DEMERSAL FISH COMMUNITIES EXPLOITED ON THE CONTINENTAL SHELF AND SLOPE OFF MAJORCA (BALEARIC ISLANDS, NW MEDITERRANEAN)

104 demersal fish species have been recorded in 46 bottom trawls conducted on the continental shelf and slope off Majorca Island. A hierarchical analysis based on qualitative data allowed the identification of four distinct communities. Above 30 m in depth, the Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows are characterized by the dominance in number of labrid species and the almost exclusive presence of Syngnathidae and Gobiesocidae. From 30 to 70 m in depth, in the maerl community, Mullus surmuletus and Spicara smarts predominate, and are the main target species of small trawlers at night. Merluccius merluccius, abundant on muddy bottoms between 70 and 180 m in depth, is another target species of this fleet. The last community is situated on the middle slope between 500 and 800 m in depth, and is exploited by a fleet of large trawlers directed to the capture of red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus).