accounts for only 4.8% of the total catches of these fishing gears while pots, targeting
common octopus, accounts for 95% and the remaining species representing only
0.4%. Landings of O. vulgaris show an increasing trend in the period 2002–2017
with a maximum peak in 2012–2013 (Fig. 14.13c). However, the average annual
catch per vessel has remained stable since 2009. The fluctuations observed in the
catches of O. vulgaris are in opposite direction to those of the mechanized dredge,
due to the temporary rotation of fishing gears between pots and mechanized dredges.
Gillnets mainly catch fish (99%), and in the case of trammel nets fish and
molluscs (73% and 25%, respectively). These two gears are those that capture a
higher diversity of species: 188 species in the case of gillnets and 207 with trammel
nets. Sardina pilchardus, Trachurus spp., Pagellus acarne, and Auxis rochei
(Fig. 14.12) account for 80% of the total catches made with gillnets, although only
the latter represents 63%. The evolution of the catches obtained with this fishing gear
shows great fluctuations being very dependent on the capture of Auxis rochei
(Fig. 14.13d). Trammel net catches are characterized by a great diversity of species,
being Sepia officinalis and the two species of red mullet (Mullus surmuletus and
M. barbatus), the most caught species. The catches obtained with trammel nets are
not very high. In the period 2012–2017, the maximum recorded catch was 439 tonnes
in the years 2013–2014, after a period of stability in catches between 2002 and 2008
(Fig. 14.13e).
The volume of catches made with hand lines is small, being quite diverse the
species captured between fish and molluscs. The most commonly caught species are
Pagellus acarne, P. bogaraveo, among fish, and S. officinalis and O. vulgaris among
mollusks (Fig. 14.12), while the highest catches are obtained from A. rochei,
O. vulgaris, and Thunnus thynnus, which accounts for 54% of the total landing
(Fig. 14.13f).
Regarding the bottom longline, 98% of the catches are fish, with up to 127 different species being caught by this fishing gear. Among others are M. merluccius and
several species of sparids, such as Pagrus pagrus, P. erythrinus, and P. bogaraveo
(Fig. 14.12), the most representative (Fig. 14.13g).
14.6 Socioeconomic Aspects
The importance of the artisanal fisheries in the whole of the fishing sector in the
Northern Alboran Sea is remarkable, whether we take into account the production
aspects as well as the economic ones. Thus, the landings of the artisanal fleet in the
Alboran ports were 1579 tons in 2017, which represent 10% of the total landed by all
the fishing fleets. According to the information collected by the Council of Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development of the Andalusia Regional Government, under
the economic perspective (Junta de Andalucía 2017) the importance of this sector is
even greater, since the value of sales in 2017 was more than 9.8 million €, which
represent 21% of the total sold in the fish markets involved. This great difference
between the percentages of the catch and its economic value, which is more than
536
J. Baro Domínguez et al.
common octopus, accounts for 95% and the remaining species representing only
0.4%. Landings of O. vulgaris show an increasing trend in the period 2002–2017
with a maximum peak in 2012–2013 (Fig. 14.13c). However, the average annual
catch per vessel has remained stable since 2009. The fluctuations observed in the
catches of O. vulgaris are in opposite direction to those of the mechanized dredge,
due to the temporary rotation of fishing gears between pots and mechanized dredges.
Gillnets mainly catch fish (99%), and in the case of trammel nets fish and
molluscs (73% and 25%, respectively). These two gears are those that capture a
higher diversity of species: 188 species in the case of gillnets and 207 with trammel
nets. Sardina pilchardus, Trachurus spp., Pagellus acarne, and Auxis rochei
(Fig. 14.12) account for 80% of the total catches made with gillnets, although only
the latter represents 63%. The evolution of the catches obtained with this fishing gear
shows great fluctuations being very dependent on the capture of Auxis rochei
(Fig. 14.13d). Trammel net catches are characterized by a great diversity of species,
being Sepia officinalis and the two species of red mullet (Mullus surmuletus and
M. barbatus), the most caught species. The catches obtained with trammel nets are
not very high. In the period 2012–2017, the maximum recorded catch was 439 tonnes
in the years 2013–2014, after a period of stability in catches between 2002 and 2008
(Fig. 14.13e).
The volume of catches made with hand lines is small, being quite diverse the
species captured between fish and molluscs. The most commonly caught species are
Pagellus acarne, P. bogaraveo, among fish, and S. officinalis and O. vulgaris among
mollusks (Fig. 14.12), while the highest catches are obtained from A. rochei,
O. vulgaris, and Thunnus thynnus, which accounts for 54% of the total landing
(Fig. 14.13f).
Regarding the bottom longline, 98% of the catches are fish, with up to 127 different species being caught by this fishing gear. Among others are M. merluccius and
several species of sparids, such as Pagrus pagrus, P. erythrinus, and P. bogaraveo
(Fig. 14.12), the most representative (Fig. 14.13g).
14.6 Socioeconomic Aspects
The importance of the artisanal fisheries in the whole of the fishing sector in the
Northern Alboran Sea is remarkable, whether we take into account the production
aspects as well as the economic ones. Thus, the landings of the artisanal fleet in the
Alboran ports were 1579 tons in 2017, which represent 10% of the total landed by all
the fishing fleets. According to the information collected by the Council of Agriculture, Fishing and Rural Development of the Andalusia Regional Government, under
the economic perspective (Junta de Andalucía 2017) the importance of this sector is
even greater, since the value of sales in 2017 was more than 9.8 million €, which
represent 21% of the total sold in the fish markets involved. This great difference
between the percentages of the catch and its economic value, which is more than
536
J. Baro Domínguez et al.