Spain’s DESCARSEL research campaign aims to help reduce unwanted catches. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the research vessel Miguel Oliver departed Vigo on 17 September 2026. Together with the Instituto Español de Oceanografía, the ministry is also studying sharks and rays that are commonly discarded at sea.
How do animals behave inside fishing nets?
For eleven days, the team is working off western Galicia and in the western Cantabrian Sea, from coastal waters to depths of 500 metres. It records how animals behave in fishing nets and investigates their survival. Trials include different net configurations, pelagic trawl doors and new trawling systems.
Underwater cameras and automatic identification
Underwater cameras will reveal interactions between fishing gear and animals. Shipboard sensors record operations. The electronic observer IObserver uses artificial intelligence to identify and characterise species. Devices intended to prevent accidental catches of whales and dolphins are also being tested.
Research begins, but effectiveness remains unproven
The announcement gives neither individual shark species nor survival rates. Analysis must establish whether the changes tested actually reduce bycatch. The results will be submitted to the scientific fisheries committee STECF and the European Commission to inform management decisions.