Error message

Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in menu_set_active_trail() (line 2385 of /srv/data/web/vhosts/www.indiseas.org/htdocs/includes/menu.inc).

Ionian Sea Archipelago - Key Species

Sardines

European anchovy

Bogue

European hake

Red mullets

Tuna

Swordfish

Short-beaked common dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins

Mediterranean monk seal

Loggerhead turtle

Sardines (Sardina pilchardus & Sardinella aurita)

European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) is the most important small-sized pelagic fish of Greece, mostly harvested for human consumption. The round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) is mainly used in the canning industry or as a bait for other pelagic fisheries targeting bluefin tuna and swordfish (Voulgaridou and Stergiou, 2003; Tsikliras et al. 2005). The total length of a sardine can reach 18 cm, but varies depending on geographic area; the total weight reached is approximately 54 g (Voulgaridou and Stergiou, 2003; Tsikliras et al. 2005; Fishbase). Sardines are multiple spawners that can release several batches of eggs within a reproductive season. Eggs and larvae are generally distributed in inshore waters at a depth of 40 to 90 m (Somarakis et al. 2006). The spawning season occurs between November and April, and in the Ionian Sea the reproductive activity last for 2-4 months (Voulgaridou and Stergiou, 2003; Somarakis et al. 2006). The coastal waters of Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago are a good refuge for spawning females and are favourable nursery areas for their eggs and larvae (Somarakis et al. 2006). The last assessment conducted in the Eastern Ionian Sea (2001) considered the European pilchard within safe biological limits (moderately exploited) while no assessment has been yet performed for the sardinella (GFCM).

European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)

The European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, is abundant in the entire Mediterranean basin. It can reach a maximum length of 14 cm and a maximum weight of 18 g. As for sardine, European anchovy is a multiple spawner; studies conducted since 1972 have shown a high concentration of spawning stock biomass, eggs and larvae in the inshore waters of the Inner Ionian Sea (Yannopoulos and Yannopoulos, 1976; Machias et al. 2001; Somarakis et al., 2002). The last assessment conducted in the Eastern Ionian Sea (2001) considered the European anchovy within safe biological limits (moderately exploited) (GFCM).

Bogue (Boops boop)

Boops boops is a demersal species inhabiting inshore waters above various substrata (sand, mud, rocks or Posidonia beds) at a depth usually between 0-100m. Maximum length is 36cm but fish of 20cm in length are commonly found. No assessment has been yet made for this species of fish.

European hake (Merluccius merluccius)

The hake, Merluccius merluccius, is a very common and commercially important demersal fish that inhabits the Greek seas (Vassilopoulou and Papaconstantinou, 1988; Papaconstantinou and Stergiou, 1995). In the Ionian Sea, hake can reach a maximum length of 72 cm and a maximum weight of 3.3 kg (Papaconstantinou and Stergiou, 1995). They spawn in very deep waters ranging between 75 and 250 m depth (Vassilopoulou and Papaconstantinou, 1988). The last assessment conducted in the Eastern Ionian Sea (2001) considered the European hake outside its biological limits (over exploited) (GFCM).

Red mullets (Mullus barbatus & M.surmuletus)

The red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and the striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) are common demersal fish of the Mediterranean Sea, mostly found in depths down to 200m. The red mullet inhabits sandy and muddy substrata while the striped mullet is generally found in Posidonia beds (Tserpes et al. 2002). In the Ionian Sea, red mullets can reach a maximum length of 20 cm (Petrakis and Stergiou, 1995). The last assessment conducted in the Eastern Ionian Sea (2001) considered the red mullets outside their biological limits (over exploited) (GFCM).

The main commercial species of tuna that inhabit the Inner Ionian Sea is the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). It is the largest of the tunas, reaching over 600 kg and 4 m of length and living for up to 30 years. It is a highly migratory species, travelling at approximately 40 km per hour and is able to dive to a depth of 1 km. The species spawning area is principally the Mediterranean Sea with highest concentration in the Balearic Island, the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the central Mediterranean (ICCAT, 2003). Bluefin tuna is currently highly depleted with high risk of extinction (GFCM, 2006).

Tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Swordfish, Xiphias gladius, is a large pelagic marine fish, highly migratory and distributed worldwide. Swordfish can reach 4.5 m in length (fork length) and 650 kg (Tserpes et al. 2006; Damalas et al. 2007). Genetic studies have confirmed that the Mediterranean swordfish population form a unique stock with independent growth and reproductive characteristics from the adjacent Atlantic Ocean (Tserpes et al. 2001; Tserpes et al. 2006). In the Mediterranean, the most important spawning areas are the ones around the Balearic Islands, the southern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, and the Strait of Messina. Juveniles can be found in the entire Mediterranean basin but often they concentrate along the coasts (ICCAT, 2004). The last assessment conducted in the Eastern Ionian Sea (2003) considered the swordfish within their biological limits (over exploited) (GFCM).

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

The Mediterranean short-beaked common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, is an endangered speciesbelonging to the Delphinidae family. The adult body length and body weight normally vary depending on the geographical areas in which the population lives. In the Mediterranean Sea, the length ranges between 170 and 200 cm and the average weight of the common dolphin is 90 kg (Notarbartolo di Sciara and Demma, 1997). In the study area, this species has shown sharp declines since the year 1995, with reduced prey availability caused by intensive fishing pressure on small pelagic stocks being the principle cause (Piroddi et al 2010). Since 2003 the Mediterranean common dolphin is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List.

Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

The common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, is one of the better known cetaceans belonging to the Delphinidae family. As for the common dolphin, its dimensions may vary depending on the geographic area in which it lives; in the Mediterranean Sea the adult mean length is around 2.5 m up to a maximum of 4 m. Body weight ranges between 250 and 350 kg (Notarbartolo di Sciara and Demma, 1997). The Mediterranean bottlenose dolphin is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List.

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Historically, the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) was a common marine mammal distributed throughout the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the northwest coast of Africa (Panou et al. 1993; Androukaki et al. 1999). Nowadays it is one of the most critically endangered marine mammals species of the world, and it is threatened with extinction (IUCN/UNEP, 1988). The total world monk seal number is estimated to be between 400 and 500 individuals, and about half of them inhabit the Greek coastal waters (Reijnders et al., 1993).

Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)

The Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, is the most common marine turtle in the Mediterranean Sea and the Greek Ionian Islands. In particular, Zakynthos and Kefalonia are considered some of the most important nesting areas for this species (Panou et al. 1999; Margaritoulis, 2000). The Loggerhead turtle is a migratory species; post-nesting movements of turtles tagged in Greece showed a wide range of dispersion in the Eastern Mediterranean, with preference mainly for the Adriatic, North Ionian and Aegean Sea (Margaritoulis, 2000). Until 1994, it was listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List and was classified as endangered in 1996. During the past twenty years, Greek conservation projects have focused their attention mainly on the protection of nesting beaches and on the monitoring of nesting populations (Panou et al. 1999; Margaritoulis, 2000; Margaritoulis and Rees, 2003; Margaritoulis, 2005).

Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

The Loggerhead turtle, , is the most common marine turtle in the Mediterranean Sea and the Greek Ionian Islands. In particular, Zakynthos and Kefalonia are considered some of the most important nesting areas for this species (Panou et al. 1999; Margaritoulis, 2000). The Loggerhead turtle is a migratory species; post-nesting movements of turtles tagged in Greece showed a wide range of dispersion in the Eastern Mediterranean, with preference mainly for the Adriatic, North Ionian and Aegean Sea (Margaritoulis, 2000). Until 1994, it was listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List and was classified as “endangered” in 1996. During the past twenty years, Greek conservation projects have focused their attention mainly on the protection of nesting beaches and on the monitoring of nesting populations (Panou et al. 1999; Margaritoulis, 2000; Margaritoulis and Rees, 2003; Margaritoulis, 2005).