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The annual alteration of gonad morphology in anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus,1758), caught in the period from July 2006 to June 2007 using beach seines in the region of Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro, southern Adriatic) was studied. Samples were taken each month. Total length of individuals ranged from 6.6 to 12.2 cm, while weight ranged from 1.58 to 11.27 g, Their ovaries were extracted and weighed, and a piece of female gonad tissue was sampled for histological analysis. The length–weight relationship of all anchovy specimens was described by the equation: \(W = 0.0032\) \(L_T^3.2537; (r^2 = 0.9528)\). The lowest GSI values were found in November and remained at low levels until April, which corresponded to the gonad rest stage. The GSI increased gradually during April and May, which coincides with the begining of spawning period. Although primary oocytes (stage I) were present during all months, their percentage increased from October and was the highest during the winter months (November-March 100%). Mature cells, stage IV, were present during April – October period, with highest value in May when they comprised 12.3% of total oocyte number. An increase in the percentage of oocytes in the yolk vesicle (II) and yolk (III) stages occurred in April, remaining almost unchanged until October. Smallest average oocyte size was noticed in period November – February with an average of 59.69 μm, while greatest size was recorded in April 2007, 185.84 μm.

This paper presents the first record of the Lessepsian migrant fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (silver-cheeked toadfish) on the Italian side of the south Adriatic Sea. In addition, four specimens of Sphoeroides pachygaster (blunthead puffer) were analysed. Meristic and morphometric data of the silver-cheeked toadfish and blunthead puffer are in accordance with data from the Mediterranean. The specimen of silver-cheeked toadfish was a female with gonad in resting stage and the specimens of blunthead puffer were adults (male and female) with gonads in maturing, mature/spawner and post-spawning stage. The stomach contents of the specimen of silver-cheeked toadfish were composed by Mollusca Opistobranchia and Crustacea Brachyura. Stomach contents analysis of S. pachygaster confirmed that Mollusca are the preferred prey for this species. However, the presence of Crustacea (shrimps, crabs) and fish in the stomachs indicates that the blunthead puffer has a broad and variable diet in the south Adriatic Sea. The present study suggests the presence of an established population of blunthead puffer on the continental shelf of the southeast Adriatic Sea.

Most studies on European hake focus on the recruitment process and nursery areas, whereas the information is comparatively limited on the ecology of the juvenile stage (ca. second year of life)—the one most exploited by the Mediterranean trawl fisheries. Using information of the MEDITS programme, we provide a spatial and temporal assessment of the influence of body size and growth on hake survival from recruits (age 0) to juveniles (age 1), along with the impact of surface temperature and chlorophyll variability. At a biogeographic scale, size-dependent survival is supported, with areas with higher mean length of recruits and juveniles yielding higher survival. A similar pattern was observed at interannual level in some western Mediterranean areas, also mediated by a density-dependent effect on growth. However, the most recurrent inter-annual pattern was a negative effect of size on survival, which could be attributed to potential ontogenetic changes in catchability and underrepresentation of intra-annual recruitment pulses that are seasonally inaccessible to the MEDITS sur- vey. Results also evidence that survival in the Alboran and Adriatic seas is dependent on the primary production variability, and that Corsica and Sardinia could be potential feeding grounds receiving juveniles from neighbouring areas. The present study reveals the importance of size- and growth-dependent survival in the juvenile stage of European hake in the Mediter- ranean Sea., Sí

The main aim of the present study is to increase the knowledge on the seasonal dynamics of the set gears used by Adriatic small-scale fisheries (SSFs) through the collation of data (landings, fishing effort, composition of catches, length-frequency distributions of target species and economic value of landings) on target species,. The study focused on the three set gears mainly used in the basin: gillnets, trammel nets and traps. The results confirmed that SSFs are diverse, complex and dynamic, representing an economic and social engine and providing seafood and employment to local economies. In the Adriatic Sea, SSFs exploit coastal fishing grounds where the seasonal fluctuations of the physical and chemical parameters of the water column strongly influence the occurrence of the different species. Because of this, many different types of set gears are currently used to catch a pool of target species over the year. Fishermen use more than one set gear during the year and tend to increase the fishing effort when the target species concentrate inside the coastal areas during the recruitment or the spawning season. Accordingly, landings reached the highest values during such periods and often include a large portion of juveniles and/or spawners. The study highlighted that the lack of appropriate data and complete statistics is still one of the main constraints for most of the Adriatic coastal countries, as few countries have in place routinely monitoring programs while others are dealing mostly with estimates. These gaps often have the effect of marginalizing and undervaluing the real role of SSFs in a Blue Growth process.

