Maris is an essential platform for the National Monitoring System for Bivalve Molluscs (SNMB) in the Ria de Aveiro
IPMA vessel Maris has been weekly performing bivalves and water samplings for the SNMB in Ria de Aveiro. She operates since March 2021 from the coastal fishing harbour of Aveiro under a collaboration protocol signed between IPMA and the “Associação de Pesca Artesanal da Região de Aveiro” (APARA) in order to collect samples for analysis within the technical coordination of the SNMB.
Since it began to operate as a harvesting vessel for the SNMB, this vessel has proven to be a platform of great importance for the fulfilment of IPMA’s mission regarding the monitoring of the four production areas of live bivalve molluscs in Ria de Aveiro, having already contributed to the collection of approximately 700 samples for analysis in the various laboratory areas of the institute.
The SNMB technicians also use Maris to carry out periodic verification actions, in order to assess whether the sampling points and the harvesting procedure carried out by external samplers under the cooperation protocols are in conformity with the sampling plans and legislation. The identification of possible sources of pollution impacting the production areas (and consequently their health classification) is also an aspect of monitoring that has become much easier with the use of this vessel.
It has also been a constant concern of Maris team to contribute to the awareness and cleanliness of the estuarine environment, collecting on board all the rubbish that comes with the fishing gear.
