“New molecular and remote-control technologies for assessing cetacean populations” aims to develop methods for monitoring cetacean species (whales and dolphins) in the north and northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, including protected areas such as the Atlantic Islands National Park, the Galicia Bank and El Cachucho. Work will be carried out using DNA detection and drones.
“Assessment and improvement of discard survival in the Galician small-scale fleet using acoustic telemetry” seeks to estimate discard survival in the small-scale fleet in the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park and identify improvements to minimize the impact of discarding.
Santiago de Compostela, 20 February 2020. The Institute of Marine Research (IIM), with the support of Fundación Biodiversidad of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, is launching two research projects on the marine environment.
“New molecular and remote-control technologies for assessing cetacean populations” (NuTEC), running until February 2022, is linked to Marine Mammal Monitoring Programmes under the Marine Strategies. Led by Graham Pierce, head of the Department of Marine Ecology and Resources, it involves staff from the Fisheries Ecology group and the Aquatic Biotechnology group.
The project will be carried out in the North Atlantic Demarcation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, covering waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone off Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country. The cetacean species to be assessed are fin whale, harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin and common dolphin.
The directive requires European Member States to assess and monitor the environmental status of their marine waters. Traditional methods based on distance sampling from oceanographic vessels are expensive and complex, making assessments difficult. NuTEC will test alternatives such as environmental DNA and drones.
The second project, focused on discard survival, is led by Alexandre Alonso Fernández. It uses acoustic telemetry to estimate survival after release and provide scientific information that can improve fishing practices and reduce the ecological impact of discards.