Survey Results for Spain: from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea
by Luis Gil de Sola and Maria Gonzalez

  1. General remarks

    2. In the 100 valid hauls of the Medits ES 97 survey, 346 animal species have been identified: 146 fishes, 75 crustaceans, 66 molluscs among which 28 were cephalopods, 34 echinoderms and 25 other invertebrates. Fishes represented 85.95 % of the total weight, crustaceans 4.22 %, molluscs 5.64 % (cephalopods 5.22 %) and other invertebrates 4.18 %. In number, fishes represented 72.72 % of the total catch, crustaceans 17.44 %, molluscs 3.22 % (cephalopods 2.60 %) and other invertebrates 6.62 %.

    The most frequent species in the different strata in terms of presence/absence are Merluccius merluccius (which appear in 65 % of the hauls), Lophius budegassa, Eledone cirrhosa, Phycis blennoides, Trachurus trachurus, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Illex coindetii and Micromesistus poutassou, all of them appearing in more than 40 hauls. Within the non-target species, the most frequent are Liocarcinus depurator, Alloteuthis media, Conger conger, Dardanus arrosor, Boops boops, Capros aper and Serranus hepatus.

    The species with greatest abundance in weight were Micromesistius poutassou, Galeus melastomus, Lepidopus caudatus, Trachyrhynchus trachyrhynchus, Scyliorhinus canicula, Phycis blennoides, Lophius budegassa, Chimaera monstrosa, Merluccius merluccius and Pagellus acarne. In numbers, the most important species were Micromesistius poutasou, Plesionika heterocarpus, Sardina pilchardus, Capros aper, Gadiculus argenteus argenteus, Merluccius merluccius, Alloteuthis media, Argentina sphyraena, Plesionika martia and Pasiphaea sivado.

    Among the 30 species of the reference list, Aristeomorpha foliacea were not fished in the Spanish area. Among the other reference species, Centrophorus granulosus, Mustelus mustelus, Spicara maena, Squalus acanthias and Penaeus kerathurus were absent from the catches in our region.

    In the Alboran Sea and in the Gulf of Vera, the most abundant reference species were Micromesistius poutassou (325.46 kg/kmē), Phycis blennoides (40.11 kg/kmē), Helicolenus dactylopterus (39.04 kg/kmē), Lophius budegasa (30.16 kg/kmē), Pagellus acarne (29.96 kg/kmē) and Octopus vulgaris (28.80 kg/kmē).

    In the Alicante region, the highest mean biomass values were observed for Micromesistius poutassou (462.23 kg/kmē), Trisopterus minutus capelanus (29.41 kg/kmē), Octopus vulgaris (24.96 kg/kmē), Lophius budegassa (19.35 kg/kmē) and Phycis blennoides (18.79 kg/kmē).

    In the Catalan Sea, the highest biomasses were recorded for Merluccius merluccius (32.22 kg/kmē), Eledone cirrhosa (24.45 kg/kmē), Lophius budegassa (19.22 kg/kmē), Micromesistius poutassou (19.13 kg/kmē) and Pagellus acarne (19.12 kg/kmē).

  2. Species of the reference list

    1. Citharus linguatula

      2. This benthic species of continental shelf appears with a low abundance along the Spanish coast. The greater catches were found in the stratum B.

    2. Eutrigla gurnardus

      3. Absent in the samples from the Alboran Sea, with only three specimens caught in the Alicante area, this species was fished between 50-200 m along the Catalan Sea, with a maximum apparent density of 2.76 kg/kmē. Most of the individuals were small (length less than 25 cm).

    3. Helicolenus dactylopterus

      4. This species was caught at depths greater than 100 m. The greatest abundance index was found in the Alboran Sea: 69.84 kg/kmē between 500-800 m depth, 44.81 kg/kmē in the stratum 100-200 m and 20.57 kg/kmē in the stratum 200-500 m. In the other areas the catches were very low, the highest values being obtained in the stratum 200-500 m. The sizes of specimens mainly ranged from 3 to 32 cm, increasing with the depth. 83 % of the individuals were juveniles, with a length below 18 cm. The length distribution shows two modal classes, the first one between 9-10 cm and the second one at 21-23 cm.

