Fisheries Management Strategies Research Articles

Insights into ovarian maturation and reproductive traits of the deep-water penaeid shrimp Metapenaeopsis andamanensis (Wood-Mason in Wood-Mason and Alcock, 1891) from southwestern India

The present study delves into the reproductive characteristics of Metapenaeopsis andamanensis, a commercially significant deep-water shrimp collected from Sakthikulangara, off Kollam, India (8°56′60.78″ N/76°32′34.27″ E) during September 2019 to May 2022. Despite its economic importance, the reproductive traits of this species remain elusive. This research comprehensively examines macroscopic and microscopic features associated with gonadal maturity stages, including determination of size at first maturity (CL50), gonadosomatic index, and fecundity of M. andamanensis. Male-to-female sex ratio was noted as 1:1.03 using chi-square analysis. The smallest mature individuals were observed at 12 mm and 16 mm carapace length for males and females, respectively. Macroscopic observation categorized females into five groups based on gonadal coloration, while microscopic examination identified seven stages using histological characteristics. Notably, the absence of cortical crypts in the periphery of oocyte cytoplasm, a characteristic feature of the genus Metapenaeopsis, was observed in this species. Males were classified into two categories based on macroscopic and microscopic observation. The gonadosomatic index ranged from 4.25 to 10.13 for mature female individuals, exhibiting a significant increase until stage IV. Continuous spawning was observed, with a peak in May and November. The size at first maturity for females and males was determined as carapace length (CL) 23.05 mm and 17.53 mm, respectively. The average absolute fecundity was calculated as 53,889 with an average relative fecundity of 9934 oocytes. This investigation contributes valuable insights into the reproductive traits of the deep-water penaeid shrimp M. andamanensis, facilitating the development of effective management strategies for sustainable fisheries.

The Prevalence of Marine Lipophilic Phycotoxins Causes Potential Risks in a Tropical Small Island Developing State.

Tropical small island developing states (SIDS), with their geographical isolation and limited resources, heavily rely on the fisheries industry for food and revenue. The presence of marine lipophilic phycotoxins (MLPs) poses risks to their economy and human health. To understand the contamination status and potential risks, the Republic of Kiribati was selected as the representative tropical SIDS and 55 species of 256 coral reef fish encompassing multiple trophic levels and feeding strategies were collected to analyze 17 typical MLPs. Our results showed that the potential risks of ciguatoxins were the highest and approximately 62% of fish species may pose risks for consumers. Biomagnification of ciguatoxins was observed in the food web with a trophic magnification factor of 2.90. Brevetoxin-3, okadaic acid, and dinophysistoxin-1 and -2 were first reported, but the risks posed by okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins were found to be negligible. The correlation analysis revealed that fish body size and trophic position are unreliable metrics to indicate the associated risks and prevent the consumption of contaminated fish. The potential risks of MLPs in Kiribati are of concern, and our findings can serve as valuable inputs for developing food safety policies and fisheries management strategies specific to tropical SIDS contexts.

Population ecology of the intertidal xanthid crab Leptodius exaratus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Xanthidae) on rocky shores in Kuwait, Arabian (Persian) Gulf

Abstract Leptodius exaratus (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) is an exploited species that has been used as bait for recreational fishing in Kuwait. The biological and ecological aspects of the species required to manage this practice are limited. We investigated the life history and population ecology of L. exaratus in the northwestern Arabian (Persian) Gulf. The spawning season of the crab in Kuwait starts in the late spring and continues through the summer and ends in September. Fecundity is highly correlated to female body size and ranges 2,533–11,991 eggs clutch–1, with a mean number of 7,055 eggs clutch–1. Juveniles are generally recruited between July and September, with lower minor recruitment levels occurring in October and November. Growth is highly seasonal, being slow during the cold season (October-February) and high during the warmer season (March and September), with a higher growth rate in males than in females. The seasonality of growth and reproduction of L. exaratus in the region is strongly related to ambient air and water temperatures. Sexual dimorphism is highly significant between males and females with males, reaching reproductive maturity at 17.43 ± 0.53 mm carapace width (CW) and females at 9.58 ± 1.21 mm CW. The overall sex ratio for the species is 0.8:1 (males:females). Furthermore, the life span of 3–4 yr and an overall mortality slightly higher in males than in females. The results of our study could be used to determine fishery management strategies such as minimum catch sizes and closures periods. The results on life history and dynamics of the complex life cycle of L. exaratus contribute to conservation and sustainable exploitation of the species in Kuwait.

