Line of action:

Status:

Execution date:

General Objective:

To improve the knowledge of the SCI Mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cadiz and their vulnerable habitats, based on the implementation of a Dynamic Map System in the bottom trawling fleet that fishes in the area, adapting fishing activity to the vulnerabilities of the Natura 2000 Network areas and providing complementary information to establish sustainable and collaborative management measures in these areas.

Specific objectives:

1. To transfer scientific cartographic information to the group of trawlers who use the SCI Mud volcanoes of the Gulf of Cadiz and adjacent regions that allow the trawl fleet to adapt its activity to the vulnerabilities of the Natura 2000 Network areas in the Gulf of Cadiz, contributing to the promotion of sustainable and efficient fishing in the use of resources.
2. To facilitate the transfer of knowledge and capture of the fishing sector in the use of the Dynamic Map System and the application of habitat mapping as an element of awareness and cooperation in the protection of habitats.
3. Develop criteria relating to bottom trawling activity to achieve effective management and governance of the protected area.
4. To improve participation and cooperation between the sector and the competent institutions in the Natura 2000 Network, a state marine that allows the replication of the project’s methodology in other marine protected areas of the national fishing ground.
5. To raise awareness and disseminate the methodology of action among the sector for the promotion of sustainable fishing based on innovation and knowledge.

The TECPESCADIZ project made it possible to improve the knowledge of the SCI Mud Volcanoes of the Gulf of Cadiz and its vulnerable habitats from the implementation of a Dynamic Map System in the bottom trawling fleet that fishes in the area, achieving the general objective of the project. This system provides complementary information to establish sustainable and collaborative management measures for these areas, facilitating the adaptation of the activity to the vulnerabilities of the Natura 2000 Network areas.

The corresponding software was installed on five vessels of the Punta de Moral trawling fleet for the implementation of the Dynamic Map System (DMS) and training on its operation and use. In addition, the subsequent compilation and processing of the cartographic information of the Gulf of Cadiz has been carried out. The use of this cartography has made it possible to analyse the routes of the draughts or sets of the five trawlers in the SCI and to identify more precisely the direct effects of fishing activity on the different habitats, allowing in turn to study the modifications of the sets to improve the conservation of the space.

During the months of June and July 2018, the five bottom trawlers belonging to the Punta del Moral Shipowners’ Association carried out 55 fishing days in the SCI, recording 122 sets in total and collecting information on the non-commercial species and marine litter that accompanied the catches.

Finally, based on the results of the fieldwork, an analysis of cartographic data was carried out and the criteria related to the bottom trawling activity were developed, in a participatory manner, to achieve the effective management and governance of the protected area.