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MEDITS-Spain: Demersal and mega-benthic species from the MEDITS (Mediterranean International Trawl Survey) project on the Spanish continental shelf between 1994 and 2009
Citable as data publication
Massuti, Enric; García, Cristina; Guijarro, Beatriz; Quetglas, Antoni; Gil de Sola, Luis; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO); Spain; (2020): Demersal and mega-benthic species from the MEDITS (Mediterranean International Bottom Trawl Survey) program at the Spanish continental shelf and upper slope between 1994 and 2009. https://doi.org/10.14284/420
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Massuti, Enric; García, Cristina; Guijarro, Beatriz; Quetglas, Antoni; Gil de Sola, Luis; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO); Spain; (2017): Demersal and mega-benthic species from the MEDITS (Mediterranean International Bottom Trawl Survey) program at the Spanish continental shelf and upper slope between 1994 and 2009. https://doi.org/10.14284/415
Contact: Massutí Sureda, Enric

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Archived data
Availability: Creative Commons License This dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Description
Data on demersal and mega-benthic species were sampled in the context of the MEDITS suveys carried out on the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf since 1994. MEDITS is a program of bottom trawl surveys developed annually in the Mediterranean, in which all the participants use the same gear, sampling protocol and methodology, with the objective to evaluate the abundance and distribution of stocks, independently of the data provided by commercial fisheries, and to assess the impact of the fishing activity on the environment. more

A protocol exists to be applied, which is reviewed and adapted during the annual coordination meetings. This protocol includes the design of the survey, the sampling gear (feature and handling), the information collected and the management of the data. MEDITS surveys are currently conducted by eleven Mediterranean countries (Albania, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Slovenia and Spain), within the European Commission framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the common fisheries policy (Data Collection Multiannual Program), with the financial support from the DG MARE and Member States.

In Spain, the MEDITS surveys are developed annually from April to June, on board the R/V Cornide de Saavedra (1994-2013) and the R/V Miguel Oliver (2014-2017), along the infralittoral, circalittoral and bathyal soft bottoms off Mediterranean Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands (Geographical Sub-Areas GSAs of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean GFCM 1, 2, 5 and 6) between 30 and 800 m depth. As the other MEDITS areas, and following the MEDITS protocol, it is applied a stratified random sampling, taken into account five depth strata (30-50, 51-100, 101-200, 201-500 and 501-800 m) and the four Geographical Sub-Areas (GSA) established by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in the area: 1 and 2 (Northern Alboran and Alboran Island, respectively), 5 (Balearic Islands) and 6 (Northern Spain). The bottom trawl hauls are performed during daylight, with an effective duration (from the arrival of the gear to the seabed until its departure) of 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the depth (<200 and >200 m, respectively) and the speed is around 3 knots. The sampling gear is a bottom trawl made of four panels, referenced as GOC73, with 10 mm of mesh side in the codend and doors of type Morgére, with 2.5-3 m vertical opening and 16-22, horizontal opening. SCANMAR system is used in each haul to estimate its effective duration and the geometry of the net. Moreover, a CTD SBE-37 is attached to the flotsam of the net to record temperature and conductivity of the water above the seafloor during the haul. On board the vessel, the catches are split into the categories and sub-categories, according the MEDITS protocol, and the total weight and number of individuals is collected. The common coding system adopted for the complete set of species is a RUBIN like coding system as defined in the NCC standard, even if this international coding system has been no longer maintained for some years. This coding system appears to be a very practical one and it would be very easy in the future to build a correspondence table with any new coding system. In respect to the NCC recommendations and as the MEDITS coding is not strictly identical to the RUBIN one (different use, species not referenced to in the RUBIN code), the "name" of this code has been changed and is for the purpose of the MEDITS called "FM list". The species identifications are made following Fisher et al. (1987). For the fish species not included in this work, the descriptions from Whitehead et al. (1984) have been used. Since 2012, the MEDITS reference list includes 82 target species. For all these species, the total number of individuals, the total weight and the individual length should be collected. This list has been further split in two groups: (i) MEDITS G1 includes 41 species with 9 demersal (3 fish, 4 crustaceans and 2 cephalopods) and 32 chondrictians, for which the total number of individuals, the total weight, the individual length and also biological parameters including sex, maturity (according to , individual weight and age (age has been proposed only for the teleosts of the Group 1) should be collected; and (ii) MEDITS G2 includes 43 species for which only total number of individuals, total weight and individual length should be collected. Standard formats are defined for the data storage and to facilitate the exchange of the data produced by the MEDITS surveys. The exchange files are in “*.csv” format, using semicolon as field separator. Four file types are defined in order to store and exchange the data: (Type A) characteristics of haul; (Type B) catches by haul; (Type C) length, sex, and maturity at aggregated level; and (Type E) age, weight and maturity by length at individual level. For more detailed information: MEDITS-Handbook. Version n. 8, 2016, MEDITS Working Group: 120 pp.

