Black anglerfish (Lophius budegassa): weight-length relationships, weight conversion factors and condition factor trends from a decade of two stocks, in ICES Div. VIIIc-IXa (northern Iberian Atlantic waters) and in Div. VIIb,c,h,j,k (Celtic Sea, south-western Ireland and Porcupine Bank)

• Main Authors: Landa, J. (Jorge), Antolínez, A. (Ana), Castro-Loehmann, B. (Begoña), Hernández, C. (Carmen)
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Santander 2016
• Subjects: weight-length relationships; weight conversion factors; condition factor; black anglerfish; Lophius budegassa; Northeast Atlantic; Porcupine Bank; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/10317

Weight-length relationships, weight conversion factors and condition factor are presented from a decade (2006 to 2015) for both stocks of black anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) in northern Iberian Atlantic waters (ICES Div. VIIIc-IXa) and in Celtic Sea, south-western Ireland and Porcupine Bank (ICES Div. VIIb,c,h,j,k). A total of 2035 and 1263 specimens were sampled respectively in each stock from commercial landings and research surveys. Total length [Lt (cm)], total weight [Wt (g)], “commercial” weight (gutted with liver) [Wgl (g)] and “scientific” weight (gutted without liver) [Wg (g)] were obtained. The weight-length relationships for the combined sexes were: Lt = 0.020 Wt2.916; Lt = 0.017 Wgl2.929; Lt = 0.017 Wg2.922 in Div. VIIIc-IXa, and Lt = 0.025 Wt2.841; Lt = 0.013 Wgl2.984; Lt = 0.013 Wg2.971 in Div. VIIb,c,h,j,k. The conversion factors (total weight - gutted weight), useful in fisheries management due to the commercial landings of this species are available in gutted weight, were: Wt = 1.186 Wgl; Wt = 1.236 Wg in Div. VIIIc-IXa, and Wt = 1.187 Wgl; Wt = 1.233 Wg in Div. VIIb,c,h,j,k. These updated values can be used in the process of the annual assessment of the state of both stocks in the ICES working group. The evolution of the condition factor over the year, indicator of nutritional status evolution, is also estimated for immature and mature individuals of each sex, showing some seasonal variation. The results are similar to the previously estimated in other studies.