The area is characterised by multiple oceanographic processes, such as slope currents, upwelling-downwelling processes, river plumes and various types of eddy-like structures. It supports a high diversity of PETS, including high levels of common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), the bycatch of which is of particular concern, with France and Spain having legal obligation under EU law to adopt conservation measures to stop this bycatch. The innovative tools being developed here will help to address both local issues and be applicable to other regions.
Fisheries of Interest
- Bottom pair trawls
- Bottom-trawls
- Gillnets
PETS of Concern
- Common dolphin
- Northern gannet
- Shearwaters
- Smooth-hound sharks
Areas of Work
- Developing temporal and spatial patterns and behavior of targeted species
- Bycatch risk assessments
- Real-time technology and eDNA monitoring of dolphin and trawler interactions
- Testing technologies to reduce dolphin-trawl interactions
- Ecosystem Services evaluation of bycatch mitigation measures
Other Case Study Areas
Region 1
Greenlandic waters
Region 2
Icelandic waters
Region 3
Azorean waters
Region 4
Celtic Seas
Region 5
The Greater North Sea
Region 7
Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ)