This is a deep-water species. It is rarely caught by trawls and is not subject to major threats. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.

In the west Mediterranean Sea, this species occurs in south Adriatic Sea (Gulf of Taranto, Naples, Sicily and Gulf of Genoa) (Quero et al. 1986). In the east Mediterranean Sea, it is only reported from Ionian Sea (Mytilineou et al. 2005), Aegean Sea coast of Greece (Labropoulou and Papaconstantinou 2005) and Israel (Goren et al. 2006). It is also found in the eastern Atlantic, from Western Sahara to Namibia.

There is no population information.

According to D’Onghia et al. (2003), two trawl surveys (July and August 2000) were carried out in two areas of the Ionian Sea (one off the south-east Italian coast, the other off the west Greece), at depth ranging from 300 to 750 m. An Italian type bottom trawl was used (20 mm stretched mesh size at the cod-end). A total of 14 trawl hauls, each lasting 1 hour, were made. The average density was 0.214 individuals/h and 0.001 kg/h.

Mytilineou et al. (2005) report that sampling was carried out in the deep waters of the north part of the east Ionian Sea during four experimental surveys (September 1999, April 2000, July 2000 and September 2000). Two hired commercial trawlers equipped with trawls of 40 mm (stretched) mesh size in the cod-end were used for sampling. In total, 148 hauls were carried out during the four surveys. Abundance was 0.4 individuals/h (at depths of 500-700 m) and 0.1 individuals/h (at depths of 700-900 m).

Labropoulou and Papaconstantinou (2004) mention that a total of 501 hauls were taken during 16 experimental bottom trawl survey cruises on a seasonal basis from standard depth stations between 16-500 m, at the north Aegean Sea (1990-1993). An otter trawl with 16mm mesh size was used. Density was 0.30% of all fish specimens captured at depths ranging 44-98 m.

According to Moranta et al. (1998), a total of 32 bottom trawls were made between depths of 200 and 1,800m, during October 1996 at the Algerian basin (Balearic islands). 90 specimens (0.21 kg) were obtained from nine trawl hauls.

This is a benthic species that occurs on muddy bottoms of the continental shelf (Schneider 1990), generally at depths of 20-800 m (Quéro et al. 1986). It was recently found at a depth of 1,480 m in the Levant sea (off Haifa, Israel, Goren et al. 2006). In Algeria, it is found generally under 400 m (Nouar pers. com. 2007). In the Thracian Sea, S. ligulatus occurred in shallower depth range (30-90 m).

Due to its small size, the species does not have any commercial value. It is a totally discarded species in Aegean and Ionian Seas (Machias et al. 2001).

Semi-industrial fishing in Sicily, artisanal fishing in the Tyrrhenian Sea with bottom trawls. Rarely present in the market. It is sold fresh (Fischer et al. 1987).

Due to its small size, the species does not have a commercial value.

Rarely present in the market. It is sold fresh (Fischer et al. 1987).

There are no specific conservation measures in place.