Current situation of the Deep Water Fisheries exploited by Spanish fleets in the North and Northeast Atlantic: A review

• Main Authors: Piñeiro-Álvarez, C.G. (Carmen Gloria), Casas-Sánchez, J.M. (José Miguel), Bañón, R. (Rafael)
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo 1998
• Subjects: Deep fisheries; description; North Atlantic; Spain; Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/916

Most of the deep-water fisheries exploited by the Spanish fleet may be considered as a by-catch in mixed fisheries. They are related to different sea areas Sub-Areas VI, VII, XII, Divisions VIIIa, b; VIIIc (Cantabrian Sea) and IXa (NW of Spain), using different gears (trawl, long-liner, gillnet). In recent years, new fisheries targeting deep-water species have been established as a result of the over-exploited state of the traditional stocks. These fisheries are mainly opportunistic and are subject to a great variability relying on the abundance, economic importance, season, and yields in relation to target species depletion. This review describes the deep fisheries of the North and Northeast Atlantic exploited by the Spanish fleet, gears, seasonal activity and their target species, as well as landings, by ports, of the most important species. In addition, traditional artisanal fisheries off the Cantabrian Sea coast and the South Atlantic region of Sapin targeting certain species are also described.