Exploring the feasibility of technological transfers of two by-catch reduction devices in the crustacean bottom trawling of the central Mediterranean

Introduction: Most Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited owing to high fishing efforts and poor exploitation patterns. Demersal trawl fisheries are considered the most impactful fishery type because of the high quantities of unwanted catch that is then routinely discarded at sea. Methods: In the present study, two types of by-catch reduction devices (BRDs), that is a sorting grid (Grid-T45 40 mm) and a T90 50 mm codend, were compared to a typical commercial bottom trawl net (control) in terms of size structures and catch per unit effort to assess the effect of gear modification on the selectivity of crustacean fisheries in the central Mediterranean Sea. In particular, three randomly selected trawlers were involved in a paired hauls experiment fishing at the same time in the same fishing ground. Each trawler carried out four hauls per day during a 3-day campaign for a total of 36 hauls. The target species of the fishery is Parapenaeus longirostris (herein DPS), and the main commercial by-catch is Merluccius merluccius (herein HKE). Results: The results showed that the landing per unit effort (LPUE) of DPS was higher for Grid-T45 40 mm net, although it did not differ significantly from that of the control net. Conversely, the discard per unit effort (DPUE) of the control net was significantly higher than of both BRD configurations. For HKE, a slightly higher LPUE was recorded using the T90 50 mm codend compared to that of the control, but this result was not statistically significant. The lowest DPUE was found for the T90 50 mm codend, with significant differences compared to that of the control and Grid-T45 40 mm net. The catch comparison of the size structures analysed through generalised linear mixed models highlighted that the Grid-T45 40 mm net was more effective in catching adult DPS, whereas the T90 50 mm codend was more selective for adult HKE Discussion: In conclusion, although further studies should be carried out in future to test the performance of the BRDs in different areas and seasons, the investigated gear seems to be promising for reducing the catch of undersized individuals and contributing to mitigating the current overfishing of DPS and HK

Relazione tecnica sulle attività della campagna oceanografica “Ancheva 2017”

La presente relazione tecnica descrive le attività svolte nella Campagna oceanografica “Ancheva 2017”, tra il 23 luglio ed il 7 agosto 2017, a bordo della N/O “G. Dallaporta”. Gli echosurvey acquisiti hanno permesso di valutare la biomassa e la distribuzione spaziale dei piccoli pelagici nella piattaforma meridionale della Sicilia, da Marsala a oltre Capo Passero, e nella piattaforma Maltese (GSA 16, FAO sub area 37.2.2). Parallelamente alle suddette attività sono state svolti il campionamento biologico (di piccoli pelagici) con rete pelagica (volante monobarca), il campionamento di tessuti di pesci pelagici (gonadi, fegato e sangue), il campionamento di acqua (per la misurazione dei parametri fisico-chimici della colonna d’acqua e per l’analisi di Nutrienti ed Isotopi di azoto e carbonio) ed, infine, il campionamento ittioplantonico (per le analisi degli aminoacidi sulle larve di Engraulis encrasicolus)

Relazione tecnica sulle attività della Campagna oceanografica “Ancheva 2016”

La presente relazione riporta le attività di ricerca della Campagna oceangrafica “Ancheva 2016”, svolte a bordo della N/O “G. Dallaporta” (nel periodo tra il 4 ed il 26 Luglio 2016) nello Stretto di Sicilia e nel mar Ionio occidentale (GSA 16 e 19) e nelle acque maltesi (GSA 15). Nello specifico, le attività svolte vengono sono di seguito descritte sinteticamente: - Rilevazioni acustiche degli stock di piccoli pelagici con echosounder scientifico Simrad EK60, con trasduttori split beam a scafo; - Campionamenti biologici (di piccoli pelagici) con rete pelagica (volante monobarca), dotata di sistema acustico Simrad ITI per il controllo della geometria della rete (apertura e posizione della rete nella colonna d’acqua); - Campionamenti di tessuti di pesci pelagici (gonadi, fegato e sangue); - Campionamento acqua, in specifiche stazioni, con sonda multiparametrica SEABIRD mod. 9/11 plus (per la misurazione dei parametri fisico-chimici della colonna d’acqua) dotata di bottiglie Niskin (per l’analisi di Nutrienti ed Isotopi di azoto e carbonio); - Campionamento ittioplantonico, mediante con “Bongo 40”, in specifiche stazioni, le cui bocche sono state fissate in alcool, per le analisi degli aminoacidi sulle larve di Engraulis encrasicolus

Piano di Lavoro Nazionale Raccolta Dati Alieutici 2017-2019 Rapporto tecnico annuale

Campionamento biologico delle specie demersali e dei piccoli pelagici (GSA16

Visita all'Osservatorio della Biodiversità marina e terrestre della Regione Sicilia - ORBS

Con il taglio inaugurale del nastro il 16 dicembre 2015, prende vita la struttura museale permanente dell'Osservatorio della Biodiversità marina e terrestre della Regione Sicilia che porta lo stesso nome del Progetto di Ricerca "ORBS – Sistema di comunicazione, informazione e diffusione dell'Osservatorio Regionale della Sicilia", intitolata il 21 dicembre 2018 al Dott. Sandro Fiorelli. Ad oggi, la struttura, è operativa presso la Sede Secondaria dell'Istituto per lo studio degli impatti Antropici e Sostenibilità in ambiente marino del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IAS – CNR) di Capo Granitola. Il progetto ORBS, finanziato da Regione Siciliana - Assessorato alla Cooperazione, Commercio, Artigianato e Pesca - Dipartimento Pesca, con periodo di attività 2013 - 2015, si è concluso proprio con la realizzazione della struttura museale; l'Osservatorio è stato istituito dall'Assessorato del Territorio e dell'Ambiente della Regione Siciliana nell'ambito di un accordo quadro con ARPA, ISPRA e CNR. Grazie al progetto ORBS, docenti e allievi dell'Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo e il personale CNR – IAS (ex IAMC) S. S. di Capo Granitola, hanno collaborato sinergicamente permettendo di realizzare delle azioni didattiche e creative di valore scientifico espresse con straordinaria forza e bellezza. Ricercatori e professori si sono confrontati al fine di combinare le proprie competenze riuscendo nel progetto ambizioso di coinvolgere e fondere i diversi ambiti scientifici sensibilizzando gli artisti ai temi della Biodiversità. Le opere prodotte, corredate da schede scientifiche, hanno oltre al valore artistico un aggiunto valore didattico. L'apertura della sezione espositiva dedicata alla diffusione e alla comunicazione della biodiversità rappresenta da un lato l'importante tappa conclusiva del progetto, dall'altro l'inizio di un percorso mirato alla diffusione della biodiversità verso il mondo giovanile, le scuole e per tutto il territorio. Questa strepitosa collaborazione "CNR – Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo" conferma l'importanza e l'opportunità di unire arte e scienza per esaltare la percezione della ricerca scientifica da parte della comunità. La divulgazione della scienza è un'attività complessa e sicuramente necessita di competenze e attitudini multidisciplinari oltreché di motivazione ed entusiasmo. La comunicazione delle tematiche scientifiche, di per sé ardua nella traduzione al grande pubblico, grazie alla forza esplicativa dell'arte, diviene opportunità di riflessione, osservazione, confronto per le comunità di visitatori. Il coordinamento delle visite delle scuole di ogni ordine e grado, Enti Pubblici, Comunità Scientifica, Cariche Istituzionali, Delegazioni di Politici Italiani e Stranieri, Associazioni Culturali, Associazioni No-Profit di Volontariato, Associazioni di Promozione Sociale, Organizzazioni di Volontariato, Onlus, pubblico in generale, presso ORBS, è affidato al qualificato personale (tecnici, tecnologi e ricercatori) dell'IAS – CNR S. S. di Capo Granitola, che gestisce in prima persona i visitatori nel percorso didattico e promuove il valore della divulgazione scientifica perseguendo la terza missione degli Enti di Ricerca, attraverso l'applicazione diretta, la valorizzazione e l'impiego della conoscenza

Valutazione elettroacustica dell'abbondanza e distribuzione dei piccoli pelagici nel Canale di Sicilia in relazione ai dati ambientali & MEDIAS Project "Small Pelagic Fish: Stock Identification and Oceanographic Processes Influencing their abundance and distribution"

