Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal
This study describes changes in abundance and spatial distribution of Atlantic chub mackerel in the Portuguese waters and the Spanish waters of the Gulf of Cadiz using data from acoustic surveys from 1995 to 2010 and data from the fishery since 1958. The distribution and dynamics of chub mackerel an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
2013-12-01
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| Series: | Scientia Marina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1489 |
| _version_ | 1818741927818821632 |
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| author | Maria Manuel Martins Dankert Skagen Vítor Marques Juan Zwolinski Alexandra Silva |
| author_facet | Maria Manuel Martins Dankert Skagen Vítor Marques Juan Zwolinski Alexandra Silva |
| author_sort | Maria Manuel Martins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study describes changes in abundance and spatial distribution of Atlantic chub mackerel in the Portuguese waters and the Spanish waters of the Gulf of Cadiz using data from acoustic surveys from 1995 to 2010 and data from the fishery since 1958. The distribution and dynamics of chub mackerel and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) are compared and species interactions are discussed. From 2007 to 2009, chub mackerel biomass, as measured acoustically, ranged between 69000 and 238000 t concentrated off the western coast (~50%) and in the Gulf of Cadiz (~30%). Portuguese landings have varied with periods of high landings around 1970 and in recent years. Since 1986 landings have been between 4000 and 23000 t. Both survey catches and commercial landings are taken mainly off the southwestern coast and one- to two-year-old individuals (20-24 cm) predominate in both. Scarcity of larger individuals may be a consequence of their deeper distribution and avoidance of fishing gear, migration of older individuals or a combination of both. In years with high abundance, the fishery expands to the northwestern areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The expansion appears to be caused by improved recruitment although other factors might have contributed (such as targeting to compensate for low sardine catches and the appearance of new markets). The complementary spatial distribution of chub mackerel and sardine and the inverse correlations between their frequency of occurrence, landings and recruitment indices suggest some interaction between the dynamics of the two species, possibly associated with climatic variation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:04:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbc1d32aa9d548c4a3c6863c865f345c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0214-8358 1886-8134 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T02:04:24Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientia Marina |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbc1d32aa9d548c4a3c6863c865f345c2022-12-21T21:24:40ZengConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasScientia Marina0214-83581886-81342013-12-0177455156310.3989/scimar.03861.07B1465Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off PortugalMaria Manuel Martins0Dankert Skagen1Vítor Marques2Juan Zwolinski3Alexandra Silva4Instituto Português do Mar e AtmosferaIndependent consultantInstituto Português do Mar e AtmosferaInstitute of Marine Sciences, University of CaliforniaInstituto Português do Mar e AtmosferaThis study describes changes in abundance and spatial distribution of Atlantic chub mackerel in the Portuguese waters and the Spanish waters of the Gulf of Cadiz using data from acoustic surveys from 1995 to 2010 and data from the fishery since 1958. The distribution and dynamics of chub mackerel and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) are compared and species interactions are discussed. From 2007 to 2009, chub mackerel biomass, as measured acoustically, ranged between 69000 and 238000 t concentrated off the western coast (~50%) and in the Gulf of Cadiz (~30%). Portuguese landings have varied with periods of high landings around 1970 and in recent years. Since 1986 landings have been between 4000 and 23000 t. Both survey catches and commercial landings are taken mainly off the southwestern coast and one- to two-year-old individuals (20-24 cm) predominate in both. Scarcity of larger individuals may be a consequence of their deeper distribution and avoidance of fishing gear, migration of older individuals or a combination of both. In years with high abundance, the fishery expands to the northwestern areas of the Iberian Peninsula. The expansion appears to be caused by improved recruitment although other factors might have contributed (such as targeting to compensate for low sardine catches and the appearance of new markets). The complementary spatial distribution of chub mackerel and sardine and the inverse correlations between their frequency of occurrence, landings and recruitment indices suggest some interaction between the dynamics of the two species, possibly associated with climatic variation.http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1489chub mackerelsardineportugalpelagic ecosystempurse seine fishery |
| spellingShingle | Maria Manuel Martins Dankert Skagen Vítor Marques Juan Zwolinski Alexandra Silva Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal Scientia Marina chub mackerel sardine portugal pelagic ecosystem purse seine fishery |
| title | Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal |
| title_full | Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal |
| title_fullStr | Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal |
| title_short | Changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off Portugal |
| title_sort | changes in the abundance and spatial distribution of the atlantic chub mackerel scomber colias in the pelagic ecosystem and fisheries off portugal |
| topic | chub mackerel sardine portugal pelagic ecosystem purse seine fishery |
| url | http://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/1489 |
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