CetAMBICion

MITECO

The CetAMBICion project “Coordinated strategy for the assessment, monitoring and management of cetaceans in the subregion of the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian coast” aims to respond to the urgent need to reduce cetacean by-catches in EU fisheries, in particular in the Bay of Biscay and on the Iberian coast.

Until 2023, CetAMBICion will work to improve scientific knowledge on stock abundance, bycatch and measures to mitigate the latter.

To achieve this, this initiative has 15 partners from France, Portugal and Spain to strengthen collaboration and scientific work between the three countries and achieve this common goal, in collaboration with the fishing sector.

The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge is participating as partners in the project, which is coordinated by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

This project is funded by the European Union and is part of the European Commission’s DG ENV/MSFD 2020 (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) call. It is also being developed in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Common Fisheries Policy.

Project

Line of action:

Marine ecosystems

Status:

En ejecución

Execution date:

2020

End date:

2023

Objectives

The main objective is to reduce by-catch of cetaceans in EU fisheries, in particular in the Bay of Biscay and on the Iberian coast.

CetAMBICion will study mortality rates, abundance, demographic characteristics, distribution pattern and range and habitat of cetaceans, with the aim of improving surveillance, especially in relation to bycatch mortality, and investigating the effectiveness of different mitigation measures in the Bay of Biscay and on the Iberian coast.

All of this will ultimately contribute to achieving good environmental status.

Actions

This project is based on three fundamental pillars of action: research, participation and training.

The plan of activities can be summarised as:

Revision of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the latest technologies for cetaceans.
Proposal for coordinated assessment and monitoring strategy for cetaceans.
Proposal for a coordinated assessment and monitoring strategy for the accidental capture of cetaceans.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies to reduce the bycatch of cetaceans and proposal of technical fishing measures.
Dissemination of results.
Coordination.

CetAMBICion

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