The impact of fishing on Mediterranean fish
The goal of this study is to assess how seasonality influences growth and mortality of Mediterranean fish; and its potential demographic consequences. This study will combine intensive field sampling, modern laboratory methods, such as otolith analyses, and advanced statistical methods to estimate important size-dependent demographic parameters for native and invasive species. Estimating mortality rates from field data is difficult without tracking the fate of individual fish through time. Fortunately, recent analytical progress provides methods for estimating size-dependent mortality rates from pre- and post-season surveys alone. We will use these novel methods to estimate size-dependent mortality rates for key Mediterranean fish species. In addition, growth rate estimates will be back-calculated using otoliths. Jointly, these methods will allow us to estimate important demographic parameters and to assess how they change throughout the seasons. Such estimates are central for fish stock assessments and for sustainable fisheries management.