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The study reports on the capture of a new-born specimen of shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 off Karantina islet coast, Urla, Izmir (north Aegean Sea). This specimen measured 761 mm in total length and weighed 2900 g. The historical and recent captures of the species in the area shows the presence of new-born, juvenile and adult males and females. The distribution of these specimens suggests the potential occurrence of a nursery ground in the same area. To preserve the extirpation of the species throughout the area where it finds favourable environmental parameters to live, a management plan should be conducted to ensure the establishment of a viable population in the Turkish marine waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of severe consecutive repetition of lordosis-kyphosis involving three flexions was reported in a specimen of the atherinid fish Atherina boyeri Risso. The values for the angles lay between the lines passing through the sides of the vertebral column and enclosing the curvatures, and the depth of the curvatures of the angles was obtained. Also, the ratio of the vertebral column to the fish total length of deformed and normal specimens of this species was calculated. Possible causes for these anomalies are discussed.

A specimen of bull ray Aetomylaeus bovinus was captured dead by a diver around a tuna sea cage farm. It was female, measured 2310 mm in total length (TL) and 1460 mm in disc width (DW) with body weight estimated as about 20 kg. This case was reported from a tuna farm for the first time. The bull ray entered the sea cage about three months ago, but no attack occurred to the tuna in the cage. It was grazing on fouling organisms that attached to the nets. However, the cage nets were replaced with clean ones four days ago before the capture, and the bull ray did not find enough fouling organisms or uneaten fish feed and was starved to death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report on the capture of a specimen of smoothback angelshark Squatina oculata Bonaparte, 1840 from Turkish marine waters. The specimen measured 720 mm in total length and was caught by means of a commercial purse-seiner at a depth of 60 m. The species appeared to be sporadically caught in the area and the eastern Mediterranean Sea, however, the size diversity of recorded specimens shows the species still occurred in the region. Although the smoothback angel shark is listed as a protected species according to Turkish Marine Fisheries Act, a management plan should be integrated with local fisheries to preserve the species from extirpation throughout its distribution range in Turkish seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A single specimen of the invasive alien species Phyllorhiza punctata was found in Urla (İzmir Bay), constituting its new record in the North Aegean Sea, and indicating its northward distributional expansion. The specimen was juvenile, with a bell diameter of 70 mm. As blooms of this species might cause economic losses and adverse ecosystem changes, its establishment success in the region should be continuously monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea-cage fish farms cause wild fish to aggregate nearby. Nevertheless, it is still not clear to what extent the attraction effect around sea-cage fish farms varies according to the type and size of the reared species. We examined this attraction effect in six sea-cage fish farms across the Aegean Sea using an integrated approach combining these variables with seasonal and spatial factors. Six 5-minute rapid visual counts were conducted on each farm complex for comparing the wild fish aggregations around the sea-cages concerning both cultivated species (seabass and seabream) and their sizes (adult and juvenile). We counted a total of 509,061 fishes, representing 36 species and 18 families. While 292,377 fish belonging to 34 species were counted in seabass cages, 216,684 fish belonging to 27 species were counted at seabream cages. In addition, 160,192 fish belonging to 28 species were counted around the juvenile cages, while 348,869 fish belonging to 34 species were counted at adult fish cages. The study shows that wild fish communities are formed around the sea-cages where seabass and seabream are reared in both adult and juvenile sizes in the Aegean Sea. According to our results, the fish species reared in the cages do not have a statistically significant effect on the wild fish community structure around the cages, whereas fish size, which was correlated with cage biomass and a longer history of feeding, had a strong effect. Other factors affecting the wild fish community structure around the cages are the season and the location of the cages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This ichthyologic note presents the incidental catch of Zu cristatus from a commercial long-liner from the northeastern Aegean Sea. On 14 March 2023, a specimen of Zu cristatus was collected by a commercial deep-sea long-liner, targeting European hake at a depth of 600 m in Saros Bay on the northern Aegean coast of Türkiye. In this short report, we confirmed its occurrence in the Turkish Aegean waters of the eastern Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reticulated leatherjacket, Stephanolepis diaspros Fraser-Brunner, 1940 is one of the very first Lessepsian settlers in the Mediterranean. On 22 June 2020 a specimen of Stephanolepis diaspros (catalogue number: ESFM-PIS/2020-02) with 305 mm in total length (TL) was captured by an angler off Yassıcaada, Urla, Izmir Bay on sandy bottom at a depth of 18 m. The present ichthyologic record demonstrates maximum size of S. diaspros species and even, this large size is unique in the Mediterranean and the world seas until a new one is reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the relationship between physico-chemical variables on a seasonal basis and wild fish assemblages beneath sea-cage fish farms. Assemblages of wild fish were counted monthly on two separate days at each of six fish farms between August 2015 and July 2017, by six rapid visual counts (RVC) in 5 minutes with scuba by two divers. Seawater samples were simultaneously taken by a Nansen bottle during the RVC from the fish farm barge. SST (°C), salinity (ppm), dissolved oxygen (mg l−1) and pH were measured by YSI multiparameter, while Secchi disk was also used for light transmittance. Wild fish species richness went up with increasing temperature and salinity in the Izmir region, however, this stopped at about 26°C and about 39 ppm. Wild fish richness increased when the DO was at a level of 7 mg l−1 and the pH at about 7.9 in Izmir. Between 10 and 20 m, light transmittance showed greater wild fish species richness in Izmir region. In contrast, the wild fish species richness of the Muğla region fluctuated more. In terms of wild fish species richness, these fluctuations increased with salinity and DO, while they decreased with SST, pH and light transmittance. However, the range of variation of the recorded physico-chemical variables is rather narrow. The results of the correlation matrix indicate that the relationship between wild fish species richness and pH and SST was statistically significant in Izmir region (P < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The food composition of whiting, Merlangius merlangus , caught around the sea-cage fish farms off the coast of Perşembe, was analysed and compared with the diet of whiting from a control site off the coast of Fatsa (Ordu Province, south-eastern Black Sea). A total of 815 stomach samples were collected during the study, and of these, 195 (23.9%) were empty. According to the percentage of relative importance index (IRI%), pellet food (47.8%) and Annelida (25%) were the main prey groups of whiting in the sea-cage fish farms area, while unidentified teleost (85.3%) and Engraulis encrasicolus (8.2%) were dominant in the control site. The other prey groups in both areas were Crustaceans (Mysidae, Amphipoda, Upogebia sp.), Sprattus sprattus and Gobius spp. Seasonally, pellet food was the most consumed food in all seasons, but Mysidae was the first preference of whiting around the sea-cage fish farms in spring. In the control site, unidentified teleost was the first preference in all seasons, except winter, where E. encrasicolus was the first choice, followed by crustaceans and S. sprattus in winter. Bray–Curtis analysis shows that seasonally, there is no significant difference in the sea-cage fish farms, while there is significant difference in the control site, and two-dimensional nMDS of IRI% revealed a clear separation between both sites. SIMPER analysis revealed that the most contributing factors to the differences between seasons were pellet food in the sea-cage fish farms, and E. encrasicolus in the control site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Fish farms attract both juvenile and adult wild fishes in great numbers and diversity. These wild fishes also become an easy target stock for local fishers, both professional and recreational. There are three groups of interest in this study, the fish farmers, small-scale fishermen (professional), and recreational fishers (mostly anglers but also spear fishers). This study was intended to determine conflicts derived from the adverse social and bioecological interactions from the perspective of both local fishermen and fish farmers and to determine the observed incidence of predators. Material and methods. In this study, 48 randomly selected fish farms, 28 fishery cooperatives, and 33 fishing ports located close to aquaculture areas were visited for face-to-face interviews with the fishermen of small-scale fisheries (SSF) between July 2015 and July 2017. The main purpose of the survey questionnaire was to ask SSF fishermen for their opinion about offshore aquaculture