Analysis of swordfish Xiphias gladius and blue shark Prionace glauca fisheries by Catalan longline fleet from 2010 to 2015 in the occidental Mediterranean Sea

Porsmoguer, Sebastián Biton

doi:10.4067/s0718-19572017000100016

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In contrast, the current mass (and size) of swordfish caught in the central Southeast Pacific (FAO fishing subarea 87.2) is mainly between 20 and 150 kg, despite the use of modern fishing techniques (Cerna, 2009). This mean-size difference may illustrate the fishing pressure and deterioration of the stock status of swordfish in the Southeastern Pacific in modern times (see Biton-Porsmoguer, 2017;Siskey et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish vertebrae as archeological biomarkers of past marine ecological conditions: Comparison of mercury levels in Chilean swordfish between the Middle Holocene and the modern period

Porsmoguer

Bouchoucha

Marco-Mirallès

et al. 2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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The ocean has always been a source of inspiration for past and present civilizations, especially for those involved in fishing activities. The regular fishing of large pelagic fish by past societies using harpoons has been demonstrated, with several studies reporting the discovery of an important fishery of large pelagic fish (including swordfish) dating from as early as the sixth millennium BCE on the North Chilean Pacific Coast. The swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a cosmopolitan, highly migratory species found in all warm and temperate oceans and seas, and mercury is known to bioamplify along food webs, increasing with the trophic level of organisms up to these top predators. This study, therefore, analyzes and compares the mercury levels of archeological and modern vertebrae in swordfish. The archeological fish remains were recovered during excavation of the Zapatero archeological site on the northern coast of Chile, and the modern vertebrae were collected from specimens caught in the Pacific Ocean. The archeological vertebrae showed lower levels of mercury in comparison with those of current individuals, despite their larger size. However, the elevated Hg levels in archeological vertebrae proved the presence of naturally occurring mercury in the mid‐Holocene. Analyses on modern vertebrae confirmed the anthropic origin of mercury in the marine food web. Mercury biomagnifies through the marine food chain to swordfish (and humans) and did so even during the Holocene (bioaccumulation phenomenon). This study evidences that vertebrae and bones are potentially good biomarkers of mercury, including for archeological fish remains, and that the possible harmful effects on the health of past human communities can be analyzed and explained by the high consumption of fish.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish vertebrae as archeological biomarkers of past marine ecological conditions: Comparison of mercury levels in Chilean swordfish between the Middle Holocene and the modern period

Porsmoguer

Bouchoucha

Marco-Mirallès

et al. 2021

Intl J of Osteoarchaeology

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“…A number of studies in the Mediterranean have already indicated the pressure being placed on particular vulnerable benthic species by coastal small-scale and recreational fisheries (Marengo et al, 2015;Harmelin et al, 2015;Adbul Malak, 2011;Biton-Porsmoguer, 2017;Biton-Porsmoguer and Lloret, 2018).. For example, Marengo et al (2015) found that the combined impact of artisanal and recreational fishing targeting vulnerable species can have consequences on the D. dentex stock in the Bonifacio Strait Natural Reserve.. In addition, the status of the main large pelagic species fished offshore, such as X. gladius and P. glauca, shows clear signs of overexploitation (Biton-Porsmoguer, 2017;Biton-Porsmoguer and Lloret, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recreational and small-scale fisheries may pose a threat to vulnerable species in coastal and offshore waters of the western Mediterranean

Lloret

Porsmoguer

Carreño

et al. 2019

ICES Journal of Marine Science

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This study evaluates the fishing pressure exerted by the most common recreational and professional, small-scale fishing practices on vulnerable target and bycatch species in coastal and offshore waters of the western Mediterranean. By combining multiple data sources, we assembled a unique dataset on catches at multiple sites in these areas by recreational (RF) and small-scale fisheries (SSF), covering the period from 1997 to 2015. Furthermore, a framework with which to identify the vulnerable species among all the species caught is provided; it is based on the IUCN Red List, international conventions for the protection of flora and fauna, the Habitats Directive and the intrinsic vulnerability index of marine fish. Overall, about a quarter of exploited species targeted by SSF and RF in coastal waters were vulnerable, making up nearly 50% of the total SSF catch and nearly 20% of the total recreational catch. In offshore waters, 100% of the RF and SSF catch was made up of vulnerable species. Among the species caught as bycatch in both areas by SSF and RF, there was a total of 27 vulnerable vertebrate species, which included birds, cetaceans, elasmobranchs and sea turtles. Our results highlight the need to differentiate between different fishing methods or gears when studying the fishing impacts on vulnerable species. The results also indicate that, although RF and SSF are often considered to have a relatively low ecological impact, a range of different fishing methods are affecting vulnerable species in coastal or offshore waters in the western Mediterranean Sea, be they targeted or taken unintentionally as bycatch.

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“…Stock depletion, overfishing, and by-catch have decimated elasmobranch populations in the Mediterranean [17][18][19], with most species caught as valuable bycatch in trawl and net multispecies fisheries [20][21][22]. Oceanic pelagic sharks are threatened by surface longlining targeting species, such as swordfish and tuna [23,24], worsening the situation of pelagic sharks, such as white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) and blue sharks (Prionace glauca) [19]. Shark Med, a Mediterranean NGO based in Mallorca (Spain), has developed and published innovative, non-invasive, and extended-time sub-surface BRUVs that repeatedly recorded sharks in open waters around the Balearic Islands [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improved Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) for 24 h Real-Time Monitoring of Pelagic and Demersal Marine Species from the Epipelagic Zone

Prat-Varela¹,

Torres²,

Cervantes³

et al. 2023

JMSE

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Bait-based remote underwater video (BRUV) systems are effective devices for remotely observing fish and other marine organisms in challenging environments. The development of a long duration (24 h) surface BRUV observation surveys allowed the monitoring of scarce and elusive pelagic sharks and the direct impact on non-targeted species of longline fishing in the Western Mediterranean. Technological limitations, such as the limited storage capacity and a single surface camera, were improved by (i) adding a deep camera equipped with light (below 80 m depth) and (ii) replacing Gopros with a multi-camera video surveillance system (surface and depth) with a storage capacity of several days and access to real-time observation. Based on a deployment effort of 1884 h video data, we identified 11 blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and one bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus), a deep-sea species that scarcely swims at the surface. The real-time observation capability was a powerful tool for reducing logistical costs and for raising environmental awareness in educational and outreach programmes.

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Analysis of swordfish Xiphias gladius and blue shark Prionace glauca fisheries by Catalan longline fleet from 2010 to 2015 in the occidental Mediterranean Sea

Abstract: Análisis de la explotación del pez espada

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

Fish vertebrae as archeological biomarkers of past marine ecological conditions: Comparison of mercury levels in Chilean swordfish between the Middle Holocene and the modern period

Fish vertebrae as archeological biomarkers of past marine ecological conditions: Comparison of mercury levels in Chilean swordfish between the Middle Holocene and the modern period

Recreational and small-scale fisheries may pose a threat to vulnerable species in coastal and offshore waters of the western Mediterranean

Improved Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) for 24 h Real-Time Monitoring of Pelagic and Demersal Marine Species from the Epipelagic Zone

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