Spatio-temporal composition of discard associated with the deep water rose shrimp fisheries (Parapenaeus longirostris, Lucas 1846) in the south-central Mediterranean Sea

Discarding in fisheries is the fraction of the total catch brought on board and returned to the sea dead or alive for legal or economic reasons. The reduction of discard is one of the main objectives of the European Common Fishery Policy. This study aimed to improve the current knowledge of the discard associated with the deep-water rose shrimp (DPS) fisheries in the south-central Mediterranean Sea. We analyzed data collected from January 2009 to December 2013. Multivariate data analysis and generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to assess the spatio-temporal composition of the discard (which represented 36% of the total catch) and factors influencing its distribution. Multiple analys…

What is in our seas? Assessing anthropogenic litter on the seafloor of the central Mediterranean Sea

Abstract Abundance, composition, and distribution of macro-litter found on the seafloor of the Strait of Sicily between 10 and 800 m depth has been studied using data collected by bottom trawl surveys MEDITS from 2015 to 2019. Three waste categories based on the items use were considered: single-use, fishing-related and generic-use. Over 600 sampling sites, just 14% of these were litter-free. The five-years average density of seafloor litter was 79.6 items/km2 and ranged between 46.8 in 2019 and 118.1 items/km2 in 2015. The predominant waste type was plastic (58% of all items). Regardless of material type, single-use items were a dominant (60% of items) and widespread (79% of hauls) fractio…

Genetic variation of the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus (Pisces, Coryphaenidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Molecular diversity of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) shows the merging of endemic and widespread haplotypes in the Mediterranean Sea

Molecular data on Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758) from western and central Mediterranean Sea were reported and compared. The aim of the study was to study the mitochondrial molecular structuring of the species at different geographical scales: localities, sub-basins, and oceans. Results show the absence of a sharp population structure inside the Mediterranean Sea, and the isolation of the Mediterranean dolphinfishes from those inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean

DNA barcoding of the Mediterranean chondrichthyans (ELASMOMED)

Predictive distribution models of European hake in the south-central Mediterranean Sea

The effective management and conservation of fishery resources requires knowledge of their spatial distribution and notably of their critical life history stages. Predictive modelling of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius L., 1758) distribution was developed in the south-central Mediterranean Sea by means of historical fisheries-independent databases available in the region. The study area included the international waters of the south-central Mediterranean Sea and the territorial waters of Italy, Malta, Tunisia and Libya. Distribution maps of predicted population abundance index, and probabilistic occurrence of recruits and large adults were obtained by means of generalized additive …