and vice versa--ask the fish farmers about SSF, emphasizing issues potentially creating problems. Data were collected mainly on sociodemographic profiles, current problems, reciprocal conflict issues, the impact of offshore fish farming on SSF activities, and on bioecological interactions such as predator attacks and problems with farm fish escapes. Results. Approximately 77% of fishermen in Izmir and 71% of fishermen in Muğla declared that they had problems with the sea-cage fish farms. On the other hand, 40% of fish farmers in Izmir and 54% of fish farmers in Muğla reported problems with local SSF. The fishermen believe that in recent years, Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), sea turtle (Caretta caretta), and invasive fish (pufferfish, etc.) populations have been increasing in Muğla. Additionally, 46% of Muğla fish farmers and 60% of Izmir fish farmers acknowledged cases of fishes escaping from sea-cages. In terms of the predators, 84% of Muğla and 75% of Izmir's fishermen expressed their concerns regarding predator attacks on the sea-cage farms. Conclusion. Further studies, based on socioeconomic issues, are needed for better understanding the dimensions of incomes and economic losses of SSF and cooperation issues in the area where the interaction is high. We suggest that all stakeholders, small-scale fishermen, in particular, must be integrated with a management plan, and the cooperation among both fishing groups should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A total of 986 garfish were collected from commercial fisheries, using encircling nets between October 2016 and December 2017 in Sinop, Central Black Sea. The length and weight distribution of all garfish samples ranged from 28.8 to 51.6 cm TL and from 26.6 to 177.2 g, respectively. Female: male ratio was 0.3:1. The LWR parameters (a, b, r2) were computed as 0.0009 ± 0.50, 3.040 ± 0.32 and 0.902 ±0.40, respectively. The age of garfish was between 1 and 4 years. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters with standard errors were L∞= 55.74 ±26.75 cm, K= 0.28 ±0.42, and t0=-1.68 ±2.02. Natural, fishing and total mortality of the garfish were 0.47, 0.69 and 1.16, respectively. The current study revealed that about 68% of the fish caught were of size smaller than the first maturity length. In addition, exploitation rate was found to be higher than optimum. On the other words, there is a fishing pressure on the garfish stock in the Black Sea due to absence of minimum landing size (MLS) of the garfish. Apart from direct fishing control measures aiming to reduce fishing mortality, the establishment of a MLS of 38cm that coincides with the length at first maturity would be also beneficial for the stock. Our results suggest that the garfish stock undergoes high levels of fishing pressure and the adoption of management measures is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reports a specimen marlin sucker, Remora osteochir, as second record from the Turkish waters and the third for the eastern Mediterranean where the species appears to be very rare. The reasons for such scarcity are explained and a short description of the specimen is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of imperial blackfish Schedophilus ovalis was caught on 15 April 2018 from the Gülbahce coasts, Izmir Bay at a depth of 8 m. This ichthyologic note presents the first confirmed record of imperial blackfish from the shallow waters of Izmir Bay, NE Aegean Sea and the third for the Turkish waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two specimens of the thornback ray, Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758, from Turkish waters, exhibiting deformities of disc and tail are described in the present paper. One of these specimens had a colour pattern similar to type 7, vermiculated, it could constitute a transitional step between Raja clavata and its close relative species Raja maderensis Lowe, 1838. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, is a pelagic and highly migratory species distributed in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. Swordfish fishing has been carried out in the Mediterranean with longlines, gillnets, harpoons, and traps since the Roman times. Although information is available on the influence of the lunar phase on the catch per unit effort (CPUE) for the swordfish longline fishery in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the data concerning the Mediterranean is rather limited. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between the lunar phase and the swordfish CPUE, based on data from Turkish longline fisheries, targeting swordfish in the eastern Mediterranean during the 2008-2016 fishing seasons. Material and methods. We monitored randomly the daily fishing activity of longliners based at the ports of Fethiye and Özdere during 2008-2016. A total of 86 surveying operations were carried out, including 79 in the area between Fethiye and Alanya, the remaining ones were in Özdere in the southern Aegean coasts along the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The effect of the lunar phase on the swordfish catch rates, expressed in terms of kg · 1000 hooks-1, was examined by means of the Generalized Additive Modelling (GAMs) techniques. Results. The observed CPUE rates ranged from 0 to 700 kg · 1000 hooks-1. The mean swordfish CPUEs in the dark and light periods of the lunar cycle were equal to 178.10 ± 19.01 and 175.27 ± 19.56 kg · 1000 hooks-1, respectively. Although no significant differences among phases of the Moon were found (P > 0.05), CPUEs differed significantly between years (P < 0.05). Conclusion. It seems that the mechanism linking swordfish CPUE variations with the lunar cycle involves several factors, making difficult the identification of direct relations. Further studies are needed to better clarify the impact of the lunar phase on the longline gear, considering also additional parameters, such as light transition, prey abundance, physico-chemical characteristics of the marine environment, and the soak time of the gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of Lessepsian migrant, Stephanolepis diaspros, 257 mm in total length, was caught on 10 January 2018 by a scoop net in Göltürkbükü fishing port, Güllük Bay, on the sandy bottom at a depth of 1 m. This record was the maximum size for both the Turkish seas and the Mediterranean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report in this paper the capture of a large female of Bathytoshia lata (Garman 1880) measuring 2220 mm in disc width and weighing approximatively 350 kg. It was a pregnant female at the end of the gestation which carried six near-term embryos. The specimen and its capture are described, indicating that the species is probably threatened but not totally extinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskål, 1775) was caught on 4 October 2018 by a commercial gillnet fishery from shallow waters of the Gulf of Izmir, northern Aegean Sea, at a depth of 8 m. The presently reported study constitutes the first record of the mangrove red snapper for the Aegean Sea but also the third record for the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of lessepsian Stephanolepis diaspros, 177 mm in total length, was caught on 27 October 2014 by a commercial trammel net off Urla coast in Izmir Bay on sandy bottom at a depth of 6 m. This record is not only the first one but also the fifth lessepsian fish species found in Izmir Bay in the northern Aegean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of the saddled bream, Oblada melanura, with 357 mm TL, was caught on 30 April 2014 by gillnet fishery in Kokar Cove, Sığacık Bay, the southern Aegean Sea. The present study reports not only the second maximum length record of O. melanura for the Mediterranean, but also the maximum record for the Turkish seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blackchin guitarfish, Rhinobatos cemiculus, is rather abundantly captured in the eastern tropical Atlantic, especially off Senegal and Mauritania. In the Mediterranean western basin, R. cemiculus is unknown at present off the European shore but is rather frequent off southern areas; conversely, the species occurs throughout the eastern basin. Two large specimens recorded for the first time in İzmir Bay, northern Aegean Sea, are reported and described in this note. These findings constitute the northernmost records of R. cemiculus in both the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, and they significantly extend the species' distribution known to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of swordfish harpoon fishery for the first time in the Turkish Aegean Sea. This research was carried out with commercial harpooners for swordfish in Kaleköy fishing port, Gökçeada Island, a unique harpooning area in Turkish waters during fishing seasons in 2009 and 2010. Catch data (number of specimens and weight of each fish) were recorded on daily basis by both scientific observers and questionnaire with skippers. The effective fishing days at sea were used as a unit of fishing effort. The harpooning data collected during the two seasons (2009-2010) from 21 vessels in Saros Bay showed a total of 20555 kg and 544 specimens. The average CPUEs were 49.7 ± 8.5 kg and 1.3 ± 0.2 in number of fish per day for 2009, and 25.7 ± 12.5 kg and 0.8 ± 0.3 in number of fish per day for 2010. There was no significant difference in the means of swordfish CPUE values both in number and weight between two fishing seasons (2009-2010) (P>0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the batch fecundity (BF) and oocyte diameters of Belone belone from the Aegean Sea (Izmir and Candarli Bays). A total of 51 female specimens of garfish were collected from January to December 2003. Oocyte diameters (n = 12140) of B. belone ranged from 0.063 to 3.5 mm, concentrating between 0.063 and 