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Highlight Investigated in heavy metal bio-accumulation in red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and Common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) collected in Zliten Coast, Libya.Based on the samples collected, the muscle tissue of fish species may be considered suitable for human consumption.The metal concentration levels observed were in range of acceptable limits proposed by regulations of WHO and FAO.AbstractThe current study aimed to determine the heavy metal concentration like as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in the liver, gills, gonad and muscles in two fish species (red mullet (Mullus barbatus), and common Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) collected from the Zliten coast in Libya. The levels of heavy metals were determined by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that the concentration of heavy metals in the sampled fishes less than the permissible limits for human consumption. In addition, the bioaccumulation for Cu, Pb, Cd, and Hg by both fish species was: liver >gills > gonads > muscles, while Zn follows the sequence: gonads > liver > gills > muscles.

Recently, despite long-term systematic research of the Adriatic Sea ecosystem, the necessity to improve the existing protection of commercially exploited species occurred since the status of many renewable marine stocks were not in good state. In order to realize that review of scientific knowledge gather within the last two decades was required. In this paper emphasis has been placed on all the scientific knowledge concerning the reproductive biology, spawning and nursery grounds of four ecologically and economically important Adriatic fish species – sardine Sardina pilchardus, anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, European hake Merluccius merluccius, Common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus. Main aim of this review was to establish new scientific platform that in near future should result with better conservation measures that will insure long-term sustainability of exploited marine living resources., U novije vrijeme, unatoč dugoročnom sustavnom istraživanju ekosustava Jadranskog mora, a s obzirom da status većine obnovljivih morskih stokova nije u biološki dobrom stanju biomase, pojavila se nužnost proširenja postojeće zaštite komercijalno iskorištavanih vrsta. Kako bi se to realiziralo bilo je potrebito napraviti pregled svih znanstvenih spoznaja stečenih u posljednja dva desetljeća. Tako je u ovom preglednom radu naglasak stavljen na znanstvene činjenice vezane uz reproduktivnu biologiju kao i mrijestilišta i rastilišta četiriju ekološki i ekonomski važnih jadranskih vrsta riba – srdela Sardina pilchardus, brgljun Engraulis encrasicolus, oslić Merluccius merluccius, arbun Pagellus erythrinus. Glavni cilj ovog preglednog rada je bio stvoriti novu znanstvenu platformu koja bi u bliskoj budućnosti trebala rezultirati boljim mjerama očuvanja koje bi nadalje rezultirale dugoročnim održivim iskorištavanjem živih morskih resursa u Jadranu.

Pagellus erythrinus is a commercial fish in Lebanese marine waters. This species has been exploited by artisanal fisheries using gill or trammel nets, longlines and beach seines. Therefore, monthly biological P. erythrinus data have been collected since 2015 by the National Center for Marine Sciences – National Council for Scientific Research. Data from 2015, 2016, and 2017 were used to assess the growth and biology of this species along the Lebanese coast. A total of 1315 females and 446 males were collected and the sex ratio showed significant bias from 1:1. The weight-length relationship showed a negative allometry (b = 2.912 and R2 = 0.97), and the length ± SD at which 50% of the individuals were sexually mature was 16.38 ± 0.16 cm for both sexes. The average gonado-somatic index and condition factor demonstrated that the spawning period of the common pandora population is spring and revealed the well-being of the population. Keywords: Common pandora, Eastern Mediterranean, life history

The aim of this study was to describe the age, growth and relationships between otolith morphometry and fish length, weight and age of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus. This study was carried out from the shores of Gizli liman to Kefalos Cape in the north of Gökçeada Island, between March and June 2018. The samples were collected at depths of 40-120 m by long lines. The 66 individuals obtained from red porgy ranged in total length (TL) from 13.5 to 50 cm. The calculated length– weight relationship was determined as W=0.016TL2.9653 (R2=0.98). Individual ages were macroscopically determined by counting the annuli of sagittal otoliths. Estimated ages ranged from 1–12 years. The von Bertalanffy growth curve was fitted to the age/total length data as follows: L∞=51.48 cm, K= 0.18 and t0=-0.27. The red porgy sagittal otolith length, width and mass were measured between 4.96–14.72 mm, 3.49–7.85 mm and 0.0199–0.2460 g, respectively. No significant differences in otolith morphometry were found between left and right otoliths. This study provides valuable data for the stock assessment of common pandora in the fishing grounds of Gökçeada Island located in the North Aegean Sea.

Based on length, weight, and age data, we examined allometry and growth parameters for common pandora, Pagellus erythrinus, commercially collected seasonally from northern and southern Tunisian coasts in 2007. A total of 370 specimens (14–27.5 cm in length) were used to assess the allometric variation at seasonal scales. The slope b values (regression coefficient) of the length-weight relationship varied between 2.494 to 3.237, indicating (roughly) an isometric to negative allometric growth pattern. The allometric relationship, as a proxy for fish condition, seems to be affected by seasons and sex in the northern population, while only seasons seem to have a strong effect in the southern population, as indicated by ANOVA. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were identified at L ∞ = 34.076 and 28.017 cm, k = 0.153 and 0.150/year, and t 0 = −1.922 and −3.961 years for the northern and southern sample, respectively.

WOS: 000496712200006, In this study, it was evaluated that the effectiveness of horizontal separator panel in the demersal trawl net. A modified trawl net, 900 fishing circle, divided into two separate panels as lower and upper panel from the beginning of trawl mouth. Experiments were carried out in the Gulbahce Bay/Izmir/Turkey between 29.04.2013 - 08.05.2013 with R/V "EGESUF". Trawl hauls are standardized at 45 minutes. Lower (LB) and upper bag (UB), which have polyamide 20 mm mesh sizes, were constructed for obtained the species in lower and upper parts. After hauling up the gear, the catches from the LB and UB were emptied onto the deck separately, sorted by species, and weighed. in addition, total lengths were measure for red mullet (Mullus barbatus), annular sea bream (Dipldus annularis), Common pandora (Pagellus erythinus) and Blotched picarel (Spicara maena). T test was utilized for differences between LB and UB catches. the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (K-S) test was used to compare length distributions of the LB and UB specimens for red mullet, annular sea bream, common pandora and blotched picarel. A totally 21 hauls were performed. in total 790.1 kg belonging to 51 species was caught. As weight 80 % of species retained in LB and 20% in UB (P

The present study examined reproduction biologies of 336 and 384 individuals of native Pagellus erythrinus and non-native Nemipterus randalli species captured using trammel nets in Marmaris Bay on a monthly basis from January to December 2018. Total length, weight and sex ratios in N. randalli obtained by trammel net were 9.2-21.2 cm (mean +/- SD; 16.2 +/- 2.43), 9.15-142.63 g (mean +/- SD; 61.23 +/- 29.12), 1:0.41, respectively. First maturity lengths for female and male individuals of N. randalli were 13.11 cm and 15.55 cm, respectively. Linear relationship between total length and fecundity of the species whose fecundity was 37785- 55200 (mean +/- SD; 46172 +/- 7450) was calculated as F=1445.1TL+34612 (R-2=0.75). For P. erythrinus species, total length and weight and sex ratios were 10.2-28.5 cm ( mean +/- SD; 18.50 +/- 3.37), 10.27-307.14 g (mean +/- SD; 88.53 +/- 48.57) and 1:0.64, respectively. The first maturity lengths of P. erythrinus were 12.69 cm in females and 14.83 cm in males, respectively. The fecundity of the species was found to be 34503-125102 eggs (mean +/- SD; 65863 +/- 25258). Linear relationship between total length and fecundity was F=10289TL-179 788 (R-2= 0.76).

In this study, the level of bioaccumulation of some trace metals (Cu, Zn, Hg, and Ni) by three demersal fishes of the Algerian coast (the red mullet “Mullus barbatus”, the European hake “Merluccius merluccius”, and the common pandora “Pagellus erythrinus”) in relation to their biochemical composition (proteins, lipids and carbohydrates) was estimated. Thirty individuals of each fish species separated into two size classes were collected at different sites during an oceanographic survey along the Algerian coast in the summer of 2013. The specimens were dissected to obtain fish tissue samples from the muscles, liver, and gonads. A difference in the bioaccumulation of the metals analyzed between the three species of fish in relation to sex, size, and organs was revealed. Therefore, a difference in the biochemical composition of the three organs (muscle, liver, and gonads) of the three fishes has been revealed. In addition, significant correlations between Carbohydrates—Zinc, Proteins—Copper and Proteins—Nickel, respectively, were unveiled. However, the lipid level showed no significant correlation with all analyzed metals. Nevertheless, the three fishes (red mullet, European hake, and common pandora) from Ghazaouet and Bou-Ismail bays showed high concentrations on the trace metals analyzed compared to other areas.

Genetic structure and growth characteristics of common pandora Pagellus erythrinus populations collected from the Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya Bays were revealed through D-loop sequencing of mtDNA and length-weight and age-length relationships. While the highest value of genetic diversity was obtained in the Mersin population (0.0024), the lowest value was in Iskenderun population (0.0006). A total of 9 haplotypes was found and mean haplotype diversity was found 0.7485. The highest genetic divergence was observed between the Mersin and Iskenderun Bay populations (0.0206), whereas the Iskenderun and Antalya Bay populations had the least genetic divergence (0.0165). BioMorphv3 was used for determining the length-weight and age-length relationships. The length-weight relationships for all individuals of Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya populations were estimated as W=0.0693 x L2.3887 (r=0.9456), W=0.0786 x L2.3338 (r=0.9473) and W=0.0693 x L2.3887 (r=0.9542), respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all individuals of Iskenderun, Mersin and Antalya populations were calculated as Lt=39.22 [1-e0.210(t+0.32)], Lt=50.48 [1-e0.120(t+2.76)], Lt=38.08 [1-e0.158(t+0.48)], respectively. Published by Central Fisheries Research Institute (SUMAE) Trabzon, Turkey. 2-s2.0-85083346465

PubMedID: 29808452 Caligus pagelli Delamare Deboutteville & Nuñes-Ruivo, 1958, a rare and poorly known sea louse, is redescribed based on newly collected specimens of both sexes. The new material was collected from the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus) caught in western Mediterranean waters off Corsica. The original and only available description of C. pagelli was incomplete and based only on females. Here we redescribe the female in detail, and describe the male for the first time. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature.

We investigated young-of-the-year (YOY) growth, age, and hatching distributions of common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) by analyzing otolith microstructure. This study was carried out in shallow waters (0-20 m) off the island of Gokceada, Turkey, from June 2013 through June 2014. A total of 231 YOY common pandora were measured and aged. These fish ranged from 12 to 110 mm in total length and from 38 through 242 d in age. The indices for determining variability in daily age estimates (average percentage error and coefficient of variation) were 4.9% and 3.4%, respectively. Average daily growth rate was calculated from a linear regression of the age-length data set as 0.52 mm/d. A linear relationship was found between otolith morphometric measurements (otolith length, width, and radius) and total length for YOY common pandora. The hatching times of common pandora were back-calculated to occur from February through October, and 2 main hatching cohorts were evident in spring (March) and summer (August).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunoglobulin E (IgE) sensitivity to common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) parvalbumin (CPP) in a Moroccan population from the Fez region, and then to study the effect of temperature and enzymatic digestion on the allergenicity of CPP. This work was conducted with a questionnaire completed by a sera-bank, obtained from 500 patients recruited from Fez hospitals. Their sera were analyzed for specific IgE against CPP. Evaluation of specific IgE showed that 11.8% of patients present higher values (>150 IU/ml). Further indirect ELISA and dot-blot results indicated that CPP showed a decrease in the binding of anti-IgE under heating with an average diminution of 41.9%, while pepsin hydrolysis reduced IgE recognition by 22.9%. These results demonstrate that this population was sensitive to CPP and the sensitivity could be reduced by heating and pepsin hydrolysis with an action higher with temperature than enzymatic digestion processing.