Sustainable Capture Fisheries Management Strategy in Dumai City, Riau Province

Sustainable Capture Fisheries Management Strategy in Dumai City, Riau Province

Relationship between hydro-environmental variables and Coilia nasus catch in a highly turbid macrotidal estuary in Japan

The effect of estuarine hydro-environmental parameters and tidal phases on the fish catch in the macrotidal Chikugo River estuary was investigated. This study focuses on the catch data of Etsu (Coilia nasus) fish, obtained during their spawning season from 2009 to 2020, employing traditional fishing techniques at a site situated 14.6–16 km upstream from the river mouth. It analyses various hydro-environmental parameters and identifies optimal ranges of environmental parameters. The optimal range of salinity (0.04–0.2) and suspended sediment concentration (SSC, 16–118 mg/L) indicated a higher fish catch at the saltwater-freshwater interface and upstream of the estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) zone. By developing a generalized additive model (GAM) to analyze the relationship between CPUE and environmental parameters, the study assesses the relative importance of each variable in explaining CPUE variance. GAM exhibited a reasonable predictive capability (R2 = 0.509) and indicated the relative importance of each variable (SSC-24.69%, salinity-21.81%, temperature-24.41%, discharge-9.16%, and MTR-19.91%) in explaining the CPUE variance. Additionally, it aims to verify the maturity status and spawning migration patterns of C. nasus fish through standard-length distribution analysis during the spawning season. The standard-length distribution and comparison with previous literature confirmed that fishes caught by the fisherman belong to the category of matured fishes aged 2–3 years. The results indicated that the high CPUE of matured C. nasus at the upstream of ETM and freshwater-saltwater interface was related to the spawning migration and not to their feeding behaviour at the ETM. This research contributes to fisheries management strategies and conservation efforts in the Chikugo River estuary by providing valuable guidance for habitat restoration, informing fishing regulations, and understanding the behaviour of C. nasus.

Mesoscale activity drives the habitat suitability of yellowfin tuna in the Gulf of Mexico

Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, represents an important component of commercial and recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). We investigated the influence of environmental conditions on the spatiotemporal distribution of yellowfin tuna using fisheries’ catch data spanning 2012–2019 within Mexican waters. We implemented hierarchical Bayesian regression models with spatial and temporal random effects and fixed effects of several environmental covariates to predict habitat suitability (HS) for the species. The best model included spatial and interannual anomalies of the absolute dynamic topography of the ocean surface (ADTSA and ADTIA, respectively), bottom depth, and a seasonal cyclical random effect. High catches occurred mainly towards anticyclonic features at bottom depths > 1000 m. The spatial extent of HS was higher in years with positive ADTIA, which implies more anticyclonic activity. The highest values of HS (> 0.7) generally occurred at positive ADTSA in oceanic waters of the central and northern GoM. However, high HS values (> 0.6) were observed in the southern GoM, in waters with cyclonic activity during summer. Our results highlight the importance of mesoscale features for the spatiotemporal distribution of yellowfin tunas and could help to develop dynamic fisheries management strategies in Mexico and the U.S. for this valuable resource.

Age, Growth, and Mortality of Pontic Shad, Alosa immaculata Bennett, 1835, in the Danube River, Romania

This study aimed to evaluate the growth, mortality parameters, and exploitation rate of Pontic shad, Alosa immaculata Benett, 1835, in the Danube River, Romania (km 169–197). The sampling collection started with the first signs of Pontic shad migration, on 4 March 2023, and continued weekly until the beginning of June 2023, when the last specimens were caught in the nets. The estimation of the growth, mortality parameters, and exploitation rate was done in FiSAT (FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools). The von Bertalanffy growth equation was estimated at L∞ = 36.75 cm, the growth coefficient was k = 0.68 year−1, and the theoretical initial age was t0 = −0.67 year−1. The total mortality rate (Z) estimated was 2.76 year−1, with a natural mortality rate (M) and fishing mortality rate (F) of 0.89 year−1 and 1.87 year−1, respectively. The Z/k ratio was found to be 4.11 and the exploitation rate (E) was estimated at 0.68 year−1, indicating the overexploitation of Alosa immaculata stocks. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the population dynamics of Pontic shad in the Danube River, Romania. The assessments of the growth parameters, mortality rates, and exploitation rates highlight a level of overexploitation of Alosa immaculata stocks. These findings underscore the importance of applying effective fishery management strategies to ensure the sustainability and conservation of this valuable fish species in the Danube River ecosystem.

