engleski

Discards of the commercial boat seine fisheries on Posidonia oceanica beds in the eastern Adriatic Sea

Scientific observer records were used to estimate retained and discarded catch composition of the commercial boat seine fisheries conducted on Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile meadows in the eastern Adriatic, from November 2008 to December 2009. A total of 91 fish and cephalopod species were recorded in the catches, of which 20 species were always retained, 40 were always discarded and remaining 31 were selected depending on size (only larger specimens were retained). Most abundant species in retained catch were Spicara smaris, Atherina hepsetus and Mullus barbatus, while Chromis chromis, Symphodus ocellatus and small specimens of Boops boops dominated discards. An estimated 43.5% by number and 28.5% by weight of the total catch were discarded. Since minimum landing size (MLS) is regulated for only 4 out of 15 most important species in this study, and even those regulations are partially followed, discarding practices were generally market-driven. Retained and discarded amounts of the catch as well as numbers of retained and discarded species showed a seasonal pattern, with generally larger catches recorded during summer/autumn than in winter/spring period. High rates of immature specimens were observed for the most important species, probably related to the role of Posidonia beds as important nursery grounds.

boat seine; small-scale fishery; discard; immature fish; Posidonia oceanica beds; Adriatic

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