Spear fishing in the Balearic Islands (west central Mediterranean): species affected and catch evolution during the period 1975–2001

Coll, J; Linde, Marta; García-Rubies, Antoni; Riera, F.; Grau, Amàlia

doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2004.05.004

Cited by 111 publications

(137 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…In the study area the decreasing numbers of this species caught in the recreational spear-fishing championships (Coll et al, 2004) and differences in abundance and biomass between the MPA and fished areas (Coll et al, 1999, Reñones et al, 1999García-Charton et al, 2004;Harmelin-Vivien et al, 2007) were evidences of the overfished status of the E. marginatus population in the shallow range of its distribution. The reported landings of the commercial fishery have remained around 5 Tm from 1996 to 2007 (Local fishery statistics) but with an increasing contribution over time of captures from areas open exclusively to the artisanal fishery (Reñones, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…The commercial and spear recreational fisheries are seasonal, with most catches occurring in summer and autumn, corresponding to the maximum trophic activity of the species. These capture methods exploit different depths, although their limits overlap: the recreational spear fishery targets groupers from 0 to 40 m depth (Coll et al, 2004), while the artisanal fishery targets groupers from 20 to 65 m depth (Mallol and Goñi, 2008).…”

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproductive pattern of an exploited dusky grouper <i>Epinephelus marginatus</i> (Lowe 1834) (Pisces: Serranidae) population in the western Mediterranean

Reñones¹,

Grau²,

Mas³

et al. 2010

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY:The reproductive parameters of the dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus, in the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean) were studied with a histological analysis of specimens caught by artisanal and recreational spear fisheries. The histological examination of the gonads showed that the dusky grouper spawning season extends from late spring to the end of summer with clear spawning peaks in July and August. The monthly variation of the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and the Le Cren condition index suggests that reserves for gonad development were obtained from the energy stored in the liver before spawning. Females reach maturation at 49 cm total length (TL) and 6 years, and transitional individuals start to occur before all females are matured. Males were the largest and oldest specimens but females were also present in the largest and oldest classes and there was a large sex, size and age overlap in the population. The fecundity data showed that the dusky grouper is a determinate spawner with asynchronous oocyte development. Potential fecundity ranged between 65 thousand and 8 million oocytes in females from 39 to 92 cm TL and from 6 to 42 years of age, with a mean relative fecundity of 334 x 10 3 oocytes kg -1 . Females spawn an average of 10 batches during the spawning season, with a relative batch fecundity of 75 x 10 3 oocytes kg -1 . Fecundity increased significantly with length, weight, age and HSI, while relative fecundity was only related to HSI. Based on the results obtained in the present study (long reproductive lifespan of females, influence of maternal attributes on fecundity and size at maturity) management measures for the species were evaluated.Keywords: Epinephelus marginatus, maturity, sex change, spawning, fecundity, Mediterranean.RESUMEN: Patrón reproductor de una población explotada de mero EpinEphElus marginatus (Lowe 1834) (Pisces: Serranidae) del Mediterráneo occidental. -Los parámetros reproductores del mero, Epinephelus marginatus, en aguas de las Islas Baleares (Mediterráneo Occidental) se han estudiado mediante análisis histológico en ejemplares capturados por la pesca artesanal y recreativa. El análisis histológico evidencia que la reproducción tiene lugar desde finales de primavera a finales de verano, observándose una máxima actividad reproductora en los meses de julio y agosto. La variación mensual de los índices hepatosomático (HSI) y de condición, sugieren que la movilización de reservas para el desarrollo gonadal se obtiene de la energía almacenada en el hígado, antes de la puesta. Las hembras alcanzan la madurez sexual a los 49 cm de longitud total (TL) y los 6 años de edad. Si bien los machos son los ejemplares de mayor talla y edad, existe un amplio solapamiento entre ambos sexos, pudiendo alcanzar las hembras las máximas tallas y edades observadas en la población. La mayor parte de los criterios utilizados para identificar el tipo de fecundidad indican que el mero presenta una fecundidad determinada y un desarrollo ovocitario asincrónico. La fecundidad potencial de he...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive pattern of an exploited dusky grouper <i>Epinephelus marginatus</i> (Lowe 1834) (Pisces: Serranidae) population in the western Mediterranean

Reñones¹,

Grau²,

Mas³

et al. 2010

Sci. Mar.

