Mapping and Assessing Commercial Fisheries Services in the Lithuanian Part of the Curonian Lagoon

Edgaras Ivanauskas,Soukaina Elyaagoubi,Artūras Razinkovas-Baziukas,Andrius Skersonas,Vaidotas Andrašūnas

doi:10.3390/fishes7010019

Edgaras Ivanauskas, Soukaina Elyaagoubi + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010019

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Journal: Fishes	Publication Date: Jan 14, 2022
Citations: 1	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Klaipėda University

Abstract

The spatial distribution of biomass of main commercial fish species was mapped to estimate the supply of a provisioning fishery service in the Curonian lagoon. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was used as a proxy to estimate the efficiency of commercial fishing and, subsequently, the potential biomass of fishes. The relationship between distinctive characteristics of the fishing areas and corresponding commercial catches and CPUE was analyzed using multivariate analysis. The total catch values and CPUE used in the analyses were derived from the official commercial fishery records. RDE analysis was used to assess the variation of both catch and CPUE of commercial fish species, while the percentages of bottom sediment type coverage, average depth, annual salinity, and water residence time in each of the fishing squares were used as explanatory variables. This distance e-based redundancy analysis allowed for the use of non-Euclidean dissimilarity indices. Fisheries data spatial distribution map indicated the lack of coherence between the spatial patterns of commercial catches and CPUE distribution in the northern part of the lagoon. Highest CPUE values were estimated in the central-eastern part of the lagoon as compared to the western part of the lagoon where CPUE values were substantially lower. Both total catch and CPUE appeared not to be related to the type of bottom habitats statistically while being spatially correlated in-between. However, the impact of salinity and water residence time calculated using the 3D hydraulic circulation model on the distribution of both CPUE and commercial catches was statistically significant.

Highlights

IntroductionEstuaries and lagoon ecosystems provide many benefits to humans and create a variety of ecosystem services
Accepted: 3 January 2022Estuaries and lagoon ecosystems provide many benefits to humans and create a variety of ecosystem services
Bathymetry, and other properties affect commercial fishery catches and effectiveness using the catch per unit effort (CPUE) as a proxy

Summary

Introduction

Estuaries and lagoon ecosystems provide many benefits to humans and create a variety of ecosystem services. These ecosystems are distinguished by high productivity and importance for wildlife and humans. High productivity provides large sources of food and nutrients. Fish resources are important and valuable ecosystem services globally. Fish is an important food and protein source for food security and the wellbeing of humans. Fish is vital for the ecosystem itself through affecting food webs through predation or being prey to other predators themselves [3]. Consumption of organisms by fish is a distinctive feature, which can regulate the trophic structure and influence the stability, resilience, and food web dynamics of aquatic ecosystems; these regulatory influences change as fish pass from one life stage to another [4,5]. Carpenter [6] has described a simplified mechanism, where a decrease in the predation pressure on zooplankton results in an increase of zooplankton, which in turn increases the predation on phytoplankton

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