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Fishes account for more than half of all living vertebrates on Earth and their diversity is very high, in terms of their morphology, biology and habitats they inhabit. There are almost 28,000 of valid living species of fishes (including the superclass Agnatha), but despite their high number and diversity, fishes are among the most endangered groups of marine organisms. Pressures on fishes are numerous: habitat degradation, marine pollution, alien species, climate changes, fisheries, etc. and in most cases those pressures act simultaneously and in combination with each other. By combining and cross-referring different sources of relevant literature and legal documents, a list of rare and endangered fish species of the Adriatic is prepared. According to IUCN Red list 17 species are listed as Critically Endangered, while three species are considered Regionally Extinct: cartilaginous species smoothback angelshark Squatina oculata, and two bony species, sturgeon Acipenser sturio and meagre Argyrosomus regius. Numerous anthropogenic negative impacts raise a need for protection measures for marine ecosystems and marine fish species. Various protection measures have been established across the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, most of them related to fisheries, aiming to protect marine fishes and their stocks.

The fisheries represent one of the oldest occupations of the coastal population of Montenegrin Sea and the Skadar Lake. Even though fishery in Montenegro is still relatively undeveloped compared to other Adriatic countries, without industrial fishing, this activity has great importance for the local population in terms of tradition, culture, and history. This paper provides an overview of the state of fishery in Montenegro in recent times, main fishing gears and types of the fishery, fishing fleet size and characteristics, the importance of the fishing sector, etc. Additionally, the history and tradition of the fishery in Montenegro, both in the Skadar Lake and the Adriatic coast, is described. Main limitations and threats to Montenegrin fishery, as well as possibilities of its further development, are also presented in this paper.

An annotated species of crustacean Decapoda list is provided for the Montenegrin territorial waters according to the available scientific literature, official reports, and from data collected from the MEDITS trawl surveys performed on continental shelf and continental slope in summer months from 2008 to 2018. Species are collected mainly by bottom trawl net but also with other various sampling methods such as trammel nets, gillnets, crustacean traps as well as scuba diving techniques. A total of 95 species belonging to 37 families is reported. Data on distribution and findings in Montenegrin territorial waters, Adriatic distribution, literature, and potential commercial interest for fishery are presented for the most significant species.

The Center for Adriatic Biodiversity Conservation “Aquarium Boka” is established in 2020 as organizational unit of the Institute of Marine Biology, Kotor, Montenegro with two subunits: marine aquarium and rescue center. The aquarium is designed as first Montenegrin public aquarium and conservation advocacy center. Its mission is to be a catalyst for global sustainability through promoting and practicing effective conservation on behalf of the Adriatic Sea’s wildlife. Exhibit philosophy of the Aquarium Boka is developed to be mission-driven, message-driven, and visitor-driven and follows “community concept” type of display with 16 theme tanks grouped in four sections: Entrance section – exhibiting the World Sea and Mediterranean Sea life, Central section – exhibiting the Adriatic Sea biodiversity, Special section – exhibiting the Boka Kotorska Bay sea life, and Exit section – exhibiting tropical seas life. A flagship species was considered as an important support for conservation activities, promoting public awareness and raising funds for conservation. John Dory (Zeus faber) is selected as flagship species of the Aquarium Boka. The services of the Aquarium Boka are grouped into three clusters: research, education, and conservation. The Aquarium Boka is designed and set to move people to act on behalf of the marine species we seek to protect. The Rescue center is designed with four main roles: (1) Animal welfare: short-term shelter, care and rehabilitation center with the goal of finding a more suitable placement of threatened species for longer term stay elsewhere; (2) Law enforcement: receiving confiscated animals, providing expert testimony, helping the police, customs, and wildlife authorities pursue the prosecution of traffickers and animal abusers; (3) Raising awareness; and (4) Nature conservation and biodiversity.

This study focuses on the historical data from the “HVAR” Expedition, i.e. the M/V “HVAR” cruise researches into fisheries biology in the open Adriatic, carried out in 1948–1949. These results are still of great importance for the Adriatic, even today, 71 years after the conclusion of the expedition, as they provide a unique insight into the state of fishery resources before the mass exploitation of the second half of the twentieth century. The most represented species in the catches by weight were M. merluccius, R. clavata, S. canicula, A. sphyraena and Z. faber. The significant presence of chondrichthyan species is noted, as is the absence of deep-water pink shrimp, P. longirostris, which is the dominant species in bottom trawl fisheries today. A comparison between “HVAR”, two other historical surveys (“BIOS” 1961, and “GORICA”, 1973) and MEDITS survey of 2018, shows a decrease in chondrichthian species and Catch per Unit of Effort (CPUE; kg/h), with a recent increase in P. longirostris abundance.

