Vanja Čikeš Keč

The anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus, Linnaeus, 1758), one of the most important small pelagic fish species in the Adriatic, is currently described as a species that can be considered overfished. From 2013 to 2020, samples of anchovy eggs and larvae were collected through scientific surveys during the summer months. The collected ichthyoplankton data were combined with environmental data (measured satellite sea surface temperature and chlorophyll data, numerically simulated salinity, maps of primary production) to identify anchovy spawning habitats and environmental conditions affecting the anchovy early life stages. For this large dataset, a nonlinear method called Growing Neural Gas Network analysis was used to explain the multiple dependencies between anchovy and the explanatory environmental variables and represent them in 9 patterns called Best Matching Unit (BMU). Obtained values of anchovy early life stages abundances (eggs/m²; larvae/m²) showed a clear negative trend, which was easily observed both in the time series and in the annual spatial distributions. Among all measured environmental parameters that were previously mentioned, salinity showed a significant increase, which can be attributed to the cyclonic phase of the bimodal oscillatory system of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The calculated BMUs showed several interesting results that shed new light on previous findings: (a) there is a split between the richer northern and poorer southern parts of the Adriatic in terms of anchovy eggs and larvae abundances, (b) the Kvarner Bay, the west coast of Istria and the area around Dugi otok are consistently rich spawning grounds, (c) decreased abundance in the southern areas is a result of the influence of salinity, (d) an increase in chlorophyll can lead to an increase in egg count, (e) the positive effects of upwelling can be negated by an increase in salinity, (f) increased primary production is followed by increased egg count. Upwelling, as one of the factors that can influence larval and egg abundance by bringing nutrients up from the seafloor, showed increased spatial and temporal variability during the investigated period, which depended on the wind regime. Our analysis showed that neural network analysis can successfully describe the effects and interplay of environmental factors on the abundance of anchovy early life stages.

The blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825) specimens (N = 155) were collected during the MEDITS survey, done along the eastern side, precisely, of the Croatian fishing ground in July 2018. Biometrical analysis of ten morphometric and five meristic characters, as well as genetic analysis proved that the collected specimens were blue jack mackerel. The total length (TL) and weight (W) of all observed specimens ranged from 9.2 to 33.7 cm (12.15 ± 2.95 cm) and from 5.79 to 384.94 g (17.64 ± 39.42 g), respectively. All calculated length–length relationships were linear (r > 0.923). Sex was determined only on two larger specimens (28 cm < TL < 32.8 cm), which were females. In the length–weight relationship, positive allometry was established (b = 3.1789). Based on 37 partial cytochrome b sequences, the overall haplotype diversity (h) of 0.812 ± 0.048 and nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.0064 ± 0.0007 indicated high levels of haplotype and low nucleotide diversity. The obtained sequences were compared to previously published research within the Northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, confirming the absence of genetic structure among these populations.

Sardine samples from commercial catches obtained by purse seiners operating in Croatian fishing grounds (eastern Adriatic Sea) were collected monthly from March 2017 to February 2018 (excluding January due to a fishing ban). A total of 1085 sardines were analysed. Their total body length and mass ranged from 11.5 to 16.9 cm (mean±SD: 13.9±0.03 cm) and from 11.30 to 54.03 g (mean±SD: 20.31±0.161 g), respectively. Analysis of the length-mass relationship showed positive allometric growth (b=3.3573, r=0.948). Female specimens were predominant (m/f=0.404). According to the monthly gonadosomatic index values, spawning occurred from November to February, which was consistent with previous investigations. The monthly analysis of fat content in the gonads, liver and muscles indicated that the fat content in each studied tissue oscillated seasonally regardless of sex. These alternations were linked to the sardine’s reproductive cycle.

Due to very good collaboration with one commercial purse seiner, using “Srdelara” and operating in fishing zone G, preliminary data concerning the interaction between small pelagic purse seine fishery and its predators were obtained. According to the notes taken by experience observer on-board in period from year 2013 to 2016, seems that tunas, dolphins and swordfish were the faithful companions of purse seiner fisherman with abundance of 68.6%, 22.0% and 9.4%, respectively. Although they were present all year round, their monthly pattern of appearance indicated that less tunas were recorded in May-June, more dolphins were noted from July to October while swordfish were mostly abundant in winter (January-March). Within the investigated period, slightly increasing trend of tuna and dolphins’ appearance was recorded, although statistically not significant. Analysing possible correlation between purse seine catches and predator’s abundances, revealed that appearance of tuna had negative impact on the catches (dispersion of schools), while realised catches in presence of dolphins were quite good so it seems that they tend to round up small pelagic fish schools.

During routine monitoring of commercial purse seine catches in 2011, 87 fingerling specimens of scombrids were collected in the southern Adriatic Sea. Sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA control region locus inferred that specimens belonged to the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (N = 29), bullet tuna, Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) (N = 30) and little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, Rafinesque, 1810 (N = 28). According to previously published growth parameters, the age of the collected specimens was estimated at approximately 30–40 days, suggesting they might have been spawned in the Adriatic Sea, contrary to the current knowledge. A coupled modelling system with hydrodynamic (ROMS) and individual based model (IBM—Ichthyop) was set up to determine the location of the spawning event. Numerical simulations with the IBM model, both backward and forward in time, indicate commercial tuna cages in the middle Adriatic coastal area as possible spawning location. The two other non-commercial species likely opportunistically use the positive environmental (abiotic and biotic) conditions to spawn in the same area.

