Chondrichthyan by-catch and discards in the demersal trawl fishery of the central Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean)

Authors
Damalas, D., Vassilopoulou, V.
Year
Journal/Publisher Name
Fisheries Research
Volume (Issue #)
108
Page #s
142-152
Contact information
Dimitrios Damalas.
European Commission - Joint Research Center, Institute for the Protection and Security of the Citizen (IPSC), Maritime Affairs Unit, FISHREG - Scientific Support to Fisheries, TP 051, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy
E-mail: dimitrios.damalas@jrc.ec.europa.eu; shark@hcmr.gr
Summary

A ten year study in the Aegean Sea, divided into two sub-periods (1995-2000; 2003-2006) examined bottom trawl fishery data for chondrichthyan fishes. A total of 30 different species were caught making up 14.3% of the total catch in weight and 2.2% by number. A significant decrease in the chondrichthan species richness  and abundance was observed. More than 90% (by number) of individuals were discarded at sea.