Deep water trawl survey - distribution and abundance of 11 more common deep water sharks and rays

What is it: 

Data from a scientific deep-water trawl fisheries survey in the north-east Atlantic were analysed to determine the spatial and bathymetric distribution of elasmobranch species and assess the change in relative abundance over the period 1998–2013. MS Maps NMPi shows the results of the 11 more common species as 11 maps:

  1. Black dogfish
  2. Blackmouth dogfish
  3. Greatern lantern shark
  4. Leafscale gulper shark
  5. Longnose velvet dogfish
  6. Mouse catshark
  7. Pale catshark
  8. Portuguese dogfish
  9. Shovelnosed shark
  10. Smalleye catfish
  11. Velvet belly shark
Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas: 
Chapter 4: Sharks and Rays
Data originators: 
Scottish Government (Marine Directorate)
This information page is part of the theme: 
Sharks and Rays
Range of Deep Water Trawl Survey data © Marine Scotland
More Information: 

During the period of the surveys, commercial fisheries for deep-water sharks went from being entirely unregulated, to being briefly managed, to being completely prohibited. A total of 22 species of shark and 10 species of skate were recorded between depths of 300 and 2030 m. All showed strong species-specific depth-related trends in abundance. Out of the 11 more common species, five showed no change in relative abundance over time, two (Centrophorus squamosus and Centroselachus crepidater) declined significantly and four increased in relative abundance (Apristurus aphyodes, Apristurus microps, Galeus melastomus and Deania calcea).

Assuming these populations were depleted by fisheries in the past, the current data do not suggest there has been an overall recovery. Positive signs for some species in the most recent years suggest movement or recruitment back into the area; however, it is of concern that two species continued to decline.

This page was last modified on : 
Friday, June 14, 2019 - 12:05

Links and Resources

Map Type Click title for metadata and licence informationsort descending Date of data View Map
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Black dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Black-mouth dogfish (Galeus melastomus) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Greater lantern shark (Etmopterus princeps) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Longnose velvet dogfish (Centroselachus crepidater) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Mouse catshark (Galeus murinus) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Pale catshark (Apristurus aphyodes) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Shovelnosed shark (Deania calcea) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Smalleye Catshark (Apristurus microps) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Deep Sea Sharks - Velvet belly shark (Etmopterus spinax) - distribution of abundance across the survey area 2015-12-28 Access this map on NMPi
Type Title External link
Web link Deep-sea Fishes Literature Review - JNCC Report No: 619 (2018) jncc.defra.gov.uk
Web link The diversity, distribution and status of deep-water elasmobranchs in the Rockall Trough, north-east Atlantic Ocean; Journal of Fish Biology Neat et al, (2015) 87, 1469–1488 doi:10.1111/jfb.12822 onlinelibrary.wiley.com