Article (Scientific journals)
The Strange Case of Tough White Seabream (Diplodus sargus, Teleostei: Sparidae): A First Approach to the Extent of the Phenomenon in the Mediterranean
Casadevall, Margarida; Rodriguez-Prieto, Conxi; Pueyo, Josep et al.
2020In Frontiers in Marine Science, p. 387
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
 

Files


Full Text
6_fmars-07-00387_Casadevall et al.pdf
Publisher postprint (1.62 MB)
Download

All documents in ORBi are protected by a user license.

Send to



Details



Keywords :
white seabream; Diplodus sargus; Mediterranean Sea; pollution; copper; anti-fouling paint
Abstract :
[en] A worrying phenomenon has been affecting the common white seabream (Diplodus sargus) for near 40 years. Professional and recreational fishers from the Mediterranean coasts and the Atlantic coasts of Europe and Macaronesia have reported individuals of white seabream that became “like a tire” after cooking, and consequently inedible. The phenomenon was related neither to the freshness of the fish nor to the way it had been preserved or cooked. According to recreational fishers, this Abnormally Tough Specimen (ATS) phenomenon appeared singularly in time, in different places and to different extents. This singular, scattered appearance, with no area of origin from which to spread, de facto excluded any process of contagion. In order to compensate for the lack of knowledge and understanding related to this issue, we undertook a first study that aimed at addressing the extent of the white seabream anomaly in the western Mediterranean. To reach this objective, we carried out surveys on voluntary basis among fishers (both professional and recreational) and researchers throughout the western Mediterranean. Data from the surveys (n = 270) were then analyzed to evaluate the distribution of ATS and its possible relationship with human activities. Results showed that the anomaly affected the white seabream and very occasionally some other species, mainly of the same family Sparidae. In addition, the phenomenon did not occur simultaneously in the different areas surveyed over the last years and in some places it seems to have disappeared. We highlighted a possible link between ATS occurrence and the presence of human activities in adjacent areas. We hypothesized pollution – including by copper – could be a possible driver of ATS. Results suggested a tendency of ATS to cluster around fish farms and commercial and industrial ports, although we are aware other human factors might also influence the phenomenon. To conclude, the present study gives an overview of the importance of the white seabream anomaly in the Mediterranean and encourages further research to disentangle the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon.
Research center :
Departament de Ciències Ambientals, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Casadevall, Margarida
Rodriguez-Prieto, Conxi
Pueyo, Josep
Marti, Carolina
Merciai, Roberto
Verlaque, Marc
Real, Enric
Torres, Jordi
Richir, Jonathan  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophys., géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > Chemical Oceanography Unit (COU)
Language :
English
Title :
The Strange Case of Tough White Seabream (Diplodus sargus, Teleostei: Sparidae): A First Approach to the Extent of the Phenomenon in the Mediterranean
Publication date :
19 June 2020
Journal title :
Frontiers in Marine Science
eISSN :
2296-7745
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., Switzerland
Pages :
387
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 12 January 2021

Statistics


Number of views
68 (4 by ULiège)
Number of downloads
42 (1 by ULiège)

Scopus citations®
 
3
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
2
OpenCitations
 
2

Bibliography


Similar publications



Contact ORBi