Abstract

A mass-balance model (Ecopath) of 19 components was elaborated for the gulf of Salamanca, based on the AUNAP landings information for 2013 and discards of trawls operating in the gulf. The consumption and production of the compo-nents were derived from the 1997 model. Structural and functional changes were evaluated in the trophic network that have occurred in the last two decades with the help of estimates of biomass, trophic levels, 15 ecosystem attributes and mixed trophic impact. This suggests changes in the structure and function of gulf of Salamanca, related to the reduction of biomass, trophic levels and loss of maturity. It has consequences in the stability of the system and the capacity of withstand natural or man-made alterations. The detritus exerts bottom-up control in the trophic network due to the impacts that it has in the ecosystem. The artisanal fishery operating in the Gulf has more impacts on the upper part of the food web, noting that the impact of artisanal trawling is localized and generates less impacts than other types of gears (e.g. gillnet).

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