Category: Uncategorized

Mar de Signes: an inclusive science project

Posted on by Jordi Ribera

“Mar de Signes” is a project promoted by ICATMAR and funded by the Barcelona City Council that aims to expand the marine vocabulary in LSC (Catalan Sign Language), as well as using science as a driving force for inclusion in Barcelona society.

In collaboration with the Binomils expert group, with the support of the Barcelona Aquarium, the Centre de la Platja, the Port Vell de Barcelona, Dortoka and the Associació Dones de la Mar, and with the expertise of the local deaf community, 100 words related to the fields of marine biology and fisheries have been reviewed to develop a linguistic glossary in Catalan ˂> LSC.

You can find the linguistic glossary in Catalan ˂> LSC developed throughout the project (September 2025 – May 2026) at the following links:

Aleta caudal – LSC
Aleta dorsal – LSC
Aletes pectorals – LSC
Anemone – LSC
Àrea marina protegida – LSC
Arrossegament (pesca) – LSC
Arts menors (pesca) – LSC
Banc de peixos – LSC
Bentònic – LSC
Bivalve – LSC
Boia – LSC
Bot de llum – LSC
Brànquies – LSC
Cap de Creus – LSC
Cartílag – LSC
Cavallet de mar – LSC
Cefalòpode – LSC
Cefalotòrax – LSC
Closca – LSC
Cnidari – LSC
Columna d’aigua – LSC
Condricti – LSC
Corall – LSC
Corrent d’aigua – LSC
Costa Brava – LSC
Costa Daurada – LSC
Costa del Garraf – LSC
Costa del Maresme – LSC
Cranc – LSC
Crustaci – LSC
Deixalles marines – LSC
Delta de l’Ebre – LSC
Ecosistema – LSC
Encerclament (pesca) – LSC
Equinoderm – LSC
Escamarlà – LSC
Escates – LSC
Estrella de mar – LSC
Fenedures branquials – LSC
Fondària – LSC
Fons marí – LSC
Gamba – LSC
Gònades – LSC
Hàbitat – LSC
Holoturia – LSC
Invertebrat – LSC
Línia lateral – LSC
Litoral – LSC
Llenguado – LSC
Llissa – LSC
Llotja – LSC
Lluç – LSC
Mar – LSC
Mediterrani – LSC
Medusa – LSC
Mero – LSC
Moll (peix) – LSC
Mol·lusc – LSC
Morena (peix) – LSC
Musclo – LSC
Oceà – LSC
Onatge – LSC
Opercles – LSC
Orada – LSC
Osteïctis – LSC
Ostra – LSC
Peix – LSC
Peix cirurgià – LSC
Peix escorpí – LSC
Peix globus – LSC
Peix pallasso – LSC
Pelàgic – LSC
Pesca comercial – LSC
Pesca recreativa – LSC
Plàncton – LSC
Població – LSC
Pop – LSC
Portes (barca arrossegament) – LSC
Posidònia – LSC
Radar – LSC
Rajada – LSC
Salinitat – LSC
Sardina – LSC
Seitó – LSC
Selectivitat (pesca) – LSC
Sifó – LSC
Simbiosi – LSC
Sípia – LSC
Temperatura – LSC
Tentacle – LSC
Tentacles urticants – LSC
Tropical – LSC
Urticant – LSC
Veda – LSC
Xarxa – LSC

These are the words that were interpreted into Catalan Sign Language (LSC) as part of this project:

Caudal fin, Dorsal fin, Pectoral fins, Sea anemone, Marine Protected Area (MPA), Bottom trawling (fishing), Small-scale fisheries, School of fish, Benthic, Bivalve, Buoy, Light boat, Gills, Cap de Creus, Cartilage, Seahorse, Cephalopod, Cephalothorax, Shell, Cnidarian, Water column, Chondrichthyan, Coral, Water current, Costa Brava, Costa Daurada, Garraf Coast, Maresme Coast, Crab, Crustacean, Marine litter, Ebro Delta, Ecosystem, Echinoderm, Purse seine fishing, Norway lobster, Scales, Starfish (Sea star), Gill slits, Depth, Seabed, Shrimp, Gonads, Habitat, Sea cucumber, Invertebrate, Lateral line, Coastal zone, Sole, Flathead grey mullet, Fish market auction, European hake, Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Jellyfish, Grouper, Mollusc, Red mullet, Moray eel, Mussel, Ocean, Waves, Opercula, Gilthead seabream, Osteichthyan (bony fish), Oyster, Fish, Surgeonfish, Scorpionfish, Pufferfish, Clownfish, Pelagic, Commercial fishing, Recreational fishing, Plankton, Population, Octopus, Otter boards (bottom trawling), Posidonia seagrass, Radar, Ray (skate/ray), Salinity, Sardine, Anchovy, Selectivity (fishing), Siphon, Symbiosis, Cuttlefish, Temperature, Tentacle, Stinging tentacles, Tropical, Stinging, Temporal closure (fishing), Net.

Mar de Signes

The report on marine litter along the Catalan coastline 2024 is now available

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

Plastic is the most common residual material along the Catalan coastline, with greater presence on the central coast.

