Search

Onboard sorting process for angler sh species in Spanish North Atlantic (ICES VIIIc, IXa) coastal sheries is reviewed. The length e ect analysis across the years sampled reveled an increasing trend in length of rst retention (L50) since 2000, the year when Minimum Landing Weight (MLW 500g) were implemented. Speci c di erences in the length-based sorting process were found, being the less valuable white angler discarded at larger lengths than the black species; further, the analysis found that discard decision is taken at narrower length range for black angler. This results indicate that shers recognize angler species even at low length sizes, conditioning the degree of adoption of MLW with regards to species relative market value.

A discard megrims (Megrim, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis and Four spot megrim, L. boscii) composition estimates for the Spanish bottom otter trawl fleets operating in the Northeast Atlantic ICES Divisions VIIIc and North IXa are presented. Information has been obtained by sampling Spanish fleets under the “Spanish Discard Sampling Programme” carried out by the IEO. Trip was the sampling unit, being raised to different fleet level using fishing effort as auxiliary variable and total fleet landings. Raising to total fleet landings was used for discard fleet estimation due to the lower CV obtained. Time series on discards of both species since 1993 to 2010 are presented. Discard age distributions of both southern megrims species, are also showed. Discard estimates for these species show high between-years variation, exceeding almost 25% CV in almost all cases in both species but with lower values in four spot megrim. MLS and low market value for small fish are the main factors that force the fleet to discard most of megrims species.

A discard Elasmobranches species composition estimates for the Spanish bottom otter and pair trawl fleets operating in the Northeast Atlantic ICES Subareas VI, VII, VIII and North IX are presented. Information has been obtained from the “Spanish Discard Sampling Programme” carried out by the IEO. Time series provide information on discarded catch (in weight and number) and length distributions since 2003 to 2009. Eighteen species were selected in order to show the most important ones occurring in Spanish discards. Trip was the sampling unit, being raised to fleet level using fishing effort as auxiliary variable. Discard estimates for these species show high betweenyears variation, exceeding 50% CV in all cases. Further exploratory data analysis was carried for the four most discarded species.