Deep-sea trawling off the Portuguese continental coast––Spatial patterns, target species and impact of a prospective EU-level ban

Following the implementation of the European Council EC Regulation 2016/2336, which restricts bottom trawling below 800 m for vessels capturing deep-sea fish species, the quantification and characterization of the fishing activities at those depths became essential to evaluate potential negative economic impacts. In this study, the activity of the Portuguese coastal trawlers operating at fishing grounds deeper than 800 m is characterized for the period 2005–2016, based on the analysis of VMS data and landing declarations in national ports. A total of 13 of 125 active trawlers in the coastal fleet were found to be partially engaged in deep-sea trawling, but only two units were entirely dedicated to this activity over the period in analysis. The scarlet shrimp Aristaeopsis edwardsiana was landed from 2006 onwards as the only target species at these depths. For each of these 13 vessels, the correspondence between VMS records of trajectories assigned to fishing trips, and landing registers, provided information on the spatio-temporal patterns of activity along the time period under analysis. Among fish by-catch, only in 2006 and 2007 were deep-sea species protected under Reg. 2016/2336 recorded, after which only small, occasional landings occurred. Results show that the implementation of the trawl ban does not affect the economic activity of the Portuguese coastal trawl fleet. Even if a full ban was to be implemented it would only impact the activity of two single vessels, which would have to completely redirect their fishing operations.