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This working document presents the results on the most relevant commercial species caught on the Northern Spanish Shelf Groundfish Survey in 2023. Biomass, abundance, length distributions and geographic ranges were analysed on European hake (Merluccius merluccius), Fourspot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii ), megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis), black monkfish (Lophius budegassa), white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), sole (Solea solea), Pegusa lascaris and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Information on other scarce fish species i.e. seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), and whitting (Merlangius merlangus) requested in ICES DCF Data call is also presented. Biomass of Lepidorhombus boscii, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius, Solea solea, Pegusa lascaris and Nephrops norvegicus increased, whereas Merluccius merluccius decreased this last survey. Dicentrarchus labrax was scarce as usual, Pollachius pollachius and Merlangius merlangus were not found in this last survey. Recruitment was significant for Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius and more moderately for Lepidorhombus boscii.

This working document presents the results on the most significant deep-sea fish species on the Northern Spanish Shelf Groundfish Survey in 2023. Biomass, abundance, length distributions and geographic ranges were analysed for greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma), roughsnout grenadier (Trachyrincus scabrus), bluemouth (Heli-colenus dactylopterus) and other scarce deep-sea fish species. Biomass of M. macrophthalma and Pagellus bogaraveo increased, whereas P. blennoides, T. Scabrus, and H. dactylopterus decreased. Aphanopus carbo, Beryx spp. were scarce as usual and Coryphaenoides rupestris was not found in this last survey. Recruitment was significant for P. blennoides.

The Mediterranean Sea stands out as one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on global scale, facing an array of cumulative impacts, including high climate risks. Climate velocity drives species shifts and redistributions, which has led to changes at different ecosystem levels. However, it is necessary to examine how commercial marine species respond at regional and seasonal levels, which is often the optimal management scale. Here, we analyzed time series data on bottom-trawl fisheries landings (2007 to 2021) and explored seasonal variations using climate velocity and relative climate exposure as metrics of potential range shifts (1987 to 2021) in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Additionally, we examined the impact of climate connectivity, using climate velocity trajectories and temperature preferences, along with life-history traits of commercial species. The outcomes of our study showed fluctuations in climate velocity across diverse spatial and seasonal scales. We identified a relationship between the abundance of most captured commercial species and seasonal climate velocity. These variations were also influenced by the temperature preferences and the life-history traits of these species and, play a key role in the climate connectivity between the network of Marine Protected Areas. We conclude that climate velocity metrics are valuable to comprehend how economically important marine species respond in the Western Mediterranean Sea at regional and seasonal levels. Using this knowledge, we can develop climate-smart management strategies, contributing to biodiversity conservation and the preservation of crucial ecosystem services, while mitigating the risks associated with future maladaptation.

Obtención de los patrones de distribución espacial e índices de abundancia de la fauna bentónica y demersal de la plataforma continental de Galicia y Mar Cantábrico. Estudio hidrográfico de la zona nerítica dirigido a su influencia sobre la distribución de las especies.

This working document presents the results on the most abundant elasmobranch species captured in the 2023 Northern Spanish Shelf groundfish survey. Biomass, abundance, length distributions and geographic ranges were analysed for Scyliorhinus canicula (lesser spotted dogfish), Galeus melastomus (blackmouth catshark), Etmopterus spinax (velvet belly), Hexanchus griseus (bluntnose sixgill shark), Raja clavata (thornback ray), Raja montagui (spotted ray), Leucoraja naevus (cuckoo ray), Raja brachyura (blonde ray) and other scarce elasmobranches. Biomass of S. canicula, G. melastomus, E. spinax, R. clavata, L. naevus and R. brachyura increased, whereas H. griseus and R. montagui decreased. S. ringens and Deania spp. were scarce as usual and only one or a few specimens of Dalatias licha, Dipturus nidarosiensis, Dipturus oxyrinchus, Leucoraja circularis and Raja polystigma were found.Signs of recruitment were found for E. spinax in additional deep hauls.

Informe de los resultados obtenidos en la campaña Demersales 2022 para la estimación de los índices de abundancia y patrones de distribución espacial de la fauna bentónica y demersal de la plataforma continental de Galicia y Mar Cantábrico. Se representan resultados de las especies Merluccius merluccius, Lepidorhombus boscii, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis, Lophius budegassa, Lophius piscatorius, Micromesistius poutassou, Scomber scomber, Trachurus trachurus, Scyliorhinus canicula, Trisopterus luscus, Nephrops norvegicus y otros crústáceos y cefalópodos. También se hace un seguimiento de la basura recogida, de los contenidos estomacales y de las condiciones hidrográficas, entre otros. Se adjuntan informes de relaciones tróficas e hidrografía.

