| Determining movement patterns of the fish in artificial reefs and their use for small scale fisheries |
Period: January 2016
Status: In Progress
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| Institute | Top | - Ege University; Faculty of Fisheries, more
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| Abstract | Today artificial reefs are used for such purposes as protecting marine biodiversity, improving small scale fisheries and diving tourism and preventing illegal fishing. Constructing a management model is the fundamental function for the success of artificial reef projects. This management model is designed based on the variables including the community structure within the reef area, properties of the fishing fleet, other stakeholders using the reef area and the data concerning the behavior and movement patterns of the fish in the reef area. The aim of the study was to specify the behavior and movement patterns of the fish in the reef area and using this information, to contribute to the management of small scale fisheries in artificial reef areas. Determining the appropriate fishing gears, area and season for sustainable fisheries in artificial reef areas is also included within the scope of the study.
Small-scale fishing gears (longline, trolling gears, trammel nets and hand line), acoustic survey, underwater visual census and acoustic telemetry methods were used in the Artificial Reef Area in the Gulf of Edremit between 2013 and 2015. Residency Index (RI) and parameters of home range (MCP, KUD95 and KUD50) were calculated for 80 individuals of fish species such as Sciaena umbra, Scorpaena scrofa, Scorpaena porcus, Sparus aurata, Diplodus vulgaris and Pomatomus saltatrix.
72 fish belonging to 29 families, 5 crustaceans and 4 cephalopods were obtained in the artificial reef zone dominated by sparids with 16 species. In comparison to CPUE values of fishing gears, the most efficient gears were determined to be hand line and trolling gears. Mean residency Index (RI) of fish which were observed by acoustic telemetry method were calculated for S. porcus (0.88 ± 0.10), S. scrofa (0.95 ± 0.00), S. umbra (0.75 ± 0.70) and for Sparids (0.96 ± 0.10). Mean MCP values were also determined for S. porcus (45 497 ± 58 757 m2), S. scrofa (35 831 ± 2 879 m2), S. umbra (106 629 ± 34 368 m2) and Sparids (343 083 ± 71 582 m2). It was found that observed fish in the artificial reef zone displayed different behavior and movement models depending on the species. It was also determined that these behaviors differed in the day and night time. The results of the project are expected to contribute the scientific literature and helps the decision makers for the management of fisheries in the artificial reef area. |
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