Abstract
The Mediterranean distributions of two species of anglerfish, the blackbellied anglerfish (Lophius budegassa) and the white anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), were analysed from trawl survey data (MEDITS project – Spain, France, Italy and Greece) from 2006 to 2015 implementing a Delta model approach with residuals autocovariate boosted regression trees. Sea bottom temperature (SBT), sea bottom salinity (SBS), bathymetry, slope of the seabed and distance to the coast were considered possible predictors. The results show that the locations with a higher presence, abundance and biomass of L. budegassa are those with a depth range between 150 to 300 m, with an SBT range between 17.5 and 18.5°C, and SBS of 37-38 PSU. Similarly, L. piscatorius shows a higher probability of presence, abundance and biomass in location with a bathymetry range of 200-400 m, an SBT of 17.5°C to 18.5°C and an SBS of 36.5 to 37.5. Our results identify preference habitats for the anglerfishes in the Mediterranean Sea such as the Aegean Sea, the Gulf of Lions, south and southeast Spain and the northwestern Ionian Sea. In general terms, these findings enhance our understanding of the differences in the spatio-temporal distribution of these two species, providing useful information that can help their fisheries management and conservation.
Highlights
The anglerfish Lophius budegassa, Spinola, 1807 and Lophius piscatorius Linaeus, 1758 are widely distributed species in the Mediterranean basin and the northeastern Atlantic Ocean in different bathymetric strata from 50 m up to around 1000 m depth (FAO 2007)
The results show that the locations with a higher presence, abundance and biomass of L. budegassa are those with a depth range between 150 to 300 m, with an Sea bottom temperature (SBT) range between 17.5 and 18.5°C, and sea bottom salinity (SBS) of 3738 PSU
L. piscatorius shows a higher probability of presence, abundance and biomass in location with a bathymetry range of 200-400 m, an SBT of 17.5°C to 18.5°C and an SBS of 36.5 to 37.5
Summary
The anglerfish Lophius budegassa, Spinola, 1807 and Lophius piscatorius Linaeus, 1758 are widely distributed species in the Mediterranean basin and the northeastern Atlantic Ocean (from the British Isles to Senegal) in different bathymetric strata from 50 m up to around 1000 m depth (FAO 2007). They are usually caught by multi-species trawlers, and the commercial importance of their catches varies from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, with high variability between areas. Its historical catch trends and statistics were evaluated and the exploitation status of its stocks were established (ICES 2007, GFCM-SAC-SCSA 2014, STECF 2012, 2013)
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