Identification and mapping of the Essential Fish Habitat of small pelagic: anchovy and sardine in the Mediterranean Sea.

The aim of this project is to identify those areas in the Mediterranean Sea that could be considered as potential habitat for anchovy and sardine (i.e. adult, spawning and juvenile grounds) and to predict the temporal (seasonal and interannual) variation of suitable habitats in relation to environmental parameters. Furthermore, the temporal dimension of annual recruitment in relation to the seasonal evolution egg production, extension of spawning habitats and environmental conditions will be addressed in an effort to identify the factors that contribute to population integrity and variability.

Objetivos generales:

• Development of large-scale descriptive and predictive models of fish presence and abundance.
• Characterization of suitable habitats for different life stages and their seasonal and interannual variability
• Study of each species environmental preferences based on field collected measurements of ambient biotic and abiotic environmental conditions.

Financiación externa: MARIFISH. Cantidad: Viajes, reuniones, etc. Periodo vigencia: 2009-2010.

Responsable: Magdalena Iglesias.

Componentes:

• Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Grecia
• Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO), España
• CNR, Sicilia, Italia