The mapping of pockmark habitats (cold fluid emissions) off the coast of Congo was carried out by Ifremer's Deep-Sea Laboratory as part of the WACS cruise. The method used for this habitat mapping is based on the preliminary analysis of videos acquired with the ROV Victor 6000 during the oceanographic cruise: WACS (from 26/01/2011 to 25/02/2011, mission leader: Karine OLU). The habitats were described at the finest level of analysis and then classified according to the EUNIS typology (https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/eunis-habitat-classification-1). Data published in: Marcon, Y., H. Sahling, A.-G. Allais, G. Bohrmann and K. Olu (2014a). Distribution and temporal variation of mega-fauna at the Regab pockmark (Northern Congo Fan), based on a comparison of videomosaics and geographic information systems analyses." Marine Ecology 35(1): 77-95. doi: 10.1111/maec.12056

The mapping of habitats off the coast of Congo was carried out by the Ifremer Deep-Sea Laboratory as part of the ANR CONGOLOBE project (2011-2015, coordinator Christophe RABOUILLE). The method used for this habitat mapping is based on the preliminary analysis of images acquired with the ROV Victor 6000 during two oceanographic campaigns: WACS (from 26/01/2011 to 25/02/2011, mission chief: Karine OLU) and CONGOLOBE (from 11/12/2011 to 12/01/2012, mission chief: Christophe RABOUILLE). The habitats were described at the finest level of analysis and then classified according to the EUNIS typology (https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/eunis-habitat-classification-1). Data published in: Sen, A., B. Dennielou, J. Tourolle, A. Arnaubec, C. Rabouille and K. Olu (2017). Fauna and habitat types driven by turbidity currents in the lobe complex of the Congo deep-sea fan. Deep-Sea Research Part Ii-Topical Studies in Oceanography 142: 167-179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.05.009

Raw underway marine gravity data from the French civil Research vessels and archived at SISMER (IFREMER)

Raw seismic reflexion data collected on board of the French oceanographic fleet managed by IFREMER and archived at SISMER.

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.).

Reflectivity measurements of the multibeam echosounders of the French Research Vessels

Raw singlebeam echosounder data from the French civil Research vessels, archived at SISMER (IFREMER)

Sidescan sonar data of the French Research Vessels, archived at SISMER (IFREMER)

Multibeam echosounder data from the French civil Research vessels, archived at SISMER (IFREMER)

Since 2001, an annual stock assessment of Manila (Ruditapes philippinarum) and European (Ruditapes decussatus) clams has been carried out in March in the Gulf of Morbihan and the Noyalo River. The objectives of this survey are : 1) estimate by direct assessment, the biomass of the stock and its geographical distribution; 2) estimate the exploitable biomass and exploitation potential for the sampled sites in particular, in areas reserved for professional fishing; 3) to establish a diagnosis, with a medium-term vision, on the state of the stock; 4) to propose the implementation of appropriate management measures. Two cruises were also carried out in 1996 and 1997.