Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and Black Dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii) Spanish Data (Surveys and Fishery) in NAFO Divisions 3LMNO.

Abstract

The analysis of Spanish survey and fishery dat a from Divisions 3LMNO show that Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is not abundant and that this species appears in these Divisions sporadically and in depths of l ess than 500 meters. Black dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii) data show that this speci es is present in all Divisions, but is more abundant in Div. 3NO and in depths of more than 900 m. Biomass estimated from the 3NO survey displays an increasing trend over the last three years. Commercial catches of this species are mainly a by-cat ch of the Greenland halibut fishery in Div. 3LMNO. Size compositions are mainly in between 50 and 70 cm of length, both for commercial and survey catches.