Scholarly record

ASSESSMENT OF THE EXPLOITED FISH POPULATION-S STATUS ALONG THE BULGARIAN BLACK SEA COAST ACCORDING TO INDICATORS OF THE EU MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

Marina Panayotova, Radoslava Bekova, Bogdan Prodanov

Abstract

The present study is aimed to assess the status of Black Sea fish species harvested by the Bulgarian fishing fleet, according to the three criteria of Descriptor D3 under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Achieving healthy fish populations depends on the adverse impact on species as a result of fishing activity. Descriptor D3 of MSFD addresses the commercial fish stocks status by applying indicators assessing the exploited fish sustainability, reproductive capacity and recruitment, and the age and size structure. The ichthyologic survey was carried out during the period 5.10 - 15.11.2017 at 40 stations over the entire Bulgarian Black Sea shelf using mid-water otter trawl gear. Totally 28 fish species were caught, nine of which were targeted by the fisheries. All estimated indicators - catch/biomass ratio, abundance indices, the proportion of fish larger than mean size of first sexual maturation, 95th percentile of the fish length and mean length of fish demonstrate that none of the commercial species was achieved Good Environmental Status (GES) at criterion level. Catch/biomass ratio and the estimated biomasses by species (S. sprattus – 1174 t, M. merlangus -32 437 t, P. saltatrix – 226 t, T. mediterraneus – 1618 t, M. barbatus – 1668 t, S. maximus – 533 t, S. acanthias – 707 t, A. immaculata – 328 t, R. clavata – 114 t) are lower than the thresholds set at the national level. Negative alterations have been observed in the size structure due to the high fishing pressure. To reduce the negative impact of fisheries, it is necessary to manage fish resources in the Black Sea in a coordinated manner based on scientific advice, grounded on data, gathered by harmonized methods, and implemented on the basin-scale level.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2021/3.1/s15.84

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