Spanish North Atlantic deep-water fisheries

• Main Authors: Iglesias-Martínez, Sergio, Paz, Xabier
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: 1995
• Subjects: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo; Pesquerías; Greenland; North Atlantic Deep Water; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/937; http://hdl.handle.net/10261/328673

The spanish fishing fleet catches deep-water species on both sides of the North Atlantic ocean. In terms of catches, the most important commercial species is the Greenland hatibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) which is caught in the NAFO Divisions 3L, 3M and 3N. In this fishery most research has focused on the Greenland halibut and the paper contains some preliminary information on length distribution, spawning and feeding. The fishery first commenced in 1990 and the fishing effort increased from 9 vessels in 1990 to 33 vessels in 1993. Each vessel makes a voyage of 5 to 6 months. It is the practice to monitor catches, catch information and biological data by employing trained observers on the vessels. Spanish vessels also fish for deep-water species in the eastern North Atlantic, and the paper describes the fishery for various species of deep-water sharks in depths from 400 m to in excess of 1000 m using longlines. These fisheries take place in ICES areas VII, VIIIc and IXa. Also in the eastern Atlantic there are spanish fisheries for monkfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) using gillnets, and a small fishery for Chaecon affinis, (formerly Geryon affinis) on the Banco de Galicia using longlines and traps. Spanish scientists and fishermen have also carried out surveys in deep-water since 1974 using trawl gear down to 2000 m and more recently with longlines down to 3400 m.