Eel larvae (Anguilla anguilla L) caught by RV ''Heincke'' at the European continent slope in autumn 1991

Thirty one catches by Isaac Kidd Midwater Trawl were obtained between October 23 and 27, 1991 in the Bay of Biscay and on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The total catch amounted to 95 eel larvae. North of 43 degrees N, 2.8 larvae per hour of towing were captured, south of 43 degrees N (west coast of the Iberian Peninsula) 3.25 larvae per hour of towing. The abundance of eel larvae, north and south, was similar to that in the years following the strong decrease in 1980. Younger eel larvae (stages I-II) were dominant (82%) on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula. In the Bay of Biscay, older stages of eel larvae were more frequent (stages III-IV, 53.6%). Northern larvae exhibited longer lengths in all development stages than southern larvae.