Many marine organisms have complex genetic patterns that cannot be easily resolved by data analysis on spatial distribution of variability usually applied in population genetic studies. We propose an analytical framework to evaluate the role of dispersal during early life stages that considers the actual hydrodynamic connectivity in the Mediterranean Sea, as a factor shaping the population structure of demersal fishes. To this purpose, and to test different scenarios of gene flow, genotypes of individuals of Pagellus erythrinus sampled at 12 sites in the central Mediterranean Sea were analyzed at ten microsatellite loci. The results show the lack of genetic structure in western Mediterranean basin and a pattern of gene flow that deviates from an isolation by distance model. The observed gene flow estimates appear to be scale-dependent. At local scale, it is likely the result of multifactorial components, whereas at a larger scale it is mainly driven by the sea currents, directly influencing dispersal of larvae between sites not reachable by adult movements. Our results stress the importance of a quantitative analysis of potential early life stage dispersal in any study focusing on the population structure of fishes with a long larval stage.

The implementation of gamete cryobanking in aquaculture may improve hatchery practices such as assisted reproduction and genetic selection of desired strains. This paper preliminarily investigated the technical feasibility of cryobanking semen of the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus, an important fishery resource in the Mediterranean area and a promising species for the diversification of productions. Post-thawing motility was evaluated in common pandora semen samples cryopreserved according to eight previously selected protocols and stored in liquid nitrogen for eight years. In order to mimic the practical use of long-term cryostored semen samples, the proportion of living sperm in which motility could be activated was evaluated, by computer-assisted analysis, on thawing and after 3 h of post-thawing incubation at 18 °C as biomarker of sperm viability. The assessed parameters were percentage of motile spermatozoa (TM), curvilinear velocity (VCL), lateral head displacement (ALH), beat-cross frequency (BCF) and dance (DNC). The cryostored sperm of the common pandora proved to have promising features. In fact, percentages of motile sperm higher than 40% were always obtained on thawing; moreover, the semen retained its activation ability in the times after thawing, showing no or slight alterations in the motility profile also when activated after 3 h of post-thawing incubation. The best post-thawing performances were recorded with the EG5%-based extender under the F1 curve (equilibration at 2 °C; freezing from +2 °C to −70 °C at 3.8 °C/min), that showed the highest percentages of motile cells (80 ± 3) and no significant alterations in any of the evaluated motility parameters, followed by the EG10% based extender under the F2 curve (equilibration/cooling from 20 °C to 2 °C at 1 °C/min; freezing from +2 °C to −150 °C at 23.3 °C/min). Such a post-thawing resistance of long-term cryostored samples, encourages further studies for the inclusion of the semen of the common pandora in cryobanks aimed at use in reproductive biotechnologies for aquaculture applications and as a model in laboratory research. Therefore, the present paper contributes to the implementation of semen cryobanking as a technological tool in support to aquaculture, using as a model a species of potential aquaculture interest. In addition, the creation of germplasm cryobanks for aquatic species comply with the EU ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments) guidelines that promotes a coordinate use and sharing of biological samples from animal models in laboratory research.

