FADs influence on settlement and dispersal of the young-of-the-year greater amberjack (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola dumerili</Emphasis>) |
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Authors: | M Sinopoli G D’Anna F Badalamenti F Andaloro |
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Institution: | (1) Sede di Castellammare del Golfo (TP), IAMC-CNR, Via G. da Verrazzano 17, 91014 Castellammare del Golfo (TP), Italy;(2) ICRAM s.t.s. Palermo, Palermo, Italy |
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Abstract: | FADs are fish aggregating devices applied worldwide over the centuries to increase fish catch. However, the utilisation of
such floating devices can influence dispersion patterns of some fish species. At present it is still not clear if FADs play
a role in the shoreward migrations of juvenile fish of reef associated species, such as the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili. In this study, we hypothesised that FADs located along a distance gradient from the shore might lead the greater amberjack
inshore. In such case, mean abundance of S. dumerili should decrease over time in offshore FADs and increase in inshore FADs. To test the hypothesis three FAD systems were positioned
in the Gulf of Castellammare (Sicily, Italy), between July and September 2001, at increasing distances from the coast. During
the study period, five visual censuses were carried out within FADs fields. During the first sampling period, no significant
difference in abundance and size of juvenile S. dumerili was found between the three FAD systems. All the other sampling periods reported higher abundances and sizes in the offshore
FADs than in the two inshore FADs. The findings suggest that FAD systems might be exerting two different effects on young
of the year (YOY) S. dumerili distribution: (a) offshore FADs tend to retain associated fish for longer periods of time, (b) coastal FADs favour the transition
of YOY S. dumerili from the pelagic to the benthic domain. |
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