Agregaciones de pennatuláceos en la plataforma del norte de España: distribución y agrupaciones faunísticas

The sea pens Funiculina quadrangularis, Pennatula aculeata, Pennatula phosphorea, Pteroeides spinosum and Veretillum cynomorium are known to be characteristic species of the habitat ‘pennatulacean communities on circalittoral and upper bathyal soft bottoms’, described recently on the northern Atlantic Spanish shelf under the terms of the EU directives. Distribution, abundance and environmental data collected from 1995 to 2010 in the Northern Spanish Shelf Groundfish Surveys in the Cantabrian Sea and off Galicia (SPNGFS) were analysed. Although low densities of sea pens were commonly found over the years, some aggregations were shown. Multivariate analysis separated the aggregations of F. quadrangularis and of Pennatula spp. found on circalittoral soft bottoms. In addition, evidence of aggregations of F. quadrangularis on upper bathyal sites was also found. Depth and longitude, which were closely related to organic matter and sediment particle size, were key factors in determining the distribution and abundance of these aggregations. However, very little information on distribution and density of the species P. spinosum and V. cynomorium was obtained. Details of community composition of F. quadrangularis and Pennatula spp. were studied and compared with those of the OSPAR habitat “sea pen and burrowing megafauna communities” in other areas. The results improve our knowledge concerning sea pen communities in the southern Bay of Biscay and contribute to a global assessment of the status of these communities in the northeast Atlantic.Los pennatuláceos Funiculina quadrangularis, Pennatula aculeata, Pennatula phosphorea, Pteroeides spinosum y Veretillum cynomorium son especies características del hábitat “comunidades de pennatuláceos sobre fondos blandos profundos y circalitorales” descrito recientemente en la plataforma noratlántica española bajo directrices europeas. Datos de distribución, abundancia y ambientales recogidos desde 1995 hasta 2010 en las campañas demersales de la plataforma del norte de España y Galicia (SPNGFS) han sido analizados. Aunque predominan las bajas densidades de pennatuláceos a lo largo de los años, se han encontrado agregaciones. El análisis multivariante ha separado las agregaciones encontradas de F. quadrangularis y Pennatula spp. en los fondos blandos circalitorales. Además, se han encontrado agregaciones de F. quadrangularis en los fondos blandos profundos. La profundidad y la longitud, estrechamente relacionadas con el contenido de materia orgánica y el tamaño de partícula del sedimento, han sido los factores clave en la distribución y abundancia de estas agregaciones. Sin embargo, se ha obtenido poca información de la distribución y densidad de las especies P. spinosum y V. cynomorium. Se ha estudiado la composición de las comunidades de F. quadrangularis y Pennatula spp. y se ha comparado con el hábitat definido por OSPAR “sea pen and burrowing megafauna communities” en otras áreas. Los resultados mejoran el conocimiento de las comunidades de pennatuláceos en el sur del Golfo de Vizcaya y ayudan en la evaluación global del estatus de estas comunidades en el noreste Atlántico

Results on Argentine (Argentinaspp.), Bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), Greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma) and ling (Molva molva) from 2014 Porcupine Bank (NE Atlantic) survey

This working document presents the results on four of the most significant deep fish species of the last Porcupine Spanish survey carried in 2014, as well as it updates previous documents presented with the information on the fourteen years (2001-2014) of the Spanish bottom trawl survey on the Porcupine Bank. The document presents total abundances in weight, length frequencies and geographical distributions for Argentinaspp. (mostly A. silus, results on proportions by Argentine species distribution in last surveys are provided), Bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), Greater fork-beard (Phycis blennoides) and Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma). Argentinaspp. and Spanish ling presented a decrease in their abundances, whereas Bluemouth remained stable and Greater forkbeard increased slightly. In terms of recruitment 2014 showed larger values than previous years for A. sphyraena, Helicolenus dactylopterusand Molva macrophtalmabut weaker for Phycis blennoides, and A silus. Furthermore results for ling (Molva molva) on the Spanish Porcupine Bank survey are summarizedpresenting the results to the WG so their utility for the assessment could be considered.Versión de edito

