The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere, I.P. (IPMA) has been monitoring the state of bivalve banks along the oceanic coastline of mainland Portugal for about four decades. These monitoring campaigns have been ongoing since 1986 and aim to assess the condition and evolution of these marine resources over time.
Currently, these monitoring activities are framed within the Small-Scale Fisheries and Gathering Monitoring Program, known by the acronym MOPPA. This program integrates the monitoring campaigns into a formalized structure that allows for more organized and systematic management of the collected data.
The program enables knowledge of the state of bivalve banks, providing essential information for the sustainable management of these resources and for the protection of the Portuguese coastal marine ecosystem. Continuous monitoring is fundamental for identifying any changes in bivalve stocks and ensuring their responsible exploitation.
