MEDITS-Handbook. Version n. 9, 2017.

Abstract

This document is the ninth version of the first manual elaborated in the frame of the MEDITS international project to harmonise the sampling of demersal resources in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the reference document for research institutes and teams contributing to the MEDITS surveys on the continental shelves and slopes in the Mediterranean. The manual describes the sampling gear characteristics (feature and handling), the design of the survey, the sampling methodology and the processing of samples. Finally, it gives the specifications of the data files for data storage and exchange. This manual includes amendments and improvements to the MEDITS protocol as agreed by the MEDITS Co-ordination Committee up to the 2017 annual meeting. Considering the need for progressing towards new objectives (e.g common data-base) and amendments to be considered in the future, updates to this manual will be carried out as necessary. The present version of the MEDITS Manual also includes the work performed in the Multidisciplinary Group on Gear Performance and Standardization of Gear Data Processing (MGGP) established at the MEDITS coordination meeting in Ljubljana (Slovenia, 6-8 March 2012). The MGGP ToRs related to the Technical specifications and quality check of the Medits gear were finalised during the MEDITS Coordination Meeting of 2013 (Heraklion, Greece, March 12-14, 2013). Thus, a new regularly check of the MEDITS gears (trawl, rigging, doors) and of the protocol-abiding has been plenary proposed and accepted. This protocol, updated in 2014 and further revised in 2015, to fix some technical details, is in the Annex XVI to the present handbook version 9 (2017). In addition, the common protocol for the voluntary collection of data on Marine Litters, in agreements with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Directive Framework (Directive 2008/56/EC), is reported in the Annex XVII. This protocol was agreed at the MEDITS Coordination Meeting of 2013 (Heraklion, Greece, March 12-14, 2013) and further improved in 2014 and 2015. To ease the MEDITS Handbook consultation, the present version 9 separates out the TM list from the MEDITS Handbook and makes the former available in an electronic format only at the web site: http://www.sibm.it/MEDITS%202011/principale%20project.htm.