MONITORING INVASIVE SPECIES SPREADING IN THE CENTRAL AEGEAN SEA WITH DIFFERENT FISHING METHODS
Project no. 23334 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2021
Summary
<p>This study was carried out between November 2021 and September 2023 on the coasts of Kuşadası, Foça, Çeşme, and Gümüldür, located in the Central Aegean Sea. Invasive species found in different soil and water column were tried to be determined by different fishing methods. Trawl nets for demersal species, purse seine nets for pelagic species, and gillnets for coastal species were used to detect invasive species in the catch composition of fishing gear. In total, 66 fish species were caught in all fishing gear. In 8 fishing operations with purse seine nets, 34 species were identified and no invasive species were found. 40 fish species were found in a total of 65 fishing operations with trawl nets, but no invasive species were found. As a result of 4 fishing operations carried out with gillnets, 22 species of fish were caught and among these species, Dusky Spinefoot (<em>Siganus luridus</em>) and Brushteeth Lizardfish (<em>Saurida lessepsianus</em>) were detected in the catch composition as invasive species. </p><p>In recent years, rapid changes in the physicochemical parameters of water have been shown to cause invasive species to spread rapidly and sometimes slowly. The continuation of such studies over long periods will provide a healthier prediction about the course of the spread. Also, depending on the number of operations, it is thought that gill nets may be more effective in detecting invasive species. </p>