ALBERT

Beschreibung: Two general levels of productivity, since 1970, were previously identified for the Subareas 3+4 component of the northern shortfin squid (Illex illecebrosus) population based on trends in survey relative biomass indices and squid mean weight, as well as nominal catches (Rivard et al. 1998, Hendrickson 1999). A period of high productivity (1976-1981) occurred between two low productivity periods (1970-1975 and 1982-1999). During 2000, pre-fishery, July survey abundance and biomass indices for Subarea 4 were at the lowest level since 1970. Total catches in Subareas 3+4 remained low during 2000 (340 t) and were similar to those from 1999 (305 t). The mean weights of squid caught in the Division 4VWX July survey and the Subareas 5+6 autumn survey were the lowest in each time series. Based on these trends, the Subareas 3+4 stock component remained in a state of low productivity during 2000.

Beschreibung: Subarea 3 landings totalled only 310 t in 2000, representing a slight increase from 19 t in 1999 and representing the third consecutive year of very low abundance, with landings of less than 1000 t. Landings in 2000 were exclusively from the inshore Newfoundland jig fishery in Div. 3KL and primarily during September-October. Samples acquired from the commercial fishery at two inshore localities indicated that mean mantle lengths for both sexes were much smaller than in 1998 and were generally comparable with the smallest observed since 1976, for comparable time periods. Coincident with such small size, male sexual maturation was less advanced than in previous years. Small mean length at Newfoudland in 2000 was consistent with small mean weights observed in 2000 from surveys during July on the Scotian Shelf and during autumn on the northeast USA Shelf. Such small size is believed to reflect a low proportion of squid from late spawning.

Beschreibung: The results related on crustaceans and cephalopods taxa of the Spanish trawl survey carried out in summer 2000 in the Flemish Cap Bank are analysed. A total of 17 crustaceans and 8 cephalopods species were found between 126 m and 720 m of depth. Crustacean make up about 5 % and cephalopods 0.01 % of the catch. Pandalus borealis was the most abundant invertebrate species in the area.

Beschreibung: Bear Seamount (39o 55’N 67o 30’W) is an extinct undersea volcano located inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone south of Georges Bank. The fauna associated with the seamount was little known until twenty trawl stations were made 2-7 December 2000, by the NOAA ship Delaware II. The objective of the cruise was to begin to document the biodiversity on and over the seamount, particularly of fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Representatives of most species were preserved as vouchers and for subsequent definitive identification. Preliminary identifications indicate the capture of 115 fish species. Among these were a number of new fish records for the area or rare species, including Acromycter pertubator (Congridae), Alepocephalus bairdii (Alepocephalidae), Mirognathus normani (Alepocephalidae), Bathygadus favosus (Bathygadidae), Nezumia longebarbata(Macrouridae), Gaidropsarus argentatus (Phycidae), and Dibranchus tremendus (Ogcocephalidae). Only two fish species of potential commercial importance were encountered: Coryphaenoides rupestris and Macrourus berglax.Cephalopods comprised 26 species in 15 families, including one new distributional record and several rarely-collected species. The crustacean fauna was diverse with at least 46 species. Totals for other invertebrate species are pending laboratory identification, but number at least 113 species in 10 phyla. This includes a number of new distributional records and a new species of gorgonian.

Beschreibung: Data on occurrence of Histioteuthis bonnellii and Histioteuthis reversa collected in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea from 1994 to 1998 during five trawl surveys of the Medits eight trawl survey of the Grund project are reported. The International bottom trawl survey (the MEDITS programme) has been designed from a European Commission’s initiative to produce biological data on the demersal resources along the coasts of the four Mediterranean countries of the European Union (Spain, France, Italy and Greece). The main objective was to obtain independent knowledge useful for the fishery management, in an area where it is difficult to follow in detail the exploitation patterns of the fishing fleets. In Italian seas, before 1985, there was no research at national level on biological aspect and assessment of demersal resources. Within the framework of the first national plan (1985-1988) of the Law 41/82, three main research groups to assess demersal resources were organized: Tyrrhenyan group, Adriatic and Ionian group and Sicily group. All the seas were covered, with the exception of Ionian part of Sicily. The stratified random sample design was mainly used and five strata were chosen (0-50, 50-100, 100-200, 200-450 and 450-700m). During the third national plan all the researchers involved in trawl surveys were joined in one national group (GRUND: Gruppo Nazionale Demersali) and the same protocol for campaign, data collection and process was adopted by eleven Operative Units belonging to GRUND.

Beschreibung: Four trawl surveys were carried out on the slope of the North-eastern Ionian Sea, from September 1999 to September 2000, in the framework of the project “Interregional environmental studies in the Ionian Sea (INTERREG II)”. The bottom area investigated was subdivided into four depth strata: 300-500, 500-700, 700-900 and 900-1200 m; and the sampling was based on random-stratified design. Between the cephalopod species collected during exploratory trawling, Loligo forbesi and Ommastrephid squids were those with the greatest commercial potential. A first analysis of the resource is presented here. Stratified CPUE indices showed that Loligo forbesi, Todarodes sagittatus, Todaropsis eblanae and Illex coindetii constituted the major part (〉70%) of cephalopod catches between 300 and 700 m during autumn and spring, but was quite lower in summer due to the scarcity of ommastrephids in the catches. L. forbesi was constantly present in the stratum 300-500 m throughout the year, dominated by immature individuals. Among the two short-fined squids, the proportion of I. coindetii was higher in both autumns whereas T. eblanae was more abundant in spring. Their low catches in July are probably related with the high post-spawning mortality of these species. No seasonal trend could be defined in the catches of the pelagic T. sagittatus. The occurrence of fully mature males in the study area, indicates probable spawning locations of the species.