Human impact on the oceans predates scientific observation, which for many animal populations has captured only recent changes. Such a limited knowledge can hamper finding optimal management and conservation strategies including setting appropriate recovery targets. Sawfishes are among the most endangered marine vertebrates in the ocean. Historical human impacts have resulted in sawfish extinction in many coastal areas around the world; however, in the Mediterranean Sea, their past presence and possible extinction have been debated for decades. Recently, it was concluded that the region never hosted resident populations because of unsuitable environmental conditions. Through an extensive bibliographic and archival search and an extinction analysis, we reconstructed the history of sawfishes in the Mediterranean Sea. Between 1576 and 1959, there were 48 independent accounts of the occurrence of two sawfish species (Pristis pristis, Pristidae and Pristis pectinata, Pristidae), including 24 documented catches. Sawfishes were mainly recorded in the western Mediterranean, in areas close to large rivers with light human impact. Most of the documented individuals were juveniles, suggesting local parturition. Extinction analyses yielded variable results and were affected by the sparseness of records but suggested that both species went extinct in the Mediterranean Sea in the 1960s–1970s. Our results challenge current assumptions on sawfish ecology and biogeography, offer new options for sawfish conservation in the Atlantic and highlight the importance of historical analyses for reconstructing ecosystem baselines and setting recovery targets.

Summary The aim of this study was to define the reproductive characteristics of the large‐scaled gurnard Lepidotrigla cavillone in the Adriatic Sea in order to understand the annual cycle of its reproductive development. A total of 1105 individuals were collected in the period from October 2011 to September 2012. The size of the samples ranged from 7.6 to 15.2 cm in total length with a male to female ratio of 0.83:1. Based on monthly values of the gonadosomatic index it was determined that the large‐scaled gurnard has a long spawning period extending from February to September with two peaks, one in May and another in August. Histological analysis demonstrated continuous reproductive activity since all stages of oocyte development were present in ovaries throughout the year with no inactive or resting periods. Spawning period in females was characterized by the increased number of oocytes in migratory nucleus or hydrated stage with the oocyte diameter ranging from 608.0 to 776.7 μm and in males with the abundance of spermatozoa. This study presents first information on the reproductive cycle of Lepidotrigla cavillone in the Adriatic Sea and contributes to our understanding of the biology of this important discard species necessary for its future stock management.

The feeding habits of the stargazer Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758 were analysed using 360 stomachs of specimens collected in southern Adriatic Sea between October 2011 and September 2012. The total body length of the specimens ranged from 9.7 to 32.1 cm (18.89 ± 3.34 cm) and weight from 11.7 to 618.7 g (112.79 ± 63.17 g). In the sampled population there were 213 females (59.17%) and 147 males (40.83%). Stargazer is carnivorous fish and its diet in Adriatic Sea was composed of teleost fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. According to numerical abundance fish predominated followed by crustaceans, while according to the gravimetric composition fish predominated followed by cephalopods. Teleost fish were dominant prey in all seasons, and the principal prey were hake Merluccius merluccius and argentine Argentina sphyraena. Argentine was primary food in summer (IRI = 61.63), while hake occur in other seasons. In relation to the total body length teleost fish dominated in diet of stargazer whose total body length was < 25 cm. In size group I and II (TL < 20 cm) A. sphyraena was the main food, while M. merluccius was dominant prey in the size group III (TL = 20 – 25 cm). Vacuity index in the sampled population was relatively low (%V = 11.11%). During seasons the percentage of empty stomachs varied significantly with the highest value in winter (%V = 15.55%) and the lowest in spring (%V = 7.78%). In relation to the total body length the highest vacuity index was recorded for size group II (%V = 5.83) and the lowest for group VI (%V = 0).

This study provides the first data on the reproductive biology of the spiny gurnard Lepidotrigla dieuzeidei. A total of 1027 individuals were collected monthly from September 2011 to August 2012. The total length of the individuals in the sample ranged from 7.46 cm to 14.62 cm with a female to male ratio of 1 to 0.59. Positive allometric growth was observed for both females (b=3.07) and males (b=3.08). Variations of condition factor were similar in both sexes with mean values of 1.07 for females and 1.01 for males. The fish L. dieuzeidei had a long spawning period extending from November to July based on monthly values of gonadosomatic index. Histological analysis showed that this fish was multiple synchronous developments of ovaries with multiple spawning events. The ovaries were always represented with a group of primary oocytes and a diverse population of vitel-logenic oocytes, each specially recruited during the final stages of maturation in uniform or uneven phases. Batch fecundity was estimated gravimetrically using the hydrated oocyte method and was estimated to be around 558 to 10.230 oocytes per female. L. dieuzeidei is an important by-catch species and data from this study represent a valuable contribution to stock management.