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 2022 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 2022. Biomass, abundance, length ranges and geographic distributions were analyzed 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 T. scabrus increased slightly whereas it increased sharply for P. blennoides, M. macrophthalma and especially for H. dactylopterus. Aphanopus carbo, Beryx spp. and Pagellus bogaraveo were scarce as usual and Coryphaenoides rupestris has not been found since 2019. Recruitment was significant for P. blennoides, M. macrophthalma and H. dactylopterus.