Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Cephalopod Exploitation in the English Channel: Influence of the Environment on Life Cycles

The management of cephalopod stocks currently presents several challenges, including the need for a fine temporal resolution adapted to the short lifespan of these species, a spatialized context adapted to their migratory behaviors, and an evaluation of the influence of the environment, to which they are very sensitive. This work is part of the SPADYN project, co-funded by the Normandy Region and France Filière Pêche, and aims to better understand the distribution and abundance patterns of cephalopods as well as their interactions with environmental conditions. The objective is to develop reliable indicators for the sustainable management of fisheries at the local and regional levels.

The project will use commercial fishing data, in collaboration with Ifremer and the Regional Fisheries Committee, to develop relevant abundance indices describing the spatiotemporal variations of cephalopod resources. Particular attention will be paid to integrating environmental conditions into the estimation of abundance, the spatial distribution of stocks, and their migrations, as these factors play a determining role in population dynamics. The tools developed will strengthen biological knowledge of these species and improve diagnostics related to fishing pressure, local overexploitation, and the impacts of access restrictions.