A review of biology, fisheries and population structure of Dentex dentex (Sparidae)

Abstract

The common dentex Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758) is an iconic marine coastal fish in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a demersal sparid fish (0–200 m), that grows to a maximum length of 100 cm and a weight of 13 kg, with a relatively long life span (more than 20 years). As a high trophic level predator, it holds a key position in coastal marine food webs. The common dentex is of great economic importance for both artisanal (small-scale coastal fisheries) and recreational fishing. Despite its economic and ecological importance, scientific data on this species in its natural environment are still very scant. The global commercial catch of common dentex has fluctuated over the last 60 years on an interannual time scale, and has declined significantly since the 1990s. There are few data regarding fishing effort and total catch from recreational fishing for common dentex, but it appears that this species is particularly targeted by this activity. The common dentex is now classified as “vulnerable” in the Red List of Threatened Species in the Mediterranean Sea. This review summarizes the current literature on D. dentex in regard to biology, ecology, parasitology, population structure, commercial and recreational fishing, and management regulations. Future research directions to fill gaps in current knowledge are suggested.