Temporal variations of the catch rate of bony fishes in the southern Caspian Sea's beach seines (Pareh) during the years 2017-2021 (Golestan and Mazandaran)

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran

2 Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

3 Fishing and Exploitation Department, Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

4 Dept. of Fishing and Exploitation , Faculty of Fisheries and Environment, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

Abstract

This study aimed to calculate the catch per unit effort (catch rate or total catch per total effort) of bony fish caught (kilograms per haul) in coastal Pareh (beach seine) on the coasts of Golestan and Mazandaran in the fishing season 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 (main goal), and examining the composition of their catch (side goal). Commercial fisheries data of all active beach seine cooperatives from 2017 to 2022, were used for analysis and reach to research purposes (data of active Pareh cooperative companies on the coasts of Golestan and Mazandaran based on the administration of fisheries at the two provinces). The catch composition was calculated and compared using descriptive statistics. Finally, the comparison of average catch per unit of effort (average catch rate of existing cooperatives) by species/group in each region, fishing season, and province was done by analysis of variance and Duncan's post hoc test. Both the catch composition of the study had important changes during the sampling period, and the catch rate of each species/group changed significantly during this period. The peak catch rate of bony fishes on the study beaches was observed in the fishing season of 2018-2019, and then it had a decreasing trend. In addition to the fishing season (year) and due to changes in other variables, the catch rate of each species/group in the regions and provinces under study had a significant difference. Rutilus kutum was dominant in the catch composition and the amount of catch per unit of effort of the study area. Of course, its share, trend, and rate of catch, like Mugilidae and other bony fish, and unlike Cyprinus carpio, has been decreasing, totally.

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