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Limited trophodynamics effects of trawling on three Mediterranean fishes

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Abstract

Trawling has a significant effect on the structure of marine communities, yet the ubiquity of trawling impacts makes testing such effects difficult. This study examines trawling impacts on trophodynamics of three fishes among the Gulfs of Castellammare and Termini Imerese (northern Sicily), the first of which has been subject to a trawling ban since 1990 that initially resulted in an eightfold increase in total fish biomass. The Gulf of Termini Imerese remains heavily fished and was treated as a control site. Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope data were used to assess fishing induced changes in trophic levels or source of production supporting three demersal fish species; Mullus barbatus, Merluccius merluccius and Lophius budegassa following a control-impact approach. The exclusion of trawling resulted in only small alteration of δ15N in two of the three-three species. There were no systematic changes in the δ13C of any species sampled. Thus, a large influence of trawling on the trophodynamics of the studied species at sampled size was discounted. Although stable isotopes do not have spatial or temporal resolution to identify detailed shifts in diet composition, their integrative nature highlights that the trophic role these species play is robust to fishing impacts at scales over which the fishery operates. This is despite a significant increase in the abundance of these species and of total fish biomass within the protected area.

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Notes

  1. Study MED92/011, Structure of the populations and assessment of the biomass of the coastal demersal resources in the Gulf of Castellammare; Study MED97/063, Trawling ban in the Gulf of Castellammare: effects on the small scale fishery economics and on the abundance of fish; Study VALFEZ, The value of exclusion zones as a fisheries management tool: a strategic evaluation and the development of an analytical framework for Europe; Study MIUR/2004/63, Ricostituzione delle risorse di pesca in un’area precedentemente soggetta ad intenso sfruttamento: dinamiche a larga scala del popolamento ittico e della struttura trofica della comunità marina.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank M. Coppola, A. Galioto and M. Gristina for assistance with fish collection, V. M. Giacalone for graphic assistance, the cooperative CREA of Palermo for logistic support and Simon Jennings for his comments on the manuscript. This study was performed in accordance with the current laws of Sicily.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR-IAMC, Laboratorio di Ecologia Marina, via G. Da Verrazzano 17, 91014, Castellammare del Golfo, TP, Italy

    F. Badalamenti, C. J. Sweeting, G. D’Anna & C. Pipitone

  2. School of Marine Science and Technology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK

    N. V. C. Polunin

  3. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 OHT, UK

    J. Pinnegar

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  1. F. Badalamenti
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  2. C. J. Sweeting
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  3. N. V. C. Polunin
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  4. J. Pinnegar
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  5. G. D’Anna
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  6. C. Pipitone
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Correspondence to C. J. Sweeting.

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Communicated by S.A. Poulet.

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Badalamenti, F., Sweeting, C.J., Polunin, N.V.C. et al. Limited trophodynamics effects of trawling on three Mediterranean fishes. Mar Biol 154, 765–773 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-008-0969-0

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