EU-DCF Fisheries research

EU-DCF Fisheries research -project is responsible to collect biological data of commercially important fish stocks, endangered fish species and bycatch of commercial fishing according to EU common fisheries policy (CFP 1380/2013, articles 25-27) and other EU legistation. In Finland, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has obliged Luke to implement data collection, storage and dissemination.

The biological information in DCF includes:

• Sampling from marine commercial catch to collect biological variables of fish stocks e.g. length, age, growth and maturity in economically important species (Baltic herring, sprat, salmon, pikeperch, perch, whitefish and vendace).

• Research survey BIAS (echosounding and experimental trawling of Baltic herring and sprat)

• Monitoring of salmon in the Rivers Simojoki, Tornionjoki, Tenojoki and Näätämöjoki (abundance of migrating adults, parrs and smolts, fisheries surveys)

• Eel monitoring (stock status in the Rivers Kokemäenjoki and Kymijoki, and coastal areas)

• Monitoring the abundance of sea trout parrs by electrofishing in River Isojoki, Ingarskilanjoki and Mustajoki

Collected information is used for e.g. research purposes and scientific advice (ICES). International cooperation is conducted mainly by ICES, Regional coordination Group RCG Baltic and RCG NANSEA. The DCF information is delivered to end users (Commission, RCG:s, ICES, national institutes) via data calls.