Fisheries Research 71 (2005) 373–378 Short communication Distribution and growth of 0-group European hake in the Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea: a spatial and inter-annual analyses M. Kacher, R. Amara ∗ Universit´ e du littoral-cˆ ote d’opale, UMR 8013 ELICO CNRS, Avenue Foch 62930, Wimereux, France Received 4 August 2003; received in revised form 18 June 2004; accepted 15 August 2004 Abstract The spatial and bathymetric distribution of Merluccius merluccius was studied in 2001 and 2002 in the Bay of Biscay and Celtic Sea. Growth rates of young-of-the-year (<24 cm) and their spatial and inter-annual variations were estimated from an analysis of otolith daily growth increments. The north of the Bay of Biscay (the Grande Vasi` ere) and the north-western Celtic Sea areas are the main nursery grounds of hake. 0-Group hake showed a marked bathymetric distribution, with the majority of the individuals caught at depths from ca. 70 to 200 m with a peak of highest density at a depth of 100 m. There was no evidence of difference in growth between 0-group hake from the Bay of Biscay and the Celtic Sea. However, there was inter annual growth difference. According to the growth curves, juvenile hake reach total length (L T ) of 23.8 cm in ca. 1 year, with daily growth rates ranging from 0.71 and 0.74 mm day -1 , respectively, in 2001 and 2002. These results suggest that juvenile hake growth rates are faster than previously thought for this species. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Merluccius merluccius; 0-Group; Distribution; Otolith; Growth 1. Introduction The European hake, Merluccius merluccius (L.), is abundant and widely distributed in the northeast At- lantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It is found at depths ranging from about 30 to more than 500 m over mud-sand and rocky substrates (Casey and Pereiro, 1995). European hake is one of the main demersal species caught in the northeast Atlantic, with annual ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 321 99 64 34; fax: +33 321 99 64 34. E-mail address: ramara@mren2.univ-littoral.fr (R. Amara). landing in 2002 of about 42 600 t, but catches have de- creased steadily from 1989 (ICES, 2002). Since this species seems to be overfished, several measures have recently been taken for its protection (ICES, 2002). Although numerous studies dealing with various as- pects of the biology of hake and its fishery in the north- east Atlantic have been published (Casey and Pereiro, 1995; Guichet, 1995; ´ Alvarez et al., 2001), little is known about European hake growth and no validation of age estimations used to build the catch-at-age matrix has yet been carried out. This is because age determina- tion of hake is difficult and no common interpretation criteria can be applied to otoliths or scales (Oliver et al., 0165-7836/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2004.08.034