3 and 41 mm CL in GSA 01; mean values are 23.8 (Æ5.0 SD) mm CL, common
between 23 and 24 mm. Female sizes range between 5 and 41 mm CL, and mean
values are 24.9 mm CL((Æ5.9 SD) common between 26 and 27 CL. Male sizes
range between 3 and 40 CL, mean values are 22.6(Æ3.6 SD), and common values are
23 mm CL.
Parapenaeus longirostris is an epibenthic short-lived species characterized by
higher rates of growth and mortality (Abelló et al. 2002). Continuous spawning is
common both in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with peaks of
reproductive activity varying between areas without a clear trend. In the Balearic
Islands, although maturing females were found all year round, two peaks were
detected, one in November and a larger one in August and June (Guijarro et al.
2009). In the Gulf of Alicante, spawning can take place throughout the year too, with
massive events at some points in the year, especially in spring, summer, and fall,
being the most important summer (García-Rodríguez et al. 2009). According to these
authors, those events can fluctuate, advancing or delaying slightly as a function of
the oceanographic conditions of the year and the area studied. The size at first
maturity of 25.6 mm for females in this adjacent area indicates that maturation
will have to occur from the second year of life. The species shows a sexual size
dimorphism, with a negative allometry of relative growth that is more pronounced in
males and thus results in lower sizes of males than of females. Estimates gave higher
K values for males than for females, indicating that males would reach 13.2 mm CL
in the first year and females 14.8 mm CL, which would represent a maximum life
expectancy of 4 and 6 years, respectively (García-Rodríguez et al. 2009).
According to the trophic guild classification from Cartes et al. (2002),
P. longirostris is an infaunal feeder. The species displays a highly diversified diet
and consumes a broad range of prey items (Cartes 1995; Kapiris 2004). In the
western Mediterranean Sea, Cartes (1995) reported that P. longirostris had highly
diversified diets based mainly on benthic organisms (polychaetes, bivalves, gastropods, and echinoderms), suprabenthic organisms (mainly gammarid amphipods),
and a small proportion of pelagic organisms.
P. longirostris is one of the main crustacean species for trawl fisheries in GSA 01.
It is an important component of landings in some ports and occasionally a target
species of the trawl fleet targeting demersal species operates on the upper slope
(GFCM 2018b). The annual landings in this area fluctuated during the all assessed
series and increased in the last 3 years reaching up 201 t in 2017 with two peaks
during 2009 and 2012 (Fig. 18.18). Landing sizes ranged between 10 and 49 mm
with a maximum around 22–23 mm CL. The mean of landings sizes is 24.4 (Æ4.5
SD) mm CL.
Abundance and biomass indices from fishery-independent survey MEDITS
(Fig. 18.19) do not reveal any significant trends since 1994, but interannual oscillations. For this survey the abundance and biomass indices show similar trends,
peaking during 2012 and 2009. Both of them show a very sharp increment during
the 2018 survey.
In the framework of the GFCM stock assessment (WGSAD) carried out in GSA
01 for P. longirostris during 2018, the stock status was “in overexploitation” being
606
M. González Aguilar et al.
between 23 and 24 mm. Female sizes range between 5 and 41 mm CL, and mean
values are 24.9 mm CL((Æ5.9 SD) common between 26 and 27 CL. Male sizes
range between 3 and 40 CL, mean values are 22.6(Æ3.6 SD), and common values are
23 mm CL.
Parapenaeus longirostris is an epibenthic short-lived species characterized by
higher rates of growth and mortality (Abelló et al. 2002). Continuous spawning is
common both in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, with peaks of
reproductive activity varying between areas without a clear trend. In the Balearic
Islands, although maturing females were found all year round, two peaks were
detected, one in November and a larger one in August and June (Guijarro et al.
2009). In the Gulf of Alicante, spawning can take place throughout the year too, with
massive events at some points in the year, especially in spring, summer, and fall,
being the most important summer (García-Rodríguez et al. 2009). According to these
authors, those events can fluctuate, advancing or delaying slightly as a function of
the oceanographic conditions of the year and the area studied. The size at first
maturity of 25.6 mm for females in this adjacent area indicates that maturation
will have to occur from the second year of life. The species shows a sexual size
dimorphism, with a negative allometry of relative growth that is more pronounced in
males and thus results in lower sizes of males than of females. Estimates gave higher
K values for males than for females, indicating that males would reach 13.2 mm CL
in the first year and females 14.8 mm CL, which would represent a maximum life
expectancy of 4 and 6 years, respectively (García-Rodríguez et al. 2009).
According to the trophic guild classification from Cartes et al. (2002),
P. longirostris is an infaunal feeder. The species displays a highly diversified diet
and consumes a broad range of prey items (Cartes 1995; Kapiris 2004). In the
western Mediterranean Sea, Cartes (1995) reported that P. longirostris had highly
diversified diets based mainly on benthic organisms (polychaetes, bivalves, gastropods, and echinoderms), suprabenthic organisms (mainly gammarid amphipods),
and a small proportion of pelagic organisms.
P. longirostris is one of the main crustacean species for trawl fisheries in GSA 01.
It is an important component of landings in some ports and occasionally a target
species of the trawl fleet targeting demersal species operates on the upper slope
(GFCM 2018b). The annual landings in this area fluctuated during the all assessed
series and increased in the last 3 years reaching up 201 t in 2017 with two peaks
during 2009 and 2012 (Fig. 18.18). Landing sizes ranged between 10 and 49 mm
with a maximum around 22–23 mm CL. The mean of landings sizes is 24.4 (Æ4.5
SD) mm CL.
Abundance and biomass indices from fishery-independent survey MEDITS
(Fig. 18.19) do not reveal any significant trends since 1994, but interannual oscillations. For this survey the abundance and biomass indices show similar trends,
peaking during 2012 and 2009. Both of them show a very sharp increment during
the 2018 survey.
In the framework of the GFCM stock assessment (WGSAD) carried out in GSA
01 for P. longirostris during 2018, the stock status was “in overexploitation” being
606
M. González Aguilar et al.