The polychaete fishery in Galicia (NW Spain)advances in the biological knowledge of commercially important species

Abstract

Polychaetes are a highly diverse group of marine invertebrates, globally present in a wide variety of habitats. These animals, which play essential ecological roles, have sparked increasing interest due to their use as live bait in recreational and professional fishing. In regions like Galicia (NW Spain), the rise in the captures of these organisms has boosted a significant local market. The variability in their life cycles and reproductive strategies, along with a broad lack of knowledge about fundamental aspects of their biology and ecology, complicates however the implementation of exploitation plans based on scientific principles. This thesis focuses on improving the scientific knowledge of two commercially species of interest in Galicia, contextualizing the current situation of the polychaete fishery in the region through an up-to-date and retrospective review of several kinds of information, including regulatory measures, fishing statistics and management strategies, among others, and offering data that may be useful at a global level. Specifically, the study has delved into Diopatra neapolitana, the most economically significant intertidal species in the region, and explored the giant eunicids, a group of polychaetes popularly known around the world for their unique anatomy, but also among the most enigmatic from a scientific perspective.