European hake is one of the target demersal species of the Mediterranean fishing
fleets, largely exploited in GSA 01 mainly by trawlers (95% landings) on the shelf
and slope and by small-scale fisheries using gillnets or set longlines on the shelf.
Bottom Otter Trawl Targeting Deepwater Species (OTB_DWS)
The blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) is the most important resource of
slope bottom trawling in GSA 01 and is targeted by the largest vessels of the
deepwater trawl fleet segment. A total of 49 vessels (average 2011–2013) had fishing
activities directed towards this species in GSA 01 fishing grounds. The most
important landings port in 2017 was Garrucha with 34 tons landed, followed by
Almeria (22.5 t) and Aguilas (11 t). The pattern of this fishery can be considered
monospecific, where the discard is practically zero for this species. The bycatch is
composed of anglerfishes (Lophius budegassa and L. piscatorius) and European
hake (Fig. 18.7).
18.4.1.2 GSA02 (Alboran Island)
In GSA 02, only the bottom trawl operates, mainly in the middle slope, targeting
blue and red shrimp. In this GSA, fishing trips last for 4–5 days, in contrast to the rest
of the western Mediterranean, where fishing trips for trawlers only last for a single
day. The main base port of this fleet is Almeria, and the fishing period goes from
May to October. The number of vessels operating in this area is variable because of
weather conditions, and it ranges from 1 in April to 13 in August, the month with
0
50
100
150
200
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
Tons/year
ARA
HKE
ANK
MON
Fig. 18.7 Main species landings (tons) of trawlers targeting deepwater species. GSA 01 (ARA,
A. antennatus; HKE, M. merluccius; ANK, L. budegassa; MON, L. piscatorius)
598
M. González Aguilar et al.
fleets, largely exploited in GSA 01 mainly by trawlers (95% landings) on the shelf
and slope and by small-scale fisheries using gillnets or set longlines on the shelf.
Bottom Otter Trawl Targeting Deepwater Species (OTB_DWS)
The blue and red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) is the most important resource of
slope bottom trawling in GSA 01 and is targeted by the largest vessels of the
deepwater trawl fleet segment. A total of 49 vessels (average 2011–2013) had fishing
activities directed towards this species in GSA 01 fishing grounds. The most
important landings port in 2017 was Garrucha with 34 tons landed, followed by
Almeria (22.5 t) and Aguilas (11 t). The pattern of this fishery can be considered
monospecific, where the discard is practically zero for this species. The bycatch is
composed of anglerfishes (Lophius budegassa and L. piscatorius) and European
hake (Fig. 18.7).
18.4.1.2 GSA02 (Alboran Island)
In GSA 02, only the bottom trawl operates, mainly in the middle slope, targeting
blue and red shrimp. In this GSA, fishing trips last for 4–5 days, in contrast to the rest
of the western Mediterranean, where fishing trips for trawlers only last for a single
day. The main base port of this fleet is Almeria, and the fishing period goes from
May to October. The number of vessels operating in this area is variable because of
weather conditions, and it ranges from 1 in April to 13 in August, the month with
0
50
100
150
200
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
Tons/year
ARA
HKE
ANK
MON
Fig. 18.7 Main species landings (tons) of trawlers targeting deepwater species. GSA 01 (ARA,
A. antennatus; HKE, M. merluccius; ANK, L. budegassa; MON, L. piscatorius)
598
M. González Aguilar et al.