Bay of Biscay and Ibero Atlantic anchovy populations and their fisheries

SUMMARY: A review is presented about the state of knowledge on the biology, fisheries and population dynamics of the anchovy inhabiting the southern areas of the Atlantic European coasts, from the Bay of Biscay to the Bay of Cadiz. During the current century important and parallel changes in the catches on these coasts have occurred. Those changes and the current knowledge on interactions between the climatic environment and the abundance of the Bay of Biscay anchovy suggest that environment plays a key role in determining the evolution of those populations. Bay of Biscay anchovy is a good example of a small pelagic species: short life span (maximum 3-4 years), seasonal migrations, intense growth, early maturity (at its first birthday), schooling behaviour especially in spring at its spawning time and abundant dependent occupation of its habitat (spawning area expands at high levels of abundance and concentrates at low levels). The large year to year variability in the abundance of the populations, according to the changing recruitment, makes scientific monitoring and advice on the fishery especially difficult. At the moment, no scientific management of these fisheries has been implemented by the EU.