Original scientific paper

A new design of multi-mesh survey gillnets to sample fish community in the Adriatic Sea

Polona PENGAL ; Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia, Spodnje Gameljne 61a, SI-1211 Ljubljana-Šmartno, Slovenija
Aljaž JENIČ ; Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia, Spodnje Gameljne 61a, SI-1211 Ljubljana-Šmartno, Slovenija
Nastja PAJK ; Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia, Spodnje Gameljne 61a, SI-1211 Ljubljana-Šmartno, Slovenija
Mihael Jožef TOMAN ; Sveučilište u Ljubljani, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Three types of multi-mesh benthic survey gillnets were tested for their performance in the uniform muddy bottom habitat of the Bay of Piran. We describe the compared methods, present their positive and negative aspects and suggest a sampling design that could be used with different research goals. The research sampling was performed in winter in the years from 2010 to 2012. The sampling site is situated close to a sea bass rearing fish farm in the Northern Adriatic Sea. With the Nordic 1.5 type nets 5 species were detected compared to the 23 and 20 species detected with the Adriatic 2.5 and 5.0 nets. In the Nordic 1.5 type nets only demersal species were caught and even for those a much greater sampling effort would be required to reach a representative sample. On the other hand, both the Adriatic type nets also caught benthopelagic and pelagic species, and a correlation between net height and size of fish in these two nets was detected. While both the Adriatic type nets proved successful in achieving a representative sample of fish assemblage, the Adriatic 2.5 nets performed better in terms of CPUE and as such also reached a better cost-benefit ratio.

Keywords

fish; gillnets; marine reserves; community composition; marine aquaculture

Hrčak ID:

117137

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/117137

Publication date:

1.12.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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