MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands Fisheries research vessel surveys hake, hoki and grenadier

Former trawler Castelo was refurbished for scientific research

Falkland Islands Fisheries Research vessel Castelo returns to FIPASS on Monday after two weeks at sea carrying out surveys in the southwest of the Falkland Islands Interim Conservation Zone (FICZ).

Carrying six staff from the Fisheries Department led by Chief Scientist Dr Alexander Arkhipkin the team has been studying the distribution and biology of hoki and Patagonian hakes during their post spawning migration to Falklands’ waters as well as the grenadier community in deeper parts of the Falkland slope.

An oceanographic survey of the entire area studied was also carried out.

Four to five trawls were planned for each day, with two days allowed for bad weather. Plankton stations were surveyed in the evening after trawl operations were completed.

This is the first in-depth research to be carried out since the former research vessel Dorada was decommissioned some 18 months ago, leaving the Fisheries Department without an independent research facility.

The Castelo is a 1.321 tonne 67 metre trawler which has been fishing in the Islands for some years. Owned by Ferralemes Ltd with Red Back Consultants (RBC) as the local venture, a number of modifications were carried out to the vessel in Montevideo earlier this year which included the construction of a dry lab.

Dr Arkhipkin said the Fisheries Department was delighted with the modifications to the vessel. Dr Paul Brickle said using a dedicated research vessel allowed the team to conduct complex sampling stations, simultaneously collecting accurate data on catch weight and composition, oceanography and trawl geometry.

“This data will enable us to explain the distribution of biomass of various commercial species within Falklands waters,” he said, adding that using one vessel and standard gear, stock assessment surveys would be more accurate.

“We will have the flexibility to gain a greater insight into the Falkland Islands marine ecosystem, essential to the management of our fishery,” said Dr Brickle

Source Penguin News