The meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is a large teleost inhabiting the coastal waters of the East Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Along the Iberian Peninsula, it is frequently targeted by both commercial and recreational fisheries. Despite its relevance, information on its population structure and movement ecology has been scarce until recently. While these studies have provided a foundation, information o...
This abstract summarizes the results of two expert consultations conducted to gather insights into effective communication and engagement strategies in recreational fisheries. Effective science communication fosters knowledge, understanding, and trust in both science and management decisions. Public involvement and stakeholder engagement are essential for effective management. Simplifying complex research findi...
Aggregations and social interactions play an important role in the movement ecology of many animals, including elasmobranchs. Several of these species have shown the capability of carrying out complex social behaviours, and the importance of sociality in this taxon is being realized. Although it is a growing field of study in the case of these organisms, these processes still need to be better understood, espec...
Information on population structure and connectivity of targeted species is key for proper implementation of spatial conservation measures. We used a combination of genomics, biophysical modelling, and biotelemetry to infer the population structure and connectivity of Atlantic meagre, an important fisheries resource throughout its distribution. Genetic samples from previously identified Atlantic spawning locati...
The widespread adoption of acoustic telemetry has transformed our understanding of marine species' behavior and movement ecology. However, accurately interpreting telemetry data, especially concerning tagging mortality, is essential for drawing valid conclusions. In this study, we scrutinized tagging mortality in 223 individuals across 14 species and evaluated the impact of tagging methodologies, including capt...
Elasmobranchs are slow-growing marine predators whose populations have declined due to their susceptibility to overfishing, especially affecting species of large size. Rostroraja alba is a large skate that is currently classified as critically endangered. 2. To address the effects of overfishing and promote the recovery of marine species and habitats, marine protected areas (MPAs) are a commonly implemented man...
Based on acoustic detections from a network of five stations along the south coast of Portugal, 25 transits of tagged meagre were identified between 2019 and 2020, mostly in summer. Comparisons with hourly current measurements from a moored Acoustic Doppler current Profiler and an High Frequency Radar system indicate that meagre move westward with favourable alongshore flows at a confidence level > 90% (while e...
Elasmobranchs are a group of slow growing species whose populations are in decline mostly due to their susceptibility to overfishing. A common approach to protect marine species is to establish marine protected areas (MPAs). Data on the spatial ecology of species is key information for MPA implementation and management. However, this information is usually lacking, particularly for elasmobranchs. In this study,...
Argyrosomus regius (commonly referred to as meagre), is one of Europe's largest coastal bony fish species and supports important recreational and commercial fisheries in the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Demand for this species, and more recently for their swim bladders, has led to regional population declines and growing importance as an aquaculture species. Despite intense research in captivity, little i...
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a crucial tool in safeguarding marine biodiversity. However, elasmobranchs are often not the primary protection target of MPAs, and their contribution to protect these species remains to be better understood. In this study we examine the movement patterns of common stingrays in the Professor Luiz Saldanha marine park, a Portuguese temperate coastal MPA. Using acoustic telemetry...