We have published a new report on marine litter accidentally collected by the trawling fleet along the Catalan coastline during 2024. This work is part of the ongoing fisheries monitoring program carried out by the Fisheries Advisory Service of ICATMAR and helps us better understand the presence and distribution of marine litter on the seabed of the Catalan coast.

The characterization and analysis of the waste are carried out following the Fishing for Litter strategy, which provides key information on its typology and distribution.

The report’s conclusions show that marine litter continues to represent a small fraction of the total trawl fishing catches (around 2%), but it is present in all the areas and depths analyzed.

  • Plastic is the most frequent material, with an average of 5.08 kg/km² between 2020 and 2024. However, in 2024 metal was the predominant category due to a large metal container caught in Blanes.
  • The central areas of the Catalan coastline (province of Barcelona) concentrate the highest amounts of marine litter, with plastic as the dominant material.

This study is aligned with the objectives of the Estratègia Marítima de Catalunya 2030 and contributes valuable information to promote measures that reduce environmental impact and move towards more sustainable management of the marine environment.

Check the full report at this link or in the publications section.

Source: Eve Galimany

The report on the state of recreational marine fishing in Catalonia in 2024 is now available

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

Recreational marine fishing in Catalonia is growing in participation but reducing total catches in 2024.

The latest ICATMAR report on the state of recreational marine fishing in Catalonia shows an increase in the number of recreational fishers in 2024, with an estimated 52,200 participants, representing a 6.7% growth compared to the average for the 2020–2023 period. Despite this rise in participation, the study indicates a decrease in the total extracted biomass, which drops from an estimated 940 tonnes per year in 2020–2023 to approximately 851 tonnes in 2024.

The report confirms that recreational marine fishing continues to be a highly seasonal activity, concentrated mainly between May and September. However, in 2024 there was an increase in activity during the winter months, particularly in boat fishing and spearfishing.

Regarding catches, species from the sparid family, such as gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and seabreams (Diplodus spp.), remain the main target group for recreational fishing. Each fishing modality, however, shows distinct patterns:

  • Shore angling focuses mainly on gilthead seabream, seabreams, and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
  • Boat angling stands out for the capture of pelagic fish such as little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) and cephalopods such as cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) and squid (Loligo vulgaris).
  • Spearfishing maintains a significant presence of species such as dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) and common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), in addition to sparids.

Overall, in 2024 a reduction in catches was observed in boat angling and spearfishing, while shore angling shows slight increases in some coastal areas.

The data also reveal that most recreational catches continue to be retained, with percentages close to 88%, and that catch-and-release practices still have a very limited presence. These results reinforce the importance of considering recreational fishing in stock assessments and fisheries management, especially in the context of marine resource sustainability.

Finally, ICATMAR highlights that five consecutive years of data collection have made it possible to consolidate a robust time series on recreational marine fishing in Catalonia. This continuity is key to improving the reliability of estimates and advancing towards informed decision-making based on co-management and the integration of recreational fishing into marine governance policies. The full report is available at this link or in the publications section.

Source: Marta Pujol Baucells

We start our first oceanographic campaign

Posted on by Ferran Bustos
Oceanographic vessel Vizconde de Eza.

This is the MEDITS-AUT campaign, the first of its kind to be carried out by a Catalan research group based at the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC).

The campaign will be carried out on board the oceanographic vessel Vizconde de Eza and will cover the waters of Catalonia, Comunidad Valenciana, and part of Murcia over a period of 24 days.

The data will be collected following the Programa Nacional de Datos Básicos (PNDB) and will complement those from the MEDITS campaign, which is carried out annually by the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC).

Barcelona, 10 November 2025

Next Monday, 17 November, around twenty scientists from the Institut Català de Recerca per a la Governança del Mar (ICATMAR) and the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) will board the oceanographic vessel Vizconde de Eza operated by the Secretaría General de Pesca, to launch, for the first time, a MEDITS campaign in autumn: the MEDITS-AUT25. These type of campaigns are usually conducted in spring, and replicating them at a different time of the year will provide a more accurate picture of the status of fishery resources in the western Mediterranean.

The campaign will last for 24 days and will cover the entire GSA 6, a geographical subarea established by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) which includes the western Mediterranean waters from Catalonia to Murcia. This initiative is made possible through a collaboration between ICATMAR and the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación and will become the first oceanographic campaign of this kind to be carried out by a Catalan research group. The main objective is to obtain complementary data to those collected during the MEDITS campaign conducted annually by the IEO-CSIC in spring, which are used to estimate the abundance and distribution of target species in bottom trawl fisheries.

Following the MEDITS protocol, the campaign will carry out a minimum of 88 trawl hauls, covering the continental shelf and slope at depths ranging from 10 m to 800 m. In addition, oceanographic data will be collected from water masses, such as temperature and salinity, which will allow researchers to study their characteristics and changes over time.

“The implementation of MEDITS-AUT25 will provide us with highly valuable information, as it will allow us to observe seasonal changes in the distribution of bottom trawl target species due to biological and ecological factors. Moreover, having two annual campaigns at different times of the year significantly increases the resolution of abundance and biomass indices for the analyzed species,” says researcher and campaign leader Joan Baptista Company.

The MEDITS campaign

The MEDITS campaign (Mediterranean International Trawl Survey) was launched in 1993 following a regulation by the European Council on the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The regulation urged Member States to carry out oceanographic surveys to obtain long-term series of scientifically robust data for the management and conservation of demersal species’ stocks—those associated with the seabed—in the Mediterranean. The data collected are incorporated into the Programa Nacional de Datos Básicos (PNDB).

Over the years, the program has evolved beyond the assessment of fishery resources to also include the study of marine communities and ecosystems, the identification of key habitats for species, and the analysis of marine litter, among other aspects. The information gathered during MEDITS campaigns is used by working groups of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) and the GFCM to develop recommendations for fisheries management.

“Now, collecting data in autumn following this same protocol will allow us to gather information on early life stages of certain species that cannot be found in spring, such as the red mullet (Mullus barbatus),” notes ICATMAR researcher Marta Blanco.

Key resolution approved for the regulation of Marine Recreational Fishing in Catalonia

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

The new regulation establishes, among other measures, minimum catch sizes, maximum daily catch quotas, and biological closed seasons for certain species.

Inland waters of Catalonia. The area highlighted within the red box corresponds to the zone regulated by Resolution ARP/3253/2024.

On September 10, 2024, a key resolution (Resolució ARP/3253/2024) was approved for the regulation of Marine Recreational Fishing (hereinafter, MRF) in Catalonia. This resolution, applicable to the inshore waters along the Girona coastline, aims to ensure the sustainability of fishery resources and the marine ecosystem. The new regulation, subject to revision every two years, establishes, among other measures, minimum catch sizes, maximum daily catch quotas, and biological closed seasons for certain species. Its approval was made possible thanks to the effort and close collaboration between the different parties involved in the MRF Co-management Board, in which ICATMAR contributes scientific data obtained through MRF monitoring in Catalonia. Looking ahead, work is underway on a new resolution for the rest of Catalonia’s inshore waters and on the update of Decret 109/1995, which currently regulates the activity.

MRF is an important activity in Catalonia. Among its three main forms, i.e., boat angling, shore angling, and spearfishing, more than 50,000 licenses are issued annually throughout the region. However, until now, MRF in Catalonia was only regulated by a Decree published in 1995, which, for the first time, established the requirement for a license and a daily weight limit, among other general regulations. Nevertheless, the significant increase in the practice of this activity over recent decades, changes in regulations, and requirements from the European Union have made it necessary to address the governance of this sector through various mechanisms. On the one hand, the implementation and consolidation of the MRF monitoring program conducted by ICATMAR since 2020 has been promoted; on the other, new regulations are being developed to update current rules and ensure sustainable and adapted management.

Recreational fishers practicing shore angling.

To move the resolution forward, the intensive work carried out within the framework of the MRF Co-management Board was essential, as was the achievement of consensus among all stakeholders involved. The Co-management Board was established in 2023 and includes the different sectors involved in MRF, specifically, associations of recreational fishers of the different modalities, the Government of Catalonia, the NGO WWF, and the scientific community through ICATMAR. With the goal of providing a scientific basis for developing proposals for the resolution, ICATMAR drafted the report Indicadors biològics per determinar possibles mesures de gestió de la Pesca Marina Recreativa a Catalunya. Based on data collected between 2020 and 2023 in northern Catalonia and on scientific literature, the report proposed management measures for 46 MRF target species. Among the various proposals were minimum catch sizes, biological closed seasons, and bag limits. These measures, after being revised and agreed upon by all parties, were ultimately included in the Resolution. The approach adopted, which combines scientific knowledge with active participation and regular review of the measures, aligns with an adaptive management model and is designed to adjust regulations based on changes in both activity and ecosystems.

Currently, the Co-management Board is finalizing the last details of a new Resolution to regulate MRF in the inshore waters of the central and southern areas of Catalonia. In this way, the entire Catalan coastline will be subject to the new Resolutions. In parallel, the MRF Co-management Board is also working to update the contents of Decret 109/1995, which governs this activity in Catalonia. This Decree is considered obsolete, as the guidelines it contains were drafted 30 years ago and do not take into account the significant changes in MRF practices and European regulations that have occurred in recent decades. A Decree holds a higher regulatory status than a Resolution, and for this reason, it is important to amend the current Decree to ensure the continuity of the new measures implemented.

Author: Ferran Bustos

The MAP Regulation: Effects on bottom trawling and future perspectives

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

In recent months, a consensus has emerged within the scientific community on the need to revise stock assessment methodologies in the Mediterranean.

Otter boards from a bottom trawling vessel of the Catalan coast.

The Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan (hereinafter, the MAP Regulation) is a European Commission Regulation that governs the demersal fisheries in the Western Mediterranean. It was published in 2019 and adopted in Spanish Mediterranean waters in May 2020. Its objective is to reach fishing mortality levels corresponding to the maximum sustainable yield (a level of fishery exploitation that allows a marine population to be used without compromising its long-term sustainability) for all target stocks, and particularly for the stock considered most vulnerable by 2025. The species listed in the MAP Regulation as target species are red mullet (Mullus barbatus), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris), Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus), blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus), and giant red shrimp (Aristaeomorpha foliacea, which is absent from the Catalan coast).

