Antifouling management for aquaculture cage nets has developed over the years to reduce the costs of cleaning the nets and minimize the damages caused to the nets by the encrustation of benthic organisms. There have been various... more
Antifouling management for aquaculture cage nets has developed over the years to reduce the costs of cleaning the nets and minimize the damages caused to the nets by the encrustation of benthic organisms. There have been various approaches to this end such as using toxic paints (TBT-SPC, etc.) and nanomaterial coatings, mechanical cleaning using brushes, and constructing the net using copper alloys instead of nylon (or other) material, etc. We designed and constructed experimental fish farm nets substituting Dyneema® fibers with uncoated copper wire 0.15-0.2 mm in diameter by 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40% and deployed them in a commercial operating fish farm for almost 7 months. We examined their antifouling performance based on the percentage of mesh openness remaining by the end of the experimental period. The results showed that the antifouling performance increased with copper substitution level and peaked at a level of 29.79% and maximum mesh openness at 46.5%.
Research Interests: Copper and Biofouling
Trammel net and boat-seine experimental fishing samplings were carried out seasonally, over a rocky-sandy and a Posidonia oceanica habitat respectively, in the coastal waters of Rhodes, south-eastern Aegean Sea, Greece, between 2019 and... more
Trammel net and boat-seine experimental fishing samplings were carried out seasonally, over a rocky-sandy and a Posidonia oceanica habitat respectively, in the coastal waters of Rhodes, south-eastern Aegean Sea, Greece, between 2019 and 2020. Fish catch composition, abundance and biomass were investigated as a contribution to the qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the fish assemblages in the artisanal fishery in this Greek marine region most affected by biological invasion. A total of 56 native and 11 alien fish species were captured. Five invasive species Fistularia commersonii, Pterois miles, Siganus rivulatus, Siganus luridus and Lagocephalus sceleratus were recorded using both fishing gear. In trammel nets, the alien to native fish species ratio was 1:2.87 with eight allochthonous species composing 43% of the total abundance and greatly exceeding native species biomass with the most dominant being F. commersonii, P. miles, S. rivulatus and S. luridus. Boat seine samples ...
The European hake (Merluccius merluccius) is one of the most important demersal species in the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 861 individuals were collected using commercial bottom trawls, between May 2021 and October 2022 from the Aegean... more
The European hake (Merluccius merluccius) is one of the most important demersal species in the Mediterranean Sea. A total of 861 individuals were collected using commercial bottom trawls, between May 2021 and October 2022 from the Aegean Sea (the Eastern Mediterranean) aiming to assess the current state of the population. The male to female ratio (0.92:1) did not significantly depart from 1:1, with length-weight relationships exhibiting positive allometric growth. There were seven age groups identified, with the second age group being the most predominate. The highest reproductive intensity was observed during spring followed by winter. The onset of sexual maturity (L50) for the total population was estimated at 27.58 cm in total length (3.2 years). The asymptotic length was estimated at 65.19 cm for the total population, with females growing larger than males. Longevity was estimated at 22.7 years for the total population (24.9 years for females and 16.1 years for males). The inflection point was estimated at 7.5 years for the total population (8.2 years for females and 5.2 years for males). Length with 50% probability of capture (LC50) was estimated at 17.7 cm, with the respective age (t50) of 1.2 years. The exploitation rate (E = 0.72) indicated that the population is under a high level of exploitation and the Z/K ratio (7.81) further indicated that mortality dominates growth. Fishing mortality at the maximum sustainable yield (FMSY = 0.29) was estimated considerably lower than the present fishing mortality (F = 0.69). Results indicate the need for enforcement of stricter management measures to protect the stock.
