Ebartesa devices: the data revolution in small-scale fisheries management in the basque country

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) are crucial to coastal communities and account for 90% of global fisheries and 84% of the EU fleet. Mapping their activities is essential for understanding their interactions with coastal ecosystems and biodiversity. In the Basque Country, around 90% of the small-scale fleet does not have Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) due to legal restrictions. To address this, AZTI and the Basque government launched a voluntary programme in 2016 to install EBArtesa devices on some vessels. Around 15% of the fleet is equipped with these devices, which track fishing trips and link catches to specific zones. This study standardises the analysis of high-resolution vessel monitoring data and incorporates additional variables such as vessel behaviour and seabed substrate, providing valuable insights for conservation and management efforts.