Review of long-term changes in trammel bottom set catches, crustacean, cephalopoda and fish communities along the eastern Adriatic (Croatian) coastal area

Abstract

       State and changes in the coastal crustacean, cephalopoda and fish communities are investi­gated from 1960. These investigations begun, and were particularly intensive, in the mid-Adriatic area (Dalmatia). Data of state and changes in the coastal communities are based on experimental trammel bottom set catch analyses from 1960 to 1995. For all that we have supposed that the changes in trammel bottom set catches reflect the same changes in communities structure. In this opportunity, changes (qualitative and quantitative) in the coastal communities on the Kornati Islands (1960-1992), Split area (1960-1994), mid-Dalmatian Islands (1960-1994), Palagruža Islands (1961-1995) and southern Adriatic (1972-1988) areas are discussed. Communities up to 30 m depth were investigated. The changes in the communities were manifested as continued decline in trammel bottom set catch quantities (CPUE) of about 63-64%, particularly during the first decade of investigations, than alternation in the presence of different fish families (mostly Scorpaenidae, Labridae, Serranidae, Mullidae, Sparidae) or fish species Scorpaena porcus, Symphodus (Crenilabrus) tinea and Mullus spp. respectively, as well as edible crustacean (Maja crispata) and cephalopoda species (Sepia officinalis, Octopus vulgaris) in the catches. All observed changes in the crustacean, cephalopoda and fish communities are primarily results of intensive and unreasonable exploitation of the living resources in the coastal area.