    4. Lepidorhombus boscii

      5. This species did not appear in the Alboran Sea. Its abundance index increased from the Alicante area to the Catalan Sea. The most important catches have been found in the Catalan Sea between 200-500 m: 10.70 kg/kmē. Most of the individuals were small.

    5. Lophius budegassa

      6. It is the third most abundant species in weight, from the 30 target species for the total area. However, very few specimens of Lophius budegassa were caught. Actually, the mean length of this species in the survey was 30.47 cm, and the sizes ranged from 5 to 85 cm. Normally it was caught below 100 m deep, excepting in the Alboran Sea. The highest abundance was recorded between 100-200 m in the Catalan Sea: 49.07 kg/kmē.

    6. Lophius piscatorius

      7. Only seven individuals have been caught in the total area, between 50 and 800 m. The individual length seems to increase with the depth. The highest value (45.71 kg/kmē) was obtained in the Alicante zone in the 500-800 stratum.

    7. Merluccius merluccius

      8. This species has been caught in 65 hauls during the survey. It is widely distributed over the whole studied area. In the Alboran Sea Merluccius merluccius is present at all depths with a maximum density of 44.79 kg/kmē in the first stratum. In the other areas it appeared down to 500 m, being more abundant from 50 to 200 m (biomass index between 20.15 kg/kmē and 48.27 kg/kmē).

      Most of the specimens were small: 92.92 % less than 15 cm. Both biomass and number indices increased from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea. This year, there is one modal length class at 9 cm, the highest modal length classes were not clear. The bigest specimens were found in the deepest strata.

    8. Micromesistius poutassou

      9. This mesopelagic species was the most abundant in weight and in number: 325.46 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea, 462.23 kg/kmē in the Alicante area and 19.13 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea. It was present only from 50 m deep downwards. The highest biomass index have been reported between 200-500 m with maximum values of 2265.70 kg/kmē and 1592.65 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea and in the Alicante area respectively. Micromesistius poutassou forms important shoals. This behaviour induces the possibility of massive catch.

      Most of the catches (97.92 %) of the blue whiting were juveniles less than 16 cm. The youngest individuals present a modal length at 11-12 cm, and the biggest individuals constitute a modal length at 25 cm. The adults were caught at depths down to 200 m.

    9. Mullus barbatus

      10. Mainly found at depths shallower than 200 m, the yield of this species varies between the three areas. In general, their mean biomass index increased from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea: the mean biomass indices were 1.38 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea, 6.19 kg/kmē in the Alicante region and 7. 44 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea. The highest indices were observed in the Alboran Sea (6.89 kg/kmē in the stratum 10-50 m), in the Alicante area (16.41 kg/kmē in the stratum 50-100 m) and in the Catalan Sea (13.16 kg/kmē in stratum 100-200 m). The individual sizes ranged between 11 and 25 cm.

    10. Mullus surmulletus

      11. This species is widely distributed over the continental shelf; its bathymetric distribution ranges from 10 to 200 m. The abundance distribution were not uniform along the areas. The highest biomass index was found in the first stratum of the Alicante area (17.08 kg/kmē), followed by the stratum 100-200 m of the Alboran Sea (12.90 kg/kmē). The individual length ranged between 11 and 33 cm.

    11. Pagellus acarne

      12. In the Alboran Sea, Pagellus acarne was caught in all the strata, but with a very low yield between 200 and 800 m. In the other areas, this species was fished only down to 200 m. In the Alboran Sea, the biomass index until 200 m was 97.61 kg/kmē, followed for the Catalan index: 24.95 kg/kmē. The highest abundance was 168.48 kg/kmē between 100-200 m in the Alboran Sea.

      The individual lengths varied between 8 and 32 cm. The smallest individuals (modal length 18 cm) were mainly caught between 10 and 100 m. In the stratum 100-200 m, the individuals were bigger (modal length 24 cm).

    12. Pagellus bogaraveo

      13. Pagellus bogaraveo occured from 50 m deep downwards, with higher relative biomasses between 50 and 100 m in the Alicante area (7.14 kg/kmē) and between 200 and 500 m in the other two areas: 5.77 kg/kmē in the Alboran area and 3.59 kg/kmē in the Catalan area. The smaller individuals (under 18 cm) appear in the shallower waters. The adults were caught on the slope. 86.58 % of the specimens were immature. The lengths ranged from 6 to 41 cm.

