ORCID

Abstract

Fish spawning aggregations are vulnerable to overexploitation, which can have severe ecological, social, and economic consequences. Knowledge on the spatial ecology of aggregating species is often lacking, but is crucial for their effective conservation. This study explores the spawning site residency, interannual fidelity, and migration of black seabream Spondyliosoma cantharus using acoustic (n = 55) and conventional (n = 2397) tagging within and outside Marine Conservation Zones in the southern UK. Detections and recaptures of tagged fish indicated that black seabream display significant interannual fidelity to nesting areas, but that residency of individuals at nesting areas was short relative to current temporal management of these areas. Locations of detection and recapture during autumn/winter indicated migration by black seabream into deeper waters of the English Channel and coastal waters of France and the Channel Islands. The results indicate spatial structuring of black seabream populations maintained by homing of adults to previously occupied sites. However, short residency periods within protected reproductive sites, and evidence of transboundary migrations emphasize the importance of effective fisheries management, i.e. collaborative between European nations. These findings highlight the importance of international-scale telemetry studies and networks for informing ecosystem-based fisheries management of sensitive migratory species.

Publication Date

2024-09-04

Publication Title

ICES Journal of Marine Science

Volume

81

Issue

9

ISSN

1054-3139

Acceptance Date

2024-08-16

Deposit Date

2024-12-03

Funding

University of Plymouth staff and boat time for the acoustic telemetry study were funded through Interreg VA France (Channel) England Programme FISH INTEL (grant 256) and DEFRA FISP Angling for Sustainability. The authors acknowledge additional funding for acoustic telemetry from Natural England, Pebble Trust, and Sussex IFCA for transmitters and boat time, and to the Alderney Wildlife Trust, Government of Jersey, and La Societe Sercquaise for funding the Channel Islands array. Additional funding for delivery of the mark\u2013recapture study was provided by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the LIFE Programme of the European Union. We are grateful for the knowledge and expertise of local anglers who assisted with capturing black seabream for the study, as well as fieldwork support from Sussex IFCA Officers. We acknowledge the support of RSAqua Ltd. for providing an additional acoustic receiver. University of Plymouth staff and boat time for the acoustic telemetry study were funded through Interreg VA France (Channel) England Programme FISH INTEL (grant 256) and DEFRA FISP Angling for Sustainability. The authors acknowledge additional funding for acoustic telemetry from Natural England, Pebble Trust, and Sussex IFCA for transmitters and boat time, and to the Alderney Wildlife Trust, Government of Jersey, and La Societe Sercquaise for funding the Channel Islands array. Additional funding for delivery of the mark\u2013recapture study was provided by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

Keywords

fidelity, fisheries management, migration, movement ecology, spawning aggregations, telemetry

First Page

1774

Last Page

1784

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