Estimates of Spanish bottom otter trawl boarfish (Capros aper) discards by area in the Northeast Atlantic area.

Abstract

Discard estimates for the Spanish bottom otter trawl fleets fishing in the Northeast Atlantic are presented for boarfish (Capros aper). Information was obtained by observers on board under different discard sampling programmes carried out by the Spanish research institute IEO. Raising based on effort (number of trips) was used to estimate total discards in weight and associated coefficients of variation (CV) and number for the fleet. Discards length distributions are presented by year and fishing area. Total estimates indicates different trends in discarding, showing a decreasing trend in north coastal Spanish waters and a increasing trend in western Ireland waters.