    13. Pagellus erythrinus

      14. In all areas, Pagellus erythrinus has been found only on the continental shelf down to 100 m depth. However, the highest biomass index were found in the coastal strata (10-50 m) in the Alboran (27.85 kg/kmē) and Catalan Seas (23.08 kg/kmē). The lengths ranged from 4 to 31 cm without clearly defined modal size.

    14. Phycis blennoides

      15. This species was caught on the slope. The highest biomass index was observed in the Alboran Sea in the stratum 500-800 m: 74.86 kg/kmē. In the other areas the highest biomass values were obtained in the upper slope (200-500 m): 39.57 kg/kmē in the Alicante area and 57.18 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea.

      The size ranged from 5 cm to 63 cm. The juveniles present a mode at 9 cm; they were caught at all depths. The adults (modal class between 22-24 cm) were caught from 200 m. 73.65 % of the individuals were smaller than 18 cm.

    15. Raja clavata

      16. Only two specimens were caught in the total area, in the Catalan Sea between 100-200 m.

    16. Solea vulgaris

      17. Only four individuals were fished in the total area. Three of them were found in the Alboran Sea and the other one in the Catalan Sea. The catch depth range was 50-200 m.

    17. Spicara flexuosa

      18. This shallow water species was normally caught over 100 m. The highest biomass and abundance values were obtained in the Catalan Sea between 10-50 m (40.63 kg/kmē and 2721 Ind/kmē). Most individuals were females. The lengths ranged from 9 to 23 cm with a modal length at 11 cm.

    18. Trachurus mediterraneus

      19. Trachurus mediterraneus was distributed between 10 and 200 m, but the highest abundance was found in the two shallow strata. The most productive area for this species was the Catalan Sea: 30.72 kg/kmē in the strata 50-100 m and 27.12 kg/kmē in the strata 10-50 m.

      90.98 % of the catches are constituted with immature specimens (length less than the first maturity size: 23 cm). The length ranged from 13 to 33 cm with a modal size at 15 cm.

    19. Trachurus trachurus

      20. Present from 10 to 500 m, the distribution of this species was not uniform along the three areas. The yields were higher in the Alicante and Catalonian areas. The species was more abundant in the first stratum of the Alboran Sea (35.02 kg/kmē), in the stratum C of the Catalan Sea (20.71 kg/kmē) and in the Alicante area between 200 and 500 m (17.72 kg/kmē). Most of the individuals were found in all areas in the strata 10-50 m (Alboran Sea: 847 Ind/kmē, Alicante area: 2429 Ind/kmē, and Catalan Sea: 2219 Ind/kmē), which shows that the smaller individuals are in the shallow waters. The length distribution shows two cohorts, the first one of juveniles with a modal length at 8 cm and a bathymetric distribution between 10 and 200 m, and the second cohort of adults (modal length 22 cm) distributed between 100 and 500 m. The lengths ranged from 3 to 29 cm.

    20. Trisopterus minutus capelanus

      21. Yet nearly absent in the Alboran Sea, this species was generally more abundant this year than during the previous one. Trisopterus minutus capelanus appeared from 50 to 200 m depth, but the biomass index was greater in the stratum 50-100 m: 87.55 kg/kmē in the Alicante area and 23.18 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea. The lengths ranged between 3 and 26 cm. It is possible to discern two cohorts: one with juveniles having a modal length at 8 cm (and size lower than 13 cm). This group constitutes 78.88 % of the catch number. A second cohort is made with individuals of more than one year old. They present a modal class at 16-17 cm. Both of them appear from 50 to 200 m.

    21. Zeus faber

      22. This species was punctually caught in the Alicante and Catalonian areas. The highest biomass index was recorded in the Alicante area between 100-200 m: 4.17 kg/kmē.

    22. Aristeus antennatus

      23. This species has been caught between 200 and 800 m depth in the Alboran Sea. In the Alicante and the Catalonian area, the red shrimp appeared from 500 m. The highest biomass and abundance indices were 18.16 kg/kmē and 1044 Ind/kmē in the Alicante area. The size goes from 17 to 66 mm caparace length, but most of the individuals ranged between 19 and 41 mm. No clear modal class can be identified due to the superposition of several cohorts.

