Long-term changes in fish community structure in the Bohai Sea, China

Abstract

Changes in fish community structure, biomass and biodiversity in the Bohai Sea are described from four summer bottom trawl surveys conducted between 1959 and 1998. The results indicate that changes in the community structure, including dominant species, size spectra and diversity, have occurred in the Bohai Sea. The relative biomass (mean catch) in 1998 declined to only 4.0%, 4.3% and 3.6 % of that in 1959, 1982 and 1992, respectively. Indices of species richness, diversity and evenness declined from 1982 to 1998, which might be caused by the effects of high fishing intensity and/or pollution.