Acronym NA
Category
Fisheries
Title Risorse biologiche, grandi pelagici. Studio sulla biologia e consistenza di popolazione di specie minori di grandi pelagici: Seriola dumerilii Risso 1816, Coryphaena hippurus Linneo 1758, Euthynnus alletteratus Rafinesque 1810, Sarda sarda Bloch 1793 - Study on the biology and population consistency of minor species of large pelagic Seriola dumerilii Risso, 1816, Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus 1758, Euthynnus alletteratus Rafinesque, 1810, Sarda sarda Bloch, 1793 Programme National Programme
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
NA
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source National Coordinator Franco Andaloro Coordinator email franco.andaloro@isprambiente.it
Coordinator institution
ISPRA - Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Italy)
Institutions involved
NA
Start year 2003 End year 2004 Funding (€) € NA Website NA Summary Minor species of large pelagic fish such as the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili), the dolphinfish (Coriphaena hippurus), the little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) and the bonito (Sarda sarda), although they are less important than major species such as the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thunnus), the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga), can represent an important halieutic resource for Italian fishery. A sustainable use of these resources requires a management approach based on the knowledge of the abundance, biology and ecology of these species. The aim of this study is to add knowledge regarding the fishery and catch for the four species along the northern and western Sicilian coast between Messina and Sciacca and in the Sicilian Strait, and to describe the reproductive biology and feeding habits of the little tunny and bonito. The greater amberjack is an important species for Sicilian fishery caught as an adult by purse seine, entangling nets, small mesh drift-nets and trolling lines and as a juvenile with small mesh entangling nets named "ricciolare" and also with trolling lines by recreational fishermen. Illegal fishery, using explosives and poison, is also practiced. During the study, a strong reduction in the catch of adults in the Sicilian Strait, probably caused by illegal fishery, juveniles catch and the rapid development of the Tunisian fishing effort, was observed. The main problem related to the decrease in the abundance of this resource is the non-sustainability of the juveniles catch, practiced by professional and recreational fishermen, although a Sicilian law prohibits the catch of the greater amberjack between the 15th of July and the 15th of September. The dolphinfish represents a seasonally important resource for Sicilian fishery. In the area of study, dolphinfish fishery is practiced by 229 fishermen using FADs. In the study area 10,950 FADs were censused. The large number of FADs utilized in our area is producing conflicts between dolphinfish fishermen and the ones using small mesh drift nets and pelagic long lines. At the end of the fishery period, when the floating part is removed, the FADs ballasts remain on the bottom creating an environmental impact and an obstacle to bottom long lines. Another conflict is observed between dolphinfish fishermen and recreational fishermen that catch on FADs. The little tunny is a resource of minor importance for the north Sicilian fishery; this species is caught as a by-catch of different types of fishing practices with small mesh drift nets and long lines and occasionally is caught by purse seine. In the southern Tyrrhenian sea only juveniles were caught, confirming that this area could be a nursery area for this species. In the Strait of Sicily the little tunny is an important and abundant resource caught by purse-seines adapted for catching the species. In the sampling period, confirming a positive trend, more than 100 tons of little tunny/year were caught. Its diet is based mainly on small fish but crustaceans and cephalopods are also recorded in the stomach contents. The feeding habits seem to change with growth. The Bonito is fished by 93 fishing vessels along the north Sicilian coast using mainly small mesh drift nets. Trolling lines are also utilized and the species is occasionally caught by small pelagic fish purse-seines. The bonito fishery, in our study area, is limited only to the southern Tyrrhenian sea where it has a high commercial value. This species is economically important for small scale fishery in the area and is caught all year round. Small pelagic fish were the main preys observed in the stomach contents confirming the piscivorus diet of this species. Invertebrates have a marginal role in the diet in young specimens too. This study confirms that S. sarda is a gonochoric species with a reproductive period in the central Mediterranean sea between May and July.
Goals:
(1) To add knowledge regarding the fishery and catch for the four species along the northern and western Sicilian coast between Messina and Sciacca and in the Sicilian Strait; (2) To describe the reproductive biology and feeding habits of the little tunny and bonito.
Keywords
Tuna;
Mackerel;
Fisheries research;
Amberjacks;
Fish biology;
Fish;
Marine Region
48
South Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10)
71
South of Sicily (GSA 16)
2
Marine Region Map