The text of the MAP Regulation states that fisheries management measures must be based on the best available scientific advice, specifically citing the STECF (Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries), an advisory scientific body that meets periodically in various working groups. It also defines reduction of fishing effort as the main management tool. Thus, in the stock assessments carried out by STECF in September, fishing mortality estimates are determined and used as guidance to calculate the necessary reduction in fishing effort to meet the targets. Based on this information, in November the Commission publishes a proposal for the next year’s fishing opportunities, which includes:

  • Fishing days assigned to each Member State, to be distributed among the entire trawl fleet.

  • Corrective measures for the most vulnerable stocks, in addition to the reduction of fishing days (e.g., quotas or closed seasons).

  • Compensation mechanisms that allow fleets to obtain additional fishing days (e.g., use of more selective meshes or low seabed-impact trawl doors).

In this context, in 2018, it was calculated that if by 2025 the target fishing mortality for European hake, the most vulnerable species according to assessments, was to be achieved, the fleet would be limited to around 60 fishing days per year. This would threaten the economic viability of the fleet, and consequently of the fishers’ guilds and the Catalan fishing sector as we know it. As a result, ICATMAR began studying other fisheries management measures that have proven effects on the recovery of marine populations and ecosystems, beyond reducing fishing days. These include the use of more selective meshes, low-contact otter boards, and the establishment of permanently closed fishing zones. Initially introduced as compensation mechanisms, these measures saw very low adoption, since most of the sector did not perceive benefits in implementing them as they were laid out in the regulation.

In 2024, the fishing mortality values for European hake estimated in the latest STECF stock assessment were still far from the target value. Consequently, the Commission’s proposal for fishing opportunities in 2025 for the Spanish Mediterranean trawl fleet involved a sharp reduction in assigned fishing days, leaving them at just over 15,000 for the entire fleet. Thus, from 110 days allocated per vessel in 2024 (with a total of 140 to 170 actual days fished, thanks to compensation mechanisms), only 27 days were allocated for 2025. The Commission’s proposal included compensation measures which, if fully complied with, would allow fishing days to be recovered up to the 110 allocated the previous year, but not the total number of days actually fished.

ICATMAR stuff analyzing samples from bottom trawling.

In recent months, there has been broad scientific consensus on the need to review the stock assessment methodologies that inform fishery policy decisions for Mediterranean fisheries, as these have a major impact on the sector’s socioeconomics. Various scientific institutions are already forming working groups to begin this review process, known as a benchmark, with the goal of agreeing on the data and models to be used in stock assessments, starting with European hake, the most vulnerable species. In the meantime, it is necessary to find solutions to make bottom trawling more sustainable, without focusing solely on reducing activity. At ICATMAR, we are collecting fisheries data along the Catalan coast to feed into the benchmark process and help achieve more accurate stock assessments for proportionate, coherent management aligned with the actual functioning of Mediterranean fisheries.

Author: Marta Carreton

How does ICATMAR’s radar network work and what is it for?

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

ICATMAR’s main objective is to provide an oceanographic forecasting service tailored to the needs of society.

High Frequency (HF) radar installed in the port of Segur de Calafell (left). Distribution of ICATMAR’s HF radar network along the Catalan coast, showing the theoretical coverage areas of the different antennas (right).

In Catalonia, approximately 63% of the population is concentrated in coastal counties. A significant part of our economic and socio-cultural activities are linked to the sea, such as professional fishing, maritime freight transport, nautical sports, recreational fishing, or coastal tourism. However, we often see headlines about incidents such as a fisherman who went missing at sea near Arenys de Mar a few months ago, pollution spills from cargo ships, or the massive arrival of jellyfish and other drifting organisms on beaches. To give an idea, in 2024 alone, the Maritime Rescue emergency service received over 900 alerts originating from the Catalan coast.

It is in this context that the Operational Oceanography Service of ICATMAR carries out its activities. One of its main goals is to offer oceanographic forecast services to authorities, maritime professionals, and the general public in accordance with the needs of society. In this regard, ICATMAR is currently developing capabilities to provide information that enables rapid and reliable responses in emergency situations. Additionally, it will offer tools to improve the planning of maritime activities.

Visualization of the first surface current map of the Catalan Sea obtained from ICAMAR’s HF radar network, after the deployment of all seven antennas was completed. https://www.icatmar.cat/observacions/

Moreover, just like with weather forecasting services, developing a forecasting system of this kind requires a real-time data acquisition infrastructure (observations of sea conditions) that is stable and has good spatial coverage. In parallel, numerical models will be developed to simulate ocean circulation, integrating information from real-time data assimilation from observation instruments.