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“…There are few studies on its consequences (Jouvenel andPollard 2001, Morales-Nin et al 2005), and these are contradictory. While (Smith and Nakaya 2002) consider the spear fishery ecologically sustainable, other authors have found large negative effects on ecosystems (Rusell 1977, Harmelin et al 1995, Coll et al 2004, Lloret et al 2008, Frisch et al 2012. This fishery has been regulated in a precautionary way (Morales-Nin et al 2005) and has even been subjected to several restrictions (Smith and Nakaya 2002) because of this lack of information for decisionmaking and management (Pawson et al 2008, Godoy et al 2010.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the impact of spear fishing by using competitions records and underwater visual censuses

Pita¹,

Freire²

2011

Sci. Mar.

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Summary:Recreational fishers are increasingly competing for space and resources with commercial fishers worldwide, but have been poorly studied. In particular, the impacts of spearfishing competitions on the temperate fish assemblages have seldom been analysed. In Galicia (NW Spain), there are currently 5000 spear fishers, and 500 of them participate in spearfishing competitions. An historic archive of spearfishing competitions was used to assess their influence on the subsequent competitions in the area and to analyse their effect on the fish abundances estimated by underwater visual censuses. The annual recreational catch of the spear fishers was also estimated and comparisons with the commercial landings were performed. The spear fishers targeted 29 species, although six accounted for 95% of the catch. Most of the species show low vulnerabilities to fishing pressure and only Dicentrarchus labrax, among frequently caught species, can be considered as moderately vulnerable. The overall impact of spearfishing competitions on fish populations was limited, although some competitions temporarily reduced the abundances of Labrus bergylta, the main target species, by up to 83%. Spear fishers caught a large proportion of the total catch of common species, with recreational catches of some species (e.g. L. bergylta) matching or exceeding the commercial catch. The inclusion of this fishery in the management models of the coastal ecosystems is strongly recommended.Keywords: underwater visual censuses; fish assemblages; recreational fisheries; spear fishing; fishing impacts; coastal ecosystems.Evaluación del impacto de la pesca submarina mediante el uso de registros de concursos y censos visuales subacuáticos Resumen: Los pescadores recreativos compiten cada vez más intensamente por el espacio y los recursos con los pescadores comerciales en todo el mundo, pero han sido poco estudiados. En particular, rara vez se han analizado los impactos de los concursos de pesca submarina sobre las comunidades de peces propias de las regiones templadas. En Galicia (noroeste de España), en la actualidad hay 5000 pescadores submarinos, y 500 de ellos participan en concursos. Se utilizó un archivo histórico de competiciones de pesca submarina para evaluar su influencia sobre los concursos celebrados posteriormente en la zona y para analizar su efecto sobre las abundancias de peces, estimadas mediante censos visuales subacuáticos (UVC). Además, se estimaron las capturas recreativas anuales de los pescadores submarinos y se realizaron comparaciones con los desembarques comerciales. Los pescadores submarinos capturaron 29 especies, aunque seis representaron el 95% de sus capturas. La mayor parte de las especies muestran bajas vulnerabilidades a la presión pesquera y sólo Dicentrarchus labrax, de entre las especies capturadas con frecuencia, puede ser considerada como moderadamente vulnerable. El impacto global de los concursos de pesca submarina sobre las poblaciones de peces fue limitado, aunque algunos concursos redujeron temporalmente las...

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“…Recreational fishing may have similar impacts on fish stocks (Coll et al 2004) and ecosystems 55 (Lewin et al 2006) as commercial fishing and, in certain areas, can form a greater proportion of the total catch than the commercial harvest (Kearney et al 1996, McPhee et al 2002. Recreational fishing can play an important role in the social dynamics of communities (Finn and Loomis 2001, Henry and Lyle 2003, Morales-Nin et al 2005 and is a popular activity worldwide, for the provision of food (Burger 60 2002) and as a leisure activity (Henry and Lyle 2003).…”

Section: Introduction 50mentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative analysis of recreational fisher response and the ecosystem impacts of management strategies in a data-limited situation

2010

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Spear fishing in the Balearic Islands (west central Mediterranean): species affected and catch evolution during the period 1975–2001

Cited by 111 publications

References 14 publications

Reproductive pattern of an exploited dusky grouper <i>Epinephelus marginatus</i> (Lowe 1834) (Pisces: Serranidae) population in the western Mediterranean

Reproductive pattern of an exploited dusky grouper <i>Epinephelus marginatus</i> (Lowe 1834) (Pisces: Serranidae) population in the western Mediterranean

Assessing the impact of spear fishing by using competitions records and underwater visual censuses

Qualitative analysis of recreational fisher response and the ecosystem impacts of management strategies in a data-limited situation

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