Zooplankton monitoring (essentially metazoal) – mesozooplankton in the Gironde estuary (3 stations) since 1997 Locations : 3 Stations pK86 : 45°31’N, 01°57’W, pK52 : 45°14’80’’N, 0°43’50’’W pK30 : 45°04’10’’N, 0°38’30’’W

RESOMAR is a national network whose main objective is to bring together studies and monitoring programmes conducted at the network’s stations and observatories (Wimereux, Luc/Mer, Dinard, Roscoff, Brest, Concarneau, Ile d'Yeu, La Rochelle, Arcachon, Anglet, Banyuls, Perpignan, Sète, Marseille, Villefranche / Mer). Based on benthic and plankton community monitoring programmes implemented by the stations, one of RESOMAR’s objectives is to use this biological information in order to answer scientific questions, for example concerning the factors which control the distribution and abundance of organisms on different spatial and temporal scales. This monitoring information, the characteristics of which vary depending on the station (number of sites, frequency, continuous monitoring or not, communities observed, taxonomic resolution, observation methods, etc.) is brought together in two databases (RESOMAR/BENTHOS and RESOMAR/PELAGOS), which are currently being developed. The RESOMAR-PELAGOS database hosts biological data obtained by the pelagic aspects of RESOMAR (around fifteen programmes as of September 2012): http://abims.sb- roscoff.fr/pelagos/ This database in particular brings together observation data (long-term series, inventories, spatial studies, etc.).

The objective of the PELGAS cruise is to monitor distribution and abundance of pelagic species fished in the Bay of Biscay, using two direct evaluation methods: acoustics and spawning estimates. The cruise was conducted in coordination with France, Spain and Portugal, in the framework of the European council regulations (EC No 1543/2000 of 29 June 2000 and No 1639/2001 of 25 July 2001).