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The invasion history and the recent distribution, abundance and prey composition of pikeperch, Sander lucioperca in Neretva River watershed (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia) are presented. The species was illegally/unintentionally... more
The invasion history and the recent distribution, abundance and prey composition of pikeperch, Sander lucioperca in Neretva River watershed (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia) are presented. The species was illegally/unintentionally introduced in Ramski Reservoir in the upper river part in 1986, while establishment of its abundant populations was reported during the 1990s in two connected artificial reservoirs. The research on the present abundance and food composition was executed during the 2012–2014 period. The results showed that pikeperch occupied most of the water bodies of the Neretva River, with an exception of natural river parts with gravel sediment and fast flow: all five artificial reservoirs (Ramski, Jablanički, Grabovica, Salakovac and Mostarski reservoirs) and lower wetland zone. However, the success and impact of colonization differ among water bodies, indicating pikeperch preference for warm and shallow reservoirs. Pikeperch prey is composed of different fish species abundant in specific water bodies. In artificial reservoirs, it preys mostly on introduced fish species, with a potential for controlling pumpkinseed abundance and biomass. Sampling carried out in Ramski Reservoir between 2013 and 1014 showed exclusive feeding on the introduced Leucaspius delineatus, and the establishment of a new food web, where only introduced species play significant roles. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Research Interests: Geography, Ecotoxicology, Aquaculture, Population, Aquatic, and 8 moreMytilus, Fishery, Oyster, Estuary, Sparidae, Shellfish, Ostrea Edulis, and Bay
A fishery-independent survey with a commercial bottom otter trawl was conducted in the Pagasitikos Gulf, a semi-enclosed, trawl-restricted gulf in Greece. The study aimed to ecologically assess the fishery communities that are... more
A fishery-independent survey with a commercial bottom otter trawl was conducted in the Pagasitikos Gulf, a semi-enclosed, trawl-restricted gulf in Greece. The study aimed to ecologically assess the fishery communities that are experiencing a decline in fishery landings. Twelve hauls of 30 min duration each were conducted in the eastern, western, and central parts of the gulf at depths between 62 and 97 m. In total, 57 species were captured, with the highest species number recorded in the west (35 species), followed by the center (32 species) and east (29 species). The highest numerical abundance was recorded at the center, followed by the east and west, with an opposing trend exhibited for biomass; however, GLM detected no significant spatial differences (in area or depth) or interaction. Ecological indices exhibited significantly lower values in the west–east area comparison. Linear Discriminant Analysis, mMDS, and hierarchical clustering indicated the presence of two main groups (...
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The present work aims to review and describe the current status of the invasive species Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, along the Ionian coastal zone of Greece and to assess its invasive potential. Blue crab has a long invasion history... more
The present work aims to review and describe the current status of the invasive species Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896, along the Ionian coastal zone of Greece and to assess its invasive potential. Blue crab has a long invasion history in the Mediterranean Sea, but the available data on the species occurrence in the Ionian sub-region are scarce and fragmented. The proximity of most of the estuaries and lagoons to local ports and to the shipping routes, as well as the swimming/dispersal ability of the adults of the species, indicate that range expansion will likely continue. The invasiveness risk of the species in the region was estimated with the use of a decision support tool (Marine Invertebrate Invasiveness Screening Kit, version 1.19). The observed impacts are discussed, along with urgent mitigation priorities. Measures to limit the expansion of this invasive species may include the effective management of ballast waters and the targeted increase of fishing pressure on C. sap...
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The estimation of the carrying capacity (CC) is a fundamental process in integrated environmental management, policy making, and decision making. Aquaculture carrying capacity has been studied since the 1960s to allow estimation of the... more
The estimation of the carrying capacity (CC) is a fundamental process in integrated environmental management, policy making, and decision making. Aquaculture carrying capacity has been studied since the 1960s to allow estimation of the production limits of aquaculture projects and, hence, their maximum economic performance within sustainable limits for the local environment. One major drawback of these approaches is that they can provide CC estimates after a fish farm is installed and operates in a certain location (ex post approaches). This paper approaches the estimation of CC using a Bayesian/CHAID model of profiling information on the environmental quality, geomorphology, and human activities on the adjacent coastal area (land side) using as an indicator the trophic state of the marine area in terms of chlorophyll-a concentration (upper mesotrophic). This way, having the above information for a certain site, it is possible to calculate the maximum annual production of a cage fis...