Bu çalışmada, dip trol ağlarında yatay ayırıcı panel kullanımının etkinliği araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla, 900 göz kesimli trol ağı, giriş kısmından itibaren mantar ve kurşun yakanın birleştiği noktadan yatay olarak ikiye ayrılmış, alt ve üst panel oluşturulmuştur. Denemeler Gülbahçe Körfezinde 29.04.2013 – 08.05.2013 tarihleri arasında “EGESÜF” araştırma gemisi ile yürütülmüştür. Çekim süresi 45 dakika ile standardize edilmiştir. Alt ve üst bölümde yakalanan türlerin alıkonulması için 20 mm ağ göz boyunda düğümsüz poliamid materyalden yapılmış torbalar kullanılmıştır. Yakalanan bireyler tür bazında ayrılmış sayı ve ağırlıkları alınmıştır. Ayrıca alt ve üst torbada yakalanan barbunya (Mullus barbatus), ısparoz (Dipldus annularis), kırma mercan (Pagellus erythinus) ve izmarit’e (Spicara maena) ilişkin total boy ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Alt ve üst torbada yakalanan türlerin ağırlık olarak miktarları arasında farklılık olup olmadığı t testi ile sınanmıştır. Alt ve üst torbada yakalanan barbunya, ısparoz, k. mercan ve izmarit bireylerinin boy grupları arasında farklılığın olup olmadığı Kolmogorov-Smirnov testi ile belirlenmiştir. Toplamda 21 geçerli çekim gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ağırlık olarak tüm türlerin % 80’i alt torbada, % 20’si ise üst torbada yakalanmıştır. Ağırlık olarak alt ve üst torbada yakalananlar arasında fark bulunmuştur (P, In this study, it was evaluated that the effectiveness of horizontal separator panel in the demersal trawl net. A modified trawl net, 900 fishing circle, divided into two separate panels as lower and upper panel from the beginning of trawl mouth. Experiments were carried out in the Gülbahçe Bay/İzmir/Turkey between 29.04.2013 – 08.05.2013 with R/V “EGESÜF”. Trawl hauls are standardized at 45 minutes. Lower (LB) and upper bag (UB), which have polyamide 20 mm mesh sizes, were constructed for obtained the species in lower and upper parts. After hauling up the gear, the catches from the LB and UB were emptied onto the deck separately, sorted by species, and weighed. In addition, total lengths were measure for red mullet (Mullus barbatus), annular sea bream (Dipldus annularis), Common pandora (Pagellus erythinus) and Blotched picarel (Spicara maena). T test was utilized for differences between LB and UB catches. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test was used to compare length distributions of the LB and UB specimens for red mullet, annular sea bream, common pandora and blotched picarel. A totally 21 hauls were performed. In total 790.1 kg belonging to 51 species was caught. As weight 80 % of species retained in LB and 20% in UB (P

Summary Objectives. The aim of this work was to study the effect of industrial processing on the allergenicity of three commonly consumed Moroccan fish species in Fez region (sardine, common pandora, and shrimp). Methods. This work was conducted by a sera-bank obtained from 1248 patients recruited from Fez Hospitals. Their sera were analyzed for specific IgE binding to raw fish extracts. Among them, 60 patients with higher specific IgE levels were selected, and used to estimate the binding variation of IgE to these products under several processing (frying, cooking, canning, marinade, and fermentation) using ELISA analysis. Results. ELISA results demonstrated that all the studied processing cause a reduction in the immunoreactivity of human IgE to fish products, with a high action with marinade and fermentation compared to other processing. This alteration was also observed with rabbit IgG in all processed products, showing that the maximum reduction was marked in fermented sardine with 64.5%, in cooked common pandora with 58%, and in fermented shrimp with 69.2%. Conclusion. In conclusion, our study has shown that the allergenicity of the three studied fish could be reduced by different industrial processes with different degrees.

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of Anisakidae larvae in fishes of commercial value and largely used for human consumption, from the Spanish Mediterranean coasts. The influence of environmental (geographical location, depth, temperature and salinity of the fishing grounds) and biological (weight, length and corporal condition) variables were evaluated. A total of 290 fishes belonging to 10 different species sampled from 36 geographical sectors were analyzed using enzymatic digestion method. The total prevalence of Anisakidae was 13.1%, with the prevalence of Anisakis sp., Hysterothylacium sp. and Contracaecum sp. being 6.21%, 6.21%, and 2.41%, respectively. The highest anisakid larvae prevalence, was observed in surmullet ( Mullus surmuletus ) and common pandora ( Pagellus erythrinus ). Total Anisakidae prevalence was positively correlated with length, weight and condition factor of the host and with the depth of the capture site. Anisakis sp. total prevalence was positively correlated to fishing ground depth. No significant correlation was observed between anisakid prevalence and geographical sector of capture.

