Pelagic fisheries in the area of the eastern part of the Adriatic Sea, more precisely in the Croatian fishing grounds, are one of the most important types of fisheries in Croatia. In this paper, the ...quantitative and qualitative structure of catches obtained by the „ciplara“ purse seine in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea was analysed between 2013 and 2018. According to the data collected, the largest catches by this fishing gear were made in the coastal area, precisely in the fishing zones/sub-zones A/A4, E/E2, F/F2, C/C4 and G/G1. 70% of the catches consisted of targeted species, which indicates that the studied „ciplara“ purse seine is a selective fishing gear. Biological analyses are given for four target species.
Anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, L.) is one of the most important commercial species of the northern and central Adriatic Sea, as well as one of the most productive fisheries in the whole ...Mediterranean. In the Adriatic Sea the stock of anchovy is shared between Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. A joint stock assessment was carried out using catch data from all the fleets for the time interval 1975-2009. Analyses were performed using estimates of natural mortality at age obtained by means of two different methods and two population dynamics methods based on the analysis of catch-at-age data: Laurec-Sheperd virtual population analysis (VPA) and integrated catch-at-age (ICA), both tuned to acoustic estimates of abundance. Gislason's estimates for natural mortality appeared to be more realistic and were thus preferred for short-lived species. The general trend of biomass and fishing mortality is similar for the two models, highlighting the major collapse of the stock in 1987. Nevertheless, ICA has enough flexibility to combine all the data available without adding too much complexity in comparison with a VPA approach and seems to perform better in terms of the spawning stock biomass/recruitment relationship and diagnostics (i.e. the retrospective pattern). For the stock status, the exploitation rate from ICA is higher than the suggested threshold of 0.4 proposed by Patterson for small pelagic species.
Sardine samples from commercial catches obtained by purse seiners operating in Croatian fishing grounds (eastern Adriatic Sea) were collected monthly from March 2017 to February 2018 (excluding ...January due to a fishing ban). A total of 1085 sardines were analysed. Their total body length and mass ranged from 11.5 to 16.9 cm (mean±SD: 13.9±0.03 cm) and from 11.30 to 54.03 g (mean±SD: 20.31±0.161 g), respectively. Analysis of the length-mass relationship showed positive allometric growth (b=3.3573, r=0.948). Female specimens were predominant (m/f=0.404). According to the monthly gonadosomatic index values, spawning occurred from November to February, which was consistent with previous investigations. The monthly analysis of fat content in the gonads, liver and muscles indicated that the fat content in each studied tissue oscillated seasonally regardless of sex. These alternations were linked to the sardine’s reproductive cycle.
During routine monitoring of commercial purse seine catches in 2011, 87 fingerling specimens of scombrids were collected in the southern Adriatic Sea. Sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA control ...region locus inferred that specimens belonged to the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (N = 29), bullet tuna, Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) (N = 30) and little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, Rafinesque, 1810 (N = 28). According to previously published growth parameters, the age of the collected specimens was estimated at approximately 30-40 days, suggesting they might have been spawned in the Adriatic Sea, contrary to the current knowledge. A coupled modelling system with hydrodynamic (ROMS) and individual based model (IBM-Ichthyop) was set up to determine the location of the spawning event. Numerical simulations with the IBM model, both backward and forward in time, indicate commercial tuna cages in the middle Adriatic coastal area as possible spawning location. The two other non-commercial species likely opportunistically use the positive environmental (abiotic and biotic) conditions to spawn in the same area.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Atlantic bonito,
Sarda sarda
, is one of the representatives of the Scombridae family in the Adriatic Sea. Larvae and juveniles have been found and described in the area, but no information ...has been published regarding adults spawning in the Adriatic Sea. To explore the strong possibility that Atlantic bonito are reproducing in the Adriatic Sea, 122 specimens of adult Atlantic bonito were collected from a purse seine net ‘palamidara’ over four seasons in 2017. The fork length of the analysed specimens varied from 37.5 to 60.8 cm, with a mean of 48.83 ± 5.59 cm, while total body weight varied between 742.68 and 3102.59 g, with a mean value of 1700.49 ± 543.82 g. Gonadosomatic index values showed an increasing trend from autumn (0.123 for males, 0.897 for females) until spring, while in the summer, they reached their maximum values (3.609 for males, 5.604 for females). This trend was also confirmed by histological and macroscopic analyses of gonads, which suggested that the Atlantic bonito spawning season is in the spring-summer in the Adriatic Sea. Hence, this confirms that this species is spawning in the Adriatic Sea.