Length-weight relationships for 21 fish species caught in the
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The pandalid decapod crustacean Plesionika edwardsii (Pandalidae) (Brandt, 1851) (“striped soldier shrimp”) is a cosmopolitan, nektobenthic species with wide geographic distribution and of a certain commercial interest. In the... more
The pandalid decapod crustacean Plesionika edwardsii (Pandalidae) (Brandt, 1851) (“striped soldier shrimp”) is a cosmopolitan, nektobenthic species with wide geographic distribution and of a certain commercial interest. In the Mediterranean Sea, P. edwardsii is common mainly in the western part of the basin and rarely found in the eastern part. Data from biological and biometric studies of this decapod are scarce and sporadic and several biological aspects of this species are still lucking. This is the first study regarding the biometric characters of this decapod in the whole Mediterranean Sea. The allometric analyses or relative growth pattern of various decapod crustaceans have been studied widely and it can provide a good technique to elucidate the relationships between processes of growth and evolution. The aim of this work was the morphometric study of P. edwardsii in the south-eastern Aegean Sea, caught on soft bottoms at a depth range of 100 to 280 m depth. A total of 377 specimens were analysed, 292 females, 85 males, caught during the period November 2014 to January 2015 in the Dodecanese islands (south-eastern Aegean Sea). Minimum and maximum sizes were: 10,37-29,17 mm carapace length (CL) for females, 11,95-28,08 mm CL for males. The relative growth of body parts (abdomen, uropod, scaphocerite, telson, rostrum and the third pereiopod) of both sexes of the striped soldier shrimp was studied within the frame of Plesionika Manage (Operational Programme Fisheries 2007-2013, Greece) scientific project. The above appendages are related to distinct functional aspects, such as swimming, walking-cropping, balance or orientation ability. The carapace length was considered as the independent variable for all relationships performed. Morphometric relationships in the sexes showed similar patterns of relative growth in the studied area. The above mentioned morphological characters of females were significantly greater than males. A negative allometry of swimming morphological characters (uropod, scaphocerite, telson), of abdomen (related to the rapid locomotion, reproduction) and of the third pereiopod (involved in walking ability) was found in both sexes. Males showed an isometry of rostrum length with size. A clear increasing trend of females’ size, including all the morphological characters, was shown with increasing depth.
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The edible water frog Pelophylax epeiroticus, distributed mainly in Northwest Greece and utilized commercially as food, was investigated in lake Pamvotida (Ioannina). The objective was to assess aspects of population structure (sex ratio,... more
The edible water frog Pelophylax epeiroticus, distributed mainly in Northwest Greece and utilized commercially as food, was investigated in lake Pamvotida (Ioannina). The objective was to assess aspects of population structure (sex ratio, morphometric characteristics, allometric relationships) and proximate composition of the Epirus water frog (Pelophylax epeiroticus). Commercial samples (31 females and 54 males) were obtained and sex ratio, morphometric characteristics, allometric relationships and proximate composition were assessed. A significantly lower abundance of females was indicated (31 females and 54 males). Body length range was higher in females (females 3.4 mm, males 2.6 mm), whereas total weight range was higher in males (females 45.08 gr, males 48.35 gr). Differences in allometric relationships were indicated between sexes. The high protein (15.93 ± 3.32) and low lipid (0.25 ± 0.13) contents indicated that P. epeiroticus is an excellent food source of high nutritional...
