial interest in the FAO statistical subareas 41.3.1 and 41.3.2, within an ecosystem approach, paying particular attention to interactions between fishing activities and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, mainly on the High Seas of the SW Atlantic. From 1988 the IEO scientific observers onboard programme, gives commercial, biological, oceanographic and physical data (bathymetry, surface and sea bed temperatures, etc). A series of research cruises were carried out from 2007, on board the R/V Miguel Oliver, with the main objective of said research cruises was the quantitative, qualitative and geographical study and identification of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and of the vulnerable organisms in the taxonomic groups who could live in the study area, including the proposal of marine areas to be protected, to allow sustainable exploitation of fishing resources without endangering the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. During the research cruises undertaken, from the surface to 1,500 m, in the south western Atlantic waters between 42ºS and 48ºS, a variety of data was obtained from the fieldwork on geology, geomorphology, benthos, fisheries and physical oceanography. The results include: a detailed cartographic and bathymetric study of the area, a description of the geological substratum and of the benthic features, an analysis of the abundance and distribution of the species of largest commercial fishing interest, a footprint analysis of the fishery, an identification and a description of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The research undertaken and its main findings led to the delineating of several areas to be protected, with a total area of 41,000 km2, according to presence of organisms classified as vulnerable.

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

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.

Abundance indices, distribution patterns and faunal assemblages of demersal species in the Porcupine bank, together with the possible driving factors of their distributio

Data collection is also collected for several other demersal fish species and invertebrates.

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 main objective of the project ATLANTIS is the study of fishing activities and marine resources of commercial interest in the FAO statistical subareas 41.3.1 and 41.3.2, within an ecosystem approach, paying particular attention to interactions between fishing activities and Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems, mainly on the High Seas of the SW Atlantic. From 1988 the IEO scientific observers onboard programme, gives commercial, biological, oceanographic and physical data (bathymetry, surface and sea bed temperatures, etc). A series of research cruises were carried out from 2007, on board the R/V Miguel Oliver, with the main objective of said research cruises was the quantitative, qualitative and geographical study and identification of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and of the vulnerable organisms in the taxonomic groups who could live in the study area, including the proposal of marine areas to be protected, to allow sustainable exploitation of fishing resources without endangering the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. During the research cruises undertaken, from the surface to 1,500 m, in the south western Atlantic waters between 42ºS and 48ºS, a variety of data was obtained from the fieldwork on geology, geomorphology, benthos, fisheries and physical oceanography. The results include: a detailed cartographic and bathymetric study of the area, a description of the geological substratum and of the benthic features, an analysis of the abundance and distribution of the species of largest commercial fishing interest, a footprint analysis of the fishery, an identification and a description of the Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The research undertaken and its main findings led to the delineating of several areas to be protected, with a total area of 41,000 km2, according to presence of organisms classified as vulnerable.