Estimate of Growth Parameters of Penaeus kerathurus (Forskäl, 1775) (Crustacea, Penaeidae) in the Northern Adriatic Sea.

Crustacean fisheries are gaining prominence globally amid a decline in finfish stocks. Some decapod crustacean species have experienced increased landings in response to shifting market demands and environmental dynamics. Notably, the caramote prawn (Penaeus kerathurus-Forskål, 1775) in the northern Adriatic Sea, Geographical Sub Area (GSA) 17, has risen in both landings and economic importance in recent years. However, despite its significance, comprehensive information on fishery-dependent data, age, and growth in this region remains lacking. To address this gap, this study employs modal progression analysis and the ELEFAN approach, utilizing the "TropFishR" R package and newly developed functions, including bootstrapping procedures. These advancements aim to overcome issues identified in previous versions and enhance the accuracy and reliability of age and growth estimations. The study leverages one year of monthly length-frequency distributions (LFDs) collected from commercial bottom trawls in the northern Adriatic Sea. The results of the analysis confirm the presence of sexual dimorphism in the caramote prawn species, with females exhibiting faster growth rates compared to males. Additionally, the growth performance index supports this observation, further underscoring the importance of accounting for sexual dimorphism in growth modeling and fisheries management strategies. By contributing to a growing body of knowledge on the growth dynamics of the caramote prawn, this study provides valuable insights for sustainable fisheries management in the northern Adriatic Sea. Understanding the age and growth patterns of key crustacean species is essential for developing effective conservation measures and ensuring the long-term health and productivity of marine ecosystems. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for informed decision-making and proactive management practices aimed at preserving the ecological integrity and economic viability of crustacean fisheries in the region.

MLP Neural Networks in Sex Classification of a High Commercial Fish on the Artisanal Fisheries in Brazil

The scarcity of data on artisanal fishing, particularly in tropical South American countries, presents an additional hurdle for fisheries management and marine conservation. While artificial intelligence (AI) has found applications in various domains, including marine sciences, most AI models primarily focus on species identification. Unfortunately, these models often overlook data-limited scenarios. This article examines the potential of an MLPtype ANN model in addressing this gap. The model aims to classify the sex of a dioecious (separate sexes) fish species of high commercial importance, shedding light on its implications for fisheries management. Evaluation of the model's classification performance using precision, recall, f1-score, and accuracy reveals promising results exceeding 80% for both sexes across both training and testing phases. These findings underscore the potential of MLP models in aiding Brazil's fishing sector management in grappling with challenges stemming from data scarcity. By providing efficient information essential for decision-making regarding the management of specific fishing stocks, such models offer valuable insights into effective fisheries management strategies.

“I am a Fisher”: Identity and livelihood diversification in Lake Tanganyika Fisheries, Tanzania

Human-environmental interaction is central to natural resources management. This interaction determines how the resource is utilized in a given cultural context. In Lake Tanganyika, evidence indicates a decline in fish catches. Despite this decline, fishers have demonstrated little motivation to leave fishing or diversify. A qualitative study was conducted to explore how identity influenced the phenomenon. Interviews, focus group discussions, and observation were employed to generate data. The findings of this study indicated that interactions between the fishing communities and the Lake generated identity, in which fishers came to identify themselves with the Lake. This identity shaped the fishing practices and influenced the motivation to not leave fishing or diversify. Strong attachment to the Lake and fishing activities contributed to little motivation to leave fishing or engage in other sources of livelihood, especially for old fishers. This was also the case for some young fishers in rural areas of the studied communities. This study concludes that considering how fishers identify with the resource is vital for developing future strategies to improve fisheries management. This may include options to expand. Highlights Identity shapes and influences fishing practices How fishers identify themselves with fisheries resources influences their likelihood to diversify or leave fishing activity It is necessary to consider the role of identity in designing future fisheries management strategies

