Le merlu du golfe de Gascogne et de la mer Celtique : Croissance, Répartition spatiale et bathymétrique, Ecologie alimentaire et Assemblages

In the Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea waters, hake is considered as genetically homogeneous and form a unique stock with identical meristic characteristics. The vertebral mean vary from 50,68 (vertebrae) during the first year of life to 51,11 (vertebrae) for adults. 0-group Merluccius display a rapid growth with significant interannual variability (0.71 mm.day-1 in 2001 versus 0.74 mm.day-1 in 2002). The spawning period occurs in April and the average length on the firth January following the hatching is of 17.3 cm (first seasonal check / increment on the sagittal otolith is located about 0.143 cm from the nucleus). At the end of the first year of life the average length is about 24 cm. The longevity of the species is important and growth parameters (L = 138,24 cm ; K = 0,132) explain natural mortality coefficient of M = 0.21. No difference for growth between male and female has been observed for this stock. The ratio total weight / eviscerated weight is equal to Fc = 1,086. Both male and female have same spatial and bathymetric distribution. Juveniles are found in deep waters (< 17 cm length) and move to coastal waters where they display an average length of (33 cm length). Longer individuals are found in nursery areas where they feed and grow then move to deeper areas to spawn. Nursery areas are numerous and located in the Celtic Sea and in the bay of Biscay. In the bay of Biscay, disturbances resulted from hydrondynamics affect the settlement on the nursery grounds particularly in the southern part of the bay. Diet composition varies with age. Juveniles feed mainly on crustaceans (Euphausia kroni). At the length of 23 cm, individuals feed strictly on fishes. Sizes of preys are proportional with sizes of predators and preys are composed mainly of species that feed and reproduce close to the bottom. Cannibalism has been observed for this specie, and increases with age notably in the northern part of the bay of Biscay and in the Celtic Sea. Main preys are 0-group juveniles. This specie is assumed to be a passive predator catching its preys when they come to feed in the bottom. Although they are punctual, these results have been obtained after studies on the evolution of sizes during the first year of life (daily increments measurements) and on the spawning period parameters (back-calculating). Average length on the firth January following hatching and the position of the first seasonal check on the otolith are based on observations of the sizes on the firth January following hatching (obtained with growth rates and spawning period parameters). The results are similar to those described in previous studies, nevertheless they have to be confirmed with growth and diet composition analyses. A long term study appear essential to determine biological and ecological parameters of this species for sustainable management of the stock.