New study of the population of Rapana venosa or mussel eater in the Black Sea is in progress, as informed by BTA Elitsa Petrova, head of the Fisheries Resources Institute (IFR) of the Agricultural Academy in Varna. Within ten days, scientists will examine 53 locations along the Black Sea coast and will gather evidence for this edible sea snail located at a depth of up to 45 meters.
The work of the IFR team is part of a major mussel research project funded under the BlackSea4Fis research project with the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). The project has been implemented for two years in cooperation between Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Studies of predatory marine snail populations in all participating countries are carried out in the spring and autumn using the same device and uniform protocols and methods. The data collected is discussed from time to time in meetings between the countries, Petrova explained. The ultimate goal is to adopt a decision on the management of mussel-eating stocks in the Black Sea, as the sea snail is an economic resource although it is an invasive species.
According to Petrova, the position is that since they come from large quantities, the management of Rapana (genus of large predatory sea snails, sea mollusks) should be done on the basis of a single approach that takes into account the interests of all parties involved. Species management could include setting quotas for individual countries, given in particular the way in which population size has declined in recent years, Petrova said. Romania has introduced such a quota, but it is national and is not linked to European Commission decisions, he added.
The situation of the mussel population in the Bulgarian part of the Black Sea will be discussed at a meeting organized by the IFR on April 28th. The data collected so far will be summarized at the international meeting between the participating countries on 9 May.
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