Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) : 64th Plenary Report (PLEN-20-02)

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) held its 64th plenary as a virtual meeting from 6-10 July 2020.-- 128 pagesCommission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar discipline

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) : 65th Plenary Report (PLEN-20-03)

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) held its 65th plenary as virtual meeting from 9-13 November 2020.-- 152 pagesCommission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplinesPeer reviewe

Alternative Interleukin 17A/F Locus Haplotypes Are Associated With Increased Risk to Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis

We studied the genetic epidemiology of primary large‐joint (hip and knee) osteoarthritis (OA), in order to find disease risk factors by a candidate‐gene approach. We used case–control study in the Croatian Caucasian population. We genotyped 500 OA patients (260 hip, 240 knee; both with total joint replacements) and 597 healthy individuals for single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in interleukin 17A (IL17A) (rs2275913) and IL17F (rs763780 and rs1889570) genes. On the basis of our population and allelic and genotypic frequencies haplotypes were predicted by PHASE software and compared between patients and controls. The three‐SNP haplotype (rs2275913–rs763780–rs1889570) G–C–A confers predisposition to hip (p < 0.005) but not knee OA. The three‐SNP haplotype having opposed nucleotides A–T–G was found significantly associated with 2.6 times higher risk for developing knee (p < 0.02) but not hip OA. The haplotype G–T (IL17A–IL17F; rs2275913–rs763780) is associated with protection to the disease in hip OA (p < 0.01). Our analyses show that two disparate haplotypes within the IL17A‐F gene locus are associated with higher risk to developing hip and knee OA in the Croatian population. The data might suggest a difference in the etiology of hip OA from that of the knee OA, perhaps due to an unknown dissimilarity in vulnerability of these joints to the actions of IL17. Alternatively, other differences in genetic factors like the long non‐ protein coding region LINCMD1 and/or microRNA species like miR133b and miR206 found in the vicinity of the IL17 locus might be involved in the observed risk

Defining a procedure for integrating multiple oceanographic variables in ensemble models of marine species distribution

Marine species distribution models are largely used in ecology and fishery science to support the management of marine exploited resources. This study was focused on defining a procedure to develop an ensemble model, combining 5 differents modeling approaches. For each approach, we implemented spatial training and test data set to evaluate the best performance of 9 models through a set of indicators. These models include a different combination of covariates, starting with the simplest model (depth, year, and spatiotemporal variables) to the most complex one (including also oceanographic variables and effort). We applied this procedure to develop a robust ensemble of models to describe accurately the distribution in space and time of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Adriatic and Ionian sea

Spatial and temporal trend in the abundance and distribution of gurnards (Pisces: Triglidae) in the northern Mediterranean Sea

In this study we investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of gurnards (8 species of Triglidae and one species of Peristediidae) in the northern Mediterranean Sea using 22 years of MEDITS bottom trawl survey data (1994-2015). Gurnards showed significant differences in terms of abundance, dominance and composition among geographical sub-areas and ecoregions, with the highest relative biomass (BIy) being found in Malta, eastern Corsica, the Balearic Islands and the eastern Ionian Sea. The lowest gurnards BIy were observed in the highly exploited areas of the western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea, where the largest number of species with a negative linear trend in BIy was also found. The temporal trends in species abundances highlighted a general decrease for the coastal species (C. lucerna, C. lastoviza, C. obscurus) as compared with the species inhabiting the deep continental shelf and slope (T. lyra, P. cataphractum). The results provide for the first time an overview of the spatiotemporal trend in the abundance of gurnards over the wide spatial scale of the northern Mediterranean Sea, also suggesting the possible use of these species as indicators for monitoring the impact of fishing pressure on demersal fish assemblages

Mediterranean demersal resources and ecosystems : 25 years of MEDITS trawl surveys

