Results on greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus) and other scarce deep water species on the Northern Spanish Shelf Groundfish Survey

Abstract

This working document presents the results on the most significant deep fish species on the Spanish Groundfish Survey on the northern Spanish shelf in 2020. Biomass, abundance, length distributions and geographic ranges were analysed for greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus) and other scarce deep sea species. The biomass of M. macrophthalma and T. scabrus decreased whereas P. blennoides and H. dactylopterus increased. Aphanopus carbo, Beryx spp. and Pagellus bogaraveo were scarce as usual and Coryphaenoides rupestris was not found in this last survey.