Spawning habitat selection by Octopus vulgaris: New insights for a more effective management of this resource

• First study identifying spawning preferential habitats (SPHO) of Octopus vulgaris.
• Statistical identification of the main environmental variables displaying SPOH.
• First step to elaborate a contingency plan to protect and preserve SPOHs.
• New insights for a more suitable management of this resource: ecosystem approach to fisheries.
• A strategy applicable to other areas. Marine protected areas (MPAs).

The selection of spawning habitat of a population of Octopus vulgaris that is subject to a small-scale exploitation was studied in the Cíes Islands within the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia (NW Spain). The technique used was visual censuses by scuba diving. We conducted 93 visual censuses from April 2012 to April 2014. The total swept area was 123.69 ha. Habitat features (season, depth, zone, bottom temperature, swept area, bottom substrate type, and creels fishing impact) were evaluated as predictors of the presence/absence of spawning dens using GAM models. O. vulgaris has a noteworthy preference for spawning in areas with hard bottom substrate and moderate depth (approximately 20 m). The higher density of spawning dens (1.08 ha−1) was found in a surveyed area of 50.14 ha located in the northeastern part of the northern Cíes Island. We propose to protect the area comprised from Punta Escodelo to Punta Ferreiro between 5 and 30 m depth. This area has a surface of 158 ha equivalent to 5.98% of the total marine area of the Cíes islands. The strengths and weaknesses of a management strategy based on the protection of the species’ spawning habitat are discussed.