suMMARY: gonads of the ne Atlantic black scabbardfish were examined to give an insight into the reproductive biology of this species. it was concluded that black scabbardfish had determinate fecundity because: (i) a distinct hiatus in oocyte size was observed between pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes; (ii) vitellogenic oocytes increased in size during the spawning season; (iii) the number of vitellogenic oocytes did not increase during the spawning season; and (iv) the intensity of atresia was low in pre-spawning and spawning ovaries. Fecundity estimates ranged from 73 to 373 oocytes g -1 female. Comparison of developing ovaries from mainland Portugal and Madeira revealed that those from Madeira were more advanced in development, with more cortical alveoli stage oocytes and a higher gonadosomatic index. starting in July, the reproductive development of all females from mainland Portugal was interrupted by a generalised atresia of developing oocytes. Completion of gametogenesis and spawning only occurred for fish from Madeira but some fish from this area also failed to complete oocyte development due to mass follicular atresia of vitellogenic oocytes. the percentage of Madeiran fish that failed to spawn due to follicular atresia ranged from 21.2% in 2006 to 37.4% in 2005.Keywords: black scabbardfish, skipped spawning, fecundity, atresia, Portugal.ResuMen: Estrategias reproductivas en el sable negro (AphAnopus cArbo Lowe, 1839) en el Atlántico nordeste. -Las gónadas del sable negro del Atlántico nordeste fueron examinadas para conocer la biología reproductiva de esta especie. Los resultados sobre el tipo de fecundidad mostraron que la especie tenía una fecundidad determinada en base a los siguientes hechos: (i) hiato entre ovocitos previtelogénicos y vitelogénicos; (ii) aumento de tamaño de los ovocitos vitelogénicos durante el período de puesta; (iii) ausencia de incremento en el número permanente de ovocitos vitelogénicos avanzados durante el período de puesta y (iv) una pequeña atresia en los ovarios antes de la ovulación y durante ella. Las estimaciones de fecundidad se establecieron entre 73 y 373 ovocitos g -1 hembra. La comparación de los ovarios de hembras en desarrollo de aguas frente a Portugal continental y las de Madeira mostró una diferencia significativa en el tamaño medio de los ovocitos entre las dos áreas, y que las hembras de Madeira presentaron una mayor cantidad de ovocitos con alvéolos corticales y un índice gonadosomático mayor. A partir de julio y en hembras recolectadas frente a Portugal de continente, todos los individuos comenzaron a sufrir una atresia generalizada en sus ovocitos, mientras que en las aguas de Madeira, el ciclo reproductivo continúa hasta ovulación. sin embargo, en algunas hembras de Madeira la gametogénesis también se paraliza y todos los ovocitos vitelogénicos son absorbidos vía atresia folicular. el porcentaje de hembras no reproductivas varió del 21.23% en 2006 al 37.4% en 2005.Palabras clave: sable negro, skip spawning, fecundidad, atresia, Portugal. 2009, 19...

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Data on age and reproduction of the rabbitfish at the Portuguese continental slope are presented. Ages were estimated based on transverse sections of the dorsal spine. Differences in growth patterns were detected between sexes—males grow slower and are smaller than females. The results from histological analysis of different development stages of testes indicated that the macroscopic scale used is well adapted to rabbitfish sampled in Portuguese waters. In females and excluding macroscopic Stage 4, which according to the adopted scale corresponds to an active phase, all the remaining stages were identified in the samples. Ovarian fecundity was estimated as 6·46±2·32 oocytes (females range: 45·0 to 70·0 cm pre-supra caudal fin length [PSCFL]). Length of first maturity in males (40·7 cm PSCFL) is lower than in females (45·9 cm PSCFL).

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Scientific interest in deep-water marine resources has increased dramatically over the last 10-20 years as management bodies have sought advice on how to manage deep-water fisheries and protect deep-water ecosystems. The strengths and weaknesses of the management and monitoring of deep-water stocks, fisheries, and ecosystems in various areas of the world are described, with the objective of informing the EU FP7 DEEPFISHMAN project so that it can fulfill its primary aim, which is to develop strategic options for a short-and long-term management and monitoring ecosystem-based framework for the northeast Atlantic. To provide a baseline, the current monitoring and management regime in the northeast Atlantic is reviewed, followed by a brief description of the regimes applying to deep-water fisheries in the northwest Atlantic, the southeast Atlantic, off Brazil, in the Antarctic, off Australia and New Zealand, and in the Mediterranean. The strengths and weaknesses of these are discussed, taking into account additional information available from DEEPFISHMAN case study stocks, outcomes from consultations with stakeholders in the deep-water fishing industry in the northeast Atlantic, and the requirements of EU regulations and developing policy that will likely impact deep-water fisheries in the northeast Atlantic.

