scholarly journals An overview of bottom trawl selectivity in the Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 566
Author(s):  
ALESSANDRO LUCCHETTI ◽  
MASSIMO VIRGILI ◽  
CLAUDIO VASAPOLLO ◽  
ANDREA PETETTA ◽  
GIADA BARGIONE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bottom Trawl ◽  
Bottom Trawling ◽  
Fish Stocks ◽  
Biological Impacts ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The One ◽  
First Maturity ◽  
Ecologically Sustainable

In the Mediterranean Sea, where bottom trawling for demersal species is the most important fishery in terms of landings, around 75% of the assessed fish stocks are overfished. Its status as one of the world’s most heavily exploited seas and the one subject to the highest trawling pressure has become a global concern. An extensive review of bottom trawl selectivity studies was performed to assess the sustainability of this fishery in the Mediterranean; the selectivity parameters were collected from 93 peer-reviewed publications of 10 countries, totalling 742 records and 65 species. The review highlighted that i) the catch of bottom trawls commonly employed in the Mediterranean, even complying with current regulations on codend meshes, still includes immature individuals for 64-68% of the species investigated, and individuals under the minimum conservation reference size (MCRS) for 78% of the species investigated, and that ii) the MCRS set for 59% of the species analyzed is well below their length at first maturity, and is therefore ecologically inadequate. Although square-mesh codends are slightly more selective, the models developed herein demonstrate that improving size and species selectivity would require considerably larger meshes, which may significantly reduce profitability. The urgent need to reduce the biological impacts of bottom trawling in the Mediterranean should be addressed by promoting the adoption of more ecologically sustainable fishing gears through the introduction of more selective meshes or gear modifications.

scholarly journals Variations in Moisture Supply from the Mediterranean Sea during Meteorological Drought Episodes over Central Europe

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Stojanovic ◽  
Anita Drumond ◽  
Raquel Nieto ◽  
Luis Gimeno
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Meteorological Drought ◽  
Time Analysis ◽  
Moisture Supply ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The One ◽  
Annual Summer

The climate in Central Europe (CEU) during the 20th century is characterized by an overall temperature increase. Severe and prolonged drought events began occurring towards the end and these have continued into the 21st century. This study aims to analyze variations in the moisture supply from the Mediterranean Sea (MDS) during meteorological drought episodes occurring over the CEU region over the last three decades. A total of 51 meteorological drought episodes (22 with summer onsets, and 29 with winter) are identified over the CEU during the period 1980–2015 through the one-month Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI-1), and their respective indicators, including duration, severity, intensity, and peak values, are then computed. Lagrangian forward-in-time analysis reveals that negative anomalies of moisture coming from the MDS prevail in all episodes except seven. Linear regression analysis between variations in the MDS anomalies and indicators of the drought episodes shows a significant linear relationship between severity, duration, peak values (winter), and MDS anomalies, which implies that drought episodes last longer and are more severe with an increase in the negative anomaly of moisture supply from the MDS. Nevertheless, no linear relationship is found between the intensity and peak values (annual, summer) of drought episodes and anomalies in the moisture contribution from the MDS.

On a saddled snake eel Pisodonophis semicinctus (Osteichthyes: Ophichthidae) trawled in the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea)

2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 951-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Ragonese ◽  
Giovan Battista Giusto
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bottom Trawl ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Rare Finding ◽  
Strait Of Sicily ◽  
Total Length ◽  
The Mediterranean

The occurrence in the Strait of Sicily of the saddled snake eel, Pisodonophis semicinctus (Osteichthyes: Ophichthidae), a rare finding for the Mediterranean Sea, is confirmed on the basis of one specimen caught off the northern coast of Tunisia in 1991. The specimen, 800 mm in total length and 457 g in body weight (preserved condition), was captured during a commercial bottom trawl hauled at 30 m next to Cape Bon (north of Tunisia). This represents the second and fourth documented record of this Atlantic intruder within the Strait of Sicily and the Mediterranean Sea, respectively.

scholarly journals Investigation of Hg Content by a Rapid Analytical Technique in Mediterranean Pelagic Fishes

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppa Di Bella ◽  
Roberta Tardugno ◽  
Nicola Cicero
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Pelagic Fish ◽  
Analytical Technique ◽  
Weekly Intake ◽  
Tolerable Weekly Intake ◽  
Direct Mercury Analyzer ◽  
Mercury Analyzer ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
The Mediterranean