As part of the deployment of the coastal observation infrastructure in Catalonia, the final two antennas that complete ICATMAR’s High Frequency (HF) radar network were installed at the end of 2024. Today, the network consists of seven fully operational antennas strategically located along the coast: Cap de Creus, Cap sa Sal (Begur), Tossa de Mar, Arenys de Mar, Port of Barcelona, Port Ginesta, and Segur de Calafell. Thanks to this deployment, ICATMAR can monitor coastal currents with a 3 x 3 km resolution, an unprecedented level of precision in the region. As a result of these efforts, for the first time, a detailed “snapshot” of sea currents has been obtained over 200 km of Catalan coastline and up to approximately 60 km offshore.

High Frequency Coastal Radars

But how are current maps generated from the data collected by the antennas?

Diagram of how an HF radar antenna works. The antenna emits an electromagnetic signal with a specific wavelength (λ), which bounces off the sea surface waves. In particular, waves that have a wavelength equal to half (λ/2) reflect the signal coherently and with enough intensity to be detected by the antenna’s receiving system. Figure adapted from graphic material of the MEDCLIC project (SOCIB).

The antennas in the network combine emission and reception functions. They operate by emitting electromagnetic wave pulses at a known frequency (13.5 MHz in this case) in all directions. These waves are scattered by surface wave irregularities and reflected, so that part of the signal returns to the antenna that emitted it. Since the sea is not static but in motion due to marine currents, the reflected signal undergoes a slight frequency shift caused by the Doppler effect, similar to how our ears perceive the pitch change of an ambulance siren as it approaches and moves away. From this small variation relative to the transmitted frequency, we can calculate the velocity at which the sea is moving.

However, a single antenna can only detect the projection of the total current along its line of sight, so the information it provides is partial. To reconstruct the full current vector, at least two antennas must simultaneously measure the same area. For this reason, the deployment of ICATMAR’s HF radar network was designed to maximize the overlap of coverage areas between antennas. This allows for precise and near real-time information on coastal marine currents along the Catalan coastline.

Diagram showing how the total current is reconstructed from the measurements taken by two HF radar antennas. The total current (black vector) is perceived differently by each antenna (red and blue vectors, called radial projections). Using the trigonometric equations shown in the figure, the total current velocity can be reconstructed.

Author: Lucía Quirós-Collazos

Discover the new features of the fisheries data viewer

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

We are launching new features for the ICATMAR fisheries data viewer. From now on, you can explore the data from the purse seine sampling. Additionally, we have incorporated improvements in size frequency comparisons and reorganized the viewer to facilitate data exploration.

Fisheries data viewer for the purse seine fishing modlity.

The ICATMAR fisheries data viewer was launched in 2023, displaying data from bottom trawl sampling. Now, thanks to the viewer’s update it is possible, for the first time, to explore data from the purse seine modality. Just as was previously possible with bottom trawling, by clicking on one of the purse seine fishing operation on the map, you can view the catch composition of the selected fishing operation, indicating the biomass of the target species—sardines and/or anchovies—as well as other captured species. Additionally, through the integration of external data from Copernicus and EMODnet Seabed Habitats, you can also check the meteorological and oceanographic conditions at the time of the fishing and determine the type of marine habitat of the seabed where it was carried out.

Comparison of size frequencies by year of hake sampled from 2019 to 2023.

During the sampling for both modalities, whether onboard fishing vessels or in the laboratory, either all individuals or a subsample of individuals from all captured species are measured. This data provides valuable information about population structures, enabling the study of species size distributions, including their approximate size range and the proportion of individuals of each size. With the previous version of the viewer, it was already possible to examine the size distributions of sampled species, but the new version allows for comparisons of species size distributions by year, season, métier, and zone. Additionally, for the size distributions of commercial species, the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) and the size of first maturity (L50: the size at which 50% of individuals are considered to have reproduced for the first time) of the selected species are now displayed.

In Catalonia, the two main fishing modalities in terms of revenue and catch volume are bottom trawling and purse seine fishing, respectively. Since 2019, ICATMAR has conducted samplings onboard bottom trawling vessels. Onboard sampling provides highly detailed information about all aspects of a fishing trip, enabling the identification of the total catch composition (including both commercial and discarded species) and the collection of location data for each fishing operation and the maneuvers performed. Conversely, purse seine sampling initially consisted of acquiring lots of sardines and anchovies (the two target species of this modality) from various fish markets along the Catalan coast. This type of sampling, the fish market sampling, provided limited information about the fishery. However, starting in 2022, purse seine sampling was also conducted onboard commercial vessels. This has made it possible to access previously unavailable information about the fishery, which, after more than two years of data collection, is now publicly accessible through the updated viewer.

Looking ahead, the fishing data viewer will continue to incorporate new updates to make the information gathered through ICATMAR’s various monitoring programs available to everyone. Soon, it will also be possible to explore data obtained from monitoring recreational marine fishing in Catalonia, which has been ongoing since 2020. Stay tuned!

Onboard sampling: bottom trawling.
Onboard sampling: purse seine fishing.

The cycle of knowledge transfer sessions for the fishing sector begins

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

What is the purpose of the monitoring of fishery resources carried out by ICATMAR? What is done with all the data collected? Starting in September, ICATMAR invites you to answer these and other questions by participating in the knowledge transfer sessions for the fishing sector at the main Catalan guilds.

