The Spanish purse-seine fishery targeting small pelagic species in the Bay of Biscay: Landings, discards and interactions with protected species

•Purse seine is one of the most selective fisheries among those in the Bay of Biscay.•The discard rate was negligible thanks to the purse seine slipping practices.•Reasons for slipping were mostly related to the low market price of the catch.•Bycatch of Endangered Threatened and Protected species is practically non-existent.•It is important to define specific metiers to be used for management purposes.