Abstract
Introduction: Elasmobranchs are key components of marine ecosystems but are particularly vulnerable to fishing pressure due to their life-history traits, including slow growth, late maturity, and low fecundity. The Gulf of Cádiz supports a diverse assemblage of coastal and deep-water elasmobranch species, many of which are subject to incidental capture in demersal fisheries. Reliable fishery-independent information on their distribution, relative abundance, and biomass is essential to assess population status and to inform ecosystem-based fisheries management in the northeastern Atlantic. This study aims to provide an updated overview of the composition, relative abundance, biomass, and occurrence of elasmobranch species in the Gulf of Cádiz, contributing baseline information for monitoring and conservation purposes. Methodology: Data were obtained from the ARSA bottom trawl survey carried out in March 2026 using a stratified random sampling design by depth. A total of 45 valid hauls were performed. Results: A total of 29 elasmobranch species belonging to Rajiformes, Carcharhiniformes, Squaliformes, Myliobatiformes, Hexanchiformes, and Torpediniformes were identified. Small demersal sharks and skates dominated the assemblage. Scyliorhinus canicula was the most frequent and abundant species, occurring in 37 hauls and showing the highest mean abundance and biomass. Other recurrent taxa included Torpedo marmorata, Etmopterus spinax, Leucoraja naevus, and Raja clavata. Several species of conservation concern, such as Rostroraja alba, Centrophorus uyato, and Galeorhinus galeus, were recorded at low frequencies and abundances, highlighting their rarity in survey catches. The assemblage reflected a clear dominance of shelf and upper-slope species with occasional captures of deep-water taxa. Conclusions: The ARSA survey provides a valuable snapshot of the current elasmobranch community in the Gulf of Cádiz, confirming the prevalence of small-bodied, benthic species and the low occurrence of large or vulnerable taxa. These results underscore the importance of continued standardized surveys to detect temporal trends and support management strategies aimed at the conservation of elasmobranch diversity in the gulf.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, F.B.; investigation, F.B., M.C. and I.R.-J.; writing—original draft preparation, F.B.; writing—review and editing, M.C. and I.R.-J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
The ARSA survey, included in the PESCADIZ-II project (PESCADIZ-II-20223FM049), was partly funded by the EU through the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) within the Spanish National Program of collection, management, and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy.
Institutional Review Board Statement
As the ARSA survey is part of an international bottom trawl survey in which no procedures involving animals are performed, ethical review and approval were waived for this study. All the animals in this study were dead at the time of analysis as a result of the fishing process.
Informed Consent Statement
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
Available upon request.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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