Abstract
Papetti, C., Di Franco, A., Zane, L., Guidetti, P., De Simone, V., Spizzotin, M., Zorica, B., Čikeš Keč, V. and Mazzoldi, C. 2013. Single population and common natal origin for Adriatic ...Scomber scombrus stocks: evidence from an integrated approach – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70: 387–398. In order to implement proper fishery management strategies aimed at avoiding stock declines, information about connectivity among stocks and populations is critically required. In this perspective, the present study investigated population structure of the Atlantic mackerel Scomber scombrus in the northern–central Adriatic Sea by integrating multiple approaches (analysis of fisheries data, population genetics, and otolith chemistry). Monthly data of fishery landings indicate a latitudinal trend along the western Adriatic coast, with Atlantic mackerel disappearing from the northern waters in winter, corresponding to the reproductive season. Population genetic analyses by genotyping of eight microsatellites clearly point to the presence of a single panmictic population in the northern–central Adriatic Sea. Otolith cores of samples from the northern–central Adriatic were chemically homogeneous, suggesting a common spawning ground. These results strongly suggest that Atlantic mackerel perform an autumn–winter migration in the northern–central Adriatic Sea, from the northern to the central sector, to reach a single spawning ground, and that a single population is present in this area. Considering that S. scombrus has shown a marked decline in the last 40 years in the Adriatic, this study highlights a potential high vulnerability to collapse by overfishing for the Atlantic mackerel stocks in this geographic area.
Due to very good collaboration with one commercial purse seiner, using “Srdelara” and operating in fishing zone G, preliminary data concerning the interaction between small pelagic purse seine ...fishery and its predators were obtained. According to the notes taken by experience observer on-board in period from year 2013 to 2016, seems that tunas, dolphins and swordfish were the faithful companions of purse seiner fisherman with abundance of 68.6%, 22.0% and 9.4%, respectively. Although they were present all year round, their monthly pattern of appearance indicated that less tunas were recorded in May-June, more dolphins were noted from July to October while swordfish were mostly abundant in winter (January-March). Within the investigated period, slightly increasing trend of tuna and dolphins’ appearance was recorded, although statistically not significant. Analysing possible correlation between purse seine catches and predator’s abundances, revealed that appearance of tuna had negative impact on the catches (dispersion of schools), while realised catches in presence of dolphins were quite good so it seems that they tend to round up small pelagic fish schools.
Zahvaljujući vrlo dobroj suradnji s ribarskim sektorom, točnije jednom komercijalnom plivaricom koja koristi plivaricu “Srdelaru” u ribolovnoj zoni G, su prikupljeni preliminarni podaci vezani uz interakciju ovog tipa ribolova i njegovih predatora. U razdoblju od 2013. do 2016. godine, prema podacima prikupljenim od strane iskusnog promatrača na palubi ove komercijalne plivarice, je utvrđeno da su tune, dupini i igluni najvjerniji pratioci ovog tipa ribolova te da je njihova abundancija redom bila 68,6%, 22,0% i 9,4%. Premda je uočeno da su navedeni grabežljivci prisutni tijekom cijele godine ipak je njihova pojavnost kolebala od mjeseca do mjeseca – najmanje tuna je zabilježeno u razdoblju od svibnja do lipnja, nešto više dupina je uočeno od srpnja do listopada, dok su igluni bili najbrojniji od siječnja do ožujka. Tijekom istraživanog razdoblja je utvrđeno blago povećanje broja tuna i dupina premda to povećanje nije bilo statistički značajno. Korelirajući ulove ostvarene istraživanom komercijalnom plivaricom i broja uočenih grabežljivaca, čini se da će u slučaju pojave tune ostvareni ulov biti manji s obzirom da ona rasprši ciljanu plovu sitne plave ribe, dok će relatvno dobar ulov ista plivarica ostvariti u prisutnosti dupina koji će uočenu plovu još više zbiti.
The blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825) specimens (N = 155) were collected during the MEDITS survey, done along the eastern side, precisely, of the Croatian fishing ground in July ...2018. Biometrical analysis of ten morphometric and five meristic characters, as well as genetic analysis proved that the collected specimens were blue jack mackerel. The total length (TL) and weight (W) of all observed specimens ranged from 9.2 to 33.7 cm (12.15 ± 2.95 cm) and from 5.79 to 384.94 g (17.64 ± 39.42 g), respectively. All calculated length–length relationships were linear (r > 0.923). Sex was determined only on two larger specimens (28 cm < TL < 32.8 cm), which were females. In the length–weight relationship, positive allometry was established (b = 3.1789). Based on 37 partial cytochrome b sequences, the overall haplotype diversity (h) of 0.812 ± 0.048 and nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.0064 ± 0.0007 indicated high levels of haplotype and low nucleotide diversity. The obtained sequences were compared to previously published research within the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, confirming the absence of genetic structure among these populations.
•We present a global study of small pelagic fish body condition in the Mediterranean.•Fish body condition strongly declined during last decades in almost all studied areas.•Body condition did not ...vary in synchrony between areas in the Mediterranean Sea.•Well-marked environmental differences between sub-regions were highlighted.•This decline in the condition may have negative effects on ecosystems and fisheries.
Small pelagic fish are among the most ecologically and economically important marine fish species and are characterized by large fluctuations all over the world. In the Mediterranean Sea, low catches and biomass of anchovies and sardines have been described in some areas during the last decade, resulting in important fisheries crises. Therefore, we studied anchovy and sardine body condition variability, a key index of population health and its response to environmental and anthropogenic changes. Wide temporal and spatial patterns were investigated by analyzing separately data from scientific surveys and fisheries in eight Mediterranean areas between 1975 and 2015.
Results showed that anchovy and sardine body condition as well as maximum size in some areas sharply decreased in most Mediterranean areas along years (except in the Northern Alboran Sea). Despite this general pattern, well-marked environmental differences between sub-regions were highlighted by several analyses and variations in body condition were not found to be homogeneous over all the Mediterranean Sea. Further, other analyses revealed that except for the Adriatic where major changes towards a lower body condition were concomitant with a decrease in river runoffs and chl-a concentration, no concomitant environmental regime shift was detected in other areas.
Together, these analyses highlighted the current poor body condition of almost all small pelagic fish populations in the Mediterranean. Yet, global environmental indices could not explain the observed changes and the general decrease in condition might more likely come from regional environmental and/or anthropogenic (fishing) effects. A prolonged state of poor fish body condition, together with an observed reduced size and early age-at-maturity may have strong ecological, economic and social consequences all around the Mediterranean Sea.
The anchovy (
Engraulis encrasicolus
, Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most important small pelagic fish species in the Adriatic, is currently described as a species that can be considered overfished. ...From 2013 to 2020, samples of anchovy eggs and larvae were collected through scientific surveys during the summer months. The collected ichthyoplankton data were combined with environmental data (measured satellite sea surface temperature and chlorophyll data, numerically simulated salinity, maps of primary production) to identify anchovy spawning habitats and environmental conditions affecting the anchovy early life stages. For this large dataset, a nonlinear method called Growing Neural Gas Network analysis was used to explain the multiple dependencies between anchovy and the explanatory environmental variables and represent them in 9 patterns called Best Matching Unit (BMU). Obtained values of anchovy early life stages abundances (eggs/m
2
; larvae/m
2
) showed a clear negative trend, which was easily observed both in the time series and in the annual spatial distributions. Among all measured environmental parameters that were previously mentioned, salinity showed a significant increase, which can be attributed to the cyclonic phase of the bimodal oscillatory system of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The calculated BMUs showed several interesting results that shed new light on previous findings: (a) there is a split between the richer northern and poorer southern parts of the Adriatic in terms of anchovy eggs and larvae abundances, (b) the Kvarner Bay, the west coast of Istria and the area around Dugi otok are consistently rich spawning grounds, (c) decreased abundance in the southern areas is a result of the influence of salinity, (d) an increase in chlorophyll can lead to an increase in egg count, (e) the positive effects of upwelling can be negated by an increase in salinity, (f) increased primary production is followed by increased egg count. Upwelling, as one of the factors that can influence larval and egg abundance by bringing nutrients up from the seafloor, showed increased spatial and temporal variability during the investigated period, which depended on the wind regime. Our analysis showed that neural network analysis can successfully describe the effects and interplay of environmental factors on the abundance of anchovy early life stages.