Caractéristiques des petites pêches côtières et estuariennes de la côte atlantique du Sud de l'Europe

This document presents a summary of the European project Pécosude (n° 99/024). The 2-year contract involved French (Ifremer, Geolittomer and Cemagref), Spanish (AZTI, UPV and IEO) and Portuguese (Ipimar) partners, assessing inshore and estuarine fisheries from the Loire estuary to Portugal. Three main aspects were considered in the study using data from 1999 and 2000: fisheries monitoring, socio-economics and marketing. The study considered fishing grounds within the 12-mile zone for the French fleet and the continental shelf and slope (to depths of 1000 m) for northern Spanish and Portuguese fleets, and fishing times under 96 hours. The halieutics part of the study analysed the activity in terms of gear used, landed species, areas and fishing seasons. Through surveys, a socio-economic analysis described production factors, estimated costs, turnover, income growth, production efficiency and marketing. To complete the PECOSUDE study, 5 work sites within the French sector (Loire estuary, Yeu Island, Gironde estuary, Bassin d'Arcachon and Adour) were analysed more precisely.