A heavy metal risk assessment based on estimated daily intake (EDI) and target hazard quotient was made for children and adults. Five fish species captured from the eastern Aegean Sea were analyzed for Cr, Cu, Cd, Hg and Pb by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy in muscle tissue of red mullet (Mullus barbatus), surmullet (Mullus surmuletus), sand steenbras (Lithognathus mormyrus), common two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) and common pandora (Pagellus erythinus). The ranges for mean metal concentration (mg/kg wet wt) in the five species were 0.27-0.39 Cr, 0.12-0.22 Cu, 0.09-0.10 Hg and 0.10-0.12 Pb. All means were identical for Cd at 0.03 mg/kg wet wt. The EDI values for each metal were ascertained not to exceed the tolerable daily intake amount. Fish did not contain sufficiently high levels of these metals to pose a carcinogenic risk.

Summary The objective of this study was to estimate the potential short-term economic loss as a result of replacing the commercial diamond codend with a square mesh codend, and to compare fish lengths captured in 40 mm square (S40) vs 44 mm commercial hand-woven diamond (CD44) mesh codends for red mullet (Mullus barbatus), common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), bogue (Boops boops), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne), and brushtooth lizardfish (Saurida undosquamis). A total of 20 hauls (10 hauls for S40 and 10 hauls for CD44) were conducted onboard a commercial trawler between 27 February and 11 April 2012 in Mersin Bay in the northeastern Mediterranean. Results showed that the 40 mm square mesh codend caught significantly fewer juveniles of all aforementioned species. However, when changing from the commercial diamond codend to the 40 mm square mesh codend the potential economic loss of revenue was found to be 40% in the study period, which covered the final 6 weeks of the fishing season.

The insufficiently known nematode species Philometra filiformis (Stossich, 1896) (Philometridae) is redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations of specimens collected from the ovaries of the type-host, the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus) (Perciformes, Sparidae), from off the Mediterranean coast of Tunisia. The male of this species was studied with SEM for the first time, which revealed some new, taxonomically important morphological features. The male posterior end has a caudal mound consisting of two lateral parts widely separated dorsally from each other, four pairs of small adanal papillae, a pair of large but moderately developed papillae located posterior to the cloacal aperture and a pair of small phasmids. The distal end of the gubernaculum is unique among all but one gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 by the chevron-shaped dorsal lamellar structures forming a median longitudinal range. Philometra filiformis is for the first time reported from Tunisian coastal waters, being the seventh philometrid species so far recorded from marine fishes off Tunisia.

A new aporocotylid, Skoulekia erythrini n. sp., is described from the heart, cephalic kidney and gill blood vessels of the common pandora Pagellus erythrinus (L.) collected from several localities of the western Mediterranean off Spain. The new species differs from the type- and only species of the genus, S. meningialis Alama-Bermejo, Montero, Raga & Holzer, 2011 in possessing a symmetrical body (vs laterally curved), short tegumental spines (3–4 vs 7–10 µm) without hooked ends, diffuse (vs conspicuous) oesophageal gland-cells, a relatively longer oesophagus, a testis that is shorter in relation to body length and a much smaller seminal vesicle (17–34 × 10–26 vs 33–101 × 27–97 μm). Elongated ellipsoidal eggs of S. erythrini n. sp. were found trapped in gill vessels in histological sections. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial 28S rDNA and ITS2 sequences supported the placement of the new species within Skoulekia and the close relationships of this genus with Psettarium Goto & Ozaki, 1929 and Pearsonellum Overstreet & Koie, 1986. Skoulekia meningialis is described from a new sparid host, Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum), collected off Santa Pola, Spain. The new morphological data for the two Skoulekia spp. and a re-examination of three paratypes of S. meningialis pinpointed features amending both the description of S. meningialis and the generic diagnosis of Skoulekia.

The first record of the abnormalities, saddleback syndrome and pughead is reported from common pandora Pagellus erythrinus collected from the northern Aegean Sea, Turkey. Externally, the pughead specimen was with a short neurocranium, normal jaws and mouth was closed. There are a significant osteological damages have been revealed by the radiograph of this deformed specimen. The saddleback anomaly is located in the spinous part of the dorsal fin that showed a loss of 8 spines. In addition, few scales of the lateral line were deformed. The radiograph image showed that the whole 8 spines and their supporting pterygiophores were missing. These abnormalities have been considered as an important indicator of environmentally induced stress to the wild fishes. Hence, the present finding highlights the need for closer monitoring of the marine environment and for the identification of the specific factor that causes these abnormalities.

