The symposium gathered more than 300 participants from 17 countries in Africa, Europe and Asia. The discussion covered a wide range of issues related to the prospects for rational and sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources in the region. The sessions were attended by scientists of the Atlantic branch of VNIRO (AtlantNIRO).
The report of the head of the branch Konstantin Bandurin "Scientific support of Russian fishing and AtlantNIRO research of pelagic resources of the Central-Eastern Atlantic area" was devoted to the review of Russian scientific research in the Central-Eastern Atlantic area, characteristics of the work of the domestic fishing fleet, cooperation of the Russian Federation with coastal West African countries in the field of marine fisheries. Particular attention was paid to the feasibility of the planned African expedition, which can cover the zones of six states from Morocco to Sierra Leone.
It should be noted that the implementation of expeditionary research in the near future in the zones of Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of Guinea and Sierra Leone will give a new impetus to the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and coastal West African countries.
On the sidelines of the Symposium, specialists of the Atlantic Branch of VNIRO met with the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Abidine Ould Maaif, as well as a delegation of the Mauritanian Institute of Oceanographic Research and Fisheries (IMROP).
The Mauritanian side expressed deep interest in conducting a trawl-acoustic survey by Russian scientists to assess the biomass of pelagic fish species in the exclusive economic zone of Mauritania in conjunction with oceanographic and hydrobiological studies of the pelagic ecosystem. In addition, the Mauritanian colleagues stressed the practical importance of the survey on the replenishment of pelagic fish species, carried out within the framework of the intergovernmental agreement concluded.
For reference:
The main pelagic fish species exploited in the area of North-West Africa belong mainly to the herring, mackerel, mackerel and tuna groups. Stocks of these migratory species are divided among several States of the subregion, including seven States participating in the subregional fisheries commission. In this Atlantic coastal zone, small pelagic fish species play a leading ecological, social and economic role. They occupy a central place in the food chain and are a key element of the diet of most predatory fish (for example, demersal fish, humpback, loafer, tuna), mammals and seabirds. Recent data on the assessment of stocks of small pelagic fish species indicate the variability of biomass, in particular, due to hydro-climatic changes and the level of exploitation.
VNIRO Press Service