Results on main elasmobranch species captured during the 2001-2010 Porcupine Bank (NE Atlantic) bottom trawl surveys

This paper presents the results on nine of the most important elasmobranch fish species of the Porcupine bank Spanish surveys during the last decade (2001-2010). The main species in the captures in decreasing biomass order are: blackmouth catshark, birdbeak dogfish, knifetooth dogfish, velvet belly, lesser spotted dogfish, bluntnose sixgill shark, sandy ray, cuckoo ray and common skate. Manyof these species occupy mainly the deep areas covered in the survey,especially birdbeak dogfish, knifetooth dogfish and velvet belly. Less confined to deeper grounds are blackmouth catshark and sandy ray, while lesser spotted dogfish and cuckoo ray inhabit mainly the shallowergrounds close to the Irish shelf or the central mound in the bank. Length distributions of these species along the survey series are also presented and discussed. The few available data on siki sharks from the Porcupine bank survey are also summarized.Versión del edito

Results on main cephalopods from the 2021 Spanish Ground Fish Survey on the Porcupine bank (NE Atlantic) (Division 7c and 7k)

This working document presents the results of the most significant cephalopods caught on the Porcupine Spanish Groundfish Survey (SP-PORC-Q3) in 2021. Biomass, abundance, geographical distribution and length frequencies for Eledone cirrhosa (horned octopus), Bathypolypus sponsalis (globose octopus), Todarodes sagittatus (European flying squid), Todaropsis eblanae (lesser flying squid), Loligo forbesi (veined squid), Illex coindetii (broadtail shortfin squid), Rossia macrosoma (stout bobtail squid) and other scarce cephalopods have been analysed. The species E. cirrhosa, R. macrosoma and L. forbesi increased in terms of biomass and abundance, especially R. macrosoma, reaching the highest biomass value in the time series, whereas T. sagitattus increased only in abundance terms but decreased slightly in biomass terms. In contrast, T. eblanae and B. sponsalis decreased strongly after the high values of the previous two years, as did I. coindetii. Most of the usually scarce species increased their biomass, with the exception of H. reversa

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

Results on silver smelt (Argentina silus and A. sphyraena), bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), Spanish ling and ling (Molva macrophthalma and Molva molva) from the Porcupine Bank Survey (NE Atlantic)

This working document presents the results of the most significant deep fish species caught in 2020 on the Porcupine Spanish Groundfish Survey (SP-PORC-Q3). Biomass, abundance, geographical distribution and length ranges were analysed for silver smelt (Argentina silus and A. sphyraena), bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), greater fork-beard (Phycis blennoides), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), Spanish ling and ling (Molva macrophthalma and Molva molva) and other scarce deep sea species. The biomass of most of these species decreased this last survey, only A. silus and P. blennoides increased, althought H. dactylopterus increased in abundance. Signs of recruitment have been found for H. dactylopterus and T. scabrus

Results on silver smelt (Argentina silus and A. sphyraena), bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), Spanish ling and ling (Molva macrophthalma and Molva molva) from the 2021 Porcupine Bank Survey (NE Atlantic)

This working document presents the results of the most significant deep fish species caught in 2021 on the Porcupine Spanish Groundfish Survey (SP-PORC-Q3). Biomass, abundance, geographical distribution and length ranges were analysed for silver smelt (Argentina silus and A. sphyraena), bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), greater fork-beard (Phycis blennoides), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), Spanish ling and ling (Molva macrophthalma and Molva molva) and other scarce deep sea species. Both the biomass and abundance of A. sillus fell sharply in this last survey whereas A. sphyraena and T. scabrus decreased slightly. However P. blennoides and especially H. dactylopterus have increased. The species M. molva and M. macrophtalma have remained quite similar values to the previous year. Signs of recruitment have been found for P. blennoides, M. macrophtalma and H. dactylopterus