There is overfishing in the archipelago or not?
MF: What happens is out of our waters, our exclusive economic zone, Asians appear in boats, from Taiwan, or Japan, which catch sharks, fortunately are rare here, but these vessels do finning, ie, take the fins the fish, because in Asia there is the consumption of fin soup.
The same happens with rays or not?
MF: Rays are often caught because of the tail fin that is used for decoration.
Another observation that has been made on the island is the greatest appearance of living waters.
MF: Yes, we are doing a work where we ask the help of the bathing complex of Funchal. They point out a daily log sheet to indicate the species and their abundance in the water, since there are four types of jellyfish in Madeira. In the field of observations ordered to place wherever possible the temperature of sea water and if in the jellyfish niche is or not visible pollution. This work began in July and is to last throughout the years.
This study arises from peoples view that although there is no visible pollution the jellyfish appear just the same in the sea?
MF: It is proven that the warm water causes the appearance of jellyfish. The two causes given by scientific study for its appearance in greater numbers, are overfishing that unbalances the entire food chain, on the other hand, the warming of the sea. With warmer seas, what is happening is that the jellyfish appear more throughout the year, whereas before we had the perception that only could be seen in the summer. At Easter, for example, there were two days when you could not go in the water such was the quantity on the island of Porto Santo. The registration of these data is that is important to us.
These indicators show that eventually the man directly affects ecosystems, which creates an imbalance?
MF: Yes, I think it is common knowledge that we unbalance the natural system, now, to what extent do we do it? It's what makes the very important scientific research because obtaining these data, making its record in a systematic way, is what let us say with certainty that the jellyfish occur in greater numbers at a particular time of the year than anteriorly.
What are the consequences of the higher incidence of these species in the sea?
MF: There are two negative consequences, is the enjoyment of the sea itself, the majority of residents and tourists who visit us do not like to go into the sea with jellyfish, because as usual, they run the risk of being burned. And the second reason is that these jellyfish feed on the larvae of fish, how many more there are, the more they eat, and in the near future the most visible consequence is that we have less fish in our waters.
Other programs that the station is involved is the marprof.
MF: This is a project that aims to establish the foundations for a sustainable exploitation of the deep sea. It is the culmination of a series of research projects, which we had since 2003, we've been studying the seas of Madeira, between 250 and 2.500 meters deep. On the one hand, to inventory biodiversity in these depths and to discover other species that have potential to be commercialized. What were these species? The gamba of Madeira, which is a shrimp that reaches a certain size, the deep-sea crab and walked to further study the black scabbard fish. The culmination of marprof, his final object was a cookbook that gathers all the information on these species in depth, how fish can be marketed and used in Madeiran cuisine. In the background we combined these three pillars with 60 original recipes along with the heads of the hotel and tourism schools in Madeira, the Azores and the Canary Islands.
This study arises because there is a certain depletion of fishery stocks in the archipelago, or not?
MF: They are declining, the island has always lived from three essential fisheries, tuna, black scabbard fish and Ruhamah, which are small fish. The odds of fisheries, on the other hand, has decreased, the EU tightens accordingly, we cannot fish. So the idea was to get other species that may be an alternative, much been talked about the defense of the black scabbard fish, so when it is the breeding season for this species, we would like to provide fishermen with other options. This study was, in the case of the gamba of Madeira made this assessment that we delivered to the regional secretary of the environment in terms of quantities that can fish and the limit of vessels fishing gear number, so you can open the fishing season sustainably.
The Marine Station of Funchal this year celebrates 15 years of existence. There are open days for the general public, but other initiatives you promote to commemorate the anniversary?
MF: During the year, on the last Monday of each month, we opened our doors to the general public and were filled with visits. Then during the summer, on the last Saturday of every month we have open nights, which is an activity for the whole family, where there is a guest lecture, documentary, or a projection for most adults and the little ones enjoy educational activities that include knowing the marine biology of the archipelago. This year, as we celebrated the 15 years, we provide dive baptism, starting 10 years of age and adults, a first experience of the submerged part of the sea of Madeira. On September 27th we will arrange a kayak tour, since the birthday is on the 28th, in the area around the station, which is expected to be the future marine eco-park of Funchal, is a project of the local Municipal Council, to transform this in a protected area and therefore to raise awareness for the protection of sea landscape.
