Discards estimates from Spanish bottom otter trawl of anglerfish, Lophius budegassa (black
anglerfish) and L. piscatorius (white anglerfish), in Northeast Atlantic Ocean (ICES Sub-areas
VI, VII and Divisions VIIIabd) are presented in this paper. Information was obtained by
observers on board in different discard programs carried out by Spanish Research Institutes.
Total discards obtained by the different raising procedures were very similar and total discard
raised by effort (number of trips) as a simple estimator was assumed as the adequate value.
Values in weight range from 4 t to 590 t, and from 4 t to 320 t for white and black anglerfish
respectively in Sub-areas VI and VII. Length distributions of discarded anglerfish (Sub-areas VI
and VII) show that most of the specimens are juvenile individuals. Discards estimations show a
high variability in weight and number along the period studied. Yearly abundance of juveniles
in the area is a factor to understand the variability of discard quantities. This trend in Sub-areas
VI and VII is reflected by similar pattern between juveniles (length < 31cm) discards
estimations and recruitment indices (age 0) obtained by French (FR-EVHOES) for black
anglerfish, and Irish (IR-IGFS) for white anglerfish. Inter-annual variation may also be
explained by legal restriction on minimum weights (DCR) laid down in 2000 due to change in
onboard sorting procedures