Severe reduction in spawning days and larval abundance of walleye pollock under future warming in the western East/Japan Sea

The collapse of walleye pollock catch in the Korean fishing region during the late 1980s remains unresolved despite enormous efforts to recover its stock. To investigate the future fate of walleye pollock in the western East/Japan Sea (EJS) in the late 21st century, we implemented a dynamical downscaling approach by developing high-resolution regional ocean climate models (1/20°) with the selected Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6) global climate models. We analyzed the changes in the spawning days and larval distribution of walleye pollock in the western EJS. Under the SSP5–8.5 global warming scenario, the suitable spawning period ratio of walleye pollock was drastically reduced by 76%. The severe reduction in spawning days in the western EJS was mainly attributed to ocean warming caused by a decrease in atmospheric surface cooling. Moreover, our particle tracking experiment showed substantial loss of eggsand larvae south of 38° N. Our study projected a drastic collapse of walleye pollock in the western EJS and proposed a variety of collapse patterns based on local circulation under future warming conditions. These findings can help the local fishing industry adapt and assist neighboring governments in planning future fisheries management strategies.

Length-Weight-Age Relationship of Schizothorax eurystomus Kessler, 1872 and Comparison to Other Snow Trout Species in Central Asia

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the length-weight relationship, condition factors, and age of Schizothorax eurystomus in the Shakhimardan River basin in Central Asia, along with a comparative perspective to other Schizothorax species in the region. The study found that S. eurystomus exhibits positive allometric growth, which is consistent with similar patterns observed in this species from the Syr Darya River basin. The two analyzed condition factors showed mean values within the normal range, indicating good feeding and environmental conditions. However, significant disparities between minimum and maximum values of these factors indicated varied growth conditions which may be influenced by anthropogenic factors. Age estimation using opercular bones showed variations in the total length among fish of the same age, and a clear age distribution pattern across different sites. Younger fish predominantly inhabited the shallower, warmer, and lower sections of the river, which is impacted by agricultural water diversion, while older specimens were found in areas with higher discharge and deeper pools. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the life history traits of S. eurystomus, underlining the need for sustainable fishery management and conservation strategies in the Shakhimardan River basin. The findings also emphasize the importance of considering habitat quality and anthropogenic pressures regarding understanding both fish population dynamics and growth patterns.

Satellite nighttime remote sensing promotes the spatially refined monitoring and assessment of offshore fishery

ABSTRACT Offshore small-scale fisheries, constituting 31% of global marine captures, are crucial for the promotion of sustainable fisheries. However, current fishery monitoring, assessments, and management remain incomplete. Nighttime remote sensing provides a critical perspective for monitoring fishery activities. Thus, in this study, a dynamic threshold fishing vessel detection (DTFVD) model was developed to assess and manage the spatiotemporal variations of offshore fisheries. Results demonstrated that the DTFVD model provides superior accuracy in nighttime fishery monitoring and can successfully identify a robust seasonal bimodal distribution of the Yellow-Bohai Sea's fisheries. By analysing the impacts of climate, environmental, and policy factors, this study reveals that ocean dynamics affect the seasonal and geographic distribution of offshore nighttime fisheries by enhancing ocean mixing and ecological processes. The effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns and Chinese summer fishing moratorium on offshore fisheries were also determined by nighttime remote sensing. According to future climate warming predictions, the habitats for the recruited migratory fish population may gradually move northward and disappear under climate risks, leading to the disappearance of suitable fishing areas for nighttime fisheries. Therefore, this study suggests integrating nighttime remote sensing into offshore fishery monitoring and assessment efforts for climate-adapted fishery management strategies.

