engleski

Catch selection of small pelagic fish as a method for conservation of fish stocks in the Adriatic Sea

Small pelagic fish such as the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and the anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) are of great economic and ecological importance worldwide and account for about 20% of the global catch. According to the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, anchovies and sardines in the Adriatic Sea accounted for about 84% of the total marine fish catch in 2020. The world stock of sardines has declined drastically in recent years, as recruitment rates are at an all-time low. This decline is of particular concern in the context of the vulnerability of these populations, as they often respond quickly to environmental fluctuations that lead to rapid changes in their abundance, with several global collapses having occurred over time. Overfishing has long been recognized as a leading ecological and socioeconomic problem in the marine environment, reducing biodiversity and altering ecosystem functioning. Bycatch is the part of the catch that was unintentional in fishing and that may then be retained and landed or discarded at sea ; discards are the returned part of the catch. Fishing selectively means minimizing bycatch and discards and primarily catching target fish. Improving fishery selectivity is increasingly cited as a fishery management goal to address the unintended effects of fishing on non-target species, minimize waste, and improve fishery efficiency. The research aims to determine the possibility of diversifying and adapting the fishing gear on board a fishing vessel to manipulate and improve the quality of the small pelagic fish catch, with the potential to separate juvenile fish from unwanted fish already caught, in order to conserve the small pelagic fish stock in the Adriatic Sea. The use of a fish pump (FAIVRE 8, France) to facilitate manipulation of the fishery is described, focusing on specific adaptation to separate seawater from catch in combination with potential fish selection. The research is co- financed by the European Union from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

small pelagic fish ; Sardina pilchardus ; Engraulis encrasicolus ; overfishing, bycatch ; selection

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