Managing the starry ray (Raja asterias) in the mid-western Adriatic Sea: why sex matters in fisheries conservation

IF 3 2区 生物学 Q1 MARINE & FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
Giada Bargione, Andrea Pardini, Fortunata Donato, Daniel Li Veli, Laura Sabatini, Emily Sepe, Giuseppe Scarcella, Alessandro Lucchetti
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Abstract

The starry ray, Raja asterias (Delaroche 1809), is a demersal Mediterranean skate often caught as bycatch in bottom trawls and set nets. Due to high fishing pressure in the Adriatic Sea, key life history traits were investigated to support effective conservation and fishery management. Specimens were collected from 2019 to 2023 through both fishery-dependent and independent sampling in the mid-western Adriatic. Age was estimated for the first time in cartilaginous fish using burnt and dissected vertebrae. The reproductive cycle was assessed through macroscopic gonad examination, while spatial distribution was analyzed in relation to sex and maturity (mature vs immature). Trends in relative abundance and biomass (2007–2024) were evaluated using standardized survey data. Results revealed significant sexual dimorphism in biological traits. Females showed a broader size range (170–590 mm vs 160–505 mm), greater disc width (115–410 mm vs 105–342 mm), and positive allometric growth, compared to isometric growth in males. Growth patterns also differed: Von Bertalanffy parameters were L = 724, k = 0.28 for females and L = 574, k = 0.44 for males. Females reached greater maximum age (4.5 vs 4.0 years), and achieved sexual maturity at larger sizes (425 vs 360 mm) and older ages (approx. 3.0 vs 2.0 years). Spatial analysis showed that immature individuals are concentrated nearshore (&lt;50 m depth), while mature ones inhabit deeper waters (up to 80 m). During the reproductive season, adults migrate inshore, overlapping with immature habitats. Abundance and biomass indices significantly increased over time, particularly after 2020. These findings underscore the need for sex-specific biological parameters in management strategies. Conservation measures should avoid using population-wide averages and instead adopt the most precautionary approach. Additionally, limiting fishing in shallow waters could reduce bycatch of immature or egg-laying individuals for much of the year, positively impacting population recovery.
管理亚得里亚海中西部的星空鱼:为什么性别在渔业保护中很重要
星形鳐鱼(Delaroche 1809)是一种地中海底栖鳐,常被拖网和套网捕获。由于亚得里亚海的高捕捞压力,研究了关键的生活史特征,以支持有效的保护和渔业管理。2019年至2023年,在亚得里亚海中西部通过渔业依赖和独立采样收集了标本。使用烧焦和解剖的椎骨首次估算了软骨鱼类的年龄。通过宏观性腺检查评估生殖周期,同时分析与性别和成熟度(成熟与未成熟)相关的空间分布。利用标准化调查数据评估了相对丰度和生物量(2007-2024)的趋势。结果显示生物学性状存在明显的两性二态性。雌性表现出更大的尺寸范围(170-590 mm vs 160-505 mm),更大的圆盘宽度(115-410 mm vs 105-342 mm),与雄性相比,正异速生长。生长模式也存在差异:女性的Von Bertalanffy参数为L∞= 724,k = 0.28;男性的L∞= 574,k = 0.44。雌性达到了更大的最大年龄(4.5岁对4.0岁),并且在更大的尺寸(425毫米对360毫米)和更大的年龄(大约36岁)达到了性成熟。3.0年vs 2.0年)。空间分析表明,未成熟个体集中在近岸(50 m深度),而成熟个体则栖息在更深的水域(80 m深度)。在繁殖季节,成虫向海岸迁徙,与未成熟的栖息地重叠。丰度和生物量指数随时间显著增加,特别是在2020年之后。这些发现强调了在管理策略中需要性别特异性的生物学参数。保护措施应避免使用全种群的平均值,而应采取最谨慎的方法。此外,限制在浅水区捕鱼可以减少一年中大部分时间未成熟或产卵个体的附带捕获,对种群恢复产生积极影响。
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来源期刊
Frontiers in Marine Science
Frontiers in Marine Science Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Aquatic Science
CiteScore
5.10
自引率
16.20%
发文量
2443
审稿时长
14 weeks
期刊介绍: Frontiers in Marine Science publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research that advances our understanding of all aspects of the environment, biology, ecosystem functioning and human interactions with the oceans. Field Chief Editor Carlos M. Duarte at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Thuwal is supported by an outstanding Editorial Board of international researchers. This multidisciplinary open-access journal is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, academics, policy makers and the public worldwide. With the human population predicted to reach 9 billion people by 2050, it is clear that traditional land resources will not suffice to meet the demand for food or energy, required to support high-quality livelihoods. As a result, the oceans are emerging as a source of untapped assets, with new innovative industries, such as aquaculture, marine biotechnology, marine energy and deep-sea mining growing rapidly under a new era characterized by rapid growth of a blue, ocean-based economy. The sustainability of the blue economy is closely dependent on our knowledge about how to mitigate the impacts of the multiple pressures on the ocean ecosystem associated with the increased scale and diversification of industry operations in the ocean and global human pressures on the environment. Therefore, Frontiers in Marine Science particularly welcomes the communication of research outcomes addressing ocean-based solutions for the emerging challenges, including improved forecasting and observational capacities, understanding biodiversity and ecosystem problems, locally and globally, effective management strategies to maintain ocean health, and an improved capacity to sustainably derive resources from the oceans.
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