Results on Merluccius merluccius (hake), Lophius budegassa (black anglerfish) and Lophius piscatorius (white anglerfish), Lepidorhombus boscii (four-spot megrim) and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (megrim) from the Spanish Ground Fish Survey on the Porcupine bank (NE Atlantic)

This working document presents the results of Merluccius merluccius (hake), Lophius budegassa (black anglerfish), Lophius piscatorius (white anglerfish), Lepidorhombus boscii (four-spot megrim) and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (megrim) caught on the Porcupine Spanish Groundfish Survey (SP-PORC-Q3) in 2020. Biomass, abundance, distribution and length frequency were analysed. Biomass indices of these target species decreased in this last survey and recruitment remained low

Reproductive strategy of white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in Mediterranean waters: implications for management

14 pages, 7 figures, 2 tablesReproductive parameters of the white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius) in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea were studied in 556 specimens collected monthly aboard commercial fishing vessels that were trawling at depths of 12-836 m. The main spawning season occurred from February through June. The size at maturity was estimated to be 48.8 cm in total length (TL) for males, 59.9 cm TL for females, and 51.3 cm TL for both sexes combined. The white anglerfish has group-synchronous oocyte development and determinate fecundity. It is a total spawner (spawns all its eggs once during a spawning season) and has a batch fecundity ranging from 661,647 to 885,214 oocytes, a relative batch fecundity of 66-128 oocytes per gram of female gutted weight, and a potential fecundity with values from 54,717 to 104,506 oocytes per kilogram of female total weight. This study is the first to provide the reproductive biology of white anglerfish in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea and provide valuable information that can be used to improve the stock assessment and ensure proper management of this speciesPeer Reviewe

Distribution, abundance and biological features of anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and Lophius budegassa) (Osteichthyes: Lophiiformes) in the Mediterranean Sea

The distribution and biological features of anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) in the Mediterranean Sea were analysed from trawl surveys data (MEDITS project, years 1994-1999). The above-mentioned species were widely distributed in the Mediterranean, but differences in abundance were found according to geographic sectors and depths. Most of the collected specimens belonged to the first length cohorts and length distributions also differed at macroarea levels. Mean sizes at female sexual maturity were estimated at 68.5 cm and 66.2 cm total length, respectively for L. piscatorius and L. budegassaPublicado

Transitions in the morphological features, habitat use, and diet of young-of-the-year goosefish (Lophius americanus)

This study was designed to improve our understanding of transitions in the early life history and the distribution, habitat use, and diets for young-of-the-year (YOY) goosefish (Lophius americanus) and, as a result, their role in northeastern U.S. continental shelf ecosystems. Pelagic juveniles (>12 to ca. 50 mm total length [TL]) were distributed over most portions of the continental shelf in the Middle Atlantic Bight, Georges Bank, and into the Gulf of Maine. Most individuals settled by 50−85 mm TL and reached approximately 60−120 mm TL by one year of age. Pelagic YOY fed on chaetognaths, hyperiid amphipods, calanoid copepods, and ostracods, and benthic YOY had a varied diet of fishes and benthic crustaceans. Goosefish are widely scattered on the continental shelf in the Middle Atlantic Bight during their early life history and once settled, are habitat generalists, and thus play a role in many continental shelf habi

Results on Merluccius merluccius (hake), Lophius budegassa (black anglerfish) and Lophius piscatorius (white anglerfish), Lepidorhombus boscii (four-spot megrim) and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (megrim) from the 2021 Spanish Ground Fish Survey on the Porcupine bank (NE Atlantic)

This working document presents the results of Merluccius merluccius (hake), Lophius budegassa (black anglerfish), Lophius piscatorius (white anglerfish), Lepidorhombus boscii (four-spot megrim) and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (megrim) caught on the Porcupine Spanish Groundfish Survey (SP-PORC-Q3) in 2021. Biomass, abundance, distribution and length frequency were analysed. Biomass indices of these target species increased in this last survey, except for L. piscatorius and recruitment increased for all of them, except for M. merluccius