Since 2019, ICATMAR has been conducting an exhaustive and continuous monitoring of the fishery resources along the Catalan coast. To carry this out, collaboration with the Catalan fishing sector is of vital importance. For this reason, we have decided to launch a series of talks to give back to the sector the knowledge gained on fisheries.

Starting in September, two ICATMAR members will regularly visit the ports along the Catalan coast where we conduct sampling to offer talks with information targeted at the local fishing sector. During the sessions, on the one hand, the latest results obtained by ICATMAR at the Catalonia level and at the specific port where the talk is held will be presented, and on the other hand, the assessment of the stocks of the main commercial species and other issues related to fisheries management will be discussed. After the presentations, a Q&A session will follow.

The first session was held at the Arenys de Mar guild in September. Stay tuned to find out when it will be held at your local guild. We look forward to seeing you there!

The ICATMAR Operational Oceanography Service is consolidated

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

Since 2023, the ICATMAR Operational Oceanography Service has been providing reliable and up-to-date information on the state of the sea in Catalonia.

High-frequency radar of the ICATMAR Operational Oceanography Service installed at Cap de Creus.

In 2023 the ICATMAR Operational Oceanography Service was launched. The service has the main objective of measuring, analyzing, and predicting the physical characteristics of the sea, including ocean currents, water temperature and salinity, wave action, and sea level in the northwestern Mediterranean. From these measurements, oceanographic products are created to meet the needs of various marine sectors such as fisheries management, maritime rescue operations, environmental management, and climate change monitoring, among others.

To carry out its functions, the Operational Oceanography Service is deploying a network of seven high-frequency radars along the Catalan coast, which will be completed with the activation of the last two radars by the end of 2024. This radar network, owned by the Generalitat of Catalonia, provides real-time information on the direction and intensity of surface ocean currents within the coastal strip extending up to 40 nautical miles (approximately 74 km) from the Catalan coast. This information is complemented by the regular deployment of drifting buoys, fixed buoys, and other types of oceanographic instruments, which, once fully operational, will provide measurements of bottom and surface currents, surface temperature and salinity, wave action, and various atmospheric variables.

The data collected through ICATMAR’s observation network is combined with data from other agencies such as the Meteorological Service of Catalonia, EUMETSAT, and Copernicus, and integrated into oceanographic models developed by the Operational Oceanography Service. Soon, these models will offer high-resolution space-time forecasts on the state of the sea in Catalonia. This service will be a powerful tool made available by ICATMAR to the public, free of charge and easily accessible, so the maritime community of Catalonia can benefit from it for various applications. In fact, it is already possible to explore marine current data by accessing the oceanographical observations data viewer on our website.

Oceanographical observations data viewer on the ICATMAR website.

Finally, it is worth noting that our social networks (X and LinkedIn) regularly publish updated information on average surface temperature and marine heatwaves in the northwestern Mediterranean, as well as daily forecasts of water temperature along the Catalan coast. In addition, the ICATMAR website provides quick and easy access to these and other services offered by the Operational Oceanography Service:

The most recent reports on the state of fisheries in Catalonia are now available

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

You can now consult and download the latest reports on the state of fisheries in Catalonia in 2023 in the Publications section.

In State of Fisheries in Catalonia 2023, Part 1: Report on the Monitoring of the Commercial Fishing Fleet, the sampling methodology for different fishing modalities used by ICATMAR for monitoring fishery resources along the Catalan coast is presented. Regarding the sampling of trawling, this edition explains the shift in approach adopted to align with the European Common Fisheries Policy. This change consists of replacing the depth stratum, previously used as a spatial sampling unit, with métier, defined as a set of fishing operations targeting a similar group of species using similar fishing gear during the same period and/or in the same area.

ICATMAR sampler measuring species on board a bottom trawling vessel.

Following this, the different sections present the monitoring results, which include the composition of the landed catches, discarded and accompanying species, and marine litter for each fishing modality. Additionally, for each modality, results are provided based on the data collected for the target species of bottom trawling (hake, red mullet, Norway lobster, blue and red shrimp, deep-water rose shrimp, spottail mantis squillid, and caramote prawn), purse seine fishing (European sardine and anchovy), and small-scale fisheries included in co-management plans (sandeels and transparent goby, common octopus, and blue crab). For each species, maps of catch distribution, biological parameters, size at first maturity, reproductive cycle, and size frequency distribution (for métiers in the case of bottom trawling) are shown.

On the other hand, State of Fisheries in Catalonia, Part 2: Stock Assessment presents the results of the stock assessments carried out by ICATMAR. Stock assessment aims to determine, through mathematical models, whether the exploitation of marine species populations is within sustainability limits. In this year’s report, assessments were conducted using two types of methodologies. On one hand, the LBSPR model (Length-Based Spawning Potential Ratio), which, considering size frequency and species biology, allows for the estimation of the reproductive capacity of populations. On the other hand, the SPiCT model (Stochastic Surplus Production Model in Continuous Time) allows for the estimation of fishing mortality and population status based on historical data on catches and biomass.

