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Article

New Data on the Biology and Fisheries of the Threatened Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) (Decapoda, Achelata, Palinuridae) from the North-West Aegean Sea, Greece

by
Thodoros E. Kampouris
1,*,
Drosos Koutsoubas
1,
Debora Milenkova
2,
Georgios Economidis
3,
Stylianos Tamvakidis
4 and
Ioannis E. Batjakas
1
1
Department of Marine Sciences, School of the Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, Mytilene, 811 00 Lesvos Island, Greece
2
18 Ashby Cres, Glasgow, Scotland G13 2NT, UK
3
Fisheries Department, Directorate of Agricultural Economy and Fisheries, Region of Central Macedonia, 64 26th October Str., 546 27 Thessaloniki, Greece
4
Department of Farming and Fisheries, Directorate of Agricultural Affairs of Central Macedonia, Decentralized Administration of Macedonia–Thrace, Navarinou 28 and Karaoliand Dimitriou, 551 31 Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Water 2020, 12(9), 2390; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092390
Submission received: 17 June 2020 / Revised: 21 August 2020 / Accepted: 23 August 2020 / Published: 26 August 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Aquatic Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability)
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Abstract

:
The European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas is a vulnerable species that inhabits and is harvested in the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent Atlantic waters. The fisheries associated with the spiny lobster are mainly conducted with tangle nets, trammel nets, pots, and creels. The fishing pressure has greatly reduced their numbers, changing them from a common shallow coastal species to a largely remnant population. The relative research on the species’ biology and fisheries from the eastern Mediterranean Sea is almost absent. The fishery along the Chalkidiki Peninsula, Greece, is multispecies, and fishing is conducted by a small number of artisanal fishermen mainly using trammel nets. The lobster stock—both spiny and clawed lobsters—declined significantly during the late 1980s and early 1990s, later than most cases in the Mediterranean Sea. However, data regarding the nature and status of the fishery associated with the spiny lobster in Greece are lacking. Data regarding the characteristics of the spiny regional fishery were obtained by interviews and questionnaires. Additionally, fishery surveys were conducted during the main lobster fishing season from 1 May 2017 to 31 August 2017. Sixteen species were identified (15 finfish species and one invertebrate species) as targeted. In total, 79 spiny lobsters were sampled in this study; the population’s sex ratio significantly diverts from the theoretical 1:1 (χ2 = 4.57; p < 0.05), and males were dominant. Both male and female individuals demonstrate negative allometric growth profiles. In addition, no significant differences were observed between sexes. In Greece, thus far, the knowledge and information are sporadic, limited, and/or species-specific, most of which regard finfish fisheries. Furthermore, the national legislation is rather complicated—or too generalized—thus creating great uncertainties. The in-depth knowledge and experience of fishermen should be further acknowledged and utilized, and wider collaborations among scientists, practitioners, and policy-makers should be established. The present study poses some thoughts on the effectiveness of the recent EU Landing Obligation and its contribution to the potential restoration of the species.

1. Introduction

Globally, six species compose the genus Palinurus, three of which are found in the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent Atlantic waters (P. elephas, P. mauritanicus, and P. charlestoni), with both morphological and molecular (mtDNA) differences [1]. All species are exploited and are thus included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species [2,3,4]. To date, three alien and rare lobster species have been reported in the Mediterranean Sea and along the east Atlantic coast: the rare Panulirus regius de Brito Capello, 1864 [5], the American lobster Homarus americanus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 [6] and the Lessepsian Panulirus ornatus (Fabricius, 1798) [7].
Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) is found across the Mediterranean Sea, in the east Atlantic from North Africa to Scotland, U.K. (Hebrides and Orkney Isles) [8,9], but only in Scotland is it considered rare [10,11]. Records from Scandinavia should be considered as doubtful, since recent records of the species have not been reported [12,13]. It is the only spiny lobster species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, dwelling in shallow waters up to 200 m, commonly found in hard substrates [1,14], though several individuals have been observed in coarse bottoms (i.e., “scuddy” grounds) [10], sand beds [15], and mixed sediments [16]. The European spiny lobster is classified by IUCN as “Vulnerable” mainly due to its continuous overfishing [4]. Data of the relevant fisheries are very scarce and are usually local or regional, making it unclear when fishermen began to fish beyond sustainable limits, though non-selective netting is negatively impacting population size. Older studies clearly demonstrated that the species used to be abundant in the east Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. For instance, Bonnier [17] characterized the species as “very common” and stated that the most common fishing depths ranged from 80 to 100 m. Ritchie [10] stated that the species “is very common on the rocky parts of the southern and western coasts of France” and that it occurs “in great numbers and from whence it is brought in considerable quantities to the London market.” The south and west coasts of Ireland used to be important fishing grounds for spiny lobster during the 20th century [13]. Regarding Mediterranean waters, Selbie [13] characterized the species as “extremely abundant” in the western basin—off the coasts of Corsica, Sardinia, Tunis and Balearic Islands and the relative fishery in Corsica and Italy as a “thriving industry”. The same author also stated that spiny lobsters occurred in “large numbers” in the Aegean and Adriatic Seas. Over and above, lobster fisheries were described as not well developed [13,18], and the species was described as “targeted” in Corsica in the 1980s [19].
Nowadays, predominantly in Mediterranean countries, the first sale price of the species might reach as high as 120 EUR/kg−1, but despite its huge economic value, European spiny lobster supports only a peripheral fishery and it is considered as a by-catch species for more than 100 finfish fisheries [1,14,20]. Until the 1960s or 1970s, spiny lobsters were caught mainly by traps and pots and occasionally (e.g., Cornwall) by SCUBA diving (e.g., [21,22,23,24]). After this period, there was an important change in fishing gear, from traps and pots to the gradual establishment of trammel and tangle nets. This change, in combination with the instalment of new technologies, better materials in fishing equipment, and eventually, the increase in fishing effort, are the main reasons of the collapse of the spiny lobster population [25] (but see [1] for details regarding the spiny lobster fishery in European waters). A summary of the spiny lobster fishery status, such as the involved vessels, the gear used, and fishery management, is provided in Table 1. There are only few and sparse available data regarding the spiny lobster fishery in Aegean Sea. In Greek seas, lobsters (i.e., P. elephas, Scyllarides latus (Latreille, 1803) and Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus, 1758) are considered a delicacy and are highly priced (30–90 EUR/kg−1) (Kampouris, pers. com.). All lobster species are considered as by-catch for an unknown number of artisanal vessels. Until the early 1970s, lobster fishing in Greece was conducted with low-technology gear and tools [26]. The main fishing grounds were the wide areas of Agios Efstratios Island in the north-east Aegean, Skyros Island in the north-west Aegean, and Kerkira (Corfu) Island in the Ionian Sea [27]. Relative data from the Thracian Sea indicate that during the two-year period between 1997 and 1999, the regional catch was 1682.5 kg and corresponded to 0.2% of the total catch [28]. The Hellenic spiny lobster fishery has the same issues as most artisanal Mediterranean fisheries: most individuals are sold directly to consumers, hotels, or restaurants. Although monitoring and management plans are lacking, there are some specific fishery restrictions concerning all lobster species (i.e., spiny, clawed, and slipper lobsters) in general, such as: (1) fishing is prohibited from 1 September to 31 December; (2) the minimum landing size is 90 mm of carapace length or 240 mm of body length; (3) the minimum landing weight is 420 g; and (4) the prohibition of landing berried females [20]. Several vessels are active along the Turkish Aegean coasts from Saros Bay (south) to Ayvalik and Foça. These vessels use trammel nets with a mesh size ranging from 85 to 170 mm, with a total length of 6 km. Usually, these vessels range in length from 20 to 25 m [29] (see Table 1).
Length–weight (L–W) and/or length–length (L–L) relationships are often used to study population characteristics of many crustacean species. Moreover, these equations contribute to understanding the life history of different species [30], such as changes during growth [31] or variability amongst populations of the same species [32], that may hide genetic diversity. Additionally, these relationships set the basis for population modelling [33] and are therefore quite useful for studying biology at the fishery level [34]. Furthermore, morphometric studies are useful in ecological research, since populations of the same species may exhibit morphological differences that reflect adaptations under regional environmental conditions [35].
The present study aimed to review (in brief) the historic distribution and abundance of P. elephas. Additionally, it presents, for the first-time, data on the fishery and biology of the threatened spiny lobster from the Chalkidiki Peninsula and the Thermaikos Gulf. Our study is among the few recent ones regarding this species in the Mediterranean Sea.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Survey Area

The Thermaikos Gulf is in the north-western Aegean Sea (Figure 1). It is the largest gulf (covering and area of about 5100 km2) and is one of the most productive parts of the eastern Mediterranean basin [36] that supports the most important fishing activity in Hellenic waters [37]. The oceanographic characteristics of the Thermaikos Gulf demonstrate seasonality. The significant forces that form its ecological status are the water exchanges from/to the Aegean Sea and the riverine fluxes of freshwater from several rivers [38]. The Thermaikos Gulf has little depth variation and it is dominated by soft sediments. These have an impact on the resuspension generally [39] and are several times higher in comparison to the contribution from the major rivers in the area [39]. The gulf receives approximately 120,000 m3 day−1 of sewage from the city of Thessaloniki and 25,000 m3 day−1 of industrial discharge [40]. The caramote prawn Penaeus kerathurus (Forskål, 1775) and the pink shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) are the two main decapod species that are believed to be exploited in the Thermaikos Gulf [41]. Furthermore, the invasive blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) is fished and some quantities are, mainly, exported [42].

2.2. Sampling

Fishing took place overnight every 15 days, during the main lobster fishing season from 1 May 2017 to 31 August 2017. Sampling took place between Potidaia (40°11′17.9″ N 23°19′06.0″ E) and Loutra Agias Paraskevis (39°55′02.3″ N 23°35′21.2″ E). The soak time was 12–14 h depending on weather conditions. Trammel nets of 2–5 km in length were used over hard bottoms. The mesh size, knot to knot, ranged from 35 to 50 mm. Small floats were placed equidistantly along the net’s whole length to prevent entanglement, while weights were used to keep it close to the bottom. A plastic 9-m-long artisanal fishing vessel was used, and the fishing depth ranged from 45 to 90 m. All spiny lobster individuals of legal size were measured on board and were then sold, while all undersized individuals were released (see discussion). The targeted species were identified at the species level.

2.3. Interviews and Questionnaires

The systematic interviews and the relative questions were based on earlier studies, mainly regarding the Caribbean lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804) fishery [43], the red spiny lobster Panulirus penicillatus (Olivier, 1791) fishery at Galapagos [44,45], the spiny lobster fishery Panulirus spp. in Sumatra [46], and Australia’s multispecies prawn fishery [47], since they present advantages and similarities with the Mediterranean artisanal spiny lobster fisheries. In terms of advantages, spiny lobsters in the Caribbean Sea and Galapagos Archipelagos are well studied, and are therefore quite useful in studies such as the present one. Additionally, in the Galapagos, Caribbean, and Sumatra, spiny lobster fisheries are mostly artisanal or of small scale, multispecies, utilizing different fishing gear, and an important population decline was observed by 1960–1970. However, other studies regarding European waters were also consulted [48].
Unfortunately, some fishermen provided misleading or false data and statements, or they were not eager to discuss at all, openly expressing their mistrust of scientists in general. These responders were classified as “unsuccessful”—please see Figure 1. Four groups of questions were asked. The first one was related to the fishing communities and the relative demographics. The second group of questions regarded the fishing equipment, gear, and methodology used (vessel, fishing gear, crew number, etc.) (Table 2). The third was associated with the characteristics of the fishery, such as distance from ports, depth, and soaking time. The last group concerned the economic nature and profitability of the fishery in the study area. In addition, the main targeted species were determined (Table 3).

