European Seabass (Dicentrachus labrax, Linnaeus 1758):

D. labrax is a commercially important species found across European coastal waters. It plays a key ecological role in marine food webs, particularly in the Mediterranean and North Sea regions, where it thrives in estuaries, lagoons, and coastal zones. Its wide distribution makes it an essential species for both commercial and recreational fisheries. (Photo: AdobeStock)

 

Undulate skate (Raja undulata, Lacépède, 1802): 

R. undulata, classified as endangered globally and near threatened in Europe by the IUCN, inhabits coastal areas from southern Ireland to Senegal, favoring shallow sandy habitats. This species has been a focus of conservation efforts due to its vulnerability to bycatch and habitat degradation. Recent studies using acoustic telemetry have revealed that undulate skates exhibit complex spatial behaviors influenced by diel and seasonal patterns. (Photo: D. Villegas-Rios)

 

Thornback skate (Raja clavata, Linnaeus 1758):

R. clavata, classified as near threatened by the IUCN, can be found from the South of the Arctic Circle (Iceland, Norway) to the east Atlantic coast of south Africa. It is amongst the most common and widespread skates in northeast Atlantic. Characterised as an opportunistic, mobile and active predator, thornback skates feed on a wide variety of prey (mainly invertebrates and some fish), thus granting it a wide foraging area. The thornback skate is among the most frequently captured skates by commercial fisheries in northwest Europe. (Photo: AdobeStock)

 

Small spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula, Linnaeus 1758):

S. canicula is one of the most common elasmobranchs in coastal areas of the north-east Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. This small-sized demersal shark geographical distribution extends from the Senegalese coast to the west coast of Norway. With depth distribution ranges encompassing the shallow sublittoral to the upper regions of the continental slope. (Photo: AdobeStock)

 

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua, Linnaeus 1758):

G. morhua is a prized catch in commercial as well as recreational fisheries. The species can be found in coastal and shelf habitats from Biscay to the Barents Sea. Cod belonging to inshore populations are often (but not always) characterized by a relatively high level of residency, while those from offshore populations may perform long-distance migrations between feeding- and spawning areas. When abundant, the Atlantic cod can have a significant impact on the structure of marine food webs via it’s role as an opportunistic top predator. (Photo: AdobeStock)

 

Pollack (Pollachius pollachius, Linnaeus 1758):

P. pollachius is distributed from Portugal to northern Norway. It will use a variety of coastal habitats, including eelgrass beds and kelp forests, and is often found in the vicinity of steep rocky walls. In the northern parts of its distribution, pollack will often move towards deeper waters during the winter, when the surface water cools down. More extensive along-coast migrations are also known. (Photo: AdobeStock)

 

Octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier 1797):

O. vulgaris has a short lifespan (9–18 months), influenced by water temperature. It reproduces once, with females laying up to 500,000 eggs before dying. In Algarve, breeding peaks between August and September. After hatching, larvae drift for two months before settling on the seabed, where they grow rapidly (5% body weight per day). Larger individuals prefer deeper waters. They perform inshore movements to spawn in shallow waters. Key life stages, such as reproduction and settlement, are shaped by environmental factors like salinity. Fishing is estimated to be the main cause of adult mortality. Tagging this species in MOVE is being done in collaboration with other projects and the co-management committee of the trap and pot octopus fishery of the Algarve. (Photo: D. Villegas-Rios)

 

Red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, Linnaeus 1758):

P. pagrus is a commercially valuable bottom fish found in temperate and subtropical waters across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. It inhabits coastal and deep waters, mainly up to 250 m deep. Juveniles are common in shallow areas, while adults prefer deeper waters, though seasonal patterns are unclear. The species adapts to various habitats, with some individuals favoring rocky areas and others roaming different substrates. A study in the Azores found that red porgies maintain home ranges of 5–100 ha, occasionally shifting between areas. (Photo: Inês Sousa, CCMAR)

 

White seabream (Diplodus sargus, Linnaeus 1758):

D. sargus is a commercially and recreationally important coastal fish found in temperate and subtropical waters of the eastern Atlantic, from the Bay of Biscay to South Africa, including the Macaronesian archipelagos and the Mediterranean Sea. It typically inhabits rocky reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy areas at depths of up to 50 m but can be found as deep as 150 m. Juveniles prefer shallower, protected coastal zones, while adults occur in deeper areas. The species is an omnivorous feeder, consuming small invertebrates, algae, and detritus. Diplodus sargus exhibits high site fidelity but may undertake small-scale movements, although some studies found extensive seasonal movements (see De Benito-Abelló et al. 2022). It is a protandric hermaphrodite, meaning individuals start as males and can transition to females. Environmental factors such as temperature and habitat structure influence this species distribution and behavior. (Photo: AdobeStock)