Oceanographic Campaign MOPPA 2025 on board the Research Vessel Diplodus

On 29 July, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere launched the oceanographic campaign MOPPA 2025 on board the Research Vessel (RV) DIPLODUS.

The campaign, which will run until 9 August, has as its main objective the monitoring of bivalve mollusc beds along the south-western coast, between Sines and Costa da Caparica. The populations of commercial bivalve species will be assessed, thus allowing the collection of essential data for the future definition of fishing quotas by species and vessel.

The survey will be carried out based on a network of sampling stations distributed along profiles perpendicular to the coast, between 3 and 25 metres bathymetry, using trawls with hooks.

The RV Diplodus, belonging to IPMA fleet , recently completed a maintenance and refurbishment intervention at the Marina Formosa Algarve Boatyard in Olhão, leading to its modernisation and revitalisation, reaffirming it as a vessel of excellence for coastal research.

This campaign is part of IPMA’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable management of marine resources and ensure the conservation of benthic ecosystems.