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Marine Non-Indigenous Species (NIS)are animals and plants introduced accidently or deliberately into the European seas, originating from other seas of the globe. About 800 marine non-indigenous species (NIS)currently occurin the European Union national marine waters, several of which have negative impacts on marine ecosystem services and biodiversity. Under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Descriptor 2 (D2), EU Member States(MSs)need toconsider NIS in their marine management strategies. The Descriptor D2 includes one primary criterion (D2C1: new NIS introductions),and two secondary criteria (D2C2and D2C3). The D2 implementation is characterized by a number of issues and uncertaintieswhich can beapplicable to the Descriptor level (e.g. geographical unit of assessment, assessment period, phytoplanktonic, parasitic, oligohaline NIS, etc.), to the primary criterion D2C1 level (e.g. threshold values, cryptogenic, questionable species, etc), and to the secondary criteria D2C2 and D2C3. The current report tackles these issues and provides practical recommendations aiming at a smoother and more efficient implementation of D2 and its criteria at EU level. They constitute a solid operational output whichcan result in more comparable D2 assessments among MSsand MSFD regions/subregions. When it comes to the policy-side, the current report callsfor a number of different categories of NIS to be reported in D2 assessments, pointing the need for the species to be labelled/categorised appropriately in the MSFD reporting by the MSs.These suggestions are proposed to be communicated to the MSFD WorkingGroup of Good Environmental Status (GES)and subsequently to the Marine Strategy Coordination Group (MSCG) of MSFD. Moreover, they can serve as an input for revising the Art. 8 Guidelines.

One specimen of red seabream Pagrus major, 44.9 cm total length, was caught in the eastern middle Adriatic (Island Molat, Cape Bonaster) by long-line hook at a depth of about 20 m on a hard rocky bottom on 25 September 2004. It is the first record of this species in the Adriatic Sea and Mediterranean area., Un espécimen de la especie Pagrus major de 44.9 cm de longitud total se recolectó en la parte este del Adriático medio (isla Molat, cabo Bonaster) mediante un palangre a la profundidad a unos 20 m sobre un fondo rocoso duro el 25 de septiembre de 2004. Esta es la primera aparición de esta especie en el mar Adriático y en el área Mediterránea.

One specimen of the grey triggerfish Balsites capriscus was caught in the vicinity of the Prigradica, island Korčula in the eastern Adriatic, along the Croatian coast. Its total length was 525.0 mm, the maximum observed length for the Adriatic sea.

The feeding habits of sand smelt, Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in the mouth of the Mala Neretva River were studied by examining the stomach contents of 1236 fishes collected from March 2001 to February 2002. Thirteen different food categories were identified. The greatest diversity was recorded in winter, especially in January, when 11 categories were present. The minimum (4) was in September, and was associated with the highest number of empty stomachs. Marine and estuarine species represented the bulk of the prey, while typically fresh-water species (Daphnia spp. and Cyclops spp.) were found only sporadically. Crustaceans were the most common prey and, of these, the most common were copepods (45%), followed by gammarid amphipods (34%), cladocerans (13%), decapod larvae (12%) and mysids (8%). Insects represented 7%. The percentage number of prey showed high seasonal variations. Copepods dominated in autumn and winter, cyclopoids in April, poecilostomatoids and harpacticoids in December, and calanoids in January and February. Decapod larvae dominated in March-May, and mysids in July-August. PCA and clustering analysis was performed on the prey data in order to reveal associations between prey items or seasonal similarities. The opportunistic mode of feeding of the species Atherina boyeri is also discussed., Los hábitos alimenticios del pejerrey, Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 en la boca del río Mala Neretva se estudiaron mediante el examen del contenido estomacal de 1236 peces recolectados desde marzo de 2001 a febrero de 2002. Se identificaron 13 categorías diferentes de alimento. La mayor diversidad se observó en invierno, especialmente en enero, en que estuvieron presentes 11 categorías.. El mínimo (4) se observó en septiembre, y se asoció al mayor número de estómagos vacíos. Las especies marinas y estuáricas representaron el principal grupo de presas, mientras que especies típicas de agua dulce (Daphnia spp. y Cyclops spp.) se encontraron sólo esporádicamente. Los crustáceos fueron las presas más comunes, siendo los copépodos los más frecuentes (45%), seguido de los amfípodos gammaridos (34%), cladóceros (13%), larvas de decápodos 12%, misidáceos 8%, e insectos 7%. El porcentaje de presas mostró una alta variación estacional. En general, los copépodos dominaron en otoño e invierno: los Cyclopoides fueron más numerosos en abril, los poecilostomátidos y harpacticoides en diciembre y los calanoides en enero y febrero. Las larvas de decápodo dominaron en marzo-mayo y los misidáceos en julio-agosto. Con los datos de presas se realizaron análisis multivariantes para revelar asociaciones entre presas o similaridades estacionales. En este trabajo se discute, también, el modelo de alimentación de tipo oportunista de la especie Atherina boyeri.

Growth of juvenile Sarpa salpa from the Kornati Archipelago, eastern middle Adriatic Sea was analysed. A total of 1515 juveniles, ranging in length from 1.6 to 14.2 cm, were caught. Most individuals (94.65%) belonged to the 0+ cohort. The first settlers were aged 1.5-2.0 months, and probably entered shallow coves at the end of November. The relationship between total length and weight indicates positive allometric growth (b = 3.284). The condition factor, as a consequence of length-weight relationship, was CF = 1.41. The parabolic (c = 0.023 mm days-1; R2, El crecimiento de juveniles de Sarpa salpa del archipiélago Kornati en el Mar Adriático oriental fue analizado. Un total de 1515 juveniles, de tallas comprendidas entre 1.6 y 14.2 cm, fueron capturados. La mayor parte de los individuos (94.65%) pertenecieron a la cohorte 0+. Los primeros individuos asentados tuvieron una edad comprendida entre 1.5 y 2.0 meses, y probablemente entraron en bahías someras a finales de noviembre. La relación entre la longitud total y el peso indica crecimiento alométrico positivo (b = 3.284). El factor de condición, como consecuencia de la relación talla-peso, fue CF = 1.41. Los modelos de crecimiento parabólico (c =0.023 mm dia -1; R 2 = 0.936) y de Gompertz (c = 0.047 mm dia -1; R 2 = 0.897) parecen ser los más apropiados para la descripción del crecimiento de los juveniles de S. salpa.

Koç, Hatice Torcu (Balikesir Author), Age, growth and mortality of comber, Serranus cabrilla (L., 1785) were determined from 595 specimens collected on the northwestern Aegean coasts of Turkey from September 1997 to September 1998. Fork length ranged from. 8.6 to 22.3 cm, while weight varied between 10.5 and 163.7 g. The von Bertalanffy growth equation was fitted on the basis of mean length-at-age data resulting in parameters values of Linfinity = 33.6 cm (S.E. = 0.46), K = 0.111/y (S.E. = 0.03), t(0) = -3.17 (S.E. = 0.030). Weight increased allometrically for both sexes together with b = 2.67 (S.E. = 0.226). The comber is a relatively short-lived species. The oldest male and female were estimated to be 4 years old. The total (Z) and natural (M) mortality were 0.49 and 0.32 per year, respectively. The exploitation ratio E = 0.35 indicated that the population was slightly exploited. The sex ratio was skewed in favour of females (1.26:1). The monthly values of gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females indicated that spawning occured mainly in April and May.

The yellowmouth barracuda Sphyraena viridensis (thre specimens: 456, 432 and 515 mm in total length) is reported for th efirst time from the Adriatic Sea. Morphometric and meristic characteristics are provided. S. viridensis must be added to the Adriatic fish fauna, where it overlaps with S. sphyraena (and probably wth S. chrysotaenia).

A total of 1172 fishes belonging to 27 species were caught in July (283) and August (883) 1996. in the Donji Molunat Bay in the southern Adriatic using 50m long beach seine. Chromis chromis (48.29%), Spicara smaris (13.40%), Oblada melanura (8.11%) and Mullus barbatus (6.57%) comprised 76.37% of the total. O. melanura was dominant in July (83) and Ch. chromis in August (566). The remaining species comprised from 5.03% to 0.09%of the catch. The overall value of richness D was 3.68, ranging from 2.65 in July to 2.95 in August. Diversity H values vere 1.71 in July and 1.33 in August, with an overall value of 1.94. The annual value of eveness J was 0.59, fluctuating from 0.44 in August to 0.62 in July. Preliminary results of the present study provide a basis for future studies to elucidate what additional aspects may influence the distribution and abudance of juveniles during different seasons in the Donji Molunat Bay.

Two specimens of the Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone were caught in June 2004 in the eastern central Adriatic. The data on their total length and weight are given. In spite of a number of scientific records (21) regarding this species, it could be treated as a rare species in the Adriatic.