During routine monitoring of commercial purse seine catches in 2011, 87 fingerling specimens of scombrids were collected in the southern Adriatic Sea. Sequencing of mitochondrial control region locus inferred that specimens belonged to the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (N=29), bullet tuna, Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) (N=30) and little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, Rafinesque, 1810 (N=28). Due to previously published growth parameters, age of collected specimens was estimated to be approximately 30 days. In order to determine possible location of the spawning event coupled modelling system ROMS-ICHTHYOP was run. Realistic ROMS simulations were made to provide current and density fields for the ICHTHYOP model. ROMS model was forced with realistic surface air-sea fluxes calculated from fine resolution ALADIN model, river inflows, tides and external dynamics. ICHTHYOP was run in the backward mode for 30 days using published investigations on the studied species and its early stage dynamics, such as their growth and developmental stage thermal dependence, lethal temperatures, etc. Apart simulations with coupled modelling system, detailed analysis of prevailing meteorological and oceanographic conditions was made using all available data. Comparison to climatology of the area approved that 2011 had unusually prolonged warm and dry summer season. Occasional inflows of hot and dry air from the northern Africa additionally warm up Adriatic atmosphere. Under these conditions sea surface temperature was up to 2 standard deviations above normal. In the deeper layers, high temperature and salinity were recorded. According to performed simulations it seems that tuna species spawn within the commercial tuna cages (this is not the first evidence of natural spawning within commercial tuna farming facility in the Adriatic), while the other two species most probably opportunistically use positive environmental (abiotic and biotic) conditions and spawn in the same area.

Despite long-term investigations of the Adriatic Sea in general and extensive research on sardine and anchovy as ecologically and economically important fish species, knowledge concerning their spawning ecology, precisely their possible spawning grounds, is still incomplete. Therefore, two scientific surveys (January, July 2012) were performed, as target species spawn during different periods of the year (sardine - October to April (Sinovčić et al., 2007) and anchovy - April to September (Zorica et al., 2013)). Throughout these surveys, standard vertical plankton tows were made during the daylight at 72 stations in January and 60 stations in July using a WP2 sampler (mouth opening, 0.255 m2; mesh size, 0.200 mm). WP2 net was put vertically down during the calm sea to a depth of 100 m or to 5 m above the seabed in relatively shallow marine area (less than 100 m). Plankton samples were preserved in 4% buffered formalin and transported to the laboratory where they were analysed. Throughout ichtyoplankton analysis of samples collected during the winter survey a total of 506 sardine eggs and 348 larvae were sorted out. The mean sardine egg and larval abundance in the analysed period at positive stations was 57.8 +/- 77.4 eggs/m2 and 29 +/- 25.85 larvae/m2, with peaks of 396 eggs/m2 and 108 larvae/m2 at positive sampling stations. Concerning the summer survey and anchovy early life stages from obtained samples 1489 anchovy eggs and 1036 larvae were isolated. Average abundance of anchovy eggs and larvae was 145.26 +/- 201.27eggs/m2 and 115.11+/- 162.32 larvae/m2, respectively. The highest values of mentioned parameters at positive stations were 800 eggs/m2 and 952 larvae/m2. According to obtained results and their processing within Ocean Data View (odv.awi.de), revile that both species during 2012 spawn above the whole continental shelf and the areas of higher early life stages abundance overlap.

A sample of 3393 garfish, Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761) was captured using a seine net between January 2003 and December 2008, along the eastern Adriatic Sea. The range in total length was 20.8–75.4 cm and in weight was 12.21–639.25 g. Length–length equations for converting size measurements (standard length and fork length to total length (TL)) were linear. In the length–weight relationship, positive allometry was established (b = 3.4818). Age, determined from sagittal otoliths, ranged from 1+ to 8+ years. The estimated von Bertalanffy model growth parameters for garfish were L_∞ = 90.3 cm, K = 0.158 year⁻¹, t₀ = −0.109. Otolith weight was endorsed as a possible age predictor, as it showed highly exponential correlation with total garfish length and age (W_o = 0.0012 TL^2.189; W_o = 0.568t^1.486). These findings were used to examine mortality rates and exploitation in order to improve conservation and management of this pelagic species.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the fisheries biology of Scomber japonicus (Houttuyn, 1782) in the Adriatic Sea, to enable implementation of appropriate regulatory measures for fisheries. Reproductive biology and sexual patterns of S. japonicus (chub mackerel) were examined from monthly random samples of commercial catches from purse seine nets (10 mm stretched mesh size) in the eastern Adriatic Sea. The annual mean chub mackerel fork length (FL) was examined from 1998 to 2007. Average fork lengths were approximately 25 cm between 1998 and 2002, decreasing to 22 cm between 2003 and 2007. In addition, sex ratios fluctuated as a function of size and month: females were more abundant in the smaller length classes, as well as before and after spawning; males were more abundant in the larger length classes and during spawning. The overall sex ratio was 0.68; females were significantly predominant. 50% of the chub mackerel population was sexually mature at a FL of 18.3 cm, and both males and females reached sexual maturity at FLs of 20.4 cm and 16.8 cm, respectively. Based on gonad maturity stages, gonad weight and gonadosomatic index, chub mackerel spawned from May to August, with peak spawning in June for both sexes. The mean absolute fecundity was 181 277 ± 62 090 oocytes per ovary. A positive exponential correlation was found between fecundity and fork length, gonad weight, and total chub mackerel weight (r² = 0.640; r² = 0.686 and r² = 0.607, respectively).