Brussels, 07/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Fishermen and scientists have taken to the sea together to assess the state of fish stocks, including anchovy, in the Bay of Biscay. This is a collaboration that will allow more complete data to be collected with a view to fixing fishing quotas. Ifremer's ship, Thalassa, has begun the mission known as Pelgas 2013 which is aimed at estimating the biomass of small pelagic fish species (anchovy, sardine, horse mackerel, etc.) in the Bay of Biscay, says a press release from Ifremer (Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer) and France filière pêche, a professional group. The observation mission began in Brest on 27 April and will finish in Lorient on 13 May. The data gathered will be compiled with work done by Spain, among other things in order to determine the total allowable catch (TAC) for anchovy for the 2013/2014 season that opens on 1 July. France and Spain share the anchovy TAC in this area. End July 2012, the Council endorsed a 30% reduction of anchovy TAC in the Bay of Biscay, to 20,700 tonnes (10% for France, 90% for Spain - see EUROPE 10664). The other pelagic species that is often caught in the Bay of Biscay is sardine, which is doing well in this area and is not subject to quotas. Horse mackerel and sprat are also present but are not well liked by French consumers. (LC/transl.jl)