black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Shallow zones of
the continental shelf, on muddy-sand and on vegetated bottoms close to the shore, as
well as in deeper waters, down to about 50 m, but mostly between five and 20 m.
Often enters saline littoral lagoons. Common in the Mediterranean Sea, the eastern
Atlantic coast along the South African coasts of the Indian Ocean. Threatened by
increasing pollution in coastal zones and by hypoxia.
Biology. Feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and fish. Spawning period July-September;
sexual maturity at one year of age, small pelagic eggs; hermaphroditic.
Population trends. More frequent in the past and rare at present; only incidentally in
catches on the Romanian littoral, from Portita to Mangalia. There are not separate
statistics for this species. Generally caught with trammel nets, beach seines and
floating longlines, also with bottom trawls.
Threats. Pollution, hypoxia.
Conservation measures proposed. Mitigate coastal pollution.
References
FAO, 1973. Species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Mediterranean and
Black Sea, fishing area 37. Rome.
Radu, G., E. Leonte, G. Butoi, F. Veriti, A. Gorban & E. Radu, 1996 Principalele
specii de pesti si mamifere din Marea Neagra (Determinator). (Main
fish and mammal species from the Black Sea) (Identification sheets). RMRI
Constantsa, (in Romanian).
Compiled by A. Petranu
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