FAST, NOT FURIOUS - ADAPTATION OF THE SPECIES LIST AND FISH SIZE CLASSES FOR FISH ASSEMBLAGE SURVEY TECHNIQUE (FAST) FOR THE ADRIATIC SEA

Morska zaštićena područja i druga morska područja kojima se upravlja koriste se za poboljšanje statusa priobalnih zajednica riba, kao i za zaštitu vrijednih staništa. Učinkovito upravljanje počiva na podacima prikupljenim kroz aktivnosti praćenja stanja (monitoringa). Monitoring riba standardnim nedestruktivnim metodama zahtijeva značajna financijska sredstva i vrijeme, stoga se nova, brža i jeftinija metoda praćenja zajednica riba u priobalnim područjima od nedavno primijenjuje u Sredozemnom moru. U metodi FAST (Fish Assemblage Survey Technique), obučeni ronioci volonteri prikupljaju podatke o opažanju ribljih vrsta prema unaprijed utvrđenom protokolu. S obzirom na razlike u prisutnosti/odsutnosti vrsta i u njihovim veličinama između Sredozemnog i Jadranskog mora, bilo je potrebno modificirati metodu. Ovdje predstavljamo 23 vrste riba na glavnom popisu i 4 ‘joker’ vrste koje su odabrane za hrvatski popis FAST, zajedno s pripadajućim veličinama (cm) koje će se smatrati velikim za potrebe korištenja ove metode u hrvatskom dijelu Jadranskog mora.Marine Protected Areas and other managed marine sites are designated to improve the status of coastal fish assemblages and protect valuable habitats. The implementation of management practices relies on data collected through monitoring activities. The monitoring of fish assemblages using the standard non-destructive methods requires significant financial resources and time. A new approach to monitoring fish assemblages in the coastal waters was recently implemented in the Mediterranean – Fish Assemblage Survey Technique (FAST). It is based on Citizen Science where trained volunteer divers collect the data following a pre-established protocol. Considering the differences in species presence/absence and their sizes between the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea, a modification of the method was necessary. This study presents 23 main fish species and four \u27joker\u27 species selected for the Croatian FAST list and their respective sizes that will be considered Large (>2/3 of the total size) for implementing the method in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea

Utjecaj prostorne organizacije elemenata podmorskog okoliša i predatora na strukturu zajednica riba u naseljima morske cvjetnice Posidonia oceanica

Marine underwater habitats dominated by seagrass Posidonia oceanica play an important role in the assembly of fish communities, affecting taxonomic and functional diversity, abundance, and fish behavior. In order to identify the relative importance of different seascape contexts of P. oceanica meadows as a habitat for fishes, fish communities associated with the seagrass P. oceanica were investigated in the Croatian Adriatic Sea, using SCUBA lure-assisted visual census. To test for the effect of predators on fish community structure, existing literature data on fish assemblages associated with P. oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean was assembled and a meta-analysis was performed. The results show: I) There is a significant effect of different arrangement of seascape elements on fish community structure -- fragmented mosaic meadows with P. oceanica growing directly on and between rocky-algal reefs had significantly higher fish abundances compared to both types of continuous meadows (bordering rock and bordering sand); and II) Total predator abundance and abundance of resident predators had a significant effect on the prey fish community -- a higher abundance of resident predator species was associated with an overall lower number of prey species. This thesis provides evidence that alternative structured habitats within close proximity to seagrass beds may affect the community structure of associated fish assemblages and that the presence of predators reduces the value of P. oceanica meadows as a refuge habitat for potential prey species. The dissertation aims at highlighting the need for the consideration of the seascape context of P. oceanica meadows in conservation management and experimental design for fish community structure while acknowledging the importance of resident predators when evaluating the relative value of this important seagrass as a habitat for the Mediterranean fish assemblages.Naselja morske cvjetnice Posidonia oceanica igraju važnu ulogu u strukturiranju zajednica riba te utječu na taksonomsku i funkcionalnu raznolikost, brojnost i ponašanje riba. Nedovoljno je poznato koji sve čimbenici utječu na strukturu zajednice riba povezanih s ovom morskom cvjetnicom. S ciljem utvrđivanja utjecaja različite prostorne organizacije elementa podmorskog okoliša na zajednice riba, proveden je vizualni cenzus uz pomoć mamca u naseljima cvjetnice P. oceanica u hrvatskom dijelu Jadranskog mora. Kako bi se ispitao utjecaj predatora na strukturu zajednica riba u naseljima morske cvjetnice P. oceanica na razini Sredozemnog mora, provedena je meta-analiza podataka u objavljenim znanstvenim radovima. Utvrđen je značajan utjecaj različite prostorne organizacije elementa podmorskog okoliša na strukturu zajednice riba – u rascjepkanim mozaičnim naseljima u kojima se P. oceanica isprepliće s kamenom podlogom obraslom makro-algama zabilježena je značajno veća brojnost riba u odnosu na kontinuirana cjelovita naselja (uz sediment ili uz kamenitu obalu). Ukupna brojnost predatora i brojnost stalno nastanjenih predatora pokazuje značajan utjecaj na zajednicu riba – povećanje brojnosti predatorskih vrsta dovodi do smanjenja broja vrsta u zajednici plijena. U radu su predstavljeni dokazi da dostupnost alternativnih strukturiranih staništa u neposrednoj blizini naselja morske cvjetnice P. oceanica utječe na strukturu zajednice riba koje u njoj žive te da prisustvo predatora smanjuje relativnu vrijednost naselja morske cvjetnice P. oceanica kao staništa za ribe koje predstavljaju potencijalni plijen. Neophodno je uzeti u obzir kontekst prostornog rasporeda elemenata podmorskog okoliša kojima dominira morska cvjetnica P. oceanica prilikom planiranja znanstvenih istraživanja, ali i kod upravljanja priobalnim područjima. Također je važno razmotriti utjecaj lokalnih, stalno nastanjenih predatora kada se procjenjuje relativni značaj naselja ove važne morske cvjetnice kao staništa za ribe na području Sredozemnog mora

