black sea red data book - Department of Biology

coast of the Black Sea; also in the eastern Atlantic, from southern Norway to
Natal (South Africa).
Biology. A fast swimmer, leaping out of the water when disturbed; enters estuaries
and rivers for feeding but spawns in the sea; juveniles often concentrate in the vicinity
of freshwater outflows; feeds on minute bottom-living or planktonic organisms
(diatoms, amphipods); also on suspended organic matter. Two spawning periods: first
one during spring and early in summer and second one late in summer and autumn;
Population trends. Caught mainly with gill nets, trammel nets, beach seines, cast
nets and occasionally with purse seines. In recent decades the catches in the
northwestern part of the Black Sea are decreasing. On the Romanian coasts it occurs
more and more rarely. All mugilid species are included in a single statistical
category: 1989 - Bulgaria -3 t; Romania - 8 t; Turkey - 2843 t; 1990 - Bulgaria - 1 t;
Turkey - 1741; Russia - 26 t; 1991 - Bulgaria - 11; Turkey - 40261; Russia - 9 t.
Threats. Heavy pollution of coastal waters and of many coastal lagoons.
Conservation measures proposed. Reduce eutrophication and 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. Verioti, A. Gorban & E. Radu, 1997. Main fish and
mammal species from the Black Sea. Species identification sheets, (in Romanian).
Compiled by G. Radu & F. Verio
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