Deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus Risso 1816 in the Catalan Sea, a review and perspective

Abstract

The shrimp, Aristeus antennatus, is a species with a wide depth distribution in the Mediterranean Sea, ranging from 100 m to more than 3000 m depth. This means that this species colonizes several habitats adapting their population structure and feeding habits to each of them, and finally adapting its life cycle to the colonized habitats (canyons, upper and middle slope - fishing grounds - and lower slope - virgin grounds). After more than 12 years of experience in research of this species in the western Mediterranean, new results are presented about the efficiency of the sampling gears used, and fished and virgin populations are compared. An increase in the abundance at around 1400-1500 m depth is also reported. Aristeus antennatus is an extraordinarily eurybathic species and was detected down to 3 300 m depth in a recent exploratory survey carried out in the Mediterranean Sea. Based on these observations three hypotheses about the possible exchange of individuals between fishing and virgin grounds are made. In the light of the discussion, new study perspectives are presented.