    23. Aristeomorpha foliacea

      24. Absent in the catches.

    24. Nephrops norvegicus

      25. The norway lobster was only fished on the slope, particularly in its upper part: 45.47 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea and 11.44 kg/kmē in the Alicante area and 8.70 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea. The biomass index increased from the South-west to the North-east. Observed lengths ranged from 14 to 63 mm. Most of the specimens ranged between 22 and 43 mm (91.83 % in number) of caparace length. The modal class was 32 mm.

    25. Parapenaeus longirostris

      26. Parapenaeus longirostris was weakly caught in the Alboran Sea, almost absent in the Alicante area and totally absent in the Catalan Sea. The highest biomass index was 6.19 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea in the stratum 200-500 m. This species appeared between 100 and 500 m, but most of specimens were fished between 200-500 m. The size range was 11-33 mm of caparace length and the most frequent length was 22 mm.

    26. Eledone cirrhosa

      27. This species appeared between 10 and 500 m deep, but its catch is higher in the stratum 100-200 m. The mean biomass index increased from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea: 8.15 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea, 10.11 kg/kmē in the Alicante area and 24.45 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea. The greatest biomass index was obtained between 100 and 200 m in the Catalan area: 43.19 kg/kmē, followed by the stratum 50-100 m (26.72 kg/kmē) in the same area. The mantle length ranged between 20 and 165 mm.

    27. Eledone moschata

      28. Eledone moschata was rarely found down to 500 m. The highest biomass index was 1.96 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea between 50 and 100 m. The mantle length ranged between 45 and 120 mm. 21 specimens were caught in all the area.

    28. Illex coindetii

      29. Normally, it was caught between 50 and 500 m, but we have found the highest biomass indices in the stratum 100-200 m: 19.27 kg/kmē in the Catalan Sea, 17.67 kg/kmē in the Alboran Sea and 15.28 kg/kmē in the Alicante area. The juveniles were fished on the continental shelf, whereas the adult individuals were caught in all the strata. The mantle length ranged between 50 and 236 mm.

    29. Loligo vulgaris

      30. Only five specimens of this species were caught during the survey. This is a coastal species normally caught with other fishing-nets.

    30. Octopus vulgaris

      31. The yield of Octopus vulgaris was the most important within all the cephalopods for Spain. This species lives on the continental shelf but it is more abundant near the coast. The most important catches have been obtained in the Alboran Sea and in the Alicante area: 115.62 kg/kmē between 50-100 m and 116.90 kg/kmē between 10-50 m respectively. The modal class appeared for 110 mm of mantle length. The mantle length ranged between 7 and180 mm.

    31. Sepia officinalis

    It was fished at depths less than 100 m with abundance index between 2.01 kg/kmē (Alboran Sea) and 9.12 kg/kmē (Catalan Sea). Sporadic catches.

  3. Other species (not in the list of reference)

    1. Galeus melastomus

      2. This species was the second most abundant in weight within the survey, after Micromessistius poutassou. It appeared from 200 m, but it was really abundant in the stratum 500-800 m (in the Alboran Sea: 1039.73 kg/kmē and 5577 Ind/kmē). The length distribution shows three modal classes: 22, 33 and 52 cm. Size from 10 to 62 cm.

    2. Lepidopus caudatus

      3. Lepidopus caudatus is a species with low commercial value normally fished in higher quantities because it makes up greater shoals. It has been caught in all depth strata. Down to 200 m, most of the individuals (96.91 %) were juveniles. From 200 m, all lengths appeared. The most important catch in weight was in the Alboran Sea in the stratum 100-200 m: 505.96 kg/kmē (and 1518 Ind/kmē). In number, the highest abundance index was 11416 Ind/kmē in the Alicante area, 100-200 m stratum. The lengths ranged between 14 and 152 cm.

    3. Trachyrhynchus trachyrhyncus

      4. It appeared only on the deep slope. The Alboran Sea is the area where this species was the most abundant: 441.55 kg/kmē and 1228 Ind/kmē. The abundance index and the size decreased towards the Gulf of Lion., The modal class was 20 cm in the Alboran Sea and 7 cm in the Catalan Sea.