This report describes a viral epidemiological study of wild fish around the Gulf of Cadiz (southwestern Iberian Peninsula) and is focused on infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), and viral nervous necrosis virus (VNNV). One fish species ( Chelon labrosus ) was sampled inside the gulf, at the mouth of the San Pedro River. Another 29 were sampled, in three oceanographic campaigns, at sites around the Bay of Cadiz. The fish were processed individually and subjected to isolation in cell culture and molecular diagnosis. VHSV was not isolated from any species. Thirteen IPNV-type isolates were obtained from barracuda ( Sphyraena sphyraena ), axillary seabream ( Pagellus acarne ), common two-banded seabream ( Diplodus vulgaris ), common pandora ( P. erythrinus ), Senegal seabream ( D. bellottii ), and surmullet ( Mullus surmuletus ). Six VNNV isolates were obtained from axillary seabream, common pandora, black seabream ( Spondyliosoma cantharus ), red mullet ( Mullet barbatus ), Lusitanian toadfish ( Halobatrachus didactylus ), and tub gurnard ( Chelidonichtys lucerna ). In the river mouth, viruses were detected only after reamplification, obtaining prevalence percentages of IPNV and VNNV (44.4 and 63.0%, respectively) much higher than those observed in the oceanographic campaigns (25.7 and 19.6%, respectively). The opposite results were obtained in the case of VHSV after reamplification: 11.1% in the river mouth and 43.6% in the oceanic locations. Analyzing the results with respect to the proximity of the sampling sites to the coast, an anthropogenic influence on wild fish is suggested and discussed. The type of viruses and the presence of natural reassortants are also discussed.

A synthetic analysis of the distribution, abundance and some biological traits of the common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) was performed. Data were gathered in 15 experimental bottom trawl surveys carried out off the southern Tyrrhenian Sea from 1994 to 2008. A total of 2,166 P. erythrinus were found in the investigated area, with a preference for the upper continental shelf (10–100 m). The highest persistence was recorded in the trawl-banned areas. The sex ratio Sr = F/(F + M) ranged between 0.60 and 0.96 (overall 0.78). The size at which 50 % of the individuals were mature was 157 and 170 mm total length for females and males, respectively. The length–weight relationship for all individuals was described by the following parameters: a = 0.016 and b = 2.905. Growth was evaluated (sexes combined) by applying length-based methods; up to eight significant modal components were evidenced. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for the whole population were estimated at L ∞ = 454 mm, K = 0.08 and t 0 = −2.57. The present results are in agreement with the information available for the other Mediterranean stocks suggesting common biological features.

The mean trophic level of the farmed fish species in the Mediterranean has been increasing. We examined the farming-up hypothesis (i.e., the increase in the production of high-trophic-level species) in the Mediterranean by determining the trophic level of the aquafeeds (i.e., what the fish are fed) of 5 species of farmed marine fishes: common dentex (Dentex dentex), common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), and red porgy (Pagrus sp.). The mean trophic level of aquafeed used in mariculture from 1950 to 2011 was higher (3.93) than the prey farmed fish consume in the wild (3.72) and increased at a faster rate (0.48/decade) compared with that based on their diets in the wild (0.43/decade). Future expected replacement of the fishmeal and oil in aquafeeds by plant materials may reverse the farming-up trend, although there are a number of concerns regarding operational, nutritional, environmental, and economic issues. The farming-up reversal can be achieved in an ecologically friendly manner by facilitating the mariculture of low-trophic-level fishes and by promoting high efficiency in the use of living marine resources in aquafeeds.

The common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus, Linnaeus 1758), one of the most popular sea bream species in the Mediterranean Sea, has high potential for aquaculture development. In this investigation, we analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of P. erythrinus. The sequence has 16,828 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a two non-coding regions (D-loop and L-origin). The overall nucleotide composition is: 27.5% of A, 28.2% of C, 27.5% of T, and 16.8% of G.