SYMPTOMS OF OVEREXPLOITATION IN THE STOCK OF THE NORWAY LOBSTER (NEPHROPS-NORVEGICUS) ON THE SEROLA BANK (WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA OFF BARCELONA)

A comparison of the mean sizes for the Norway lobster population on th e Serola Bank indicated a decrease of 4 mm CL in males and 3.6 mm CL i n females over the past 20 years. This means a reduction between 1 and 2 years in the age of the catches. Discussion considers this aspect a s symptomatic of overexploitation of this resource in the general cont ext of the area, where CPUE for this species has suffered a significan t decrease in recent years.