The latest edition of AZTI Insights explains how continuous ocean observations are translated into forecasts and information that support research and decision-making.
The publication outlines the technologies used to collect these data and presents applications for the fishing industry and the authorities responsible for the marine environment. These include monitoring species such as anchovy and mackerel, supporting stock assessments and scientific surveys, and identifying conditions conducive to toxic algal blooms.
Investigating Where Fish Are Found and How Environmental Conditions Influence Their Distribution
One of the examples featured is PIXEL, a project funded by the Basque Government through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). It aims to support the sustainable exploitation of mackerel, anchovy, and horse mackerel by combining improvements in stock assessment with tools that predict fishing grounds based on environmental conditions.
The project uses autonomous underwater vehicles, known as gliders, to record variables such as temperature and salinity, alongside acoustic measurements of abundance collected using a compact echosounder, at different depths during the mackerel fishing season. Combining these environmental observations with fisheries data enables researchers to investigate the relationship between ocean conditions and species distribution, strengthening the scientific basis for surveys and resource assessments.
“Understanding how the environment in which commercial species live is changing helps us better interpret their distribution. Integrating ocean observations with fisheries data allows us to develop more comprehensive research and provide useful knowledge for management,” said Anna Rubio, Coordinator for Coastal Engineering and Operational Oceanography at AZTI.
Research to Address a Changing Ocean
The report also presents research on ocean warming. Through autonomous vehicle missions, AZTI investigates the extent and depth of warming events in the Bay of Biscay, combining the findings with satellite data and observations from fixed stations. This observational capability provides a basis for investigating the impacts of marine heatwaves on ecosystems and commercially important fish species.
Another area of research focuses on river inputs to the sea, which influence nutrient availability, productivity, and coastal water quality. Monitoring these inputs helps characterize highly variable environments and address questions relevant to the management of estuaries and nearshore waters.
The publication also features OSTREOBILA, a project involving AZTI that aims to improve understanding and prediction of blooms of the microalga Ostreopsis. Integrating observations and models enables researchers to study how Ostreopsis blooms are transported and where they accumulate, and helps develop early warning and risk management tools for public authorities.
Research Capabilities Tailored to Specific Needs
These research activities draw on networks such as EuskOOS, the operational oceanography system for the Basque coast. The system is developed and operated jointly by AZTI and Euskalmet, the Basque Meteorological Agency, on behalf of the Directorate of Emergency Response and Meteorology (DAEM) within the Basque Government’s Department of Security. Its open data allow users to check sea conditions and access time series for scientific research.
The report also introduces Pasaia Ocean Autonomy (POA), the infrastructure through which AZTI operates autonomous marine vehicles and provides bespoke monitoring campaigns, sensor integration, and technology validation. These capabilities enable studies to be designed around a particular area, time of year, or scientific question, combining new measurements with historical data and models.
For public authorities, fisheries organizations, and businesses, these capabilities support research into the relationship between environmental conditions and fishery resources, changes in habitats, and the processes that influence the quality of the marine environment. Sustained observations help distinguish short-term variability from persistent change and provide a stronger scientific basis for fisheries assessment and management.
The latest edition of AZTI Insights: Operational Oceanography is available to read and download free of charge at https://www.azti.es/en/products/azti-insights-operational-oceanography/
