Transcript Name of presentation

THE DYNAMICS OF MARINE FISHERIES AT THE
ROMANIAN COAST DURING 1950-2009
G. Radu, S. Nicolaev, V. Maximov, E. Anton
National Institute for Marine Research and Development “ Grigore Antipa”,
300 Mamaia Bd., 900581, Constanta, Romania, E-mail: [email protected]
BLACK SEA OUTLOOK CONFERENCE
1-4 November 2011, Odessa, Ukraine
Introduction
The evolution of the catches of the main fish species from the
Romanian marine waters was obtained by centralizing the catch and
fishing effort (number of vessels, number of fishing nets etc.)
provided by the companies and through interviews with fishermen.
The data analysis was performed for the period 1950-2009.
The qualitative and quantitative structure of catches in the
Romanian marine area had a variable evolution, depending on the
condition of:
 fish populations
 fishing effort deployed
 the type of tool used
 formation and preservation conditions of fish shoals, especially in
the coastal area.
Introduction
In the last two decades, the new conditions of fishing practice
have led to radical changes in the conditions for national marine
fisheries. In the same time, the competition created by the opening
of imports on fishery products, especially imports of frozen fish, the
lack of experience of exploitation under the new conditions, the
high age of the vessels and especially the rising cost of fuel and
maintenance have led to a drastic involution of active fishing in the
Romanian Black Sea.
After 2001, economic operators working in the fishing sector
from Romanian coast, have changed their options and interests,
giving priority to the vessels equipped with equipments and fishing
gears specialized in fishing of the species with commercial value,
like turbot. In these conditions, the number of boats which are
operating with gill nets and other fix gears (hand lines, long lines,
etc.) increasing, respectively.
Material and methods
Ecosystems are subjected to increased stress and that is why
it is very important to establish, apply and optimize the
harvesting methods that minimize negative impacts on fish
habitats and communities.
The evolution of the main fish species of the catches from
the Romanian marine waters was obtained by centralizing and
systematizing, in time, catch and effort data obtained from the
profile companies and through interviews with fishermen.
The fishing effort (number of vessels, number of fishing nets
etc.) is also obtained from data provided by the companies.
The data analysis was performed for the period 1950-2009.
12000
160
Total catch (t)
No. pound nets
140
10000
120
8000
80
60
4000
40
2000
20
0
0
Fig.1. Total catch (t) and number of pound nets on the Romanian coast,
between 1950 - 1979
No. pounds nets
6000
19
50
19
51
19
52
19
53
19
54
19
55
19
56
19
57
19
58
19
59
19
60
19
61
19
62
19
63
19
64
19
65
19
66
19
67
19
68
19
69
19
70
19
71
19
72
19
73
19
74
19
75
19
76
19
77
19
78
19
79
tons
100
12000
10000
6000
4000
2000
0
Total catch
Sprat
Anchovy
Horse mackerel
Shads
Other species
Turbot
Sturgeons
Grey mullets
Whiting
Gobies
Red mullet
Bluefish
Atlantic bonito
Atlantic mackerel
Kilka
Picked dogfish
Sand smelt
19
5
19 0
5
19 1
5
19 2
5
19 3
5
19 4
5
19 5
5
19 6
5
19 7
5
19 8
5
19 9
6
19 0
6
19 1
6
19 2
6
19 3
6
19 4
6
19 5
6
19 6
6
19 7
6
19 8
6
19 9
7
19 0
7
19 1
7
19 2
7
19 3
7
19 4
7
19 5
7
19 6
7
19 7
7
19 8
79
tons
8000
Fig.2. Catches of the main fish species on the Romanian coast between 1950 - 1979
12000
50
%
45
10000
40
35
8000
6000
25
20
4000
15
10
2000
5
0
0
19
50
19
51
19
52
19
53
19
54
19
55
19
56
19
57
19
58
19
59
19
60
19
61
19
62
19
63
19
64
19
65
19
66
19
67
19
68
19
69
19
70
19
71
19
72
19
73
19
74
19
75
19
76
19
77
19
78
19
79
tons
30
Total catch (t)
Sprat catch (t)
% sprat from total catch
Fig.3. Catch (tonnes) and participation share (%) of sprat in the total catch on
the Romanian coast between 1950 - 1979
12000
45
40
10000
35
8000
30
%
6000
20
4000
15
10
2000
5
0
0
19
50
19
51
19
52
19
53
19
54
19
55
19
56
19
57
19
58
19
59
19
60
19
61
19
62
19
63
19
64
19
65
19
66
19
67
19
68
19
69
19
70
19
71
19
72
19
73
19
74
19
75
19
76
19
77
19
78
19
79
tons
25
Total catch (t)
Anchovy catch (t)
% anchovy from total catch
Fig.4. Catch (tonnes) and participation rate (%) of anchovy in the total
catch on the Romanian coast between 1950 - 1979
40
%
12000
35
10000
30
8000
tons
25
6000
20
15
4000
10
2000
5
0
19
50
19
51
19
52
19
53
19
54
19
55
19
56
19
57
19
58
19
59
19
60
19
61
19
62
19
63
19
64
19
65
19
66
19
67
19
68
19
69
19
70
19
71
19
72
19
73
19
74
19
75
19
76
19
77
19
78
19
79
0
Horse mackerel (t)
Total catch (t)
% horse mackerel from total catch
Fig.5. Catch (tonnes) and participation rates (%) of horse mackerel in the total catch on
the Romanian coast between 1950 - 1979
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
19
50
19
51
19
52
19
53
19
54
19
55
19
56
19
57
19
58
19
59
19
60
19
61
19
62
19
63
19
64
19
65
19
66
19
67
19
68
19
69
19
70
19
71
19
72
19
73
19
74
19
75
19
76
19
77
19
78
19
79
0%
Atlantic mackerel
Atlantic bonito
Bluefish
Fig.6. Catches (tonnes) of blue mackerel, bonito and blue fish on the
Romanian coast, between 1950 - 1979
The period 1980-2009
The period of 1980-2009 is distinguished by significant changes in terms of the qualitative and
quantitative structure of catches on the Romanian coast. The drastic reduction or disappearance
of traditional predators from the Black Sea ecosystem (blue fish, blue mackerel, bonito,
dolphins) determined, on the one hand, the increase of pelagic fish stocks with small size (sprat,
anchovy, mackerel), that were the food of these predators, and, on the other hand, the increase
in abundance of predators such as Southern hake and piked dogfish.
Small-sized species, that have been, in recent years, the main target of fisheries engaged on the
Romanian Black Sea coast, have experienced significant fluctuations in catches, with the obvious
trend of regression or dramatic decreases .
The causes of this situation are multiple, the independent effect of each being very difficult to
assess:
main stocks of fish species of economic interest have a trans-zonal distribution, being exploited
by all six Black Sea countries, some of which have an important fishing capacity.
lack of regional regulations on catch limitations allows countries in whose waters the largest
winter clusters of anchovy and horse mackerel form to carry out an extremely intense fishing,
that can decisively affect the breeding stock.
overexploitation of fish species has led and will lead to a decrease in their biomass and, by using
inappropriate fishing gear and techniques, the status of the stocks os endangered and the
destruction of benthic communities, which represent food for many fish species, is very likely.
Equally, we should not overlook any other factors, such as climate change, pollution etc.
the alarming decrease of biodiversity, the complete disappearance of certain marine species are
a direct result of disturbing the environmental dynamics and factors, the balance of the Black Sea
ecosystem components, but also of other disorders of the upper links of the food chain links.