2.4. Morphometric Measurements

All measurements were performed by the first author. The carapace length (CL) measurements were obtained according to Hepper, 1966 and Tidu et al., 2004 [49,50], from the posterior margin of the eye socket to the posterior end of the carapace. The carapace width (CW) measurements followed the process of [51]. Moreover, the abdomen length (ABL) and abdomen width (ABW) were measured as described by [52]. All length and width measurements were obtained with a digital calliper, while measurements of wet weight (W) were obtained, to the nearest gram, by using an electronic scale.
Given the fact that there are no available published data from the east Mediterranean Sea, the size grouping, regarding the frequency distribution, was selected by the authors based on the findings of the present study. In particular, the size grouping was based on the minimum, average, and maximum values of the sampling size along with the number of recorded individuals. The bin size of each class was selected based on the range of each measurement (CW, CL, ABW, ABL). The L–W relationships were expressed by the equation W = aLb or in its logarithmic form of logW = loga + blogL, where W is the weight; L is the CW, CL, ABL, or ABW; a is the intercept, and b is the slope. The constants a and b were estimated by the linear regression from the logarithmically transformed data. The degree of association between length–weight variables was determined by the coefficient of determination (r2) of the linear regression. The types of allometric growth were determined by the values of constant b (b < 3 negative allometry, b = 3 isometry, and b > 3 positive allometry) [53].

2.5. Statistical Analyses

The R Project [54] software was used to determine the allometric growth profiles and to produce the relative graphs. The sex ratio differences, based on the null hypothesis of a 1:1 population ratio, was assessed with chi-square (χ2) analysis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) used to assess the significance of linear regression [33]. Student’s two-sample t-tests were used to assess potential differences between sexes regarding all morphometric characteristics.

3. Results

3.1. Interviews and Questionnaires

Eight fishermen were interviewed for the purpose of the present study. The average age of the fishermen (i.e., the skipper) was 50.5 ± 11.9 years and the average fishing experience was 36.9 ± 12.7 years. The average vessel length was 9.4 ± 2.9 m and the crew number ranged from 1 (i.e., the skipper) to 3. In most of the cases, the crew was strongly associated with the skipper (e.g., a family member). Both wooden and plastic vessels were used at the lobster fishery, and the average horsepower was 32.5 ± 10.7 HP. The main gear used was trammel nets, but some (2/8) also used lobster creels. One interviewee said that spiny lobsters are very rarely caught using a long line. The length of the nets ranged from 600 m to 6.5 km and the average length was 3.2 ± 1.9 km, while the mesh size, knot to knot, ranged from 25 to 50 mm and the average size was 38.8 ± 8.1 mm. Usually, fishermen in the study area do not perform long fishing excursions, since they travel for 1–3 h to deploy their gear. Sometimes, when the demand is high, their trips may last up to 10 h, deploying their gear in other regions (e.g., the Sporades islands). The average range of soaking time was 12–15.5 h and the most effective fishing hours of the day were identified as late at night, before dawn, and very early in the morning. The depth range was 48–101 m, although the fishing depth changes during the fishing period to adapt to the lobsters’ preferences. There were many different opinions regarding catches in terms of abundance or biomass; most fishermen stated that, typically, they catch from 1 to 4 individuals (or 1–2 kg) per deployment, with a maximum of 10–15 kg per deployment. Additionally, some fishermen did not provide any data regarding their catches. However, it seems that the potential profit is important, since the retail price per kilogram is quite high at EUR 60–90, but one individual stated that the price can reach as much as 120 EUR/kg−1 (Table 2). The main targeted caught species, associated with spiny lobster fisher, can be as many as 16 species (Table 3).