Trawling pressure and environmental changes may affect the composition of fish assemblages. Our knowledge on large spatio-temporal patterns of demersal fish composition remains incomplete for the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated (1) the spatio-temporal stability of demersal assemblages, (2) the relationships between these assemblages and potential structuring factors (trawling pressure and environmental conditions) in order to assess the dynamic of the assemblage structure at the scale of the northern Mediterranean Sea. We analysed a dataset of 18062 hauls from 10 to 800 m depth performed annually during the last two decades across 17 Geographical Sub-Areas (GSAs) (MEDITS program). A multi-table analysis (STATICO-CoA) evidenced a strong inter-GSAs stability in the organization of assemblages, with specificities for some GSAs. The most stable structuring factors were linked to combined gradients of chlorophyll a, phytoplancton carbon biomass and temperature, inversely correlated with depth, salinity and nutrient gradients (axis 1 of the STATICO-CoA compromise, 93.74% of the total variability). A common pattern linking the distribution of species to these environmental gradients was evidenced for most of the 17 GSAs. Estimate of trawling pressure showed a minor role in the organization of the assemblages for the spatial scale and years investigated (axis 2. 4.67%)

Large-scale spatio-temporal monitoring highlights hotspots of demersal fish diversity in the Mediterranean Sea [plus corrigendum 2015, vol.138, p.322-323]

Increasing human pressures and global environmental change may severely affect the diversity of species assemblages and associated ecosystem services. Despite the recent interest in phylogenetic and functional diversity, our knowledge on large spatio-temporal patterns of demersal fish diversity sampled by trawling remains still incomplete, notably in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the most threatened marine regions of the world. We investigated large spatio-temporal diversity patterns by analysing a dataset of 19,886 hauls from 10 to 800 m depth performed annually during the last two decades by standardised scientific bottom trawl field surveys across the Mediterranean Sea, within the MEDITS program. A multicomponent (eight diversity indices) and multi-scale (local assemblages, biogeographic regions to basins) approach indicates that only the two most traditional components (species richness and evenness) were sufficient to reflect patterns in taxonomic, phylogenetic or functional richness and divergence. We also put into question the use of widely computed indices that allow comparing directly taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity within a unique mathematical framework. In addition, demersal fish assemblages sampled by trawl do not follow a continuous decreasing longitudinal/latitudinal diversity gradients (spatial effects explained up to 70.6% of deviance in regression tree and generalised linear models), for any of the indices and spatial scales analysed. Indeed, at both local and regional scales species richness was relatively high in the Iberian region, Malta, the Eastern Ionian and Aegean seas, meanwhile the Adriatic Sea and Cyprus showed a relatively low level. In contrast, evenness as well as taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional divergences did not show regional hotspots. All studied diversity components remained stable over the last two decades. Overall, our results highlight the need to use complementary diversity indices through different spatial scales when developing conservation strategies and defining delimitations for protected areas

Size-dependent survival of European hake juveniles in the Mediterranean Sea.

Most studies on European hake focus on the recruitment process and nursery areas, whereas the information is comparatively limited on the ecology of the juvenile stage (ca. second year of life)—the one most exploited by the Mediterranean trawl fisheries. Using information of the MEDITS programme, we provide a spatial and temporal assessment of the influence of body size and growth on hake survival from recruits (age 0) to juveniles (age 1), along with the impact of surface temperature and chlorophyll variability. At a biogeographic scale, size-dependent survival is supported, with areas with higher mean length of recruits and juveniles yielding higher survival. A similar pattern was observed at interannual level in some western Mediterranean areas, also mediated by a density-dependent effect on growth. However, the most recurrent inter-annual pattern was a negative effect of size on survival, which could be attributed to potential ontogenetic changes in catchability and underrepresentation of intra-annual recruitment pulses that are seasonally inaccessible to the MEDITS sur- vey. Results also evidence that survival in the Alboran and Adriatic seas is dependent on the primary production variability, and that Corsica and Sardinia could be potential feeding grounds receiving juveniles from neighbouring areas. The present study reveals the importance of size- and growth-dependent survival in the juvenile stage of European hake in the Mediter- ranean Sea

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) : 60th Plenary Meeting Report (PLEN-19-01)

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) hold its 60th plenary on 25-29 March 2019at JRC, Ispra, Italy.-- 159 pagesCommission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar discipline