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The present work aims to review and depict the current status of this invasive species along the Ionian coastal zone of the eastern Adriatic and to assess its invasive potential of the species. Blue crab has a long invasion history in the... more
The present work aims to review and depict the current status of this invasive species along the Ionian coastal zone of the eastern Adriatic and to assess its invasive potential of the species. Blue crab has a long invasion history in the Mediterranean Sea. The available data on the species occurrence in the western Adriatic region of Ionian coast is scarce and fragmented. The proximity of most of the estuaries and lagoons to local ports and to the shipping routes, as well as the swimming/dispersal ability of the adults indicate that range expansion will continue. The abundance and distribution of the species in the region was estimated with the use of a decision support tool (Marine Invertebrate Invasiveness Screening Kit , v1.19). The observed impacts are discussed along with urgent mitigation priorities.. Measures to limit the expansion of this invasive species, may include the management of ballast waters, for example by a strict implementation of ballast water management plan, ...
The length-weight relationship for both sexes of 21 fish species caught in Argolikos Gulf (central Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean), using a variety of fishing gear, was estimated for the first time. Fishing took place between August... more
The length-weight relationship for both sexes of 21 fish species caught in Argolikos Gulf (central Aegean Sea, eastern Mediterranean), using a variety of fishing gear, was estimated for the first time. Fishing took place between August 2007 and August 2008, and the fishing gear used included gill and trammel nets, long lines, and beach seines from 58 inshore fishing vessels. Individuals caught by trammel nets were usually longer and heavier than those collected by other fishing gear. The allometric coefficient (b) for the majority of species (59%) was statistically significantly higher than 3.0, indicating positive allometry between length and weight in most species. The data obtained in the present study could serve as a useful tool in future studies in the wider study area and as a future reference for comparisons of similar parameters estimated in other Mediterranean areas.
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The European spiny lobster is a species of great commercial value, yet a limited scientific knowledge exists on its biology, ecology, and physiology, especially for the stocks from east Mediterranean waters. The northern brown shrimp, a... more
The European spiny lobster is a species of great commercial value, yet a limited scientific knowledge exists on its biology, ecology, and physiology, especially for the stocks from east Mediterranean waters. The northern brown shrimp, a non-indigenous established species, is commercially exploited in regions of the Mediterranean Sea. Both species’ proximate composition and fatty acid profile were assessed for the first time in the Mediterranean region, exhibiting an overall significant statistical difference. Protein, fat, and energy contents were significantly higher in the northern brown shrimp, whereas moisture and ash contents were significantly higher in the European spiny lobster. The proximate composition for both species was well within the reported range for other lobster and prawn species in the Mediterranean Sea.
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The black sea urchin (Arbacia lixula, Linnaeus, 1758) is a non-edible marine echinoderm of high ecological importance with the potential to affect marine ecological communities. A. lixula were sampled monthly for one year from the... more
The black sea urchin (Arbacia lixula, Linnaeus, 1758) is a non-edible marine echinoderm of high ecological importance with the potential to affect marine ecological communities. A. lixula were sampled monthly for one year from the supralittoral fringe at two locations in the Pagasitikos Gulf, in the north-western Aegean Sea. Morphometric characteristics exhibited significant spatiotemporal variation. The population in closer proximity to treated sewage effluent outflow exhibited significantly higher biometric relationships resulting in possible improved physiological conditions. Spatial distribution exhibited a clumped pattern of dispersion, consisting of predominantly six age classes. The dominant cohort was the four-year age class, comprising 31.2% of the total population. Significant negative allometric relationships were exhibited between all morphometric characteristics. The maximum approximate age of the total A. lixula population was estimated at 15.27 years. The von Bertalan...
