As part of the implementation of the monitoring programme of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the monitoring of demersal fish and cephalopods in coastal soft environments was deemed a priority. Annual observation campaigns of coastal nurseries on soft bottoms were carried out by the Laboratoire Halieutique Méditerranée of the Ifremer station in Sète. The objectives of these campaigns are 1. To evaluate the density, biomass and distribution of fish and cephalopods by trawling, in particular benthic and demersal juveniles (red mullet, gurnard). To do this, around one hundred standardised trawl surveys were carried out over the entire coastal strip of the Gulf of Lion situated between 5m and 40m depth. 2. To systematically measure the size of the individuals collected in order to characterise the importance of the nursery function in the areas observed and to better understand the population dynamics of local species. 3. To gain a better understanding of the coastal zone ecosystem by systematically identifying all the species encountered (including benthic and pelagic invertebrates other than fish and cephalopods), the macro-waste observed and by characterising their hydrological habitats (CTD, oxygen, fluorescence, pH, turbidity, etc.).

The Bargip project : acquisition of scientific data and knowledge to produce advices on integrated management of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in North-East Atlantic.