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

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5821/iwp.2025.24.13991

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.

Published

2026-03-13

Issue

No. 24 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Maria Mateo, Estanis Mugerza, Lucía Zarauz, Udane Martínez, Iñaki Oyarzabal, Eneko Bachiller, Maria Korta, Arantza Murillas

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