Mario Sbrana

• PhD in Marine Ecology
• Researcher at Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata G. Bacci

Humans have transformed ecosystems through habitat modification, harvesting, species introduction, and climate change. Changes in species distribution and composition are often thought to induce biotic homogenization, defined as a decline in spatial beta diversity through time. However, it is unclear whether homogenization is common in ocean ecosys...

The progressive increase of marine macro-litter on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea is an urgent problem that needs accurate information and guidance to identify those areas most at risk of accumulation. In the absence of dedicated monitoring programs, an important source of opportunistic data is fishery-independent monitoring campaigns of demer...

By evaluating genetic variation across the entire genome, one can address existing questions in a novel way while raising new ones. The latter include how different local environments influence adaptive and neutral genomic variation within and among populations, providing insights into local adaptation of natural populations and their responses to...

In the Mediterranean, experiments and technical measures aimed at improving the selectivity of bottom trawl nets mostly concern modifications to the codend. Grids have been tested in various areas, but have not been adopted for management purposes so far. The present study aims to evaluate whether the adoption of diamond meshes turned by 90° (T90 c...

Commission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, a...

Lead Partner COISPA Tecnologia & Ricerca in Consortium with University of Alicante (UA), Consorzio per il Centro Interuniversitario di Biologia Marina ed Ecologia Applicata “G. Bacci” di Livorno (CIBM), NISEA Società cooperativa, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries of Split (IOF), Institute of Oceanol...

The presence of plastic waste in the marine environment has driven the scientific community to make significant efforts to study and mitigate its possible effects. One of the critical aspects is to determine if and how an increase in ingestion events may occur as a result of the accumulation of plastic waste on the seabed. In this study, G. melasto...

The presence of plastic waste in the marine environment has driven the scientific community to make significant efforts to study and mitigate its possible effects. One of the critical aspects is to determine if and how an increase in ingestion events may occur as a result of the accumulation of plastic waste on the seabed. In this study, G. melasto...

By evaluating genetic variation across the entire genome, one can address existing questions in a novel way while new can be asked. Such questions include how different local environments influence both adaptive and neutral genomic variation within and among populations, providing insights not only into local adaptation of natural populations, but...

This publication is a Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European C...

This publication is a Science for Policy report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the European Commission’s science and knowledge service. It aims to provide evidence-based scientific support to the European policymaking process. The scientific output expressed does not imply a policy position of the European Commission. Neither the European Comm...

ICES Working Group on Innovative Fishing Gear (WKING) seeks to prepare ICES advice on the progress that has been made, or impact arising from innovative gear within European waters. In order to prepare the report described in Article 31.1 of Regulation 2019/1241, the EU DG-MARE seeks ICES advice on the progress that has been made, or impact arising...

Discards is an important issue in fisheries around the world. The spatial management of discards has attracted interest as a potential tool for minimizing the unwanted catch. The aim of the present work was to identify areas with high quantities of bottom trawl discarded catch regarding species subjected to MCRS, in six areas of southern European w...

Small-scale fisheries represent one of the most important fishing sectors in Italy, comprising 60% of Italian fishing vessels, half the fishers and 16% of national landings. Despite their high social, economic and cultural value, they have been neglected by national and international policies, resulting in a poor outlook for the near future. In thi...

The main characteristics concerning the distribution of two of the most important decapod crustaceans of commercial interest in the Mediterranean Sea, the deep-water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris, and the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, are studied in the European Mediterranean waters. The study is based on data collected under the MED...

Trawling pressure and environmental changes may affect the composition of fish assemblages. Our knowledge on large spatio-temporal patterns of demersal fish composition remains incomplete for the Mediterranean Sea. We investigated (1) the spatio-temporal stability of demersal assemblages, (2) the relationships between these assemblages and potentia...

Maturity is one of the most relevant biological parameters used in stock assessment programmes. Indeed, the macroscopic stage of gonadal development is an essential feature in estimating the maturity ogive and spawning stock biomass (SSB). It is also useful for determining the spawning season of a species and for monitoring long-term changes in the...

Few stock assessments of elasmobranchs have been conducted in the Mediterranean due to the lack of available detailed and precise information. In recent years, in the Mediterranean Sea a major concern on the status of this group does exist and consequently scientists and managers have paid a major attention on the collection of data of fisheries in...

There is currently very little information on the survival of discards of unwanted and unregulated catches of invertebrates after the stresses caused by capture. A great number of the unregulated invertebrate species form the basis of essential fish habitats for important fisheries resources such as hake, red mullet and cuttlefish. Thus, data on th...

Since the first introduction of the landing obligation (a.k.a. Discard ban) in 2015, the EU Mediterranean fisheries are facing some unforeseen challenges. The demersal bottom trawl fisheries, being the most significant contributors to the so-called ‘discard problem’, are confronted with the greatest challenges. Data from the Italian and the Greek f...

This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a “guarding net”, a device placed at the bottom of a trammel net, for reducing unwanted catches in the caramote prawn trammel net fishery of the Ligurian Sea. This specialized and profitable fishery is affected by unwanted catches that generate high discard rates and damage to the nets, with environment...

In the Mediterranean Sea, Aristaeomorpha foliacea and Aristeus antennatus are the most important target species of deep-sea trawl fisheries. Previous studies performed in several areas of the Mediterranean highlighted the key role played by both environmental factors, such as temperature, and anthropogenic activities, such as fishing, in affecting...

The use of artificial lights on the headline of the trawl net seems to be effective in reducing the capture of Merluccius merluccius under the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) in the fishery targeting deep-water rose shrimp. The use of artificial lights placed on the trawl net can be a simple and economical solution to reduce unwanted cat...

The reproductive periods of 14 demersal species were analysed. 10 species has shown high percentages of “maturing/mature” individuals in the period April/June. This result can be a first step towards a management measure aimed at the protection of the spawning stocks.

Discarding of commercially important fish species in the bottom trawl fisheries in the northern Mediterranean Sea was investigated by soliciting the long-term recollections of fishers engaged or formerly engaged in such fisheries. The main aim of our investigation was to describe the prevalence of discarding and its evolution over the past 70 years...

Increasing human pressures and global environmental change may severely affect the diversity of species assemblages and associated ecosystem services. Despite the recent interest in phylogenetic and functional diversity, our knowledge on large spatio-temporal patterns of demersal fish diversity sampled by trawling remains still incomplete, notably...

We investigate long-term changes in the Mediterranean marine resources driving the trawl fisheries by analysing fishers’ perceptions (Traditional Ecological Knowledge, TEK) throughout the Mediterranean Sea during the last 80 years. To this end, we conducted an extended set of interviews with experienced fishers that enabled us to classify species (...

In this study, the growth pattern of juvenile European hake (Merluccius merluccius) was analyzed in relation to oceanographic and ecological factors in the Ligurian Sea and northern Tyrrhenian Sea, both part of the Mediterranean Sea. The ages of juvenile European hake, collected during a trawl survey in June 2011, were estimated by reading otolith...

Passive nets are currently among the most important fishing gears largely used along the Mediterranean coasts by the small scale fisheries sector. The fishing effort exerted by this sector is strongly correlated with net dimensions. Therefore, the use of passive nets is worldwide managed by defining net length and net drop. The EC Reg. 1967/2006 re...

An ecological niche modelling (ENM) approach was developed to model the suitable habitat for the 0-group European hake, Merluccius merluccius L., 1758, in the Mediterranean Sea. The ENM was built combining knowledge on biological traits of hake recruits (e.g. growth, settlement, mobility and feeding strategy) with patterns of selected ecological va...

We analyse fish diversity by a multiple indices and scales approach over 19 years.•Species richness and evenness are proxies of phylogenetic and functional components.•Species richness reveals hotspots for different spatial scales contrary to evenness.•All diversity components remains stable over the last two decades.

Few formal stock assessments of elasmobranchs have been conducted in the Mediterranean. This because the information needed is not enough detailed and precise. In recent years, also in the Mediterranean Sea a major concern on the exploitation status of the stocks, belonging to this group, is increased and scientists and managers have paid a major a...

Few formal stock assessments of elasmobranchs have been conducted in the Mediterranean. This because the information needed is not enough detailed and precise. In recent years, also in the Mediterranean Sea a major concern on the exploitation status of the stocks, belonging to this group, is increased and scientists and managers have paid a major a...

Small driftnets of limited length and relatively small mesh size to catch small/medium sized species have been used for generations by many artisanal fleets along the Mediterranean coasts, without major environmental concerns. Problems started in the late 70s-80s when the use of driftnets with larger meshes and much greater overall size targeting m...

Technical specifications, including attachments to and rigging, of trawl gears used in different Mediterranean fisheries (benthic, demersal and pelagic) with attention, in particular, to the maximum and minimum dimensions of headline, footrope, circumference or perimeter at various levels of the net (e.g. codend sensu-stricto, extension piece, bait...

The time series of elasmobranch catch rates off the Tuscany coasts (NW Mediterranean) were investigated by means of min/max auto-correlation factor analysis in order to estimate variations in population abundance and evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors. The analyses highlighted a general decreasing trend in the catch r...

The time series of elasmobranch catch rates off the Tuscany coasts (NW Mediterranean) were investigated by means of min/max auto-correlation factor analysis in order to estimate variations in population abundance and evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors. The analyses highlighted a general decreasing trend in the catch r...

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 13-09 was held from 15 – 19 July 2013 in Ispra, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference points. The report was reviewed and endorsed by the STECF during its plena...

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 12-19 was held from 10 – 14 December 2012 in Ancona, Italy to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference point. The report was reviwed and adopted by the STECF during its Spr...

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 12-10 was held from 16 – 20 July in Sete, France, to assess the status of demersal and small pelagic stocks in the Mediterranean Sea against the proposed FMSY reference point. The report was reviewed and endorsed by the STECF during its 41st plena...

A new capture of Kyphosus saltatrix in the eastern Ligurian Sea confirms the increasing presence of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. The family Kyphosidae comprises 42 species, 12 of them belonging to the genus Kyphosus Lacepède, 1801. In the Atlantic Ocean only two kyphosid species occur: the yellow sea chub, Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier, 1831),...

We conducted interviews of a representative sample of 106 retired fishers in Italy, Spain and Greece, asking specific questions about the trends they perceived in dolphin and shark abundances between 1940 and 1999 (in three 20 year periods) compared to the present abundance. The large marine fauna studied were not target species of the commercial f...

a b s t r a c t The present study aimed to evaluate the variation over time of the abundance of the populations of five demersal species in the Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean) analysing data obtained from trawl surveys and commercial landing monitoring. The influence of some environmental variables (sea surface temperature, wind speed, NAO index)...

a b s t r a c t The present study aimed to evaluate the variation over time of the abundance of the populations of five demersal species in the Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean) analysing data obtained from trawl surveys and commercial landing monitoring. The influence of some environmental variables (sea surface temperature, wind speed, NAO index)...

The exploitation of Mullus barbatus stocks was assessed in four ports; Porto Santo Stefano in Italy, and Vilanova i la Geltrü, Castelló and Santa Pola in Spain. Virtual population analysis (VPA) by size was carried out using the catch equation. The different types of fishing gear exploiting this species in these ports were taken into consideration....

The impact of the gillnet fishery on Merluccius merluccius (European hake) was investigated in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, western Mediterranean. Four mesh sizes were tested: 53, 62.5, 70 and 82 mm. Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), hake and tub gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna) dominated the catches, from a minimum of 89% (82 mm mesh) to a ma...

The impact of the gillnet fishery on Merluccius merluccius (European hake) was investigated in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, western Mediterranean. Four mesh sizes were tested: 53, 62.5, 70 and 82 mm. Horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus), hake and tub gumard (Chelidonichthys lucerna) dominated the catches, from a minimum of 89% (82 mm mesh) to a max...

The present note describes the most north-west-ward record in the Mediterranean Sea of the bluespotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1835, and a further finding of the blunthead puffer fish, Sphoeroides pachygaster (Müller & Troschel, 1848). Morphometric and meristic characters of the two specimens collected are provided. The bluespot...

The aim of this study is to provide information on the fishing pattern of Parapenaeus longirostris in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (western Mediterranean), in order to improve the management of the resource in the area. Data were obtained from commercial fishery, covering the period 1991–2002. Catch rates revealed notable inter-annual fluctuation of...

The deep water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris, is a very important commercial species for trawl fleets that fish in the Mediterranean as well as in the Gulf of Cadiz and to the south of Portugal. Despite its importance, its life cycle has not been thoroughly studied and there are discrepancies as to certain aspects, depending on the area. Al...

Temporal and spatial variation in Merluccius merluccius recruitment in the Northwest Mediterranean is examined, and recruitment indices are derived from monthly M. merluccius catch rates of four bottom-trawl fleets operating in Spanish and Italian waters during the period 1991-1999. Where M. merluccius catches were not recorded by size category, mu...

In the southern Tuscan Archipelago the vertical distribution of the galatheid decapod crustacean Munida intermedia, obtained from experimental trawl surveys, ranged from 90 to at least 700 m depth. However, the species was more abundant between 200 and 450 m depth, where until to 300 individuals/h were captured. A total of 1456 individuals (754 mal...

The aim of this study was to analyse the main factors affecting catch rates of the most important decapod crustaceans of the bottom trawl fishery in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, western Mediterranean. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) data (kg/fishing day/boat) of deep water rose shrimp, Parapenaeus longirostris, Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, and...

The composition of the catch of the deep sea trawl fleet of Porto Santo Stefano (northern Tyrrhenian Sea, western Mediterranean) was analysed. In the period 1995–99 observations were carried out on board commercial vessels, collecting data for about 500 trawling hours. Nephrops norvegicus, Parapenaeus longirostris and large specimens of Merluccius...

Information on distribution, relative abundance and size composition of the pleuronectiform species Citharus linguatula, Lepidorhombus boscii and Solea vulgaris was obtained during the "MEDITS" trawl surveys, carried out in a wide area of the Mediterranean Sea from 1994 to 1999. The three species showed a wide geographic distribution, as they were...

The selectivity of a traditional trammel net, a monofilament trammel net and a gill net for Lithognathus mormyrus (striped sea-bream), Diplodus annularis (annular sea-bream) and Mullus barbatus (red mullet) was investigated in two coastal areas (central Adriatic sea and southern Ligurian sea). Three mesh sizes were tested for each set net: 45, 70 a...

Aspects of the reproductive biology of female Parapenaeus longirostris, were analysed from monthly samples collected by trawling in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea, from January 1994 to February 1995. Ripe females were found all the year round and two peaks of activity were observed, one in spring and another at the beginning of autumn. All post-moulti...

An assessment of the state of the fisheries of hake, red mullet and Norway lobster was carried out by using trawl survey data from the MEDITS research programme. The assessment was performed by means of the application of a composite model utilising the total mortality rate Z as a direct index of fishing effort. The studied area covered the whole w...