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Barnacles are key space-occupiers in rocky shore communities on European coasts. Barnacles of the species Chthamalus stellatus (Poli, 1791) were collected between June 2014 and May 2015 from two sites, two stations per each site with... more
Barnacles are key space-occupiers in rocky shore communities on European coasts. Barnacles of the species Chthamalus stellatus (Poli, 1791) were collected between June 2014 and May 2015 from two sites, two stations per each site with varying degree of exposure to wave action and anthropogenic pressure (trampling), in the Eastern Mediterranean (Pagasitikos Gulf, Central Greece). This study addresses a knowledge gap in population characteristics of C. stellatus populations in the Eastern Mediterranean, assessing population structure and allometric relationships. Patterns of distribution and abundance (density and percentage cover) were studied both temporally (seasonally) and spatially (water level and site). Morphometric characteristics exhibited spatiotemporal variation. Population density was significantly higher at the site with higher wave exposure. The population cover exhibited high levels of similarity among shore levels, both spatially and temporally. Spatial distribution exh...
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The site specific CPUE and biomass of the demersal fauna were assessed in two sampling areas situated in Pieria (north Greece, lower Thermaikos) and Argolikos bay (central Greece). In total 22 hauls were conducted 12 of which in Pieria... more
The site specific CPUE and biomass of the demersal fauna were assessed in two sampling areas situated in Pieria (north Greece, lower Thermaikos) and Argolikos bay (central Greece). In total 22 hauls were conducted 12 of which in Pieria and 10 in Argolikos between January and August of 2009. The demersal fauna showed differences between number of taxa, number of individuals, abundance and biomass between the sampling sites. Mullus barbatus, Trachurus mediterraneus and Diplodus annularιs were the most dominant species in the area of Pieria (40% of the total abundance), whilst the most dominant species in Argolikos were Mullus barbatus, Lepidopus caudatus and Diplodus annularιs (60% of the total abundance). Species richness, diversity, evenness and numerical abundance were higher in Pieria. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling indicated differences between the two sites. Abundance biomass curves suggested that both sites are moderately disturbed, whereas K-dominance curves sug...
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The European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is a high market value marine and coastal species which feeds on small fish (TORTONESE, 1986). It inhabits coastal waters between 10 and 100 m in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and the European... more
The European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is a high market value marine and coastal species which feeds on small fish (TORTONESE, 1986). It inhabits coastal waters between 10 and 100 m in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and the European and African Atlantic coasts (North to Scandinavian waters and South to Morocco) (MOREIRA et al., 1992; LLORIS, 2002). It is an important species for the Mediterranean market with high nutritional value (123 kcal/100 This paper presents experimental results on the voracity and foraging behaviour of the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax adults kept in captivity fed a commercial broodstock feed suitable for the species. The results show that the species is a very aggressive predator even after 2 decades of captivity actively competing for food. The primary sensory stimulus to attack the food particles is vision. The number of food particles in the water also affect the foraging behaviour of the fish. As the number of pellets offered simultaneously...
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Mapping of ecosystem components (natural and socioeconomic) is a prerequisite for ecosystem-based marine spatial management (EB-MSM). To initiate the process of EB-MSM in the Greek Ionian Sea and adjacent gulfs, the main relevant... more
Mapping of ecosystem components (natural and socioeconomic) is a prerequisite for ecosystem-based marine spatial management (EB-MSM). To initiate the process of EB-MSM in the Greek Ionian Sea and adjacent gulfs, the main relevant ecosystem components were mapped based on existing spatial information and expert judgment. The natural components mapped included habitat types and species of conservation importance, according to national and European legislation and international agreements. Main human activities/pressures related to fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, and industry were also mapped. A substantial overlapping between ecological features and human activities was identified, confirming the need for a well planned approach of managing marine space in order to mitigate conflicts for marine resources and to conserve marine ecosystems and their associated goods and services.
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Article available on line / Article disponible en ligne à l’adresse :... more
Article available on line / Article disponible en ligne à l’adresse : -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://om.ciheam.org/article.php?IDPDF=5600065 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The invasion history and the recent distribution, abundance and prey composition of pikeperch, Sander lucioperca in Neretva River watershed (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia) are presented. The species was illegally/unintentionally... more
The invasion history and the recent distribution, abundance and prey composition of pikeperch, Sander lucioperca in Neretva River watershed (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia) are presented. The species was illegally/unintentionally introduced in Ramski Reservoir in the upper river part in 1986, while establishment of its abundant populations was reported during the 1990s in two connected artificial reservoirs. The research on the present abundance and food composition was executed during the 2012–2014 period. The results showed that pikeperch occupied most of the water bodies of the Neretva River, with an exception of natural river parts with gravel sediment and fast flow: all five artificial reservoirs (Ramski, Jablanicki, Grabovica, Salakovac and Mostarski reservoirs) and lower wetland zone. However, the success and impact of colonization differ among water bodies, indicating pikeperch preference for warm and shallow reservoirs. Pikeperch prey is composed of different fish species abundant in specific water bodies. In artificial reservoirs, it preys mostly on introduced fish species, with a potential for controlling pumpkinseed abundance and biomass. Sampling carried out in Ramski Reservoir between 2013 and 1014 showed exclusive feeding on the introduced Leucaspius delineatus, and the establishment of a new food web, where only introduced species play significant roles. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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The European spiny lobster is a species of great commercial value, yet a limited scientific knowledge exists on its biology, ecology, and physiology, especially for the stocks from east Mediterranean waters. The northern brown shrimp, a... more
The European spiny lobster is a species of great commercial value, yet a limited scientific knowledge exists on its biology, ecology, and physiology, especially for the stocks from east Mediterranean waters. The northern brown shrimp, a non-indigenous established species, is commercially exploited in regions of the Mediterranean Sea. Both species’ proximate composition and fatty acid profile were assessed for the first time in the Mediterranean region, exhibiting an overall significant statistical difference. Protein, fat, and energy contents were significantly higher in the northern brown shrimp, whereas moisture and ash contents were significantly higher in the European spiny lobster. The proximate composition for both species was well within the reported range for other lobster and prawn species in the Mediterranean Sea.
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Reversed phase-high-pressure liquid chromatographic methodologies equipped with UV detector (RP-HPLC-UV) were developed for the determination of phenolic compounds and tocopherols in almonds. Nineteen samples of Texas almonds originating... more
Reversed phase-high-pressure liquid chromatographic methodologies equipped with UV detector (RP-HPLC-UV) were developed for the determination of phenolic compounds and tocopherols in almonds. Nineteen samples of Texas almonds originating from USA and Greece were analyzed and 7 phenolic acids, 7 flavonoids, and tocopherols (−α, −β + γ) were determined. The analytical methodologies were validated and presented excellent linearity (r2 > 0.99), high recoveries over the range between 83.1 (syringic acid) to 95.5% (ferulic acid) for within-day assay (n = 6), and between 90.2 (diosmin) to 103.4% (rosmarinic acid) for between-day assay (n = 3 × 3), for phenolic compounds, and between 95.1 and 100.4% for within-day assay (n = 6), and between 93.2–96.2% for between-day assay (n = 3 × 3) for tocopherols. The analytes were further quantified, and the results were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA), and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) to investigate potential differenc...
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Pistachios are a nutritionally beneficial food source widely consumed all over the world. Pistachios exhibit high content of antioxidants, vitamins and other beneficial micronutrients, including nutrient elements and rare earth elements... more
Pistachios are a nutritionally beneficial food source widely consumed all over the world. Pistachios exhibit high content of antioxidants, vitamins and other beneficial micronutrients, including nutrient elements and rare earth elements (REEs). Considering that the concentration of REEs depends on the climate and soil characteristics that vary among different geographical regions, REEs could constitute markers responsible for the geographical discrimination of this nut type. In this study, Greek pistachios with a protected designation of origin (PDO) label from Aegina Island and Fthiotida and Turkish pistachios from Adana were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to assess their REE profile. La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb were determined and quantified. The quantification results were further analyzed using the main effect plot, permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), nonmetric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), principal c...
