Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.32582/aa.63.1.3

The study of European eel, Anguilla anguilla in the River Neretva estuary (Eastern Adriatic Sea, Croatia) using traditional fishery gear

Luka Glamuzina orcid.org/0000-0002-6486-0099 ; University of Dubrovnik, Department of Applied Ecology, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Marijana Pećarević ; University of Dubrovnik, Department of Applied Ecology, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Tatjana Dobroslavić ; University of Dubrovnik, Department of Applied Ecology, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Sanja Tomšić ; University of Dubrovnik, Department of Applied Ecology, Dubrovnik, Croatia
Branko Glamuzina ; University of Dubrovnik, Department of Applied Ecology, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Abstract

Samples of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla from two different habitats in the River Neretva
estuary region were analysed using two different traditional fishery gear, in the period from 2016 to
2019. The monthly eel catches in ten traditional fyke nets in Parila lagoon varied from 4.4 to 12.7 kg
(±2.45 kg) in 2016 and 2.4 to 9.6 kg (±2.01 kg) in 2019. There were no statistical differences between
monthly and total weights recorded in 2016 and 2019 (t=1.04; p=0.312). The b-coefficient of the
length-weight (LW) relationship for the freshwater eel samples varied from 3,1036 to 3,3206 during
two-year period of the sampling. The LW relationship for the brackish population was significantly
lower (b-coefficient 2,6513). The dominant eel stage in both sites was yellow eel, while silver stage
was scarce. The fishery with traditional devices revealed that efficiency of these artisanal tools is
low, pointing to poor abundance of eel in their common habitats. The recorded catch using bigger
traditional eel trap gear during autumn spawning migrations was also dominated with yellow
stage, while silver eel represented only 15,4% of the catch. The infestation of eels with the parasite,
Anguillicoloides crassus was significantly higher in freshwater habitat (41% of eel specimens
infested) than in brackish, Parila lagoon (7%). Poor efficiency of traditional gear, bad length and
weight structure of the population and low b-coefficients of eels in their most important habitat,
indicate poor status of European eel population and River Neretva estuarine ecosystems.

Keywords

European eel; traditional fishery gear; length-weight relationship; parasite; Anguil- licoloides crassus; Neretva estuary

Hrčak ID:

281124

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/281124

Publication date:

8.8.2022.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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