This study includes a review of recently published records, as well as new field records of sea turtles along the Montenegrin coast, up until 2020. There are 77 records of three different sea turtle species in Montenegrin waters in total. Most of them were sightings of the loggerhead turtle (59 records). There were two cases of sightings of the green turtle, while two incidences of the leatherback turtle were also recorded. For 14 individuals there was no information about species, but most probably all of them were loggerhead turtles. Collisions with boats, as well as fishing nets were found to be major threat to sea turtles in Montenegrin waters. Five turtles were found in different fishing net, alive and unhurt, while two individuals were found dead because of fishing activities. Four turtles died because of collisions with boats, while three were hurt in collisions with boats, but survived. One turtle was killed by spearing with a speargun by a local man in Stoliv.

This paper presents the results of growth rate and condition index analysis of Mytilus galloprovincialis in integrated system and monoculture. The aim of this study was to show if there are differences in growth and condition index of mussels between integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) and monoculture farming. The growth rate and condition index were monitored during a 13-month study at three different sites: 1) close to fish cages (NBL), 2) 100 m removed from fish cages (NUD), 3) at a monoculture mussel farm (SVN) around 8 km far away from cages. The most intense growth of mussels was recorded in spring, and the least intense in summer. After 13 months, monitored individuals at all three locations achieved commercial size. The growth rate was very similar at all sites. The condition index showed spatial and temporal differences. Condition index values on site NUD were mostly higher compared to SVN and NBL, which were very similar, exept for the period from October to December when CI was similar on NBL and NUD site and higher in comparation with SVN. CI values on NBL an NUD site during cold period indicate on fact that mussels probably feed on the nutrients from fish farm origins.The highest mortality rate was recorded at the NBL site, probably due to the effects of fouling organisms., Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je pokazati postojanja mogućih razlika u rastu i kondicijskom indeksu dagnji (Mytilus galloprovincialis) u integralnom multi-trofičkom uzgoju i uzgoju u monokulturi. Rast i kondicijski indeks praćeni su tijekom razdoblja od 13 mjeseci na tri postaje: 1) u blizini uzgajališta ribe (NBL), 2) 100 m od uzgajališta ribe (NUD), 3) u monokulturi (SVN) na uzgajalištu koje je oko 8 km udaljeno od kaveza sa ribom. Najintenzivniji rast zabilježen je tijekom proljetnog razdoblja, a najmanje intenzivan tijekom ljetnog. Nakon 13 mjeseci, praćene jedinke su na sve tri pozicije dostigle komercijalnu dužinu. Stopa rasta je bila slična na sve tri pozicije, dok je kondicijski indeks pokazao prostorne i vremenske razlike. Vrijednosti kondicionog indeksa na postaji NUD bile su više od vrijendosti na postajama SVN i NBL, koje su međusobno bile prilično slične, osim u razdoblju od listopada do prosinca kada su vrijednosti kondicijskog indeksa bile slične na postajama NBL i NUD, a veće u usporedbi sa vrijednostima na postaji SVN poziciji. Vrijednosti kondicionog indeksa na postajama NBL i NUD tijekom hladnog perioda godine ukazuju na to da se dagnje vjerovatno hrane nutrijentima porijeklom sa uzgajališta riba. Visoki mortalitet zabilježen je na postaji NBL, najvjerojatnije zbog obraštajnih organizama.

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.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) in Croatia and Montenegro have a long tradition, similar to those of SSFs in other parts of the coastal Mediterranean. In order to improve fisheries management and save the cultural heritage of fishing traditions on the eastern Adriatic coast, scientists and fisheries managers, from these two countries, made an effort, to gain a better understanding of fishing activities and targeted stocks. This is a complex research topic, due to the high and increasing fishing pressure on marine resources as well as the fact that fisheries management throughout the Mediterranean region remains conventional in its nature. Basic characteristics of SSFs in each country are presented. Specific conclusions related to improvement of coastal resources state in term of sustainable use are suggested together with proposal for additional conservation measures and actively involving fishermen in the management process. Finally, guidelines for future management in terms of monitoring and data collection framework (DCF) are proposed for both countries.

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.

This paper presents data on initial scientific research activities conducted in order to explore the possibilities for bivalve farming in the conditions of the Boka Kotorska Bay; the data on experimental project related to technology transfer and protection of farming sites against predators, as well as the methods for defining the mariculture sites and principles that sustainable bivalve and fish farming should be based on. Mariculture development in Montenegro began after the completion of initial explorations on the possibilities of farming edible bivalves on the area of the Boka Kotorska Bay, which were conducted in the 1960s. After this period, the first commercial farming of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) began, while the first commercial farming of oysters (Ostrea edulis) began in 2009 in the Bay of Kotor. Today, there are around 20 active shell farms as well as two fish farms using the multitrophic aquaculture system. Bivalve farming is done using the traditional method of floating parks system (long-lines), while fish farming is done in floating cages.

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.