Assessment of the spatial structure and biomass evaluation ofNephrops norvegicus(L.) populations in the northwestern Mediterranean by geostatistics

The spatial distribution and biomass of Nephrops norvegicus were assessed by trawling over commercial fishing grounds (''Serola'', oV Barcelona, Spain) during two surveys (spring and fall 1991), using geostatistical methods. The surveys were set 6 months apart, in order to analyse possible seasonal diVerences. In the present surveys, Norway lobster was caught between 200 and 600 m depth, with peak abundance at about 400 m. The analysis of the structure of spatial correlation by means of semivariograms showed that densities of Nephrops norvegicus were spatially autocorrelated and lobster populations were distributed in high-density patches 6 to 9 km in diameter. No spatial segregation per biological category (size or sex) was detected. The semivariograms were consistent for all biological categories. A strong linear relationship between local mean and standard deviation (proportional eVect) was modelled by the relative semivariogram. Relative experimental semivariograms werefitted to a spherical model. The shape of the semivariogram, and the spatial autocorrelation structure of Norway lobster populations, remained stable over the two surveys. The density of Nephrops norvegicus available to the experimental gear was mapped by point kriging. High- density patches of diVerent biological categories exactly conformed and remained stable over the two surveys, showing a certain intra-annual stability. However, mean densities and overall abundance (computed by global kriging) decreased sharply in the fall survey. This was accounted for by means of knowledge on the biology of the species for the same area. The biological characteristics ofNephropspopulations in the area studied are similar to those of other Mediterranean and Atlantic populations, hence our results are not restricted to the study area. We conclude that the geostatistical analysis approach, which takes into consideration the spatial auto- correlation structure of the populations, is adequate for the direct biomass estimation and assessment of Nephrops harvestable stock. ? 1998 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea