Trawlable species assemblages on the continental shelf of the Northeastern Levant Sea (Mediterranean) with an emphasis on Lesseptian migration

Abstract

       A check list for the Northeastern Levant Sea fishes is presented based on samples col­lected between 1980-1984. A total of 165 species were identified. The species community, which is vulnerable to trawl fishery, is examined. The numerical analysis of the trawl data showed that the infralittoral area from eastern half of the Mersin Bay to the eastern most tip of Gulf of Iskenderun, which is confined to the wider part of the continental shelf, form a specific community structure dissimilar to that of Posidonia oceanica associated with western part. This part is favored by Lessepsian immigrants, which sometimes made up to 70% of the total demersal fish biomass.