ICES Advice 2005, Volume 7 - Bay of Biscay and Atlantic Iberian Waters

1 BAY OF BISCAY AND IBERIAN SEAS 1

1.1 Ecosystem overview 1

1.1.1 Ecosystem components 1

1.1.2 The major environmental effects on ecosystem dynamics 8

1.1.3 The major effects of the ecosystem on fisheries 8

1.1.4 The major effects of fishing on the ecosystem 8

1.1.5 Other effects of human use of the ecosystem 9

1.1.6 References 9

1.2 The human use of the ecosystem 12

1.2.1 Fisheries and their impacts 12

1.2.2 Description of the fisheries 12

1.3 Assessments and advice 15

1.3.1 Advice for fisheries management 21

1.3.2 Special requests 24

1.3.2.1 Bay of Biscay Anchovy 24

1.4 Stock summaries Bay of Biscay and Iberian Seas

1.4.1 Hake Southern stock (Divisions VIIIc and IXa excluding the Gulf of Cadiz) 29

1.4.2 Megrim (L. boscii and L. whiffiagonis) in Divisions VIIIc and IXa 38

1.4.3 Anglerfish in Divisions VIIIc and IXa (L. piscatorius and L. budegassa) 50

1.4.4 Southern horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) (Division IXa) 58

1.4.5 Sardine in Divisions VIIIc and IXa 63

1.4.6 Anchovy in Subarea VIII (Bay of Biscay) 71

1.4.7 Anchovy in Division IXa 78

1.4.8 Nephrops in Divisions VIIIa,b (Management Area N) 83

1.4.9 Nephrops in Divisions VIIIc (Management Area O) 91

1.4.10 Nephrops in Divisions IXa (Management Area Q) 96

1.4.11 Sole in Divisions VIIIa,b,d (Bay of Biscay) 103