Spatial Analysis of Variations in Abundance of Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) Populations in the Southern Atlantic Waters of Morocco

Oubahaouli, Brahim; Aksissou, Mustapha

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2024.384346

Spatial Analysis of Variations in Abundance of Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) Populations in the Southern Atlantic Waters of Morocco

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2024.384346

Abstract

The study of the spatial distribution of Octopus vulgaris in the southern Atlantic waters of Morocco was carried out by analyzing the distribution maps developed using the geographical information system (GIS) and statistical analysis of bathymetry yields. Analyses of the data collected during our boarding aboard a cephalopod freezer trawler (C.F.T) have generally shown the dominance of young individuals in coastal areas and the offshore distribution of large individuals during the entire study period, with the exception of the 2017/2018 winter trip, which was characterized by a concentration of young individuals in deeper waters (offshore) and the presence of large individuals in coastal areas south of Cintra (south of 23°00'N). The spatial distribution of Octopus as a function of depth is therefore characterized by a heterogeneity as a function of season and year. The most important average Octopus yields are found in the depth stratum at less than 50m with an average yield of 36.95kg/ h. The demographic composition of Octopus during this period of study showed dominance in weight of young individuals on depth strata at less than 30 meters, with a yield of 35.61kg/ h, while large individuals dominate the depth strata at more than 76 meters, with a yield of 11.05kg/ h.

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