Autonomous bottom moored acoustic observatory for fisheries resources monitoring

This paper describes a technological development project in charge of deploying an autonomous bottom moored acoustic observatory in May 2005 within Bay of Biscay coastal zone. The observatory should provide monitoring of fish abundance around an artificial reef over a period of 3 years. Preliminary results from a similar operating system, deployed off Sainte Anne coastal zone in Brest since October 2004, are presented and discussed in relation to fish abundance behavior, fish aggregation patterns and autonomy requirements.