The annual monitoring of the shellfish stocks in the coastal waters of the Netherlands forms the basis for implementing Dutch policy on the commercial exploitation of shellfish and the protection of the marine environment.
The research in this area focuses on surveying the quantity and distribution of shellfish species. This takes place by means of surveys from research vessels and possibly aircraft (aerial observation and photography).
Method
The operational programme comprises the following components:
- Mapping and surveying the exposed mussel banks in the Wadden Sea
- Surveying the quantities of cockles in the Wadden Sea and adjacent areas (Zeeuwse stromen and voordelta – primarily on the exposed flats)
- Mapping out the wild oyster beds
- Surveying the stocks of common razorfish (Ensis) and Spisula in the Dutch coastal waters.
- Publishing various reports about the results of the surveys
Results
Publishing various reports about the results of the surveys