Combining GIS and GAMs to identify potential habitats of squid Loligo vulgaris in the Northwestern Mediterranean

Abstract

We characterised the most productive areas for the commercial squid Loligo vulgaris off the Catalan Coast based on the combined integration of SST and PAR satellite data. We present the distribution of these areas during the most productive months in relation to the spatiotemporal presence of paralarvae of this species off the Catalan Coast. The work is based on Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) that combine the simultaneous analysis of the effect of different environmental explanatory variables from satellite imagery data to obtain the optimal model for paralarvae of the squid. The proposed model helped define the potential Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for squid paralarvae recruitment, based on the best environmental conditions and is consistent with the higher LPUE observed four months later. The EFH defined for paralarvae recruitment by the model was detected every year in May in the areas both north and central of the Catalan Coast, the same areas where fishing ports evidence the highest commercial yield of squid