Marine open cage aquaculture in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: a new trophic resource for bottlenose dolphins

Piroddi, Chiara; Bearzi, Giovanni; Christensen, Villy

doi:10.3354/meps09319

Cited by 42 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 51 publications

(51 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Particularly large and active fish farms located on the western shores of the bays of Itea and Antikyra (Galaxidi Marine Farm S.A., http://www.gmf-sa.gr) possibly contribute to making this part of the Gulf of Corinth more appealing to bottlenose dolphins (Figure ). The preference for waters within 10 km of fish farms, with a high occurrence in their immediate vicinity (Figure e), is consistent with findings in other semi‐enclosed areas of Greece, where bottlenose dolphins have adapted to opportunistic foraging near fish farm cages (Bonizzoni et al, ; Bonizzoni, Eddy, Würsig, & Bearzi, ; Piroddi, Bearzi, & Christensen, ). Fish farms are known to attract a great variety of organisms, probably because of artificial substrate and infrastructure, combined with the input of nutrients or manufactured fish feed (Bacher, Gordoa, & Sagué, ; Callier et al, ; Dempster, Sanchez‐Jerez, Bayle‐Sempere, Gimenez‐Casalduero, & Valle, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Bonizzoni¹,

Furey

Santostasi

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding marine mammal distributions is essential for conservation, as it can help identify critical habitat where management action can be taken. The semi‐enclosed Gulf of Corinth, Greece, has been identified as an Important Marine Mammal Area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, based on the regular occurrence of odontocete populations. A 7‐year (2011–17) dataset of boat‐based surveys was used to model and predict the distribution of striped dolphins, Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, and common bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in the entire Gulf (2400 km2). Multiple geographic, bathymetric, oceanographic, and anthropogenic variables were incorporated in a combined generalized additive model and generalized estimation equation (GAM‐GEE) framework to describe dolphin occurrence and produce distribution maps. Modelling indicated that striped and common dolphins prefer deep waters (>300 m) in the central and southern part of the Gulf, whereas bottlenose dolphins prefer shallow waters (<300 m) and areas close to fish farms along the northern–central shore. Model‐based maps of the predicted distribution identified a preferred habitat encompassing most of the Gulf, also revealing: (i) hot spots of dolphin distribution covering about 40% of the Gulf's surface; (ii) an almost complete overlap of striped and common dolphin distribution, consistent with the hypothesis that common dolphins modified their habitat preferences to live in mixed species groups with striped dolphins; (iii) a clear partitioning of striped/common and bottlenose dolphin habitat; and (iv) the important role played by fish farms for bottlenose dolphins, consistent with studies conducted elsewhere in Greece. Evidence provided by this study calls for area‐specific and species‐specific management measures to mitigate anthropogenic impacts.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Bonizzoni¹,

Furey

Santostasi

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Piroddi et al . () suggest that this same species has also increased in abundance in Greek fish farm areas because the farms facilitate prey capture. Elsewhere, Ribeiro et al .…”

Section: Interactions Between Finfish Farms and Wild Populationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Attraction and repulsion of mobile wild organisms to finfish and shellfish aquaculture: a review

Callier

Byron

Bengtson

et al. 2017

Reviews in Aquaculture

115

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Knowledge of aquaculture–environment interactions is essential for the development of a sustainable aquaculture industry and efficient marine spatial planning. The effects of fish and shellfish farming on sessile wild populations, particularly infauna, have been studied intensively. Mobile fauna, including crustaceans, fish, birds and marine mammals, also interact with aquaculture operations, but the interactions are more complex and these animals may be attracted to (attraction) or show an aversion to (repulsion) farm operations with various degrees of effects. This review outlines the main mechanisms and effects of attraction and repulsion of wild animals to/from marine finfish cage and bivalve aquaculture, with a focus on effects on fisheries‐related species. Effects considered in this review include those related to the provision of physical structure (farm infrastructure acting as fish aggregating devices (FADs) or artificial reefs (ARs), the provision of food (e.g. farmed animals, waste feed and faeces, fouling organisms associated with farm structures) and some farm activities (e.g. boating, cleaning). The reviews show that the distribution of mobile organisms associated with farming structures varies over various spatial (vertical and horizontal) and temporal scales (season, feeding time, day/night period). Attraction/repulsion mechanisms have a variety of direct and indirect effects on wild organisms at the level of individuals and populations and may have implication for the management of fisheries species and the ecosystem in the context of marine spatial planning. This review revealed considerable uncertainties regarding the long‐term and ecosystem‐wide consequences of these interactions. The use of modelling may help better understand consequences, but long‐term studies are necessary to better elucidate effects.

show abstract

“…A high local abundance of fish is likely to lead to secondary attraction of large predators, such as dolphins (Diaz López ; Piroddi et al . ). Shellfish and algae farming do not require inputs of feed, but high densities of filter feeding shellfish in farms do accumulate biomass, attracting wild fish and invertebrate species (Dealteris et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Impacts of marine and freshwater aquaculture on wildlife: a global meta‐analysis

Barrett

Swearer

Dempster

2018

Reviews in Aquaculture

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The global expansion of aquaculture has raised concerns about its environmental impacts, including effects on wildlife. Aquaculture farms are thought to repel some species and function as either attractive population sinks ('ecological traps') or population sources for others. We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of empirical studies documenting interactions between aquaculture operations and vertebrate wildlife. Farms were associated with elevated local abundance and diversity of wildlife, although this overall effect was strongly driven by aggregations of wild fish at sea cages and shellfish farms (abundance: 729; species richness: 2.09). Birds were also more diverse at farms (1.19), but other taxa showed variable and comparatively small effects. Larger effects were reported when researchers selected featureless or unstructured habitats as reference sites. Evidence for aggregation 'hotspots' is clear in some systems, but we cannot determine whether farms act as ecological traps for most taxa, as few studies assess either habitat preference or fitness in wildlife. Fish collected near farms were larger and heavier with no change in body condition, but also faced higher risk of disease and parasitism. Birds and mammals were frequently reported preying on stock, but little data exist on the outcomes of such interactions for birds and mammalsfarms are likely to function as ecological traps for many species. We recommend researchers measure survival and reproduction in farm-associated wildlife to make direct, causal links between aquaculture and its effects on wildlife populations.

show abstract

Marine open cage aquaculture in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: a new trophic resource for bottlenose dolphins

Cited by 42 publications

References 51 publications

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Modelling dolphin distribution within an Important Marine Mammal Area in Greece to support spatial management planning

Attraction and repulsion of mobile wild organisms to finfish and shellfish aquaculture: a review

Impacts of marine and freshwater aquaculture on wildlife: a global meta‐analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About