Feeding habits of Merluccius merluccius L. and its variability factors in the Moroccan Atlantic Sea

European hake (Merluccius merluccius) is an abundant and widely distributed species in the Moroccan Atlantic Sea. The knowledge of its dietary habits is an important factor to understand its ecological role. The aim of this study is to describe its food spectrum and explore associated sources of variability. A total of 110 individuals were collected during the trawl survey in the north of Moroccan Atlantic Sea during summer 2010. Stomach contents of the individuals ranging between 7 and 59 cm total length were examined. The hake’s food composition is mainly based on fish and secondary on euphausiids. The sexual maturity acquisition leads to a significant change in the diet. The immature hakes (< 15 cm) feed mainly on euphausiids. These compounds decrease for mature adults which feed increasingly on fish. The findings suggest that because of its abundance among demersal megafauna of the Morrocan Atlantic Sea and its diet based mainly on other fish, European hake would play an important role in the trophodynamics of the ecosystem.