Spanish research vessel begins Greenland halibut survey in North Atlantic

A scientific team from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) began its annual Greenland Halibut research campaign aboard the research vessel Vizconde de Eza on August 9. The survey will assess the population of Greenland halibut and other companion species in the Great Bank of Newfoundland, an area where the Spanish fishing fleet conducts significant fisheries.

Now in its nineteenth year, the campaign's objectives are to estimate abundance and biomass, determine population structure, and obtain biological information on key commercial species, including cod, American flounder, redfish, and shrimp. The research will take place in the Flemish Pass area, Division 3L of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO), northeast of the Grand Banks.

Scientists will conduct the survey using stratified random sampling. Data on catches, size distribution, and biological parameters will be obtained from fishing hauls, and samples will be collected for growth and reproduction studies. Oceanographic data, such as water temperature and salinity, will also be collected.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food stated that these types of surveys provide information that is independent of commercial fishing activity and is essential for making the best decisions regarding fisheries management. The information obtained will be used by the NAFO Scientific Council to assess fishery resources of interest to the Spanish fleet. The campaign is funded by the European Union's European Maritime Fund for Fisheries and Aquaculture.