Characterisation, analysis and catch rates of the small-scale fisheries of the Alicante Gulf (SE Spain) over a 10 years time series

The artisanal fishery of the Alicante Gulf was analysed from data collected at the port of Santa Pola using multivariate analysis and generalised linear models. Daily landings by boat from 1994 to 2003 were used: (i) to describe the activity groups; (ii) to identify the target species; (iii) to characterise the catch composition by gear and (iv) to obtain a derived abundance index for the selected species. This is a multispecies and multigear fishery mainly based on the exploitation of Mullus spp. (especially M. surmuletus), Merluccius merluccius, Octopus vulgaris, Sepia officinalis and some Sparidae species. Many other species are landed either individually or as mixed categories. The main gear is the trammel net, followed by the long line, the gill net and others, all exhibiting a high monthly variability in landings. More generally, there is an annual stability in landings joined to a high annual and monthly variability in the abundance index of the main target species.