Scope
Themes:
Biology > Benthos, Biology > Fish
Keywords:
Marine/Coastal, Bottom trawls survey, Continental-shelf, Cornide de Saavedra, Demersal, lowered unmanned submersible, Miguel Oliver, research vessel, EurOBIS calculated BBOX, MED, Spain, Cephalopoda, Crustacea, Decapoda, Elasmobranchii, Malacostraca, Actinopterygii

Geographical coverage
EurOBIS calculated BBOX Stations
Bounding Box
Coordinates: MinLong: -5,24; MinLat: 35,89 - MaxLong: 4,52; MaxLat: 42,39 [WGS84]
MED, Spain [Marine Regions]

Temporal coverage
1994 - 2009

Taxonomic coverage
Cephalopoda [WoRMS]
Crustacea [WoRMS]
Decapoda [WoRMS]
Elasmobranchii [WoRMS]
Malacostraca [WoRMS]
Actinopterygii [WoRMS]

Parameters
Abundance of biological entity specified elsewhere per unit area of the bed [BODC]
Count (in assayed sample) of biological entity specified elsewhere [BODC]
Length of sampling track [BODC]
Occurrence of biota
Sample duration [BODC]
Speed of measurement platform relative to ground surface {speed over ground} [BODC]
Wet weight biomass of biological entity specified elsewhere per unit area of the bed [BODC]

Contributors
Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competiveness; Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO)data creatordata manager
Massutí Sureda, Enric
García Ruiz, Cristina
Guijarro González, Beatriz
Quetglas Conti, Antoni
Gil de Sola, Luis
Otero Tranchero, Pablo

Related datasets
Published in:
EurOBIS: European Ocean Biodiversity Information System, more

