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WHITECLAM- RESEARCH ON SAND WHITE CLAMS AND NEW MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS (WHITECLAM) 2020-2022, MARITIME AND FISHERIES PROGRAM

INSTITUTE OF FISH RESOURCES VARNA is a beneficiary of Project № BG14MFOP001-6.003-0004, "Research of sand white clams and new management proposals (WHITECLAM)", funded by the Maritime and Fisheries Program 2014-2020, co-financed by the European Union through the European Maritime Fund for fisheries, Grant administrative contract № MDR - IP - 01 - 34 / 25.03.2019.  

Objectives of the WHITECLAM project research: 

1.     Defining priority areas with accumulations of white clams in the Bulgarian coast by current assessment of the stocks, distribution and biological characteristics of the species white clams (Chamelea gallina, р. Donax, Anadara iaequivalvis) and comparison with previous studies.

2.     Enrichment and supplementation of information on descriptors D 1 (Biodiversity Conservation) and D 3 (Sustainable Stocks of Species subject to industrial fishing) of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56 / EC) in the studied habitats - infra- and sublittoral biocenosis, with dominant species of white clams. 

3.     Proposals for regulatory measures - reduction of fishing effort, measures related to maritime spatial planning and marine protected areas, research on good practices for conservation and recovery of white clams stocks in other regions of the World Ocean.