Total catch
16000
Sprat
Anchovy
14000
Whiting
Horse mackerel
12000
Shads
Gobies
10000
Other species
tons
Sand smelt
8000
Sturgeons
Kilka
6000
Red mullet
Turbot
4000
Picked dogfish
Grey mullets
2000
Bluefish
Snouted sole
0
Fig.7. Catch of the main fish species on the Romanian coast between 1980-2009
100.0
18000
90.0
16000
80.0
14000
70.0
12000
60.0
tons
%
10000
50.0
8000
40.0
6000
30.0
4000
20.0
2000
10.0
0
0.0
% pelagic species
% demersale species
Total catch (tons)
Fig.8. Participation share of pelagic and demersal species in the total catch between
1980-2009
16000
14000
12000
tons
10000
8000
6000
4000
Total catch
Catch (pasive fishing)
2000
Catch (active fishing)
0
Fig.9. Total catch (tonnes) and active and passive fishing catches on the
Romanian coast between 1980 -2009
Total catch (pasive fishing)
12000
Anchovy
Sprat
Whiting
10000
Shads
Horse mackerel
Other species
8000
Gobies
tons
Red mullet
6000
Sand smelt
Kilka
Turbot
4000
Sturgeons
Picked dogfish
2000
Bluefish
Grey mullets
Snouted sole
0
Fig.10. Catches and main species distribution for stationary fishing on the
Romanian coast between 1980-2009
9000
8000
7000
Catch (active fishing)
Sprat
6000
Whiting
tons
5000
Horse mackerel
Other species
4000
Picked dogfish
3000
Bluefish
Anchovy
2000
Turbot
1000
Shads
Sturgeons
0
Fig.11. Catches and main species distribution for active fishing on the
Romanian coast between 1981-2009
Total catch
14000
12000
Sprat
10000
Anchovy
tons
8000
Shads
6000
4000
Horse mackerel
2000
Turbot
0
1950-1959
1960-1969
1970-1979
1980-1989
1990-1999
2000-2009
Fig.12. Multi-annual catch of the main fish species on the Romanian littoral
between 1950-2009
CONCLUSIONS
A brief analysis of the evolution of the main fish species catches in the
Romanian marine waters, between 1950 - 2009, shows the following:
The qualitative and quantitative structure of catches in the Romanian marine
area had a variable evolution, depending on the condition of fish populations,
fishing effort deployed, the type of tool used and formation and preservation
conditions of fish shoals, especially in the coastal area.
In the Black Sea, pelagic species have the greatest share, and in the
Romanian coast, mainly small pelagic species.
The catch structure analysis emphasizes the species sprats, anchovy, shads and
horse mackerel, as having the greatest share in stationary fishing, while the
main target of fishing vessels is represented by sprat and, in autumn, mackerel
and bluefish also occur sporadically.
For over 25 years, the dominant species in Romanian marine fisheries is sprat.
Although in recent years the average production of sprat is falling, its special
contribution to the total catch in the Romanian marine area has an average of
about 66%.
CONCLUSIONS
The second most important species in Romanian marine fishing is anchovy.
Over time, in the Romanian marine area, the average production of anchovy
ranged from 5 to 6,431 tonnes, the largest catches being obtained between
1980-1989.
The horse mackerel in the Romanian marine area also witnesses a worrying
decrease of catches, from the values of the years ‘61-’89, of more than 1,000
tons, it reached 1-3 t in 1997 to 1999, showing a slight recovery after 2000.
Horse mackerel catches were obtained both with fishing trawler vessels and
stationary fishing.
Blue fish catches on the Romanian coast experienced a real collapse, so that,
in the period 1984-1993, no catches of this species were reported. A minimal
recovery of the blue fish stock is noticed after 1997.
CONCLUSIONS
Over the past four years, the total declared catch on the Romanian coast
recorded the lowest values throughout the analyzed period.
The causes of the dramatic decline of fish catches in the Black Sea, in general,
and especially on the Romanian coast, namely the causes for stock reduction,
consisted in severe ecological disturbances occurring in the sea,
overexploitation of bio resources and, economical and technical reasons.
In order to elaborate the rules for the sustainable use of marine bioresources,
conservation of biodiversity, maintenance and improvement of the
environmental quality, it is essential to know the functional structure of the
ecological systems.
To ensure the conservation and the sustainable management of marine fishery
resources, measures are required to stop or eliminate the overcapacity of
fishing, controlling so that the level of fishing effort is consistent with their
sustainable exploitation. Quantifying livestock is a major objective in the
elaboration of the fishing strategy, in order to achieve sustainable production.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION !
BLACK SEA OUTLOOK CONFERENCE
1-4 November 2011, Odessa, Ukraine