This working document presents the results on the most abundant elasmobranch species captured in the 2022 Spanish Groundfish Survey on Northern Spanish shelf. Biomass, spatial distribution and length ranges were analysed for Scyliorhinus canicula (lesser spotted dogfish), Scyliorhinus stellaris (greater spotted dogfish), Galeus melastomus (blackmouth catshark), Galeus atlanticus (atlantic sawtail catshark), Etmopterus spinax (velvet belly), Hexanchus griseus (bluntnose sixgill shark), Raja clavata (thornback ray), Raja montagui (spotted ray), Leucoraja naevus (cuckoo ray) and other scarce elasmobranches. The biomass of most species S. canicula, S. stellaris, H. griseus, R. clavata, R. montagui, L. naevus, increased, whereas it decreased for the species G. melastomus, G. atlanticus, E. spinax and D. profundorum. D. calceus was very scarce, similar to previous year. As usual, only a few specimens of Scymnodon ringens, Dalatias licha and L. circularis were found, as well as the occasional species Galeorhinus galeus, Etmopterus pusillus, Dipturus oxyrinchus, Raja undulata and Raja brachyura. The species Lamna nasus was found for the first time in the historical time series. Signs of recruitment were found for E. spinax in additional deep hauls.

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.

This working document presents the results of the most relevant commercial species caught on the 2022 Spanish Groundfish Survey on Northern Spanish shelf. Biomass, geographical and length distributions are analyzed for European hake (Merluccius merluccius), four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii), megrim (L. whiffiagonis), black-bellied anglerfish (Lophius budegassa), white anglerfish (L. piscatorius), sole (Solea solea) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Information on the scarce species i.e. seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), pollack (Pollachius pollachius) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus) requested in ICES DCF Data Call is also presented. The increase of the total catches this last survey is reflected in the biomass of most commercial species, except for black anglerfish, that decreased slightly. Hake and both megrims abundance reached the highest values of the time series, Anglerfishes stayed steady whereas Norway lobster reached the highest value of the last twenty years. Sole increased slightly in standard hauls. An increase of hake, black anglerfish and specially megrim recruits was found while for the white anglerfish, recruits have declined.

Marine species range shifts in response to climate change are generalized and accelerated, both at global and regional scale. However, the role of the complex underlaying mechanisms at play are still poorly understood. The Mediterranean Sea is a highly vulnerable and semi-enclosed system where the climatic risk exposure to multiple impacts is known to be very high and species are expected to display a variety of resilient responses. The reorganization and possible resilient and adaptive responses of species in Western Mediterranean are expected to follow a meridionalization pattern (i.e. northward displacement). However, this can be also related to the dynamic processes of seascape connectivity, in which the climatic connectivity has a strong impact. Velocity of climate change (VoCC), often used as analytical predictor for climate connectivity, is the speed and direction at which isolines of a specified climate travel across landscape and seascape due to climate change, being a function of spatial and temporal variation in climate conditions. The paths that point on an isoline of climate analogues are called climate trajectories. Here, VoCC has been calculated for the contemporary climate (1987 to 2019) at 0.16¿¿ grid cell for sea surface temperature and related to resilient and adaptive responses of observed in the main species of the continental shelf community. To do that, spatial indicators (i.e. the center of gravity, inertia, index of patchiness, index of dispersion and the index of aggregation) and their temporal rates of change have been calculated to quantify the space-time patterns of benthopelagic species using historical data of scientific bottom trawl surveys of the Western Mediterranean Sea from 1994 to 2019. Combining our results on VoCC and spatial indicators demonstrate unexpected significant southward patterns of Mediterranean marine species in response to climate change contrary to the meridionalization expectations of the Mediterranean communitie

An accelerating rate of warming along spatial gradients is leading to changes in climate velocity, (i.e., speed and direction of isotherm movements). Using climate velocity to assess the threat of climate change has enabled researchers to document global patterns of poleward changes in biodiversity. However, less is known about regional, sub-regional and seasonal responses of commercial marine species, which often represents the efficient scale of management. Using climate velocity as a metric of potential range shifts (1987-2021), we explore how seasons, shifts in fisheries landings (2007-2021), temperature preferences and life-history traits influence the distribution of commercial species in the Western Mediterranean Sea. We found spatial and seasonal differences in climate velocities and some changes in climatic areas (i.e., novel and vulnerable climate areas, climate refugia and climate corridors). The most captured commercial species exhibits a strong relationship with seasonal climate velocity. Shifts in landings also differ in relation to community temperature preferences and life-history traits. Our results suggest that climate velocity is a useful metric that can help to understand regional and sub-regional responses of commercial marine species in the Western Mediterranean Sea. This provides insights into climate-smart management, thereby contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and associated ecosystem services to avoid future maladaptation.