1.5 mm. The fish weight - BF relationships according to both hydrated oocyte and oocyte size frequency methods were BF = - 0.3794 W + 192.22 (R² = 0.037) and BF = 5.165 W - 55.21 (R² = 0.218), respectively. Mean oocyte numbers in the ovaries were 4144 ± 604 with varied from 662 to 15962. Maximum BF was 2130 (mean: 670 ± 97) in hydrated oocytes, and 8189 (mean: 1667 ± 559) in large oocytes. There was no linear relationship between BF and fish weight according to determination coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of the Tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna, with 735 mm TL, was caught on 2 January 2013 by an angler on a boat in Sığacık Bay, Southern Aegean Sea. The given size is the second maximum length record of C. lucerna, however, it is a first confirmed record for the Turkish seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Fishing operations for albacore, Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788), are mainly carried out by pelagic longline in the Mediterranean, whereas driftnets are the main fishing gear for albacore catch in Turkey. The albacore driftnet fishery has been carried out since 2004 and about 40 vessels participated in this venture between May and July especially in the Gulf of Antalya. The aim of this study was to determine the Catch Per Unit of Effort (CPUE) and bycatch from the Turkish albacore fleet during the 2010-2011 fishing seasons. Materials and methods. This study was carried out with 18 representative drift-netters based at the port of Alanya, Kaş, Fethiye, and Siğacik from May to July 2010 and from May to July 2011. On each fishing trip, data were collected on date, location, depth, fishing boat characteristics, fishing gear aspects, and the capture of both target and non-target species by weight (biomass) and number. Results. A total of 125 data sets were collected. The mean CPUEs for albacore by number and weight were 13 ± 1.6 specimens and 90 ± 11 kg per km of net, respectively. A total of 12 species, belonging to 9 families were caught during the sampling period. The target species--albacore--had the highest ratio both in number (76.6%) and weight (62.8%) followed by, Euthynnus alletteratus, Xiphias gladius, Thunnus thynnus, and Auxis rochei. Ratios of biomass and number ratios of the non-target species to the target albacore were 1 : 0.59 kg and 1 : 0.31 individuals, respectively. Conclusion. Traditional Turkish pelagic driftnet fishery, dating back to the early 1900s, was halted in July 2011 by the Turkish fisheries authority to comply with the international ban. The Turkish fisheries authority strongly supports the transition towards the usage of pelagic longlines as recommended by ICCAT and should supply technical support to the fishermen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out with 20 representative gill-netters based at the port of Sivrice and Sığacık from June 2008 to August 2010. The average length, gross tonnage (GT), machine power (hp) and number of personnel of the gill-netters were 10.4±0.6 m, 10.5±2.3 GT, 121.4±19.9 hp and 3.4±0.2 persons, respectively. Total length of all observed gillnets was reaching 339 km, ranged from 700 to 6000 m with average 2672 ±93 m. The mean CPUEs for swordfish by number and weight were calculated as 1.0 ±0.1 and 37.7 ±4.2 kg per km net, respectively. A total of 12 species, belongs to nine families were caught. The target species, swordfish had the highest ratio both in number (39.2%) and weight (73.1%) followed by Auxis roche± > Euthynnus alletteratus > Thunnus thynnus > Thunnus alalunga by number; Thunnus thynnus > Mola mola > Euthynnus alletteratus > Mobula mobular by weight. Biomass and number ratios of the non-target species to the target swordfish were 1:0.37 and 1:1.55, respectively. Four species, Caretta caretta, Dasyatis violacea, Mobula mobular, Mola mola were thrown back to the sea and the others were retained due to commercial value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specimens of twaite shad, Alosa fallax were sampled from commercial purse seiners and trammel netters in Izmir Bay during November and December 2007. A total of 287 prey items from 14 taxa from 208 stomachs were recorded. The primary food of twaite shad was found to be fish, especially anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, which was the most frequent (%F = 66.11) and abundant (%N = 63.64) prey item, and also had the highest percentage by weight (%W = 81.91). Decapoda, Isopoda, Ostracoda and Copepoda (Calanus spp., Candocia armata, Temora stylifera from Calanoida and Corycaeus spp. from Cyclopodia), were recorded occasionally with low values for all indices. The study showed that in the Aegean Sea Alosa fallax is a predator of small pelagic fish, E. encrasicolus, A. boyeri, S. pilchardus, and some crustaceans. Benthopelagic P. acarne and demersal S. hepatus were first recorded in diet of twaite shad. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Age and growth of adult gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata were determined from 332 specimens (total N = 476), collected from purse-seiners, in the south-eastern Aegean Sea from November 2006 to January 2007. The fork length and body wet weight ranged from 26.5 to 51.5 cm (mean: 36.6 ± 0.18) and from 375 to 2600 g (mean: 1009.2 ± 14.16), respectively. Age groups were varied between 2 and 7. Growth parameters were estimated as L∞ = 64.97 ± 12.93 cm, K = 0.14 ± 0.07 year−1, t0 = −2.47 ± 1.09 year−1, and index of phi-prime was Φ′ = 2.772 ± 0.51. The length–weight relationship equation of all fish was calculated as W = 0.0515 × L2.737 (r2 = 0.95). The mean condition factor was estimated as 2.058. Mortalities (M, F and Z) and exploitation rate (E) of gilthead seabream from the Aegean Sea were 0.34 year−1, 0.77 year−1, 1.11 year−1and 0.69 year−1, respectively. The result of E indicated that the population was overexploited. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article focuses on Lagocephalus guentheri from the family Tetraodontidae being found in the north-eastern Aegean sea.

A new record of a Lessepsian migrant, the striped piggy, Pomadasys stridens (Forsskål, 1775), in Turkish waters is reported herewith. The specimen was captured off the Akyaka coast in Gökova Bay, SE Aegean Sea and measured 130 mm in total length. Other measurements and counts are also provided, as well as the list of other Mediterranean records. This finding constitutes the fist record of this fish from the Aegean Sea and the third record from Turkish marine waters. It is also the northernmost report of this species in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Length-weight relationships (LWRs) are presented for 17 fish species caught from Gökova Bay (southeastern Aegean Sea) during he 2006 fishing season. Fish samples were collected from small-scale trammel nets and longline fisheries. The values of b ranged from 2.086 (±0.152) for Sphyraena sphyraena to 3.499 (±0.058) for Scomber japonicus. The median value of b was 3.055 (±0.081). The r² values ranged from 0.712 for Sphyraena chrysotaenia to 0.996 for Scomber japonicus and all relationships were highly significant (P < 0.001). Estimated LWR parameters of 4 species, Dicentrarchus labrax, Seriola dumerili, Siganus luridus and Sphyraena sphyraena, for Turkish waters are presented for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gökova Bay, which is located in Mugla in Turkish Aegean Sea, has total area of 52000 hectares, including 24500 hectares territorial waters. This area is one of the eight protected marine areas in Turkey which has been protecting since 1989. This study reports an investigation carried out on set net fishery in two main fishing ports, Akyaka and Akçapınar in Gökova Bay (Aegean Sea) between September 2002 and August 2003. The fish and invertebrate species caught from set net fishery were typical of those that inhabit coastal embayments in the Mediterranean. Liza saliens, Scomberomorus commerson, Pagellus erythrinus, Mullus surmuletus and Octopus vulgaris species dominated in the commercial catch. A total of 33 finfish, 6 invertebrate species were identified from commercial catches in set netting. Fishing effort and CPUE (catch per unit effort) in biomass of fish were recorded in rather low values in Gökova Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceyhan, T., Akyol, O., Ayaz, A., and Juanes, F. 2007. Age, growth, and reproductive season of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) in the Marmara region, Turkey. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 531–536.Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) are distributed widely along the Turkish coasts, and are regularly captured, especially in the Sea of Marmara during their spawning migration to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean in spring and during their return migration south in early autumn. Age, growth, and reproductive season are reported. The ages of 1114 bluefish were determined from otoliths. The age groups ranged from 0 to III, and mean fork lengths (and weights) were 14.4 ± 0.12 cm (38.2 ± 1.02 g), 19.5 ± 0.06 cm (93.7 ± 0.86 g), 27.5 ± 0.48 cm (238.5 ± 11.3 g), and 33.3 ± 0.50 cm (431.9 ± 17.08 g) for each age group, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L∞ = 51 cm, K = 0.228, and t0 = −1.26 y. The reproductive period, evaluated from gonadosomatic indices, began in early spring and extended until August. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study reports an investigation carried out on swordfish drift-net fishery at 2 main swordfish fishing ports, Sivrice (northern) and Fethiye (southern), in the Aegean Sea in 2001-2002. Forty-five boats are used for swordfish fishing in the Turkish Aegean Sea. In these major areas, the highest number of boats 6-10 m in length and 11.5-80 hp in engine power was in the Sivrice area, while the highest number 10-14 m in length and 85-135 hp in engine power was in the Fethiye area. Almost all of the boats were made of wood. Swordfish drift-netting accurs in practice between Sivrice and the island of Lesvos and in both national and international waters between Fethiye and Rhodes. The drift nets are made of multiflament polyamide (PA) netting yarn, 210d/54-60 no, are about 3 to 7 km long, have a 500 mm mesh opening and are 20 meshes deep at Sivrice. They are about 14 km long, made up of various nets mixed together with 4 km for leerfish (Lichia amia) and 6 km for bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), have a 440 mm mesh opening, and are 30 meshes deep in the part for swordfish in Fethiye. Illuminated buoys are attached to each side of the net. Fishing effort and catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the swordfish biomass were rather low at Sivrice. The low CPUE in the biomass was probably the result of worsening meteorological conditions in the region. In each area, bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), little tunnies (Euthynnus alletteratus), Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone), albacores (Thunnus alalunga), bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), dolphins (Delphinus delphis), manta rays (Mobula mobular), sunfish (Mola mola) and sharks (Mustelus vulgaris) were recorded as non-target catches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, findings of the qualities and quantities of commercial and trash catches from beach-seining in coastal waters of the Aegean Sea are presented. A total of 62 finfish and eight invertebrate taxa were identified in catches sampled during May, June, July and September 1996, with 42 taxa being retained and 28 taxa being genuine trash catches. The estimated total ratio of commercial to genuine trash catch (kg) was 1:0.273. The fish and invertebrate species caught from beach seine fishery were typical of those that inhabit coastal embayments in the Aegean Sea. Diplodus vulgaris, Diplodus annularis, Sarpa salpa, Pagellus erythrinus, Boops boops, Spicara flexuosa and Mullus barbatus species dominated finfish catch, whereas Loligo vulgaris, Octopus vulgaris and Eledone moschata species from Cephalopods dominated in the commercial catch. Serranus cabrilla, Chromis chromis, Raja mirelatus, Bothus podas, Crenilabrus tinca, Dasyatis pastinaca, Lepidotrigla cavillone, Raja clavata and Serranus scriba species dominated the finfish catch and Holothuria tubulosa from the class Holothuridea dominated and some Crustaceans (e.g. Squilla mantis, Palaemon sp.) in the genuine trash catch. The rate of trash fish was found to be 21% of the total catch. This proportion supports the continued prohibition on the use of beach-seining gear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of Champsodon vorax Günther, 1867, of 113 mm SL, was caught on 6 September 2014 with a bottom trawl from the entrance of the Bay of Izmir, north-eastern Aegean Sea at a depth of 65 m. The presently reported study constitutes the fi rst record for the Aegean Sea but also the fourth record for the Mediterranean Sea. The specimen described in this paper is the largest individual reported to date from the Mediterranean. As it is evident from the spatial dynamics of all successive records of C. vorax in the Mediterranean this gaper seems to be a rapidly expanding species. It disperses both westwards and northwards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specimen of the serpent eel, Ophisurus serpens, with a total length of 1917 mm was caught on 2 March 2014 by an angler on a boat off the coast of Karaburun, in front of the Sarpıncık lighthouse. This specimen is the second record for the central Aegean Sea since that of Aliağa, Çandarlı Bay, in August 1966. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 2 August 2013, a specimen of the cobia, Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766), was caught off Marmaris, south-eastern Aegean coast of Turkey. The fish was examined and morphometric characteristics of the specimen collected were determined. The species is being reported from the second time in the Mediterranean, preceded by its first occurrence off Haifa, Israel in 1978. The newly caught specimen was larger (SL) than the previously recorded individual (923 mm vs. 766 mm). All measurements, counts, and colour patterns determined were consistent with earlier published descriptions of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 2 June 2010, an abnormally pigmented specimen of Solea solea L. with a total length of 222 mm was obtained near Tuzla, from the İzmir Bay of the Aegean Sea. This is the first record of abnormal pigmentation in the wild common sole from the Aegean Sea. The specimen fish is patterned with both hypermelanosis on the blind side and hypomelanosis on the ocular side. Th is kind of malpigmentation in any flatfish is not typical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]