Utjecaj prostorne organizacije elemenata podmorskog okoliša i predatora na strukturu zajednica riba u naseljima morske cvjetnice Posidonia oceanica

Marine underwater habitats dominated by seagrass Posidonia oceanica play an important role in the assembly of fish communities, affecting taxonomic and functional diversity, abundance, and fish behavior. In order to identify the relative importance of different seascape contexts of P. oceanica meadows as a habitat for fishes, fish communities associated with the seagrass P. oceanica were investigated in the Croatian Adriatic Sea, using SCUBA lure-assisted visual census. To test for the effect of predators on fish community structure, existing literature data on fish assemblages associated with P. oceanica meadows in the Mediterranean was assembled and a meta-analysis was performed. The results show: I) There is a significant effect of different arrangement of seascape elements on fish community structure -- fragmented mosaic meadows with P. oceanica growing directly on and between rocky-algal reefs had significantly higher fish abundances compared to both types of continuous meadows (bordering rock and bordering sand); and II) Total predator abundance and abundance of resident predators had a significant effect on the prey fish community -- a higher abundance of resident predator species was associated with an overall lower number of prey species. This thesis provides evidence that alternative structured habitats within close proximity to seagrass beds may affect the community structure of associated fish assemblages and that the presence of predators reduces the value of P. oceanica meadows as a refuge habitat for potential prey species. The dissertation aims at highlighting the need for the consideration of the seascape context of P. oceanica meadows in conservation management and experimental design for fish community structure while acknowledging the importance of resident predators when evaluating the relative value of this important seagrass as a habitat for the Mediterranean fish assemblages.Naselja morske cvjetnice Posidonia oceanica igraju važnu ulogu u strukturiranju zajednica riba te utječu na taksonomsku i funkcionalnu raznolikost, brojnost i ponašanje riba. Nedovoljno je poznato koji sve čimbenici utječu na strukturu zajednice riba povezanih s ovom morskom cvjetnicom. S ciljem utvrđivanja utjecaja različite prostorne organizacije elementa podmorskog okoliša na zajednice riba, proveden je vizualni cenzus uz pomoć mamca u naseljima cvjetnice P. oceanica u hrvatskom dijelu Jadranskog mora. Kako bi se ispitao utjecaj predatora na strukturu zajednica riba u naseljima morske cvjetnice P. oceanica na razini Sredozemnog mora, provedena je meta-analiza podataka u objavljenim znanstvenim radovima. Utvrđen je značajan utjecaj različite prostorne organizacije elementa podmorskog okoliša na strukturu zajednice riba – u rascjepkanim mozaičnim naseljima u kojima se P. oceanica isprepliće s kamenom podlogom obraslom makro-algama zabilježena je značajno veća brojnost riba u odnosu na kontinuirana cjelovita naselja (uz sediment ili uz kamenitu obalu). Ukupna brojnost predatora i brojnost stalno nastanjenih predatora pokazuje značajan utjecaj na zajednicu riba – povećanje brojnosti predatorskih vrsta dovodi do smanjenja broja vrsta u zajednici plijena. U radu su predstavljeni dokazi da dostupnost alternativnih strukturiranih staništa u neposrednoj blizini naselja morske cvjetnice P. oceanica utječe na strukturu zajednice riba koje u njoj žive te da prisustvo predatora smanjuje relativnu vrijednost naselja morske cvjetnice P. oceanica kao staništa za ribe koje predstavljaju potencijalni plijen. Neophodno je uzeti u obzir kontekst prostornog rasporeda elemenata podmorskog okoliša kojima dominira morska cvjetnica P. oceanica prilikom planiranja znanstvenih istraživanja, ali i kod upravljanja priobalnim područjima. Također je važno razmotriti utjecaj lokalnih, stalno nastanjenih predatora kada se procjenjuje relativni značaj naselja ove važne morske cvjetnice kao staništa za ribe na području Sredozemnog mora