Mercury (Hg) fish and seafood contamination is a global concern and needs worldwide sea investigations in order to protect consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate the Hg concentration by means of a rapid and simple analytical technique with direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80) in pelagic fish species, Tetrapturus belone (spearfish), Thunnus thynnus (tuna) and Xiphias gladius (swordfish) caught in the Mediterranean Sea. Hg contents were evaluated also in Salmo salar (salmon) as pelagic fish not belonging to the Mediterranean area. The results obtained were variable ranging between 0,015-2,562 mg kg-1 for T. thynnus specie, 0,477-3,182 mg kg-1 for X. gladius, 0,434-1,730 mg kg-1 for T. belone and 0,004-0,019 mg kg-1 for S. salar, respectively. The total Hg tolerable weekly intake (TWI) and % tolerable weekly intake (TWI%) values according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) were calculated. The results highlighted that the pelagic species caught in the Mediterranean Sea should be constantly monitored due to their high Hg contents as well as their TWI and TWI% with respect to S. salar samples.

scholarly journals Bottom trawl catch comparison in the Mediterranean Sea: Flexible Turtle Excluder Device (TED) vs traditional gear

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0216023
Author(s):  
Claudio Vasapollo ◽  
Massimo Virgili ◽  
Andrea Petetta ◽  
Giada Bargione ◽  
Antonello Sala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bottom Trawl ◽  
Trawl Catch ◽  
The Mediterranean

The reproductive biology of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the Strait of Gibraltar

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noureddine Abid ◽  
Amin Laglaoui ◽  
Abdelhay Arakrak ◽  
Mohammed Bakkali
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Mixing Rate ◽  
The North ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
First Maturity

During the period from April to September for the years 2014–2016, 998 swordfishes caught by the Moroccan artisanal longline fishery in the Strait of Gibraltar were sampled to study the reproduction of this species in this mixing area between the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic. The results showed that the sex ratio is slightly in favour of males for sizes smaller than 130 cm LJFL (Lower jaw-fork length), whereas females are more numerous in sizes larger than 140 cm LJFL. Fifty per cent of females were estimated to be mature at 170 cm LJFL, while for males, the size at first maturity was estimated to be 95 cm LJFL. The swordfish spawn from June to September, probably in the Mediterranean Sea. The findings of this study suggest that the reproductive characteristics of swordfish caught in the Strait of Gibraltar are similar to those of the Mediterranean swordfish, and a high mixing rate between the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic stocks occurs in the study area.

scholarly journals Mediterranean Tropical-Like Cyclones in Present and Future Climate

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (19) ◽  
pp. 7493-7501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leone Cavicchia ◽  
Hans von Storch ◽  
Silvio Gualdi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Tropical Cyclones ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
High Resolution Data ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The One

Abstract The Mediterranean has been identified as one of the most responsive regions to climate change. It has been conjectured that one of the effects of a warmer climate could be to make the Mediterranean Sea prone to the formation of hurricanes. Already in the present climate regime, however, a few of the numerous low pressure systems that form in the area develop a dynamical evolution similar to the one of tropical cyclones. Even if their spatial extent is generally smaller and the life cycle shorter compared to tropical cyclones, such storms produce severe damage on the highly populated coastal areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. This study, based on the analysis of individual realistically simulated storms in homogeneous long-term and high-resolution data from multiple climate change scenarios, shows that the projected effect of climate change on Mediterranean tropical-like cyclones is decreased frequency and a tendency toward a moderate increase of intensity.

scholarly journals Synchiropus sechellensis Regan, 1908 (Teleostei: Callionymidae), a new Lessepsian migrant in the Mediterranean Sea

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 440 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. GÖKOĞLU ◽  
Y. ÖZVAROL ◽  
R. FRICKE
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Bottom Trawl ◽  
Single Male ◽  
Male Specimen ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
First Time

A new Lessepsian migrant, Synchiropus sechellensis Regan, 1908 (Teleostei: Callionymidae), was recorded for the first time by a single male specimen, during bottom trawl operation in the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Interannual variability of the Mediterranean trophic regimes from ocean color satellites