-The biology, ecology, and dynamics of the deep-sea teleost black scabbardfish in the northeast Atlantic are reviewed. The black scabbardfish is a commercial bathypelagic species found in the NE Atlantic mostly from Iceland to the Canary Islands and Western Sahara, at depths from 800 to 1300 m. The spatial structure of its population is still uncertain, although the existence of one single stock that migrates around the NE Atlantic driven by feeding and reproduction is the most likely hypothesis consistent with available data. This review is based on data from commercial fisheries off the Faroe Islands, Hatton Bank, the west of the British Isles, and Portugal (mainland, Azores, and Madeira) and from Icelandic and Scottish scientific surveys collected between 1988 and 2012. Spawning of black scabbardfish occurs around Madeira and the Canary Archipelagos during the last quarter of the year. According to the migratory hypothesis, eggs, larvae, and possibly juveniles move north to areas from south of Icelandic and Faroe Islands to the west of the British Isles where they remain for some years to feed and grow. Then, they move south to the area off mainland Portugal, where they reach the size of first maturity but do not reproduce, and later move further south to the spawning grounds. Further studies are needed to understand which of the environmental conditions prevailing around Madeira and the Canaries, but not elsewhere, allow this species to mature and subsequently reproduce. This review suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is required to confirm the spatiotemporal migration and habitats used by black scabbardfish populations in the NE Atlantic at different life stages. Otolith contour shape and microchemistry, fatty acids, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, as well as steroid hormones are proposed as promising alternative tools for responding to this challenge.

Lorance, P., Agnarsson, S., Damalas, D., des Clers, S., Figueiredo, I., Gil, J., and Trenkel, V. M. 2011. Using qualitative and quantitative stakeholder knowledge: examples from European deep-water fisheries. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1815–1824. Stakeholder knowledge was collected through questionnaires and cognitive maps and used to summarize biological, environmental, technical, management, and socio-economic factors for several deep-water fisheries, identifying regional management issues and solutions. The questionnaires and cognitive maps revealed different technical, environmental, and management concerns in these fisheries. Dissatisfaction with management was more at an implementation than a conceptual level, because the existing management measures were mostly considered fit for purpose. Further, catch-and-effort data provided by the fishing industry were used to calculate standardized landings per unit effort. The results suggested different trends over time for three deep-water stocks exploited by the same fleet. The examples demonstrate how stakeholder involvement and use of qualitative knowledge and quantitative data might improve the management process and stock assessments when data are limited.

suMMarY: For several decades, the black scabbardfish (Aphanopus carbo, lowe 1839) has been a valuable resource for fishing communities in Madeira and more recently for those in mainland Portugal. the evaluation of the species' exploitation status was conducted only in the late 20th century and separated for the two areas of the Portuguese exclusive economic Zone (eeZ). nowadays, species stock assessment studies are usually conducted in the framework of scientific working groups from regional fisheries organizations: ices analyses data from the fishery operating in continental waters, whereas cecaF deals with the data pertaining to the Madeiran fishery. this paper presents the first attempt to combine the information available from the two longline fisheries targeting black scabbardfish in Portuguese waters in one single analysis. a description of the two fleets' technical characteristics was conducted and a unique model was developed for the standardization of the fishing effort aimed at the species in the Portuguese eeZ. From this model, weekly landings-per-unit-effort time series were estimated by region for the period 2005-2007 and compared using a non-parametric statistical test. Percentages of discarded species, in number and weight, were calculated and reveal consistently low figures. these discards seem to depend on the number of hooks, soaking time and depth.Keywords: lPue, fishing regime, deep-water, longline, discards, glM, time-series. resuMen: Pesquería del sable negro (AphAnopus cArbo Lowe, 1839) frente a la costa continental portuguesa y la isla de Madeira. -durante varias décadas, el sable negro (Aphanopus carbo) ha sido un recurso valioso para las comunidades de pesca de Madeira y más recientemente para las comunidades de pesca de Portugal continental. la evaluación del estado de explotación de la especie se inició a finales del siglo XX y se realizó separadamente para dos áreas de la Zona económica exclusiva (Zee) portuguesa. hoy en día, los estudios de evaluación de stock de la especie son, por lo general, conducidos por grupos de trabajo científicos pertenecientes a organizaciones pesqueras regionales; ices analiza datos de las pesquerías de las aguas continentales mientras que cecaF trabaja con los datos pertenecientes a la pesquería de Madeira. este trabajo representa el primer intento de reunir, en un único análisis, la información disponible de las dos pesquerías de palangre que capturan el sable negro en aguas portuguesas. se realizó una descripción de las características técnicas de las dos flotas y se desarrolló un modelo único para la estandarización del esfuerzo de pesca dirigido a la especie en la Zee portuguesa. a partir de este modelo, se estimaron series temporales de desembarques semanales por unidad de esfuerzo para esta región durante el periodo 2005-2007, y se compararon utilizando una prueba estadística no paramétrica. se espera que los resultados, alcanzados gracias a la reciente cooperación entre las organizaciones regionales de Pesca, ayuden a entender el papel del llamado...