Fish Biology

Since 2005,  AP Marine has been involved with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture in Cyprus with the EU Data Collection Regulation (EC) No. 665/2008. Within this framework AP Marine has carried out biological sampling and assessment of important fish species of the Cyprus fishery. This has included sampling on board, at landing sites and points of sale, assessment of discards and landings and collection of samples for laboratory analysis and examination.

At AP Marine’s lab facilities fish samples are regularly examined and assessment is carried out for maturity, sex, length, weight and age. Also tissue and gonad samples are taken when necessary for analysis of different toxins including heavy metals as well as calibration of macroscopic maturity stage designation with histological examination of gonads. Age assessment is an area in which AP Marine is largelly experienced. Assessments are made utilizing otoliths for demersal and small pelagic species and spine sections for large pelagic species Measurement is carried out utilizing digital methods and images of all otoliths and spines are kept in AP Marine’s electronic archives for future reference.

All of the data collected is vetted and statistical analysis is carried out in order to produce clear results relating to the targets and aims of each research undertaking.

AP Marine collaborates to a great extent with Fisheries Research Institute of the National Agricultural Research Foundation of Greece.