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 14941-14980 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Mayot ◽  
F. D'Ortenzio ◽  
M. Ribera d'Alcalà ◽  
H. Lavigne ◽  
H. Claustre
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Interannual Variability ◽  
Deep Convection ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Ocean Color ◽  
Run Off ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. D'Ortenzio and Ribera d'Alcalà (2009, DR09 hereafter) divided the Mediterranean Sea into "bioregions" based on the climatological seasonality (phenology) of phytoplankton. Here we investigate the interannual variability of this bioregionalization. Using 16 years of available ocean color observations (i.e. SeaWiFS and MODIS), we analyzed the spatial distribution of the DR09 trophic regimes on an annual basis. Additionally, we identified new trophic regimes, with seasonal cycles of phytoplankton biomass different from the DR09 climatological description and named "Anomalous". Overall, the classification of the Mediterranean phytoplankton phenology proposed by DR09 (i.e. "No Bloom", "Intermittently", "Bloom" and "Coastal"), is confirmed to be representative of most of the Mediterranean phytoplankton phenologies. The mean spatial distribution of these trophic regimes (i.e. bioregions) over the 16 years studied is also similar to the one proposed by DR09. But at regional scale some annual differences, in their spatial distribution and in the emergence of "Anomalous" trophic regimes, were observed compared to the DR09 description. These dissimilarities with the DR09 study were related to interannual variability in the sub-basin forcing: winter deep convection events, frontal instabilities, inflow of Atlantic or Black Sea Waters and river run-off. The large assortment of phytoplankton phenologies identified in the Mediterranean Sea is thus verified at interannual level, confirming the "sentinel" role of this basin to detect the impact of climate changes on the pelagic environment.

scholarly journals Investigation of Hg Content by a Rapid Analytical Technique in Mediterranean Pelagic Fishes

Separations ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppa Di Bella ◽  
Roberta Tardugno ◽  
Nicola Cicero
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Pelagic Fish ◽  
Analytical Technique ◽  
Weekly Intake ◽  
Tolerable Weekly Intake ◽  
Direct Mercury Analyzer ◽  
Mercury Analyzer ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
The Mediterranean

Mercury (Hg) fish and seafood contamination is a global concern and needs worldwide sea investigations in order to protect consumers. The aim of this study was to investigate the Hg concentration by means of a rapid and simple analytical technique with a direct Mercury Analyzer (DMA-80) in pelagic fish species, Tetrapturus belone (spearfish), Thunnus thynnus (tuna) and Xiphias gladius (swordfish) caught in the Mediterranean Sea. Hg contents were evaluated also in Salmo salar (salmon) as pelagic fish not belonging to the Mediterranean area. The results obtained were variable, ranging between 0.015–2.562 mg kg−1 for T. thynnus species, 0.477–3.182 mg kg−1 for X. gladius, 0.434–1.730 mg kg−1 for T. belone and 0.004–0.019 mg kg−1 for S. salar, respectively. The total Hg tolerable weekly intake (TWI) and tolerable weekly intake % (TWI%) values according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) were calculated. The results highlighted that the pelagic species caught in the Mediterranean Sea should be constantly monitored due to their high Hg contents as well as their TWI and TWI% with respect to S. salar samples.

Evaluating Cultural Routes for a Network of Competitive Cities in the Mediterranean Sea: The Eastern Monasticism in Western Mediterranean Area

2014 ◽  
Vol 1073-1076 ◽  
pp. 1418-1422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Calabrò ◽  
Daniele Campolo ◽  
Giuseppina Cassalia ◽  
Carmela Tramontana
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Mediterranean History ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The One ◽  
Cultural Routes

Calabria region (Southern Italy) has become the nerve center of historical events, decisive for the Mediterranean sea destiny, because of its geographical position, its centrality in the Mediterranean area, the peculiarities of the district and the wealth of natural resources. The effects of its role in the Mediterranean history are still visible in its natural, urban and social structure, thus giving the region a large number of cultural and environmental values, which find root in the three preceding millennia. The paper, starting from the most historic routes that have affected the Calabrian coast, aims to highlight the one that has the greatest impact on the culture of the region trying to figure out if it is possible to identify, protect and promote a cultural route according to the ICOMOS Charter of Cultural Routes criteria, devised by the ICOMOS’ international Scientific Committee of Cultural Routes (CIIC) and ratified by the 16th General Assembly of ICOMOS, in Quebec (Canada), October 4, 2008.

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