An Atlantic journey: The distribution and fishing pattern of the Madeira deep sea fishery

Abstract

The deep sea fishery targeting the black and intermediate scabbardfishes (Aphanopus spp.) off the Madeira archipelago represents one of the world long standing exploitations of meso- and bathypelagic fishes. The intensive fishing of the target species caused an overall decrease of more than (51%) in their yields. Fishing vessels had to go further away of the usual fishing grounds, leading to a progressive geographical expansion of the fishery reaching as far as the Southern Azores Seamount Chain and the Canaries Economic Exclusive Zone. Changes in the fishing pattern of the Madeira fleet were also registered along the last decades. Trends of the spatial distribution of the fishing sets and of the fishing pattern exerted by the Madeira fishing fleet in the North-central eastern Atlantic are presented herein and its implications for the conservation of the resource and fishery management are discussed, along with the emergence of new fisheries upon this resource at regional level. Changes in the conservation and management strategies followed so far is urgent and should integrate all fisheries acting upon the resource and take in account the phase of the life cycle it fishes otherwise the sustainability of the exploitation may soon be in danger. Authors propose a prohibition of bottom trawling bellow 200 m deep and a temporary closure of the fishery in some areas.