In the framework of global human-induced change, marine communities’ often respond to changing conditions abruptly reorganizing into new equilibria. These shifts are difficult to predict and often imply irreversible adjustments due to hysteresis. Unraveling the role of the forces leading regime shifts is a major challenge. We explored the temporal evolution of 63 fish species representing the Cantabrian bentho-demersal community in response to environmental changes and fishing pressure in the period 1983–2018, using survey data. Via multivariate analysis and non-additive modeling of a community index and the system's main stressors, two decadal-scale regimes were revealed, suggesting a non-linear response of the community to its environment. The Integrated Resilience Assessment framework elucidated the response mechanism to the candidate stressors and allowed quantifying resilience dynamics. The decline in fishing pressure in the 1990s was associated with a gradual transition of the system, while further decline during the 2000s eroded the resilience of the system towards changes in its stressors, leading to a discontinuous response expressed as an abrupt, possibly irreversible shift in the 2010s. Given the teleconnected character of marine ecosystems, this regional study endorses the scientific effort for actions facing the dynamic impacts of climate change on exploited marine ecosystems.

The bamboo coral Isidella elongata is an engineering species that forms a characteristic biogenic habitat in the bathyal mud of the Mediterranean Sea. This habitat has been severely reduced in recent decades due to trawling impacts, and there is a growing concern about its conservation status. In this work, the habitat loss of I. elongata was computed using a novel approach that combines the realized niche of the species with the estimation of its past distribution (before trawling) to delineate potential areas of habitat loss with different levels of uncertainty. The realized niche of the species was modelled using only live colonies and including trawling effort as explanatory variable whereas the past distribution was estimated also using the leftovers of dead colonies as presences. Trawling effort had a statistically significant negative effect on the extent of the realized niche of I. elongata, confirming previous results on the impact of this pressure on its distribution. The novel approach used in this work has allowed us to map for the first time several areas of potential habitat loss for I. elongata in the studied area, opening new opportunities to provide this essential information for future management and restoration actions of vulnerable marine ecosystems worldwide.

Indicators are key tools used to assess the ecological status of the environment for ecosystem based management. Anthropogenic disturbances produce changes to habitat condition, which include modifications in species composition and their functions. Monitoring a group of sentinel species (from a taxonomic and functional point of view) provides useful insights into benthic habitat condition. Here, a new indicator, Sentinels of the Seabed (SoS) is proposed to assess state of benthic habitats using “sentinel” species (species which are characteristic of a habitat and sensitive to a given pressure). The selection of these sentinel species has two stages. First, a ‘typical species set’ is computed using intra-habitat similarity and frequency under reference conditions. Second, the ‘sentinel species set’ is generated by selecting the most sensitive species from the typical species set. This selection is made using specific indexes able to assess species sensitivity to a particular pressure. The SoS indicator method was tested on six case studies and two different pressure types (trawling disturbance and pollution), using data from otter trawl, box-corer and Remote Operate Vehicle images. In each scenario, the SoS indicator was compared to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Margalef index and total biomass, being the only metric, which showed the expected significant negative response to pressure in all cases. Our results shows that SoS was highly effective in assessing benthic habitats status under both physical and chemical pressures, regardless of the sampling gear, the habitat, or the case study, showing a great potential to be a useful tool in the management of marine ecosystems.

Mackerel is an important commercial pelagic species present in the western and eastern North Atlantic. The Northeast Atlantic Mackerel (NEAM) stock has its southernmost spawning area mainly located western Iberian Peninsula and southern Biscay. This species performs extensive annual migrations. The present study is focused on the distribution of this species along the Cantabrian Sea, an essential area of the South Spawning Component (SSC), and the environmental drivers that can affect its migration phenology. We have used data from Vessel Monitoring System and Logbooks of the hand line fishery to estimate the catch per unit of effort (CPUE) as a proxy of its distribution and abundance. CPUEs data of fisheries targeting NEAM provided us with a tool to discriminate the most important predictors for both its prespawning and the postspawning behavior. Among the drivers that can affect mackerel migration, we have analyzed wind speed and direction, temperature at surface (SST) and at 200 m depth, chlorophyll a, mixed layer depth, upwelling intensity, and the most representative geographical variables: depth, slope of the seafloor, and distance to coast. We used generalize additive models to highlight the predictors most closely related to the phenology of the species and to shape the spatial–temporal abundance of NEAM in the southern Bay of Biscay waters. Temperature and wind speed and direction are the most important factors that affect prespawning and postspawning migration of NEAM SSC and shape its niche tracking leading to a gradual advance of the spawning season.