    4. Plesionika heterocarpus

    In term of specimens number, this little shrimp was the second species after Micromesistius poutassou. Its biomass index decreased from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea. It has been mainly fished in the stratum 200-500 m: 36.70 kg/kmē and 18913 Ind/kmē in the Alboran Sea, 28.96 kg/kmē and 10130 Ind/kmē in the Alicante area, 1.06 kg/kmē and 271 Ind/kmē in the Catalan Sea.

  4. Results by stratum

    1. Stratum 10-200 m

      2. In this stratum 28 target species have been caught: 21 fishes, 1 crustacean and 6 cephalopods. Only three crustaceans species were not caught: Aristeus antennatus, Aristeomorpha foliacea (not caught in all the areas) and Nephrops norvegicus. Part of the more abundant target species are characteristic of the coastal area and the continental shelf (Octopus vulgaris, Mullus barbatus, Trachurus mediterraneus, Trachurus trachurus, Pagellus acarne, Spicara flexuosa), others have an extensive bathymetric distribution (Micromesistius poutassou, Lophius budegassa, Eledone cirrhosa) and the rest are also species with an extensive distribution but their juveniles live in the shallower waters: Merluccius merluccius, Illex coindetii, Helicolenus dactylopterus.

       

      10-200 m

      ALBORAN

      ALICANTE

      CATALAN

      species

      kg/kmē

      Ind/kmē

      kg/kmē

      Ind/kmē

      kg/kmē

      Ind/kmē

      Micromesistius poutassou

      1009.95

      31396

      651.54

      60932

      12.57

      896

      Octopus vulgaris

      96.41

      104

      46.62

      57

      13.69

      18

      Merluccius merluccius

      15.88

      883

      23.67

      2149

      38.38

      3931

      Pagellus acarne

      97.61

      1028

      2.99

      31

      24.96

      163

      Lophius budegassa

      24.65

      14

      28.80

      38

      20.77

      33

      Eledone cirrhosa

      13.71

      74

      7.52

      25

      27.38

      147

      Helicolenus dactylopterus

      14.34

      779

      0.56

      25

      0.15

      9

      Spicara flexuosa

      2.76

      49

      2.53

      53

      14.67

      639

      Trachurus mediterraneus

      1.75

      34

      2.57

      48

      22.45

      404

      Illex coindetii

      9.83

      157

      6.17

      59

      13.24

      92

      Mullus barbatus

      4.62

      111

      11.56

      179

      9.71

      206

      Trachurus trachurus

      10.50

      205

      4.13

      594

      9.35

      745

       

      This year, as in the previous one, the abundance indices of the some coastal species decreased from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea. It is the case for Octopus vulgaris and Pagellus acarne.

    2. Stratum 200-500 m

      3. In this stratum, 19 target species appear: 13 fishes, 3 crustaceans and 3 cephalopods. The following species, mainly distributed in the coastal areas, were not caught: Eutrigla gurnardus, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmulletus, Pagellus erythrinus, Raja clavata, Solea vulgaris, Spicara flexuosa, Trachurus mediterraneus, Trisopterus minutus capelanus, Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris and Sepia officinalis.

      The most abundant species in all the areas was Micromesistius poutassou. Generally, the biomass indices were higher in the Catalan Sea. The most abundant species after the blue whitin was Phycis blennoides.

       

      200-500 m

      ALBORAN

      ALICANTE

      CATALAN

      species

      kg/kmē

      Ind/kmē

      kg/kmē

      Ind/kmē

      kg/kmē

      Ind/kmē

      Micromesistius poutassou

      78.64

      6240

      424.52

      24869

      60.93

      1995

      Phycis blennoides

      31.45

      1342

      39.57

      952

      57.18

      2335

      Lophius budegassa

      27.87

      46

      12.70

      36

      22.08

      39

      Merluccius merluccius

      20.12

      266

      4.96

      68

      18.82

      271

      Nephrops norvegicus

      8.70

      210

      11.45

      420

      45.47

      2003

      Eledone cirrhosa

      14.06

      68

      22.83

      75

      23.23

      66

      Helicolenus dactylopterus

      20.57

      842

      7.42

      345

      4.77

      73

      Trachurus trachurus

      0.00

      0

      17.72

      195

      0.00

      0

      Parapenaeus longirostris

      6.19

      847

      0.96

      101

      0.00

      0

      Aristeus antennatus

      3.97

      329

      0.11

      10

      0.00

      0

       