La campagna oceanografica Ancheva 2009, condotta dal Gruppo Interdisciplinare di Oceanografia dell’IAMC-CNR (U.O di Capo Granitola -Mazara del Vallo) in collaborazione con il “Reparto Tecnologia della Pesca” dell’ISMAR Sezione Pesca Marittima del CNR di Ancona (già IRPEM), ha avuto come principale obiettivo la valutazione della distribuzione ed abbondanza di piccoli pelagici (prevalentemente sardine e acciughe) nell’area dello Stretto di Sicilia (GSA 16 – FAO sub area 37.2.2) con l’impiego di strumentazione elettroacustica

Table_1_Exploring the feasibility of technological transfers of two by-catch reduction devices in the crustacean bottom trawling of the central Mediterranean.docx

IntroductionMost Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited owing to high fishing efforts and poor exploitation patterns. Demersal trawl fisheries are considered the most impactful fishery type because of the high quantities of unwanted catch that is then routinely discarded at sea.MethodsIn the present study, two types of by-catch reduction devices (BRDs), that is a sorting grid (Grid-T45 40 mm) and a T90 50 mm codend, were compared to a typical commercial bottom trawl net (control) in terms of size structures and catch per unit effort to assess the effect of gear modification on the selectivity of crustacean fisheries in the central Mediterranean Sea. In particular, three randomly selected trawlers were involved in a paired hauls experiment fishing at the same time in the same fishing ground. Each trawler carried out four hauls per day during a 3-day campaign for a total of 36 hauls. The target species of the fishery is Parapenaeus longirostris (herein DPS), and the main commercial by-catch is Merluccius merluccius (herein HKE).ResultsThe results showed that the landing per unit effort (LPUE) of DPS was higher for Grid-T45 40 mm net, although it did not differ significantly from that of the control net. Conversely, the discard per unit effort (DPUE) of the control net was significantly higher than of both BRD configurations. For HKE, a slightly higher LPUE was recorded using the T90 50 mm codend compared to that of the control, but this result was not statistically significant. The lowest DPUE was found for the T90 50 mm codend, with significant differences compared to that of the control and Grid-T45 40 mm net. The catch comparison of the size structures analysed through generalised linear mixed models highlighted that the Grid-T45 40 mm net was more effective in catching adult DPS, whereas the T90 50 mm codend was more selective for adult HKE.DiscussionIn conclusion, although further studies should be carried out in future to test the performance of the BRDs in different areas and seasons, the investigated gear seems to be promising for reducing the catch of undersized individuals and contributing to mitigating the current overfishing of DPS and HKE.</p

Image_4_Exploring the feasibility of technological transfers of two by-catch reduction devices in the crustacean bottom trawling of the central Mediterranean.tif

IntroductionMost Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited owing to high fishing efforts and poor exploitation patterns. Demersal trawl fisheries are considered the most impactful fishery type because of the high quantities of unwanted catch that is then routinely discarded at sea.MethodsIn the present study, two types of by-catch reduction devices (BRDs), that is a sorting grid (Grid-T45 40 mm) and a T90 50 mm codend, were compared to a typical commercial bottom trawl net (control) in terms of size structures and catch per unit effort to assess the effect of gear modification on the selectivity of crustacean fisheries in the central Mediterranean Sea. In particular, three randomly selected trawlers were involved in a paired hauls experiment fishing at the same time in the same fishing ground. Each trawler carried out four hauls per day during a 3-day campaign for a total of 36 hauls. The target species of the fishery is Parapenaeus longirostris (herein DPS), and the main commercial by-catch is Merluccius merluccius (herein HKE).ResultsThe results showed that the landing per unit effort (LPUE) of DPS was higher for Grid-T45 40 mm net, although it did not differ significantly from that of the control net. Conversely, the discard per unit effort (DPUE) of the control net was significantly higher than of both BRD configurations. For HKE, a slightly higher LPUE was recorded using the T90 50 mm codend compared to that of the control, but this result was not statistically significant. The lowest DPUE was found for the T90 50 mm codend, with significant differences compared to that of the control and Grid-T45 40 mm net. The catch comparison of the size structures analysed through generalised linear mixed models highlighted that the Grid-T45 40 mm net was more effective in catching adult DPS, whereas the T90 50 mm codend was more selective for adult HKE.DiscussionIn conclusion, although further studies should be carried out in future to test the performance of the BRDs in different areas and seasons, the investigated gear seems to be promising for reducing the catch of undersized individuals and contributing to mitigating the current overfishing of DPS and HKE.</p

