Results for the Spanish Survey in the NAFO Regulatory Area of Division 3L for the period 2003-2012

• Main Authors: Román-Marcote, Esther, González-Iglesias, María de la Concepción, González-Troncoso, Diana
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 2013
• Subjects: Survey; Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo; Pesquerías; Flemish Pass; Greenland halibut; American plaice; wicht flounder; Greenland; North Atlantic; Northwest Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/1729; http://hdl.handle.net/10261/328664

Since 2003, a stratified random summer bottom trawl survey was conducted by Spain in the NAFO Regulatory Area of Division 3L (Flemish Pass). The surveys were carried out by the R/V “Vizconde de Eza” using bottom trawl net type Campelen. Entire series of mean catches, biomass and length distribution for Greenland halibut, American plaice and witch flounder are presented for the period 2003-2012. Greenland halibut biomass and abundance estimates show an increasing trend since 2003, cut in year 2009. In 2011-2012 the biomass drops under the 2006 value. American plaice biomass and abundance estimates present an increasing trend since 2010. Regarding witch flounder, the biomass and abundance decreased in 2012, but there is no a clear trend in the period 2003-2012.