Present situation of the fishing stocks in North-West Mediterranean (Alicante Elba). Ecological and fishing impact

Abstract

The more important and grave consequence of the fishery activity is related with the distribution of equilibriurn in the ecological structure of the North-West Mediterranean. The pelagic species appear to support in good conditions the fishing effort but the demersal stock are submitted to the strong overfishing. On the other hand the trawl fishing activity disturbs the bionornic structure of the bottom communities. For the correct management it is necessary to develop a new model for evaluation and control adapted to the Mediterranean characteristics. The resources in the Mediterranean Sea are at the lowest level but the exploited species have developed several strategies for self regulation behaviour related with these adaptations to the geomorphological bottom structure and the environmental conditions.