UTJECAJ PROSTORNE ORGANIZACIJE ELEMEUTJECAJ PROSTORNE ORGANIZACIJE ELEMENATA PODMORSKOG OKOLIŠA NA STRUKTURU ZAJEDNICA RIBA U NASELJIMA MORSKE CVJETNICE Posidonia oceanica U JADRANSKOM MORUNATA PODMORSKOG OKOLIŠA NA STRUKTURU ZAJEDNICA RIBA U NASELJIMA MORSKE CVJETNICE Posidonia oceanica U JADRANSKOM MORU

Marine underwater habitats dominated by seagrass Posidonia oceanica play an essential role in fish community assembly, affecting taxonomic and functional diversity, abundance and fish behavior. The value of seagrasses as habitat depends on the spatial arrangement of the seascape elements and the availability of alternative habitats. Little is known about the effect of the seascape context of P. oceanica meadows on fish assemblages in the Mediterranean Sea. To identify P. oceanica meadows\u27 relative importance as a habitat for fishes, fish communities in the Croatian Adriatic Sea were investigated, using SCUBA lure-assisted visual census. The results show a significant effect of different arrangements of P. oceanica meadows\u27 seascape elements and surrounding habitats on fish community structure. Fragmented mosaic meadows with P. oceanica growing directly on and between rocky-algal reefs/boulders had significantly higher fish abundances compared to both types of continuous meadows (bordering rock and bordering sand). Continuous meadows bordering sand harbored the highest number of unique species. Evidence that alternative structured habitats within proximity to seagrass beds may affect the community structure of associated fish assemblages is provided, highlighting the need to consider P. oceanica meadows\u27 seascape context in conservation management and experimental design for fish community structure.Naselja morske cvjetnice Posidonia oceanica igraju važnu ulogu u strukturiranju zajednica riba te utječu na taksonomsku i funkcionalnu raznolikost, brojnost i ponašanje riba. Relativna vrijednost naselja morskih cvjetnica ovisi o prostornoj organizaciji elementa podmorskog okoliša te dostupnosti alternativnih staništa. Međutim, nedovoljno je poznato koji sve čimbenici utječu na strukturu zajednice riba povezanih s ovom morskom cvjetnicom. S ciljem utvrđivanja utjecaja različite prostorne organizacije elementa podmorskog okoliša na zajednice riba, proveden je vizualni cenzus uz pomoć mamca u naseljima cvjetnice P. oceanica u hrvatskom dijelu Jadranskog mora. Utvrđen je značajan utjecaj različite prostorne organizacije elementa podmorskog okoliša na strukturu zajednice riba – u rascjepkanim mozaičnim naseljima u kojima se P. oceanica isprepliće s kamenom podlogom obraslom makro-algama zabilježena je značajno veća brojnost riba u odnosu na kontinuirana cjelovita naselja (uz sediment ili uz kamenitu obalu). U radu su predstavljeni dokazi da dostupnost alternativnih strukturiranih staništa u neposrednoj blizini naselja morske cvjetnice P. oceanica utječe na strukturu zajednice riba koje u njoj žive. Neophodno je uzeti u obzir kontekst prostornog rasporeda elemenata podmorskog okoliša kojima dominira morska cvjetnica P. oceanica prilikom planiranja znanstvenih istraživanja, ali i kod upravljanja priobalnim područjima

Fast, Not Furious - Adaptation of the Species List and Fish Size Classes for Fish Assemblage Survey Technique (FAST) for the Adriatic Sea

Marine Protected Areas and other managed marine sites are designated to improve the status of coastal fish assemblages and protect valuable habitats. The implementation of management practices relies on data collected through monitoring activities. The monitoring of fish assemblages using the standard non-destructive methods requires significant financial resources and time. A new approach to monitoring fish assemblages in the coastal waters was recently implemented in the Mediterranean – Fish Assemblage Survey Technique (FAST). It is based on Citizen Science where trained volunteer divers collect the data following a pre-established protocol. Considering the differences in species presence/absence and their sizes between the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea, a modification of the method was necessary. This study presents 23 main fish species and four ‘joker’ species selected for the Croatian FAST list and their respective sizes that will be considered Large (>2/3 of the total size) for implementing the method in the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea

How to Increase Ocean Literacy for Future Ocean Sustainability? The Influence of Non-Formal Marine Science Education

Even though the ocean is a defining feature on Earth that regulates climate and provides oxygen, food, and jobs, students still have low to moderate marine and ocean literacy knowledge. Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean’s influence on people and people’s influence on the ocean. It is an emerging need necessary for ensuring the sustainability of the ocean and its resources. The UN has declared a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and one of the priority research and development areas is ocean literacy. Unfortunately, marine science and ocean literacy topics are poorly represented in school curricula across the world. This study presents the level of marine knowledge in a sample of primary school students before and after different themed non-formal educational interventions and the effect of non-formal educational activities on students’ knowledge. These activities led to significant increase in the knowledge level three weeks after they were performed, indicating the retention of gained information. Performed educational activities and knowledge transfer from graduate level to primary school level significantly increased the level of students’ knowledge, and consequently ocean literacy, and revealed some of the learning misconceptions. Results of this study show that there is a need for an integrated approach to the teaching of Ocean Literacy starting from the early grades by combining teacher’s professional development, strengthening ocean-related topics in school curricula, and promoting non-formal educational activities

An Overview of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Farming Sustainability in the Mediterranean with Special Regards to the Republic of Croatia

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is the most important tuna species in Mediterranean tuna fishery and a valuable commodity on the global fish market. Croatia is a pioneer in tuna farming in the Mediterranean and the only country that has the exclusive right to farm wild-caught juvenile tuna (8 to 30 kg). This paper identifies key challenges to the sustainability of current farming and fattening practices, primarily economic and environmental, and possible solutions to overcome these challenges. This paper analyses data on tuna catch and aquaculture production (FAO FishStatJ and EU-Eurostat database) and updates the latest literature on farming practices, production challenges related to biotechnical, economic and environmental issues, the market and current legislation in Croatia, as well as fattening in other Mediterranean countries. Tuna capture-based aquaculture is attractive to investors because it promises high returns, but the sustainability of intensive tuna farming and fattening is questionable and raises many ethical issues. Tuna farming and fattening relies on wild fish for stocking and feeding, and further expansion of tuna farming and fattening is limited by the size of wild tuna and small fish populations. To meet the growing global demand for tuna and to conserve wild tuna stocks, further investments are needed. The knowledge gained in Croatian tuna farming is valuable for future sustainable close-cycled tuna farming in the Mediterranean. Due to its good environmental status, the availability of small pelagic fish, the availability of a highly qualified and well-organised labour force, the good cooperation between producers and researchers, and the application of modern farming technologies, ABFT farmed in Croatia have high quality and a good reputation on the market. The main weakness of Croatian tuna farming is that the entire industry is dependent on the Japanese market, but this can be overcome by the possibility of product diversification for new markets, including the tourism industry

An Overview of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Farming Sustainability in the Mediterranean with Special Regards to the Republic of Croatia

Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is the most important tuna species in Mediterranean tuna fishery and a valuable commodity on the global fish market. Croatia is a pioneer in tuna farming in the Mediterranean and the only country that has the exclusive right to farm wild-caught juvenile tuna (8 to 30 kg). This paper identifies key challenges to the sustainability of current farming and fattening practices, primarily economic and environmental, and possible solutions to overcome these challenges. This paper analyses data on tuna catch and aquaculture production (FAO FishStatJ and EU-Eurostat database) and updates the latest literature on farming practices, production challenges related to biotechnical, economic and environmental issues, the market and current legislation in Croatia, as well as fattening in other Mediterranean countries. Tuna capture-based aquaculture is attractive to investors because it promises high returns, but the sustainability of intensive tuna farming and fattening is questionable and raises many ethical issues. Tuna farming and fattening relies on wild fish for stocking and feeding, and further expansion of tuna farming and fattening is limited by the size of wild tuna and small fish populations. To meet the growing global demand for tuna and to conserve wild tuna stocks, further investments are needed. The knowledge gained in Croatian tuna farming is valuable for future sustainable close-cycled tuna farming in the Mediterranean. Due to its good environmental status, the availability of small pelagic fish, the availability of a highly qualified and well-organised labour force, the good cooperation between producers and researchers, and the application of modern farming technologies, ABFT farmed in Croatia have high quality and a good reputation on the market. The main weakness of Croatian tuna farming is that the entire industry is dependent on the Japanese market, but this can be overcome by the possibility of product diversification for new markets, including the tourism industry