The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere is promoting the MOPPA project, dedicated to monitoring bivalve banks along the Portuguese coast. This systematic monitoring has been ongoing since 1986 and has been essential for understanding the evolution of the main commercial species and ensuring sustainable fishery management.
The monitoring campaigns cover three main fishing zones: the North Western Zone, the South Western Zone, and the South Zone. In total, there are approximately 800 sampled stations and about 1600 samples collected during these operations.
The analysis of data collected over the decades has allowed the observation of significant changes in bivalve populations and the identification of fundamental trends for species conservation. The results play a crucial role in supporting the Fisheries Administration, helping to establish guidelines that balance resource exploitation with fishery sustainability.
The MOPPA project contributes not only to the protection of bivalves, but also serves as an important resource for assessing the health of marine ecosystems and the response of species to environmental pressures. An online video showing the monitoring work carried out by IPMA is available.
