The Portuguese Oceanic and Atmospheric Institute (IPMA), is a public institution of the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine, Environment and Spatial Planning, whose mission is to promote and coordinate scientific research, technological development, innovation and service on the seas and atmosphere, ensuring the implementation of national strategies and policies in their areas of expertise.
The north atlantic team of the DivRP (Division of Fisheries Resources) of IPMA is a research group aimed both to the characterization of North Atlantic far seas portuguese fisheries (Newfoudland, Irminger Sea, Norwegian Sea and Svalbard) for assessment purposes and fully participate on the NAFO Scientic Council framework, namely on the assessment process related to fish stocks in NAFO Sub area 3. This group is also directly involved in the EU bottom trawl survey project from its beginning and in several ICES assessment groups.
The IPMA collaborates with GADCAP project at two different levels. It is providing, in conjunction the IIM, IEO and AZTI-tecnalia basic data and information for multispecies modelling from the annual EU survey. In adition, the IPMA is providing aggregated information about the fishing activity of the Portuguese commercial fleet in the Flemish Cap. In addition to data, with his experience, Antonio Ávila de Melo, the EU scientist in charge of the monospecific stock assessment for Flemish Cap redfish will contribute to the development of GADCAP during the short stays that are programmed in the Centre of IPMA in Lisbon across 2014 and 2015.
António Ávila de Melo received his PhD equivalent in redfish population dynamics and fishery management in 2004. He is a researcher in IPMA since 1991. Member of NAFO Scientific Council since 1988. Co- responsible for the implementation and data analysis of the National Sampling Programme of the Portuguese fisheries on NAFO Regulatory Area since 1989. On behalf of several EU funded research projects part of the EU Flemish Cap bottom trawl survey (NAFO Div. 3M) research staff, being its scientific leader in 1997 (1988-1999). Responsible for the assessment and management advice of redfish (Sebastes sp.) in NAFO Div. 3M (Flemish Cap Bank) since 1997 and NAFO Div. 3LN (north and eastern part of the Newfounland Grand Bank) since 2004. Reviewer of the Review Group of ICES Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) on 2008-2010 and 2012. National delegate to ACOM/ Advisory Group of ICES Working Group on Widely Distributed Stocks (ADGWIDE) on 2011 and 2013.
Dr. Antonio Ávila de Melo
GADCAP 