Recruitment dynamics of eight fishery species in the northwest Mediterranean Sea

The recruitment dynamics into the fishery of eight species in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea was studied on the basis of a monthly length sampling on commercial landings lasting one year (March 1999-February 2000). The results show that three species or groups of species (Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus, Eledone cirrhosa and Loligo vulgaris) recruited mostly during a well-defined and regular season, while recruitment of the rest of species (Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, Phycis blennoides, Sepia officinalis and Trisopterus minutus capelanus) took place all year round, though with seasonal peaks. Landings of small Merluccius merluccius showed a progressive declining trend from the early 1990s, while the opposite was found for Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus