Spanish oceanographic vessel Vizconde de Eza. (Photo: MARM)

Spanish experts study fish resources

NAMIBIA
Monday, February 08, 2010, 23:40 (GMT + 9)

The Secretariat General of Marine Affairs, a dependency of the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (MARM) of Spain, initiated a sixth consecutive campaign Sunday, evaluating the state of the main fishing resources in Namibia waters.

Experts of the Spanish Oceanography Institute (IEO) and the National Research and Information Centre of Namibia are participating in the survey, on board the oceanographic research ship Vizconde de Eza.

The investigation will focus on a biological-fisheries study in set areas to obtain capture composition, size distribution and the biological data of several species of commercial interest, like hake, angler, kingclip, squid and giant squid.

In addition, researchers will collect data on the nature and morphologic characteristics of the Namibian marine bottom, carrying out an acoustic and geophysical study to do so.

This study will include a mapping survey of the study zones and sediment samplings of bottoms, the analysis of the morphology of the main geographic features and geomorphologic structures, and the identification of the areas that can be of great biological interest to marine life.

Spain and Namibia maintain strong ties of cooperation in fishing matters, reinforced by the presence of Spanish fishing sector firms in the African country, installed to a large extent in the port of Walvis Bay.

In early 2009, experts from both countries undertook a multidisciplinary survey of the seamounts of Walvis, to learn about the possible interaction of fishing gear or devices with localised marine ecosystems.

The researchers surveyed the bottoms located in a range of depths between 200 and 3,000 metres, and the water column between the surface and the seamount peaks.

Related article:

- Probe of vulnerable marine ecosystems underway

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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