WOS: 000419945400117, PubMed ID: 29330368, Using thirteen microsatellite loci for Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus collected in the Mediterranean Sea, the biogeographic boundaries, genetic distribution among and within basins and the impact of prolonged exploitation in both species were investigated as a basis for understanding their population dynamics and for improving Mullus spp. stock management. Different level of diversity indices among these co-occurring species were obtained, with M. barbatus showing higher allele richness and higher mean observed and expected heterozygosity than M. surmuletus. Reduced contemporary effective population size (Ne) and M-ratio values found in both species likely reflects recent demographic changes, due to a combination of high fishing pressures, habitat fragmentation and naturally occurring fluctuations in population size. Different patterns of genetic connectivity among populations sampled within the Mediterranean were observed for both species. Higher genetic structure was found for M. barbatus as opposed to a more homogenous pattern observed in M. surmuletus samples. Adriatic populations, previously considered panmictic and isolated from other Mediterranean regions, showed geographical partitioning within the basin but also population connectivity with the northern Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas. Our results highlight the need for temporal sampling in understanding the complex pattern of population connectivity in the Mediterranean, particularly for management purposes., FAO AdriaMed Project within the AdriaMed Working Group on Small Scale Fisheries (SSF), This study was funded by the FAO AdriaMed Project within the AdriaMed Working Group on Small Scale Fisheries (SSF). We warmly thank Dr. Enrico Arneri for supporting our initiative from the very start. We acknowledge our colleagues Laura Perini (ISMAR, Venezia), Ana Neves (Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande, Portugal), Marilena Donnaloia (COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca - Stazione Sperimentale per lo Studio delle Risorse del Mare, Bari, Italy), Nir Stern (Tel Aviv University, Israel), Martha Koutsidi and Alexis Lazaris (University of Patras), Charis Charilaou and Ioannis Thasitis (DFMR, Cyprus) and local fishers for their invaluable assistance in collecting samples for genetic analyses. Most of the samples were collected in the framework of the DCF programme (Medits and Biological sampling).

The Boka Kotorska Bay, as a unique geographical area, with specific ecological conditions, was always inhabited by cetaceans. There is very little recorded data on their presence in the bay. This article presents an overview of cetacean species inhabiting the southern Adriatic Sea, with a particular focus on bottlenose dolphin and fin whale, species whose presence has been documented in the Boka Kotorska Bay. A detailed review on the presence of one of the most famous dolphins in the bay, the dolphin Joca, who was a favourite with swimmers and bathers and was awarded a special protection status by the local government of the city of Kotor has been carried out. A history of unfortunate events – accidental and intentional dolphin deaths in the last 20 years – is provided, as recorded by the society for protection of animals ‘Fifi’ from Kotor. This society of volunteers was involved in the protection of the Boka Kotorska Bay environment since its founding in 1997, and the protection of marine mammals was among its activities. An overview of the first survey of marine mammal populations in the Boka Kotorska Bay area within the frame of the EU IPA NETCET project is also provided. The results of the survey represent the first scientifically collected data on cetaceans in the area. Preservation of these species in the area of the bay requires constant involvement, education of the local population and children on the importance of preservation of cetaceans and careful development of all forms of tourism, including the nautical tourism, which is one of the gravest threats to marine mammals in the Boka Kotorska Bay area.

An annotated species of crustacean Decapoda list is provided for the area of Boka Kotorska Bay, based on the available literature. Review of the relevant literature showed that the number of the species known in this area is 62. Two of these species are recognized as Atlanto-tropical immigrants. All species were collected using trawl, dredge, grab bottom sampler, gillnets, as well as scuba-diving techniques. Description of each species gives the valid scientific name and vernacular, common names, literature, distribution and findings in Boka Kotorska Bay, Adriatic distribution, and some remarks as well as their potential commercial interest for fishery. Most of these species have a wide distribution range, including the whole Mediterranean Sea.