Description of the Spanish Pelagic Fishery of Oceanic Redfish (Sebastes mentella Travin) in the North Atlantic (2000-2004)

• Main Authors: González-Costas, F. (Fernando), Río-Iglesias, J.L. (José Luis) del
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo 2005
• Subjects: Greenland; Iceland; North Atlantic; Northwest Atlantic; Sebastes mentella
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/783

The period analyzed in this paper is 2000-2004. Data from the Spanish commercial fishery (hauls, positions, CPUE and length distributions) were recorded on board by scientific observers of the national sampling network. The effort data come from the Fisheries National Administration (SGPM). The Spanish pelagic redfish fishery in ICES areas XII and XIV and in the NAFO Div. 1F and 2J showed a significant seasonal pattern in terms of its geographical and depth distribution. The fishing season occurs mainly during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of every year. In the second quarter the fleet works in area XIV, between the Greenland and Iceland EEZs, in depths deeper than 500 m capturing fish of great size. Proportion of females in the catches is greater than the males. The catches length distributions present two modes that move along the time. In third quarter the fleet moves toward the south west to ICES Division XII and NAFO Div. 1F and 2J and depth of hauls is less than 500 m. The length distributions of the catches are smaller than those of the second quarter and show only one mode rather stable in time. Proportion of the males in the catches is bigger than the females. The yields in these Divisions are smaller than in Division XIV. The fishery in NAFO area 1F and 2J is quite similar to that one carry out in ICES Division XII, particularly in the characteristics of the hauls (depth, season) and in the catches (distributions of sizes, sex ratio, etc).