Estimates on Cephalopods Discards by Spanish NE Atlantic Trawl Fishing Fleets

Abstract

Yearly cephalopods discard estimations for Spanish trawl eets operating in Northeast Atlantic area (ICES V I, V II, V IIIc and IXa) over the period 2003-2010 are presented. Estimations are aggregated from m etier to shing ground level. Only information for the most important species in terms of discarded biomass and those included in the Data Collection Framework directive are presented. Squid species belonging to the family Ommastrephi- dae and the Octopodidae Eledone cirrhosa were the most discarded species in the northern shing grounds, nevertheless volume discarded of those species are much higher in ICES Sub-area V I 􀀀 V II than in Divisions V IIIc and IXa north. Very low discard values were observed in ICES Division IXa south (Gulf of C adiz), being Octopus vulgaris and Eledone moschata the most discarded species.