We would like to thank Enrique Alot, Isabel Gonzalez, Angel Fernández, Enrique Majuelos, José Cebrián, José. Lorenzo and Manuel Marin, among others, ...
SCRS/2005/073
Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT, 59(3): 928-935 (2006)
ACTIVITY OF THE SPANISH SURFACE LONGLINE FLEET CATCHING SWORDFISH (XIPHIAS GLADIUS) DURING THE YEAR 2003, IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN B. García-Cortés1, J. Mejuto1, J. M. de la Serna2, A. Ramos-Cartelle1
SUMMARY This paper presents data on catches, nominal effort and nominal catch rates in 5x5 degree square formats of the activity of the Spanish surface longline fleet targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius) carried out in 2003 in waters of the Atlantic (including the Mediterranean areas) Indian and Pacific Oceans. Graphics and a descriptive summary are also provided. The nominal catch in round weight of swordfish taken in the ICCAT convention area by surface longliners during 2003 was 9,112 tons in the Atlantic Ocean and 306 tons in the Mediterranean (incomplete data). Nominal catches in the Pacific and Indian Oceans were 5,913 and 4,290 t, respectively. RÉSUMÉ Ce document présente les données sur la prise, l’effort nominal et les taux de prise nominale, au format de carrés de 5x5 degrés, en ce qui concerne les activités menées en 2003 par la flottille palangrière de surface espagnole ciblant l’espadon (Xiphias gladius) dans les eaux de l’Océan Atlantique (y compris les zones de la Méditerranée), de l’Océan Indien et de l’Océan Pacifique. Des graphiques et un résumé descriptif sont également soumis. La prise nominale d’espadon, en poids vif, réalisée par les palangriers de surface dans la zone de la Convention ICCAT, s’élevait, en 2003, à 9.112 t dans l’Atlantique et à 306 t en Méditerranée (données incomplètes). Les prises nominales s’élevaient à 5.913 t et à 4,290 t, respectivement, dans l’Océan Pacifique et l’Océan Indien. RESUMEN Se presentan datos de capturas, esfuerzo nominal y tasas de captura en formato de cuadrículas de 5x5 grados sobre la actividad de la flota española de palangre de superficie dirigida al pez espada (Xiphias gladius) durante el año 2003 en áreas del de los océanos Atlántico (incluyendo áreas del Mediterráneo), Índico y Pacífico. Gráficos y resúmenes descriptivos son también suministrados. La captura nominal en las áreas de la Convención de ICCAT realizadas por los palangreros de superficie durante el 2003 fueron 9.112 t en el Atlántico, 306 t en el Mediterráneo (datos incompletos). Las capturas nominales en el Océano Pacífico e Indico fueron 5.913 t y 4.290 t, respectivamente. KEY WORDS Swordfish, surface longline, Spanish fleet, CPUE
1 2
Instituto Español de Oceanografía, P.O. Box 130, 15080 A Coruña. Spain. Instituto Español de Oceanografía, P.O. Box 285, 29640 Fuengirola. Spain.
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1
Introduction
This paper includes plots and descriptive information of the activity of the Spanish surface longline fleet during the year 2003. Scientific statistical information on the activity of the commercial Spanish longline fleet is routinely reported to different Regional Fisheries Organizations (ICCAT, IOTC, IATTC, etc. ) for different scientific purposes such as the correct interpretation of the indicators to define accurate models for assessment within these multilateral organizations.
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Material and methods
The databases from the year 2003 reflect the activity of the Spanish surface longline fleet catching swordfish in all areas, with a more detailed overview from the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea areas. These databases include information by 5x5 degree squares on catches, nominal effort (thousands of hooks), nominal CPUEs in number of fish and weight (kg round weight) per thousand hooks and size categories, representing the complete activity of this fleet for scientific purposes and reported as ICCAT task 2 data. However, additional information from the Indian and Pacific Oceans was also plotted to provide a broader overview. The nominal CPUE in weight by quarter (Q) is also included (Q1: January, February, March; Q2: April, May, June; Q3: July, August, September; Q4: October, November, December). The nominal CPUE in number by size category (CAT) was plotted defining three size groups. Size CAT 1: sizes LJ-FL
