Assessment of the status of the coastal groundfish assemblage exploited by the Viareggio fleet (Southern Ligurian Sea)

Alvaro Abella,Cecilia Mancusi,Michela Ria

doi:10.3989/scimar.2010.74n4793

Abstract

The coastal demersal fish assemblage exploited commercially by the Viareggio fleet was assessed in order to define its exploitation status and sustainability. A production model was used provided management benchmarks for the species for which available data are limited. The ASPIC Surplus production model was used. The results showed a depleted population for most of the species involved ( B 2008 /B 0 between 0.05 and 0.35) with high relative fishing mortality ( F 2008 /F MSY between 1.18 and 1.64). Population projections using ASPIC-P allowed the exploitation strategies to be evaluated for a 10-year period. None of the populations are predicted to recover to B MSY if fishing effort remains at the 2008 levels. A reduction in effort of about 40% should increase the biomass in the medium-term of most of the species to B MSY or over, with a fairly good increase in yields of the most valuable species.

Highlights

One of the largest Italian industrial fishing fleets operates in the Viareggio port
The statistical population analysed is constituted by all the vessels that operate during the year from the Viareggio port using bottom trawl nets and targeting coastal demersal species
Fig. 6. – Medium-long term changes in relative Biomass (B/BMSY) derived from reducing fishing effort by 40%

Summary

Introduction

One of the largest Italian industrial fishing fleets operates in the Viareggio port. It is composed of 128 vessels, with 57 trawlers targeting coastal or deep-sea resources and 68 involved in small-scale fisheries. Viareggio fishing vessels have different sizes and tonnage, but relatively small-sized vessels Most of them (mainly those that are smaller) target demersal resources and in general use bottom trawl nets, which are called volantina locally. Despite the importance of the fishing activities in this port, official statistics do not furnish enough information on operation areas, gear characteristics or the target species and effective effort exerted by a single vessel during each fishing trip.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion