Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species
We addressed the impact of angling in two Mediterranean inshore sites by conducting a tag-recapture study on caught-and-released black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) and giant goby (Gobius cobitis). We assessed the relationship between the fish vitality at release and the main factors affecting it,...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1638216/full |
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| author | Andrea Petetta Daniel Li Veli Mario La Mesa Fabio Grati Luca Bolognini |
| author_facet | Andrea Petetta Daniel Li Veli Mario La Mesa Fabio Grati Luca Bolognini |
| author_sort | Andrea Petetta |
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| description | We addressed the impact of angling in two Mediterranean inshore sites by conducting a tag-recapture study on caught-and-released black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) and giant goby (Gobius cobitis). We assessed the relationship between the fish vitality at release and the main factors affecting it, i.e. air exposure time, water temperature, fish length and handling. Then, we used conventional fish tags to study fish survivability to catch and release, growth rates, behaviour and site fidelity. Overall, 17 species (mainly gobids and sparids) were caught, with differences in species composition and abundance between the two sites, probably related to their different depth range. A total of 136 individuals of S. porcus and 38 of G. cobitis were caught, tagged and released. S. porcus had a better vitality than G. cobitis once released, which was negatively associated with an increase in air exposure time, although not significant. We recorded 34 recapture events, with a resulting recapture rate of 19.9% for S. porcus (without considering multiple recaptures) and 5.3% for G. cobitis. The length-weight relationship revealed an isometric growth in both species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters (± standard error) estimated for S. porcus were L∞ = 26 cm ± 5.25 and k = 0.21 ± 0.09, with no significant differences detected in growth rate between immature and mature individuals. The species’ high site fidelity and resilience to catch-and-release indicate its potential susceptibility to repeated angling in confined coastal habitats. These results highlight the need to account for the cumulative ecological impacts of recreational fisheries in the management of coastal fish populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b2cae3c8ce443ab9d69d60a4e48aed0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b2cae3c8ce443ab9d69d60a4e48aed02025-08-20T04:00:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452025-08-011210.3389/fmars.2025.16382161638216Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish speciesAndrea Petetta0Daniel Li Veli1Mario La Mesa2Fabio Grati3Luca Bolognini4Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Ancona, ItalyInstitute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Ancona, ItalyInstitute of Polar Sciences (ISP), National Research Council (CNR), Bologna, ItalyInstitute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Ancona, ItalyInstitute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Ancona, ItalyWe addressed the impact of angling in two Mediterranean inshore sites by conducting a tag-recapture study on caught-and-released black scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus) and giant goby (Gobius cobitis). We assessed the relationship between the fish vitality at release and the main factors affecting it, i.e. air exposure time, water temperature, fish length and handling. Then, we used conventional fish tags to study fish survivability to catch and release, growth rates, behaviour and site fidelity. Overall, 17 species (mainly gobids and sparids) were caught, with differences in species composition and abundance between the two sites, probably related to their different depth range. A total of 136 individuals of S. porcus and 38 of G. cobitis were caught, tagged and released. S. porcus had a better vitality than G. cobitis once released, which was negatively associated with an increase in air exposure time, although not significant. We recorded 34 recapture events, with a resulting recapture rate of 19.9% for S. porcus (without considering multiple recaptures) and 5.3% for G. cobitis. The length-weight relationship revealed an isometric growth in both species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters (± standard error) estimated for S. porcus were L∞ = 26 cm ± 5.25 and k = 0.21 ± 0.09, with no significant differences detected in growth rate between immature and mature individuals. The species’ high site fidelity and resilience to catch-and-release indicate its potential susceptibility to repeated angling in confined coastal habitats. These results highlight the need to account for the cumulative ecological impacts of recreational fisheries in the management of coastal fish populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1638216/fullmarine recreational fishingScorpaena porcusGobius cobitiscatch & releasetag-recapturegrowth rates |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Petetta Daniel Li Veli Mario La Mesa Fabio Grati Luca Bolognini Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species Frontiers in Marine Science marine recreational fishing Scorpaena porcus Gobius cobitis catch & release tag-recapture growth rates |
| title | Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species |
| title_full | Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species |
| title_fullStr | Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species |
| title_short | Catch, release and second chances: exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species |
| title_sort | catch release and second chances exploring the impact of angling on two coastal fish species |
| topic | marine recreational fishing Scorpaena porcus Gobius cobitis catch & release tag-recapture growth rates |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1638216/full |
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