    3. Stratum 500-800 m

    12 from the 31 target species were fished in this stratum: 9 fishes, 2 crustaceans and 1 cephalopod. The missing species were Citharus linguatula, Eutrigla gurnardus, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, Pagellus erythrinus, Raja clavata, Solea vulgaris, Spicara flexuosa, Trachurus mediterraneus, Trachurus trachurus, Trisopterus minutus capelanus, Zeus faber, Parapenaeus longirostris, Eledone cirrhosa, Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis and Eledone moschata.

    The most abundant species were Phycis blennoides (74.86 kg/kmē) and Helicolenus dactylopterus (69.84 kg/kmē) in the Alboran Sea, Lophius piscatorius (45.71 kg/kmē) and Phycis blennoides (31.63 kg/kmē) in the Alicante area and Phycis blennoides (33.79 kg/kmē) in the Catalan Sea. The red shrimp was important in number from Cap of Gata. The angler fish showed an irregular distribution.

     

    500-800 m

    ALBORAN

    ALICANTE

    CATALAN

    species

    kg/kmē

    Ind/kmē

    kg/kmē

    Ind/kmē

    kg/kmē

    Ind/kmē

    Phycis blennoides

    74.86

    514

    31.63

    374

    33.79

    673

    Helicolenus dactylopterus

    69.84

    340

    1.93

    23

    1.66

    25

    Aristeus antennatus

    4.04

    360

    18.16

    1044

    14.68

    764

    Lophius budegassa

    35.76

    11

    2.78

    5

    0.00

    0

    Lophius piscatorius

    0.00

    0

    45.71

    9

    0.00

    0

    Nephrops norvegicus

    0.23

    3

    9.70

    208

    6.81

    249

     

  5. Discussion

The Western Mediterranean is characterized by a great variety of grounds that determine different biocenoses: continental slope below 200 m, submarine canyons, smooth sloping continental shelf, and shallow rocky or sandy bottoms running along the shoreline. Some other special habitats are remarkable, such as the delta of the Ebro and the Alboran Sea, with important Atlantic influence.

All this different habitats have an influence on the spatial distribution and the species abundance. Other factors to bear in mind to interpret the results is the different spatial distribution of the juveniles and the adult of most of the species. So the juveniles of Merluccius merluccius, Helicolenus dactylopterus, Phycis blennoides, Illex coindetii, Trachurus sp, Trisopterus minutus capelanus… are more coastal than the adults.

The species strictly limited to the coastal areas (Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus, Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis, Loligo vulgaris, Pagellus erythrinus,…), the species living only on the slope (Micromesistius poutassou, Phycis blennoides, Nephrops norvegicus, Aristeus antennatus, Parapenaeus longirostris…) and ubiquitous species(Merluccius merluccius, Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius, Eledone cirrhosa…) appear in the three sectors, though with different abundances and distributions.

Aristaeomorpha foliacea was not caught during our survey. The catches of some species, as Citharus linguatula, Eutrigla gurnardus, Lepidorhombus boscii, Lophius piscatorius, Pagellus bogaraveo, Raja clavata, Solea vulgaris, Zeus faber, Loligo vulgaris, Sepia officinalis and Eledone moschata were not been sufficiently high to obtain conclusive results. The abundance of the species in the coastal zone (Merluccius merluccius, Spicara flexuosa, Trachurus mediterraneus, Trisopterus minutus capelanus, Eledone cirrhosa) increased from the Alboran Sea to the Catalan Sea. The abundance of the species on the slope (Helicolenus dactylopterus, Micromesistius poutassou, Pagellus acarne, Phycis blennoides) decreased also towards the Catalan Sea. Other species (Lophius budegassa, Mullus sp., Pagellus erythrinus, Trachurus trachurus, Illex coindetii) showed a variable spatial distribution.