Differential expression of reproduction‐related genes in shrimps from East Pacific fisheries

AbstractShrimp fisheries and culture are important food sources worldwide. Central East Pacific fisheries are mainly supported by four species: Penaeus brevirostris, P. californiensis, P. stylirostris and P. vannamei. However, the same shrimp fishery practices, management strategies and closures are applied to these four species despite their differences in life history and reproductive periods. Most molecular studies have focused on the cultured species P. vannamei, while knowledge for the rest of the species is scarce. Therefore, this study sought to examine the transcriptomes of these four shrimp species from the Mexican Pacific at different maturity stages. A total of 165 unigenes were found to be reproduction‐related in the four shrimp species. The genes with the highest overall expression levels were associated with ribosomes, transcription and methyltransferase pathways. Moreover, the reproduction‐related genes with the highest expression values were polehole protein and ovarian peritrophin. The major expression similarities were primarily among pre‐vitellogenic and vitellogenic females within each species, and secondly among the species P. brevirostris and P. californiensis and the species P. vannamei and P. stylirostris. Although these four species might share a geographical location or niche, the expression of reproduction related‐genes at different gonadal maturity stages exhibited species‐specific variations.

Incorporating climate-readiness into fisheries management strategies

Tropical oceans are among the first places to exhibit climate change signals, affecting the habitat distribution and abundance of marine fish. These changes to stocks, and subsequent impacts on fisheries production, may have considerable implications for coastal communities dependent on fisheries for food security and livelihoods. Understanding the impacts of climate change on tropical marine fisheries is therefore an important step towards developing sustainable, climate-ready fisheries management measures. We apply an established method of spatial meta-analysis to assess species distribution modelling datasets for key species targeted by the Philippines capture fisheries. We analysed datasets under two global emissions scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and varying degrees of fishing pressure to quantify potential climate vulnerability of the target community. We found widespread responses to climate change in pelagic species in particular, with abundances projected to decline across much of the case study area, highlighting the challenges of maintaining food security in the face of a rapidly changing climate. We argue that sustainable fisheries management in the Philippines in the face of climate change can only be achieved through management strategies that allow for the mitigation of, and adaptation to, pressures already locked into the climate system for the near term. Our analysis may support this, providing fisheries managers with the means to identify potential climate change hotspots, bright spots and refugia, thereby supporting the development of climate-ready management plans.

Investigating the Plankton Diversity and Physicochemical Properties in a Temple Pond in Tamil Nadu, India: Taxonomic Composition, Seasonal Variations, and Ecological Implications

The present study explores the dynamics of phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Swetharanyeswarar temple pond located in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The study investigates species composition, diversity, and seasonal variations of these microscopic organisms, considering the ecological implications for the local food chain. Phytoplankton (Seven species), dominated by diatoms, cyanobacteria, and various other taxa, plays a fundamental role as primary producers, influencing nutrient cycling and climate patterns. The presence of Microcystis sp., associated with harmful algal blooms, emphasizes the need for monitoring and understanding its ecological implications. Zooplankton (13 species), including Rotifera, Copepods, and Calanoids, showcases a diverse community with distinct taxonomic members. The Rotifer community peaks in January, gradually declining, while Copepods exhibit notable diversity in April. Calanoids, represented by Macrocyclops albidus and Macrocyclops fuscus, display temporal fluctuations in diversity indices, indicating potential ecological changes influenced by environmental factors. The population of each zooplankton group is expressed as an average number of individuals per liter. Water quality parameters, crucial for understanding ecological dynamics, were meticulously measured in triplicates. Statistical analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel to process and present the data as percentages.
 The study establishes a connection between zooplankton dynamics and physicochemical parameters, highlighting correlations with turbidity, pH, and organic pollution indicators, as per the methods of APHA. Monthly variations in zooplankton populations reveal dynamic ecological patterns influenced by temperature and organic matter. The species richness index reflects a well-balanced distribution within the planktonic community, suggesting a healthy and resilient ecosystem in the Swetharanyeswarar temple pond. Statistical analysis involves expressing the zooplankton population as an average number of individuals per liter and presenting water quality parameters as percentages using Microsoft Excel. These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring to decipher long-term trends and implement targeted strategies for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into the intricate relationships between phytoplankton, zooplankton, and environmental factors in a freshwater ecosystem, providing a foundation for informed fisheries management strategies and conservation efforts.

