You are using an outdated browser that is not supported by GeoNode.

Objectives:
- Review and map all existing information on historical and current data of nurseries and spawning grounds of certain small pelagic (i.e., Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomber spp., Trachurus spp) that are included in the Data Collection Framework for the Mediterranean and subjected to minimum landing size based on Council Regulation No 1967/2006-Annex II
- Analyze existing survey data and apply spatial analysis techniques in order to identify locations that are more likely to be density hot spot areas or are being more suitable for fish nurseries and spawning grounds for Engraulis encrasicolus, Sardina pilchardus, Scomber spp., Trachurus trachurus, Trachurus mediterraneus. These areas will also be characterized from an environmental and ecological perspective upon data availability.
- Integrate and present the aforementioned information through a web based GIS viewerwith an associated geo-referenced database that will operate as a consulting tool for spatial management and conservation planning.

Model obtained applying habitat suitability modeling techniques and using environmental data in order to obtain an idea of potential spawning grounds throughout the Mediterranean Sea and analyze persistent spawning areas based on annual distribution maps.
Data from ichthyoplankton surveys in the GSA 22 were used to determine Scomber colias eggs’ presence. Specifically, the entire set of 465 stations performed over the period 2006, 2008, 2010 was used.
In a subsequent step, Maximum Entropy Models (MAXENT –Philips et al. 2006) was applied due to the very small number of available presence data that made other statistical approaches not suitable to apply.
The model for Scomber colias eggs occurrence was developed, using Maxent default settings, but randomly setting aside 25% of presence points for model validation.
Persistence maps describe preferential (high mean, low std), occasional (high mean, high std) and rare (low mean, low std) spawning grounds and up to 400 m depth.