Publication
Based on this dataset
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Hidalgo, M. et al. (2017). Size-spectra across geographical and bathymetric gradients reveal contrasting resilient mechanisms of recovery between Atlantic and Mediterranean fish communities. J. Biogeogr. 44(9): 1939-1951. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12976
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Ramirez-Amaro, S. (2017). Past and recent demographic histories of western Mediterranean demersal chondrichthyans. PhD Thesis. University of the Balearic Islands: Palma. 228 pp.
Valls, M. (2017). Trophic ecology in marine ecosystems from the Balearic Sea (western Mediterranean). PhD Thesis. University of the Balearic Islands: Palma. 180 pp.
Farias, C. et al. (2016). Protogrammus alboranensis n. sp. (Teleostei: Callionymidae), a new species of dragonet from the Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean Sea. Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 80(1): 51-56. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04340.13a
Joher, S. et al. (2016). Macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic communities from the Western Mediterranean and the Northeastern Atlantic. Mediterr. Mar. Sci. 17(2): 476-495. https://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.1438
Keller, S. et al. (2016). Large-scale spatio-temporal patterns of Mediterranean cephalopod diversity. PLoS One 11(1): e0146469. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146469
Puerta, P. et al. (2016). Community–environment interactions explain octopus-catshark spatial overlap. ICES J. Mar. Sci./J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 73(7): 1901-1911. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsw053
Puerta, P. et al. (2016). Seasonal variability of cephalopod populations: a spatio-temporal approach in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Fish. Oceanogr. 25(4): 373-389. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fog.12159
Quetglas, A. et al. (2016). Contrasting responses to harvesting and environmental drivers of fast and slow life history species. PLoS One 11(2): e0148770. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148770
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García-Ruiz, C. et al. (2015). Spatial distribution of ichthyofauna in the northern Alboran Sea (western Mediterranean). J. Nat. Hist. 49(19-20): 1191-1224. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2014.1001457
Granger, V. et al. (2015). Large-scale spatio-temporal monitoring highlights hotspots of demersal fish diversity in the Mediterranean Sea. Prog. Oceanogr. 130: 65-74. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2014.10.002
Joher Sais, S. (2015). Macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic bottoms of the Mediterranean Sea and the Northeastern Atlantic: description, distribution and sampling methodologies. PhD Thesis. Universitat de Girona: Girona. 209 pp.
Puerta, P. (2015). Spatial ecology of cephalopod populations from the Western Mediterranean Sea. PhD Thesis. International University of Menéndez Pelayo: Cantabria. 173 pp.
Puerta, P. et al. (2015). Spatially explicit modeling reveals cephalopod distributions match contrasting trophic pathways in the Western Mediterranean Sea. PLoS One 10(7): e0133439. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133439
Rueda, L. et al. (2015). Effect of intra-specific competition, surface chlorophyll and fishing on spatial variation of gadoid's body condition. Ecosphere 6(10): 1-17. https://dx.doi.org/10.1890/es15-00087.1
Valls, M. et al. (2015). Feeding ecology of two squid species from the western Mediterranean. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 531: 207-219. https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps11347
Ordines, F. et al. (2014). Biology and population dynamics of by-catch fish species of the bottom trawl fishery in the western Mediterranean. Mediterr. Mar. Sci. 15(3): 613-625. https://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.812
Gaertner, J.-C. et al. (2013). Large-scale diversity of slope fishes: pattern inconsistency between multiple diversity indices. PLoS One 8(7): e66753. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0066753
García-Ruiz, C. (2012). Estudio de la distribución y diversidad ictiofaunística del Mar de Alborán. PhD Thesis. Universidad de Malaga: Málaga. 333 pp.
Guijarro González, B. (2012). Population dynamics and assessment of exploited deep water decapods off Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean): from single to multi-species approach. PhD Thesis. Universitat de les Illes Balears: Palma. 257 pp.
Guijarro, B. et al. (2012). Small-scale differences in the distribution and population dynamics of pandalid shrimps in the western Mediterranean in relation to environmental factors. Fish. Res. 119-120: 33-47. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2011.12.001
Guijarro, B. et al. (2012). Inter- and intra-annual trends and status indicators of nektobenthic elasmobranchs off the Balearic Islands (northwestern Mediterranean). Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 76(1): 87-96. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.03432.22a
Joher, S. et al. (2012). Deep-water macroalgal-dominated coastal detritic assemblages on the continental shelf off Mallorca and Menorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean). Bot. Mar. 55(5): 485-497. https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/bot-2012-0113
Ordines, F. et al. (2012). Biology, feeding, and habitat preferences of Cadenat's Rockfish, Scorpaena Loppei (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean). Acta Ichtyol. Piscat. 42(1): 21-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.3750/aip2011.42.1.03
Quetglas, A. et al. (2012). Stock boundaries for fisheries assessment and management in the Mediterranean: the Balearic Islands as a case study. Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 76(1): 17-28. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2012.76n1017
Barberá, C. et al. (2011). Trophic ecology of the sea urchin Spatangus purpureus elucidated from gonad fatty acids composition analysis. Mar. Environ. Res. 71(4): 235-246. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2011.01.008
Guijarro, B. et al. (2011). Assessment of the deep water trawl fishery off the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean): from single to multi-species approach. Hydrobiologia 670(1): 67-85. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-011-0670-z
Ramón, M. et al. (2010). Royal cucumber (Stichopus regalis) in the northwestern Mediterranean: Distribution pattern and fishery. Fish. Res. 105(1): 21-27. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2010.02.006
Guijarro, B. et al. (2009). Short spatio-temporal variations in the population dynamics and biology of the deep-water rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris (Decapoda: Crustacea) in the western Mediterranean. Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 73(1): 183-197. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2009.73n1183
Ordines, F.; Massutí, E. (2009). Relationships between macro-epibenthic communities and fish on the shelf grounds of the western Mediterranean. Aquat. Conserv. 19(4): 370-383. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.969
Ordines, F. et al. (2009). Habitat preferences and life history of the red scorpion fish, Scorpaena notata, in the Mediterranean. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 85(4): 537-546. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2009.09.020
Ragonese, S. et al. (2009). Distribution and biology of the Blackmouth catshark Galeus melastomus in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean Sea). Mediterr. Mar. Sci. 10(1): 55-72. https://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.122
Moranta, J. (2007). Deep western Mediterranean demersal fish communities. PhD Thesis. Universitat de les Illes Balears: Palma. 203 pp.
Moranta et al. (2007). Geographic and bathymetric trends in abundance, biomass and body size of four grenadier fishes along the Iberian coast in the western Mediterranean. Prog. Oceanogr. 72(1): 63-83. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2006.09.003
Massutí, E.; Reñones, O. (2005). Demersal resource assemblages in the trawl fishing grounds off the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean). Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 69(1): 167-181
Massutí, E. (2003). Demersal assemblages and depth distribution of elasmobranchs from the continental shelf and slope off the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean). ICES J. Mar. Sci./J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 60(4): 753-766. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1054-3139(03)00089-4
Abelló, P.; Carbonell, A.; Torres, P. (2002). Biogeography of epibenthic crustaceans on the shelf and upper slope off the Iberian Peninsula Mediterranean coasts: implications for the establishment of natural management areas. Sci. Mar. (Barc.) 66(S2): 183-198. https://dx.doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2002.66s2183
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Dataset status: In Progress
Data type: Data
Data origin: Monitoring: field survey
Metadatarecord created: 2017-07-13
Information last updated: 2022-08-03
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