Length-weight relationships of 17 demersal fish species in the Canary Islands (Spain, CE Atlantic).

Ten scientific surveys were carried out at ‘Isla de La Palma’ and ‘La Graciosa e Islotes al Norte de Lanzarote’ Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) between 2003 and 2010. Length-Weight Relationships (LWR) were estimated for 17 fish species using individual fish records collected by fish pots (half an inch mesh size), bottom horizontal longlines (hook size 3/0) and set gillnets (80 mm mesh size). Fish was measured fresh for the total length (to the lower 0.1 or 0.5 cm, depending on the scientific surveys design) and weighted for the total weight (TW, to the 0.1 g). Except for the Myliobatiformes species (with b-values lower than 2.0), the b-value varied between 2.63 and 3.72. All LWRs were obtained from well adjusted linear regressions with R² ≥0.74. In addition, two new maximum lengths were recorded. Data presented herein expand the knowledge base for these species in the Archipelago, where any status assessment of the species affected by the operating fisheries has been possible so far, and remain as datapoor stocks.