Octopus vulgaris (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) fishery management assessment in Asturias (north-west Spain)

Common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797, management in the west of Asturias has been carried out as a co-management experience since 2001. It includes the establishment of a closed season, a minimum capture weight of 1000 g and the limitation of traps as the only authorized fishing gear. An assessment of these management rules is made in the present study. The percentage of mature females weighing between 900 and 1900 g during the period of maximum reproductive development (February–June) is between 73% and 100% by 100 g size class. Consequently, a minimum capture weight of 1000 g can be considered adequate for the rational exploitation of this resource. Moreover, the constant monitoring of O. vulgaris landings (weight distribution and sex ratio) could be useful to find an indicator to permit the detection of changes in the spawning period, allowing managers to establish the closed season in the most suitable period in order to protect the recruitment of the next cohort.