Image_3_Exploring the feasibility of technological transfers of two by-catch reduction devices in the crustacean bottom trawling of the central Mediterranean.tif

IntroductionMost Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited owing to high fishing efforts and poor exploitation patterns. Demersal trawl fisheries are considered the most impactful fishery type because of the high quantities of unwanted catch that is then routinely discarded at sea.MethodsIn the present study, two types of by-catch reduction devices (BRDs), that is a sorting grid (Grid-T45 40 mm) and a T90 50 mm codend, were compared to a typical commercial bottom trawl net (control) in terms of size structures and catch per unit effort to assess the effect of gear modification on the selectivity of crustacean fisheries in the central Mediterranean Sea. In particular, three randomly selected trawlers were involved in a paired hauls experiment fishing at the same time in the same fishing ground. Each trawler carried out four hauls per day during a 3-day campaign for a total of 36 hauls. The target species of the fishery is Parapenaeus longirostris (herein DPS), and the main commercial by-catch is Merluccius merluccius (herein HKE).ResultsThe results showed that the landing per unit effort (LPUE) of DPS was higher for Grid-T45 40 mm net, although it did not differ significantly from that of the control net. Conversely, the discard per unit effort (DPUE) of the control net was significantly higher than of both BRD configurations. For HKE, a slightly higher LPUE was recorded using the T90 50 mm codend compared to that of the control, but this result was not statistically significant. The lowest DPUE was found for the T90 50 mm codend, with significant differences compared to that of the control and Grid-T45 40 mm net. The catch comparison of the size structures analysed through generalised linear mixed models highlighted that the Grid-T45 40 mm net was more effective in catching adult DPS, whereas the T90 50 mm codend was more selective for adult HKE.DiscussionIn conclusion, although further studies should be carried out in future to test the performance of the BRDs in different areas and seasons, the investigated gear seems to be promising for reducing the catch of undersized individuals and contributing to mitigating the current overfishing of DPS and HKE.</p

Image_2_Exploring the feasibility of technological transfers of two by-catch reduction devices in the crustacean bottom trawling of the central Mediterranean.tif

IntroductionMost Mediterranean fish stocks are overexploited owing to high fishing efforts and poor exploitation patterns. Demersal trawl fisheries are considered the most impactful fishery type because of the high quantities of unwanted catch that is then routinely discarded at sea.MethodsIn the present study, two types of by-catch reduction devices (BRDs), that is a sorting grid (Grid-T45 40 mm) and a T90 50 mm codend, were compared to a typical commercial bottom trawl net (control) in terms of size structures and catch per unit effort to assess the effect of gear modification on the selectivity of crustacean fisheries in the central Mediterranean Sea. In particular, three randomly selected trawlers were involved in a paired hauls experiment fishing at the same time in the same fishing ground. Each trawler carried out four hauls per day during a 3-day campaign for a total of 36 hauls. The target species of the fishery is Parapenaeus longirostris (herein DPS), and the main commercial by-catch is Merluccius merluccius (herein HKE).ResultsThe results showed that the landing per unit effort (LPUE) of DPS was higher for Grid-T45 40 mm net, although it did not differ significantly from that of the control net. Conversely, the discard per unit effort (DPUE) of the control net was significantly higher than of both BRD configurations. For HKE, a slightly higher LPUE was recorded using the T90 50 mm codend compared to that of the control, but this result was not statistically significant. The lowest DPUE was found for the T90 50 mm codend, with significant differences compared to that of the control and Grid-T45 40 mm net. The catch comparison of the size structures analysed through generalised linear mixed models highlighted that the Grid-T45 40 mm net was more effective in catching adult DPS, whereas the T90 50 mm codend was more selective for adult HKE.DiscussionIn conclusion, although further studies should be carried out in future to test the performance of the BRDs in different areas and seasons, the investigated gear seems to be promising for reducing the catch of undersized individuals and contributing to mitigating the current overfishing of DPS and HKE.</p