Multi-species bottom trawl fisheries are one of the human activities with a great impact on the benthic habitats and their associated biota. This study provides estimates of the bottom trawling activity (effort), catches and landings of the main commercial species as well as an estimation of the total revenue (TR) generated inside a mud volcano field located in the Spanish margin of the Gulf of Cádiz, during a time series from 2007 to 2012. To date, no studies have been carried out to analyse the temporal evolution of bottom trawling activity and TR in a mud volcano fied, or the economic consequences of possible potential bottom trawling regulation of certain sectors harbouring vulnerable and/or threatened habitats. In this study, Vessel Monitoring System data, logbooks and sales slips were used. The spatial distribution of the bottom trawling activity, catches and TR were related to the seafloor morphology and specific bottom types of the mud volcano field. During the time series, a high bottom trawling activity and associated catches was detected in flat sandy and muddy bottoms, including the Anastasya sector and between the Guadalquivir and Cádiz Diapiric Ridges. Low bottom trawling activity and catches were detected in the deepest areas but also in areas with hard and detritic bottoms such as Gazul and Chica sectors as well as in the Diapiric Ridges. A similar spatial pattern was detected for the TR asociated with these bottom trawling fisheries. An increase in bottom trawling activity was detected during the time series, mainly at the end, probably for increasing the TR and mantaining the economic profit due to the instability and increases in fuel prices and offset the increased costs. Based on the obtained information, bottom trawling regulations should be implemented in certain sectors harboring singular and/or threatened habitats and species. In some of these sectors, a low TR from bottom trawling was detected and, bottom trawling regulation may potentially

This working document presents the results of the most relevant commercial species captured on the 2021 Spanish Groundfish Survey on Northern Spanish shelf. Biomass, geographical and length distributions are analyzed for European hake (Merluccius merluccius), four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii), megrim (L. whiffiagonis), black-bellied anglerfish (Lophius budegassa), white anglerfish (L. piscatorius), sole (Solea solea) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Information on the scarce species i.e. seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), pollack (Pollachius pollachius) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus) requested in ICES DCF Data Call is also presented. The increase of the total catch this last survey is not reflected in the biomass of most commercial species, except for anglerfishes and four-spot megrim, that increased slightly. Sole decreased substantially both in standard hauls and in additional hauls shallower than 70 m. A slight increase of megrim and anglerfish recruits was found while for the rest of the species considered, recruits have declined. Nevertheless due to the breakage of the vessel and the change of the usual vessel in the second part of the survey, some results may underestimate the abundance of recruits, specially in the case of megrims.

This working document presents the results on the most abundant elasmobranch species captured in the 2021 Spanish Groundfish Survey on Northern Spanish shelf. Biomass, spatial distribution and length ranges were analysed for Scyliorhinus canicula (lesser spotted dogfish), Scyliorhinus stellaris (greater spotted dogfish), Galeus melastomus (blackmouth catshark), Galeus atlanticus (atlantic sawtail catshark), Etmopterus spinax (velvet belly), Hexanchus griseus (bluntnose sixgill shark), Raja clavata (thornback ray), Raja montagui (spotted ray), Leucoraja naevus (cuckoo ray) and other scarce elasmobranches. In general the biomass of these species decreased this last survey. As usual a few specimens of the scarce elasmobranches Scymnodon ringens (knifetooth dogfish), Dalatias licha (kitefin shark) and Leucoraja circularis (sandy ray) were found in this last survey, whereas the occasional species Etmopterus pusillus (smooth lanternshark), Dipturus nidarosiensis (norwegian skate), Raja microocellata (small-eyed ray), Raja undulata (undulate ray), Gaelorhinus galeus (tope shark), Tetronarce nobiliana (electric ray), Dipturus oxyrinchus (longnosed skate) and Centroscymnus crepidater (longnose velvet dogfish) were not. Mustelus mustelus (smooth-hound), Torpedo marmorata (marbled electric ray), Neoraja iberica (Iberian pygmy skate) and Raja brachyura (blonde ray) were captured again since time ago in the time series and the species Oxynotus paradoxus (sailfin roughshark) and Raja polystigma (speckled ray) were found for the first time in the historical series. Regarding recruitment, abundance of small specimens increased slightly for S. stellaris and R. montagui.