International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies
2018, Vol. 6, Issue 4, Part C
Temporal variability in abundance and population structure of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in relation to harvesting: A case study in the intertidal zone of Aoufist (SW Morocco, Atlantic Ocean)
Author(s): Jawad Kassila, Mohamed Ellilouchi and Mohamed Idhalla
Abstract: The sea urchin (
Paracentrotus lividus) fishery was investigated in the shallow rocky shore of Aoufist (SW Morocco, Atlantic Sea), heavily impacted by the harvesting activities. Test diameter, biomass and size-frequencies were assessed from January 2012 to December 2014. The results highlight suggestive evidence that intense fishing may cause reduction in the average size and biomass because of the selective harvesting of largest specimens (
p< 0.05). Moreover, the individuals larger than 5 cm in size as the threshold size for commercialization were rare and accounted for less than 10% of the populations surveyed. The present study also highlights that the reproductive performance of sea urchin was reached early at 2-3 cm in size. This may be due to an adaptation to the disturbing conditions generated by the harvesting activities. A new management strategy is needed to guarantee the sustainability of the fishery of Aoufist. In lack of useful information on the commercial biomasses, the managers continued to set fixed quota per fishing season.
Pages: 186-191 | 763 Views 72 DownloadsDownload Full Article: Click Here
How to cite this article:
Jawad Kassila, Mohamed Ellilouchi, Mohamed Idhalla. Temporal variability in abundance and population structure of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in relation to harvesting: A case study in the intertidal zone of Aoufist (SW Morocco, Atlantic Ocean). Int J Fish Aquat Stud 2018;6(4):186-191.
