Stock Annex: Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in Subarea 8 (Bay of Biscay)

Stock definition: The anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) inhabiting Subarea 8 (Bay of Biscay) is considered to be isolated from a small population in the English Channel and from the populations in western Iberia (Division 9.a) (Magoulas et al., 2006; Zarraonaindia et al., 2012). Morfometrics and meristic studies suggest some heterogeneity at least in morphotipes (Prouzet and Metuzals, 1994; Junquera and Pérez-Gandaras, 1993). Along the North of Spain (in Division 8.c) Junquera and Pérez-Gandaras (1993) had already reported significant morphological differences in anchovies between Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country, and recently Borrell et al. (2012) have pointed out that there is some genetic isolation of anchovies in the middle west side of this division from the eastern one. In addition, some genetic heterogeneity, based on proteins allocime loci, have been found between the Garonne spawning regions and southern regions in the Bay of Biscay (Adour and Cantabrian shores) (Sanz et al., 2008). Despite the evidences for some heterogeneity and perhaps subpopulation in parts of the Bay of Biscay (western Cantabria), there are ample evidences that the major part of the population inhabits the Eastern and northern parts of the Bay of Biscay and show rather homogenous recruitment pulses and have a rather well understood common spatial dynamics throughout the year (Uriarte et al., 1996). This leads ICES to consider that the anchovy in this area should be dealt with as a single stock for assessment and management.

Last updated: October 2013 by WKPELA 2013 during and after WGHANSA2013, and approved by ICES ACOM.

Version 2 created to add DOI and edit metadata.