Results of stock assessment using the SPiCT model for demersal species included in the WMMAP: red mullet, hake, deep-water rose shrimp, Norway lobster, and blue and red shrimp.

Both models were used to assess the stocks of the main demersal species included in the WMMAP (West Mediterranean Multiannual Plan) of the European Union, namely hake, red mullet, Norway lobster, blue and red shrimp and deep-water rose shrimp, as well as the main small pelagic species, European sardine and anchovy. Since they are based on different assumptions and data, the two models employed, LBSPR and SPiCT, sometimes offer different perspectives on the status of the populations. Therefore, it is important that the information they provide is carefully analyzed when proposing management recommendations.

Looking to the future, ICATMAR will continue its program of monitoring fishery resources along the Catalan coast to gather long-term data, enabling the application of more complex models, such as SS3 (Stock Synthesis 3). These types of models allow for the integration of diverse information simultaneously, such as historical catch data, changes in fishing gear selectivity, or differences in population dynamics between sexes. For this reason, they provide results that are more aligned with reality and can become a powerful tool for developing management recommendations based on scientific evidence aimed at ensuring the sustainability of fisheries.

The report on the state of marine recreational fisheries in Catalonia in 2023 is now available

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

You can now download the report State of Marine Recreational Fisheries in Catalonia 2023 in the Publications section

Marine recreational fishing is a non-professional activity practiced for leisure by approximately 350 million people worldwide. Despite being one of the most popular coastal leisure activities globally, there is a historical lack of knowledge about its impacts, as well as a general lack of data collection, sampling and assessment systems for the activity. For this reason, ICATMAR launched a continuous monitoring program for marine recreational fisheries in Catalonia in 2020. The goal of the program is to compile a time series of data on catches and species records to provide a reliable and robust information source for decision-making in potential management strategies.

In this report, which you can download from the Publications section, the results of the continuous monitoring of marine recreational fisheries in Catalonia conducted by ICATMAR during 2023 are presented, comparing them with the period 2020-2022. In the different sections, you will find, among others, indicators for the different fishing modalities practiced in the region, namely shore angling, boat angling, and spearfishing. Additionally, you can also download a drop-down summary with the main results of the report in Catalan.

Source: Marta Pujol-Baucells

The report on the economic evolution of catches for 2022-2023 is now available

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

You can now view and download the latest ICATMAR report in the Publications section: Economic Evolution of Catches in the Fishing Sector in Catalonia 2022-2023.

Professional fishing in Catalonia has traditionally been an important economic activity, but analyses show a downward trend in catches and revenues over the past few decades. This report presents data on catches, first-sale prices, and revenues of the Catalan fishing sector from January 2022 to December 2023, inclusive.

In the different sections, the data have been analyzed for the main fishing modalities, for the main species, and those included in management or co-management plans, and according to the fish markets. Additionally, an analysis of the effects of the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan (WMMAP) has been carried out. Finally, and for the first time, general conclusions drawn from the analyses are presented.

Source: Marc Balcells

Download the latest ICATMAR reports

Posted on by Ferran Bustos

The latest ICATMAR reports are now available in the Publications section.

First of all, State of fisheries in Catalonia 2022, Part 1 explains the methodology of the continuous fisheries monitoring along the Catalan coast carried out by ICATMAR over the last four years. This is followed by the results of the scientific monitoring of the bottom-trawl, purse seine and small-scale fisheries (sonsera, common octopus and, for the first time, blue crab).

State of fisheries in Catalonia 2022, Part 2, presents the stock assessment of the main species included in the Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan for demersal fisheries management (WMMAP): hake, red mullet, Norway lobster, blue and red shrimp and deep-water rose shrimp. In addition, it also includes, for the first time, the assessment of the Europeam sardine and anchovy stocks present on the Catalan coast, reference species of the Management Plan for the purse seine fishery.

Finally, Fisheries advisory report for the Northern GSA6 2023 is a compilation of fisheries management considerations for the FAO GSA-6 area, the geographical sub-area where the coasts of Catalonia are located. It consists of a series of proposals and approaches on issues such as increasing the selectivity of bottom-trawl gear, the implementation of doors without bottom contact and the effectiveness of permanent no-take areas, among others.

New network of radars will measure sea currents and waves in real-time

Posted on by Jordi Ribera

Marine currents play a key role in the ocean by transporting heat, nutrients and planktonic organisms. They also affect shipping, fishing activity, beach water quality and determine the trajectory of pollutants and other drifting objects.

In total, the network will consist of 7 antennas, 2 of which are already operating and the rest will be commissioned before the end of 2024 / ICM-CSIC.

Despite their importance, existing measures on marine currents in Catalonia are quite limited. However, from now on the extent and resolution of these data will be significantly improved thanks to the implementation of a new high-frequency radar network managed by the ICATMAR, a cooperative body between the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) and the Generalitat de Catalunya that aims to provide scientific advice on maritime issues, promote cooperation and boost marine research.

“The new network will make it possible to monitor marine currents and waves in real time, which will help improve fisheries management, biodiversity status, safety and maritime transport”, explains the ICM-CSIC researcher Jordi Isern, head of the new ICATMAR operational oceanography service, who adds that “the radars will also help predict the movement of pollutants in order to reduce their impact between the coastline and some 40 miles offshore”.