Fishery management strategies for Red Snapper in the southeastern U.S. Atlantic: A spatial population model to compare approaches

AbstractObjectiveRed Snapper Lutjanus campechanus is an iconic species in the southeast U.S. Atlantic Ocean, sought by both commercial and recreational fleets. Five stock assessments over the past quarter century have shown Red Snapper to be experiencing overfishing. Highly restricted landings since 2010 have been insufficient to end overfishing because fishing effort is not species specific but rather applies generally to a complex of reef‐associated species. Consequently, Red Snapper are discarded as bycatch when regulations prohibit their retention, and many of the discarded fish die from hook injury, barotrauma, or depredation.MethodsHere we developed a spatial population model of Red Snapper and the multispecies fishery that captures them in the southeast U.S. Atlantic. We then simulated and compared 25 different management measures that fall broadly into the categories of gear modifications, discard mortality mitigation, size limits, spatial approaches, or temporal approaches. Criteria for comparison address the management goals of decreasing dead discards, rebuilding the age structure, and increasing landings and spawning biomass.ResultWe found that the most effective measures reduced fishing effort, either temporally or spatially, and that benefits could largely be obtained by focusing on the recreational fleet. Discard mortality mitigation (e.g., through use of descender devices) displayed a wide range in effectiveness depending on plausible levels of mortality reduction, but it addressed all management goals and in practice could be paired with other measures. A measure with restricted recreational effort combined with full retention of all fish caught showed the greatest potential to simultaneously rebuild the stock, increase landings, and eliminate dead discards.ConclusionTo end overfishing of Red Snapper as required by law, resource managers should reconsider the policy of unrestricted effort of the private recreational fleet to this multispecies fishery. The benefits of restricted effort would include increased catch rates, larger landed fish, and fewer dead discards.

Sustainable Oceans: Experiences and Lessons Learned from Implementing Effective Fisheries Management Strategies

Sustainable Oceans: Experiences and Lessons Learned from Implementing Effective Fisheries Management Strategies

Potential impacts of ocean warming on energy flow and fisheries production in an overexploited ecosystem: Implication for effective fisheries management

The influences of ocean warming on marine lives have accelerated over the 21st century, greatly altering the structure and function of marine food webs and causing distributional shifts, species invasions, and changes in productivity. It is imperative to clarify the overall ecosystem responses to ocean warming and develop fisheries management strategies adaptive to the ecosystem changes. In this study, the potential impacts of ocean warming on trophic structure, energy flows, and fisheries production of an overexploited ecosystem were examined, and the effectiveness of fisheries management in mitigating warming impacts were also evaluated. We constructed a mass-balance food web model in Haizhou Bay and simulated three climate scenarios (RCPs 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5) along with different levels of fishing pressure, in order to examine the ecosystem responses to the combined changes in fishing and climate changes. Results showed that the total biomass of commercial species and fisheries catches would decline with rising temperature, especially under the RCP8.5 scenario. Ocean warming could induce lower trophic transfer efficiency and decrease energy recycling capacity within the food web, leading to large losses in total biomass and total production. Reducing fishing intensity could help mitigate the negative effects of ocean warming on fisheries productivity, but was insufficient to maintain ecological properties. Moreover, the effectiveness of such alternative measures would be diminished with increased greenhouse gas emissions, especially under the climate scenario of RCP8.5. The findings of this study highlight the need to slow the rise of sea temperature and implement climate-adaptive fisheries management in the future.

Distribution of toxic and trace metals in fish from the Black Sea: Implications for human health risks

This study focused on the investigation of toxic and trace metal levels in fish caught from the Black Sea, which is facing pollution threats from various human activities. It also aimed to assess the potential health risks associated with consuming fish and contribute to the development of strategies for sustainable fisheries management. Metal presence was observed in the muscle tissues of four commercially consumed fish species (anchovy, whiting, horse mackerel and red mullet) from nine different stations in the Black Sea. Among the metals, the highest average concentration was observed for aluminium (Al) in anchovy and the lowest concentration for cadmium (Cd) in whiting. However, the levels were generally below the maximum allowable limits recommended by the FAO, WHO, EC, and Turkish Food Codex. The study results showed that metal concentrations in the analyzed fish species did not pose significant non-carcinogenic health risks to consumers. Although research findings show that some fish species studied from the Black Sea exhibit high metal levels, the concentrations of toxic and trace elements are generally within acceptable thresholds for safe fish consumption. The findings of this study are thought to help stakeholders develop strategies for environmental protection and sustainable fisheries management in the region.