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The Aegean Sea is an insular archipelago in North Mediterranean Sea. It exhibits 60 inhabited islands, more than 1,400 small islands and more than 2,500 outcrops and rocks. Its total area is in excess of 215,000 km2. Fisheries and... more
The Aegean Sea is an insular archipelago in North Mediterranean Sea. It exhibits 60 inhabited islands, more than 1,400 small islands and more than 2,500 outcrops and rocks. Its total area is in excess of 215,000 km2. Fisheries and aquaculture are the second most important economic activities after tourism, from the point of view of contribution to the national GDP. However, as segments of the primary production, they are more important than tourism for job and income security of the numerous rural fishery-dependent communities in the region, as tourism activity is limited in certain areas and islands. The fishing fleet in the Aegean Sea amounts to 11,580 vessels approximately from which 95% belongs to the small-scale fishery segment and operates from over 100 ports, harbours and fishing refuges on the mainland and the islands. Fisheries production reached almost 69,000 t in 2018. Aquaculture in Greece is a fast developing industry with export orientation. The total national aquaculture production today amounts to 133,000 t of sea bass and sea bream for 2016, compared to 400 t in 1984. Aquaculture production in the Aegean Sea amounts to 83,000 t (63% of total) and fetching approximately 370 million €. From the economic point of view, the fisheries sector in the Aegean Sea faces many challenges. Even though demand for high-quality fishery products is stable and increasing, mainly due to tourism, the market structure is such that net income margins for capture fisheries are low between 8 and 12% at the producer level. Aquaculture suffers from very low prices close or seasonally below production cost levels due to the market competition of aquaculture production of the same species (whole, fresh or chilled sea bass and sea bream) by most Mediterranean States. Finally, fishery product processing industry faces drops in the demand of traditional products in the region (canned in oil, smoked) and low market prices for other types of products (fillets, frozen, etc.) which has forced many companies to diverse their production to vegetables and other local high-market value produce.
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Limpets are pivotal for structuring and regulating the ecological balance of littoral communities and are widely collected for human consumption and as fishing bait. Limpets of the species Patella caerulea were collected between April... more
Limpets are pivotal for structuring and regulating the ecological balance of littoral communities and are widely collected for human consumption and as fishing bait. Limpets of the species Patella caerulea were collected between April 2016 and April 2017 from two sites, and two samplings per each site with varying degree of exposure to wave action and anthropogenic pressure, in Eastern Mediterranean (Pagasitikos Gulf, Central Greece). This study addresses a knowledge gap on population characteristics of P. caerulea populations in Eastern Mediterranean, assesses population structure, allometric relationships, and reproductive status. Morphometric characteristics exhibited spatio-temporal variation. Population density was significantly higher at the exposed site. Spatial relationship between members of the population exhibited clumped pattern of dispersion during spring. Broadcast spawning of the population occurred during summer. Seven dominant age groups were identified, with the do...
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Passive nets are currently among the most important fishing gears largely used along the Mediterranean coasts by the small scale fisheries sector. The fishing effort exerted by this sector is strongly correlated with net dimensions.... more
Passive nets are currently among the most important fishing gears largely used along the Mediterranean coasts by the small scale fisheries sector. The fishing effort exerted by this sector is strongly correlated with net dimensions. Therefore, the use of passive nets is worldwide managed by defining net length and net drop. The EC Reg. 1967/2006 reports that the length of bottom-set and drifting nets may be also defined considering their weight or volume; however, no practical suggestions for fisheries inspectors are yet available. Consequently, even if such technical measures are reasonable from a theoretical viewpoint, they are hardly suitable as a management tool, due to the difficulties in harbour control. The overall objective of this paper is to provide a quick methodological approach for the gross estimation of passive net length (by net type) on the basis of net volume. The final goal is to support fisheries managers with suitable advice for enforcement and control purposes...