Abstract
The recruitment dynamics into the fishery of eight species in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea was studied on the basis of a monthly length sampling on commercial landings lasting one year (March 1999-February 2000). The results show that three species or groups of species ( Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus, Eledone cirrhosa and Loligo vulgaris ) recruited mostly during a well-defined and regular season, while recruitment of the rest of species ( Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, Phycis blennoides, Sepia officinalis and Trisopterus minutus capelanus ) took place all year round, though with seasonal peaks. Landings of small Merluccius merluccius showed a progressive declining trend from the early 1990s, while the opposite was found for Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus
Highlights
In temperate and cold waters almost all fishes reproduce seasonally, there is considerable variation in the length of the breeding season among populations of the same species living at different latitudes (Munro et al, 1990)
This paper aims to study the recruitment dynamics of eight important commercial species in the fishery in the northwestern Mediterranean
From March 1999 to February 2000, monthly landings of the smallest size groups of Merluccius merluccius, Micromesistius poutassou, Trisopterus minutus capelanus and Phycis blennoides were composed of young fish that were in average between 15 and 20 cm in length (Fig. 2A-2D)
Summary
In temperate and cold waters almost all fishes reproduce seasonally, there is considerable variation in the length of the breeding season among populations of the same species living at different latitudes (Munro et al, 1990). Northern populations tend to have very discrete breeding and recruitment seasons, whereas southern populations living in warmer waters breed continuously and have long (or continuous) recruitment seasons. The Mediterranean is generally considered a temperate sea, subtropical temperatures prevail in eastern and southern areas. There are some indications that fish species and stocks inhabiting the warm waters of Hellenic Seas are generally small in size, have a low longevity, mature at an early age and size and probably suffer high adult mortality (Stergiou, 2000)
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