Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment
IntroductionThe identification of recruitment areas and other essential fish habitats of exploited stocks is a fundamental requirement for the development of marine spatial planning and ecosystem conservation measures. Reducing recruitment mortality is particularly relevant on the northern continent...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1545819/full |
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| author | Esther Abad Francisco Izquierdo Jorge Landa Francisco Velasco Manuel Hidalgo Maria Grazia Pennino |
| author_facet | Esther Abad Francisco Izquierdo Jorge Landa Francisco Velasco Manuel Hidalgo Maria Grazia Pennino |
| author_sort | Esther Abad |
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| description | IntroductionThe identification of recruitment areas and other essential fish habitats of exploited stocks is a fundamental requirement for the development of marine spatial planning and ecosystem conservation measures. Reducing recruitment mortality is particularly relevant on the northern continental shelf of the Iberian Peninsula and is one of the key prerequisites for the future sustainability of trawl fisheries.MethodsIn this study, the distribution of nursery areas of four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) was analyzed using time series of scientific bottom trawl survey data to assess whether recruitment areas are persistent over time. Four environmental variables were considered as potential predictors of recruit distribution, as they may influence habitat selection by this species: sea bottom temperature, sea bottom salinity, bathymetry, and sediment type. Additionally in a second stage and based on the spatial findings during this work, the recruitment abundance index within the a4a stock assessment model currently used to provide scientific advice for this species was divided into two spatial areas.ResultsSpatial analyses revealed a specific depth preference for four-spot megrim recruits, with higher abundance in shallower waters, particularly within the 150 to 300 m depth range, respect deeper ones. More importantly, our findings showed significant spatial-temporal variability in four-spot megrim nursery areas. Furthermore, the results of the updated assessment model showed differences in biological reference points (BRPs) compared to the existing model.DiscussionThis suggests that static spatial management approaches may be ineffective due to environmental variability and underscoring the importance of incorporating spatial structure into the assessment process. This approach enables more accurate stock evaluations and more effective, sustainable management, thus laying the groundwork for a potential implementation of spatial stock assessment for this species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc1f61858b4a47e28a857ddc23a72dd8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc1f61858b4a47e28a857ddc23a72dd82025-08-20T02:29:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-04-011210.3389/fmars.2025.15458191545819Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessmentEsther Abad0Francisco Izquierdo1Jorge Landa2Francisco Velasco3Manuel Hidalgo4Maria Grazia Pennino5Centro Oceanográfico Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Vigo, SpainCentro Oceanográfico Vigo, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Vigo, SpainCentro Oceanográfico Santander, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Santander, SpainCentro Oceanográfico Santander, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Santander, SpainCentro Oceanográfico Baleares, Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Palma de Mallorca, SpainInstituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, SpainIntroductionThe identification of recruitment areas and other essential fish habitats of exploited stocks is a fundamental requirement for the development of marine spatial planning and ecosystem conservation measures. Reducing recruitment mortality is particularly relevant on the northern continental shelf of the Iberian Peninsula and is one of the key prerequisites for the future sustainability of trawl fisheries.MethodsIn this study, the distribution of nursery areas of four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) was analyzed using time series of scientific bottom trawl survey data to assess whether recruitment areas are persistent over time. Four environmental variables were considered as potential predictors of recruit distribution, as they may influence habitat selection by this species: sea bottom temperature, sea bottom salinity, bathymetry, and sediment type. Additionally in a second stage and based on the spatial findings during this work, the recruitment abundance index within the a4a stock assessment model currently used to provide scientific advice for this species was divided into two spatial areas.ResultsSpatial analyses revealed a specific depth preference for four-spot megrim recruits, with higher abundance in shallower waters, particularly within the 150 to 300 m depth range, respect deeper ones. More importantly, our findings showed significant spatial-temporal variability in four-spot megrim nursery areas. Furthermore, the results of the updated assessment model showed differences in biological reference points (BRPs) compared to the existing model.DiscussionThis suggests that static spatial management approaches may be ineffective due to environmental variability and underscoring the importance of incorporating spatial structure into the assessment process. This approach enables more accurate stock evaluations and more effective, sustainable management, thus laying the groundwork for a potential implementation of spatial stock assessment for this species.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1545819/fullBayesian modelsfisheries managementfour-spot megrimnurseriesspatial assessmentrecruits |
| spellingShingle | Esther Abad Francisco Izquierdo Jorge Landa Francisco Velasco Manuel Hidalgo Maria Grazia Pennino Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment Frontiers in Marine Science Bayesian models fisheries management four-spot megrim nurseries spatial assessment recruits |
| title | Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment |
| title_full | Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment |
| title_fullStr | Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment |
| title_short | Identifying spatiotemporal variations in four-spot megrim (Lepidorhombus boscii) fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment |
| title_sort | identifying spatiotemporal variations in four spot megrim lepidorhombus boscii fishery nurseries to enhance management and stock assessment |
| topic | Bayesian models fisheries management four-spot megrim nurseries spatial assessment recruits |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1545819/full |
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