Caleta de Velez and other ports anchovy purse seine fishery

Overview 

ZONE DE PECHE : Partie septentrionale de la mer d'Alboran (GSA 1)

STOCK AREA: Northern Alboran Sea (GSA 1)

SPECIES

Anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus

  FISHING GEAR

Purse seine

Fishery

This fishery uses purse seines to catch anchovy by surrounding the stock with a wall of netting. Seine fishers generally operate at night. Fisherman mostly use sonar to locate schools of fish, determine their species and to determine the approximate size. A small vessel dragged behind the main vessel is used as a light source to attract the fish.

This fishery operates in Spain in the northern Alboran Sea.

Pre-assessment results

Results of the MSC pre-assessment, conducted using the precautionary principle (bar filled = benchmark achieved). Only some of the data is presented here. For a full listing of the results, please visit the Medfish website.

STRENGTHS

POINTS FOR IMPROVEMENT

  • Selective gear with low impact on habitats
  • Low risk of unwanted by-catch such as sardine, horse mackerel, sardinella, skipjack and red seabream
  • Stock assessment available but unofficial
  • Stock in poor health
  • Assessment and stock monitoring need to be improved and biological reference points need to be set
  • Lack of specific and long-term objectives
  • Insufficient knowledge about fishery zones and impact on the ecosystem
  • Weekly catch limits deemed to be inadequate

> Download this fishery factsheet

> Read the pre-assessment report of this fishery