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Distribution patterns of deep-sea fish and benthic invertebrates from trawlable grounds of the Hatton Bank, north-east Atlantic: effects of deep-sea bottom trawling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2012

P. Durán Muñoz*
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain
M. Sayago-Gil
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Grupo de Geología Marina, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain
T. Patrocinio
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain
M. González-Porto
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, Avenida Tres de Mayo 73, 38005 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
F. J. Murillo
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain
M. Sacau
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain
E. González
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Cádiz, Puerto Pesquero, Muelle de Levante s/n, 11006 Cádiz, Spain
G. Fernández
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain
A. Gago
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: P. Durán Muñoz, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Programa de Pesquerías Lejanas, Subida a Radiofaro 50–52, 36390 Vigo, Spain email: [email protected]

Abstract

Distributions of deep-sea fish, benthic invertebrates and the effects of deep-sea bottom trawling were studied based on data collected in 2005 from a joint collaboration survey undertaken between the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and a deep-sea trawler on the Hatton Bank (north-east Atlantic). A total of 163 valid bottom trawl hauls (600–1600 m) were analysed. The main trawlable grounds were located on the sedimentary seabed of the western flank of the bank (Hatton Drift). Grenadiers and smoothheads were predominant in the trawl catches (67% and 11.8% by weight respectively). Both species were abundant along the western flank. Deep-water sharks accounted for 7.4% of weight, and were abundant along the south-eastern slopes. Chimerids, lotids, morids and other deep-sea species were also taken as by-catch. Grenadiers and deep-water sharks dominated the discards. By-catches of cold-water corals were generally associated with the rocky outcrop and were more abundant at the top of the bank. Abundant by-catches of large sponges, characteristic of sponge-dominated biotopes, were taken from the eastern flank.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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