In total, the network will be made up of 7 antennas -2 of which are already operating and the rest will be commissioned before the end of 2024- which will provide the direction and intensity of surface currents -at 1-meter depth- and hourly wave measurements.

“This is basic information to improve fisheries management, optimize navigation routes and contribute to the search for people in case of shipwrecks,” details Isern in this regard.

Finally, the new network will be complemented by the deployment, in the next two years, of another network of oceanographic buoys designed in conjunction with the Meteorological Service of Catalonia that will be used to obtain measurements of bottom currents, surface temperature and salinity, waves and atmospheric measurements. All these data will be integrated with other data collected on European coasts in the framework of different national and international projects.

All in all, these infrastructures will help advancing in the sustainable development of the Blue Economy in Catalonia, which includes the fishing and recreational maritime sectors, but also to optimize responses to emergency situations such as shipwrecks or pollutant spills. Likewise, the incorporation of these data to the oceanic models that are being developed in the context of ICATMAR will allow much more accurate predictions of marine currents.

Consult the latest ICATMAR reports

Posted on by Jordi Ribera

You can now consult and download the latest ICATMAR reports in the Publications section.

State of fisheries in Catalonia 2021, Part 1 contains, on the one hand, the results of the monitoring of the Catalan commercial fishing fleet throughout 2021 and, on the other hand, describes the changes and updates applied to the information systems and data analysis structures used for the preparation of this report. In addition, a spatial-temporal analysis of the structure by métiers of the Catalan trawl fleet is presented.

State of fisheries in Catalonia 2021, Part 2, presents the results obtained by ICATMAR using, for the first time, its own data for the assessment of fish stocks along the Catalan coast. The assessment is carried out for five target species of the WMMAP (Western Mediterranean Multiannual Plan): red mullet, hake, deep-water rose shrimp, Norway lobster and blue and red shrimp.

Finally, Fisheries advisory report for the Northern GSA6 2021 is a compilation of fisheries management considerations for GSA6, the geographical sub-area where the coasts of Catalonia are located. This report presents conclusions drawn from the monitoring carried out by ICATMAR for the Catalan trawl fishery, as well as an analysis of spatial fishing closures effectiveness in the north of Catalonia, among other considerations.

Catalonia adds 20 permanent no-take zones to its marine protected areas

Posted on by Jordi Ribera

The creation of this marine protected areas network constitutes an unprecedented expansion of the Catalan coastline where demersal fishing is not allowed.

The new no-take zones total 462 square kilometers, which is roughly equivalent to the extension of Andorra.

 

Source: ICATMAR / Authors: José Antonio García del Arco & Joan Sala-Coromina

Catalonia has added this 2022 a total of 20 new marine protected areas banned to demersal fishing, i.e., fishing of species that inhabit the seabed. The total surface area of these zones is 462 square kilometers, which adds up to 283 times the previous protected area where this type of fishing was not allowed.

The creation of this new marine protected areas network is the result of a close collaboration between the Catalan fishermen’s guilds, the scientific sector, represented by the Institut Català de Recerca per a la Governança del Mar (ICATMAR) and the Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC) of Barcelona, and the Generalitat de Catalunya for more than three years.

“This measure will contribute to the recovery of ecosystems and marine species that are part of them,” celebrates the ICM-CSIC and ICATMAR researcher Laura Recasens.

The initiative is part of the Maritime Strategy of Catalonia, which is based on the co-management model, i.e. the active participation of all stakeholders involved in decision-making on fisheries management. However, the first steps were taken in 2013 by a group of fishermen from the Roses fishermen’s guild who decided to carry out the first closure of a fishing area. Later, in 2015, a scientific team from the ICM-CSIC began to study how this measure was contributing to the ecosystem’s recovery.

This first closure led to an increase in the abundance of juveniles and adults of commercial species, not only within the protected area, but also in adjacent areas. Therefore, researchers decided to extend the initiative to all the fishermen’s guilds in Catalonia until the current establishment of this network of 20 new marine protected areas along the entire coastline.

The Catalan model is also being implemented in other areas of Spain thanks to the collaboration between ICATMAR and the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) with the Spanish government’s Fisheries Secretariat.

A historic milestone

Alogether, the protected zones total 462 square kilometers, which is roughly equivalent to the surface area of Andorra.

“We value very positively the fact that, in order to carry out the implementation of this model in Catalonia, the different fishermen’s guilds have had to give up exploiting part of their fishing grounds, thus contributing to the protection of marine ecosystems,” states the ICM-CSIC and ICATMAR researcher Joan B. Company, who is convinced that the new measure will be very beneficial for the marine environment.

Because of the existence of this marine protected areas network, from January 2022 no demersal fishing activity will be allowed, which will favour the biodiversity recovery and the increase of the biomass of the species in these habitats, including those of commercial interest.

In this sense, ICATMAR and ICM-CSIC are committed to a monitoring and restoration program of exploited ecosystems to ensure a continuous gathering of quality scientific data to inform the administration’s decisions on fisheries management.

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