Evaluation of catch time series, particularly of Beryx splendens, in the Cooperativa de Pescadores de San Cristóbal, northeastern Gran Canaria

Abstract

In recent decades, the Canary Islands archipelago has experienced a progressive overexploitation of its fishery resources, leading to a marked decline in catches of various species. This study examines the temporal evolution of landings recorded by the Cooperativa de Pescadores de San Cristóbal (PESCATOBAL) in Gran Canaria from 2018 to 2024, identifying trends across different categories of exploited resources, with particular focus on deep-sea species, especially Beryx splendens. The results show a generalized decline in Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE), statistically significant within the group of deep-sea species. Among them, B. splendens stands out for its high CPUE throughout the study period; however, from mid-2021 onward, a sustained decrease is observed, with an average annual loss of 2.78 units. This pattern suggests cumulative pressure on the stock in northeastern Gran Canaria, possibly related to both biological factors (slow growth, low fecundity) and the influence of oceanographic variables (temperature, oxygen, salinity, chlorophyll-a). In addition, a possible influence of large-scale climate indices, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the East Atlantic (EA) pattern, is identified in relation to the catches of this key species. This study contributes to strengthening the scientific basis for a more sustainable and adaptive fishery management approach by providing updated data on recent exploitation trends. It is recommended to move toward a co-management model that integrates local ecological knowledge with scientific evidence to improve the sustainability of the sector