3.2. Morphometrics

In total, 79 spiny lobsters were sampled in this study—49 males (62%) and 30 females (38%). In terms of size, 33.3% of the males and 41.9% of the females were classified as undersized (their weight was below the legal size of 420 g), and two females were ovigerous. This population significantly diverts from the null hypothesis of 1:1 (χ2 = 4.57; p < 0.05), and males are dominant at a ratio of 1.63:1. No significant differences were observed between the sexes regarding morphometric characters, except the abdominal width (Table 4).
The maximum, average, and minimum values of all obtained measurements (i.e., CL, CW, ABL, ABW, and W) from the sampling procedure are presented as box plots, since these diagrams offer better clarity (Figure 2)—please see Table A1, Table A2 and Table A3 at the Appendix A for further details.
All of the morphometric relationships of both males and females demonstrate negative allometric growth profiles (Table 5) of the spiny lobsters in the area, while no significant differences were observed between the sexes. The ranges of CL/CW, ABL/ABL, and W cover many different size classes.
The distribution of size of the male and female spiny lobsters from the study area is presented in Figure 3. Male spiny lobsters demonstrated a wider size distribution compared to females. There are two main groups regarding males and CL—one in the class size of 50–79 mm, and a second in the 80–89 mm class size (Figure 3A). Meanwhile, there is only one dominant group size of male CW, i.e., in the class size of 40–69 mm (Figure 3B). Male lobsters show two different main groups of ABL—one in the class size of 70–79 mm, and a second in the 90–119 mm class size (Figure 3C). However, there is no specific pattern regarding the ABW frequency distribution in either males or females (Figure 3D). The CL–W relationships for both male and female lobsters are presented in Figure 4, and the CW–W relationships are presented in Figure 5. Meanwhile, Figure 6 and Figure 7 present the ABL-W and ABW–W relationships for both sexes, respectively.

4. Discussion

This spiny lobster species is not well-studied, and most of the relative data refer to the western Mediterranean Sea [1,20]. Quantitative published data from the eastern Mediterranean Sea are almost lacking, except for the work of Beltrano et al., 2002 [28]. Therefore, studies such as ours are needed in order to understand the biological and ecological requirements of the species, as well as to understand the impacts of anthropogenic pressures such as fisheries, especially for a threatened species such as the European spiny lobster.
During the surveys of the present study, all live and undersized spiny lobsters were released right after obtaining the necessary measurements (which took 1–3 min/lobster). Most individuals showed a remarkable recovery, exhibiting high vitality signs, such as antennae rasping and tail movements, satisfying the criteria described by Mallol et al., 2011 [55]. The results of the present study, related to the allometric profile of the spiny lobster, are in accordance (negative allometry) with previous studies, either from the Atlantic Ocean (e.g., [11,14], including the references therein, and [20,22]), or from the Mediterranean Sea (e.g., [20], including the references therein, and [51]). However, a number of the aforementioned studies presented some data very close to isometry (b = 3) [20,50]. On other occasions, earlier studies focused on L–L relationships (e.g., [20], including the references therein, and [49]) or used different methodologies [56]. It is noteworthy that none of the previous studies dealt with the ABL–W relationship, though it was used in studies regarding other decapod species [52]. Thus, the current study is the first ever to present such data. The sampling size, though comparatively smaller, is satisfying, since it covers a wide range of sizes in both males and females. For instance, the range of CL in male spiny lobsters was from 41.36 to 127.88 mm, which is roughly three times the minimum. In females, the CL ranged from 52.12 to 111.54 mm, roughly two times the minimum. However, the maximum CL sizes for both males and females were lower than that in previous studies. Studies from the Atlantic coasts in the 1960s–1970s reported bigger sizes in male and female spiny lobsters, with a minimum of approximately 58 mm and a maximum 185 mm (e.g., [20], including the references therein). Additionally, studies from the Mediterranean Sea in the 1990s–early 2000s, off Britany, Tunisia, and the Columbretes Islands, also reported bigger CL sizes (see [20] for details). The present study presents similarities regarding the average CL with a study from the Sardinian coast [50]. Lastly, the present findings suggest that males may have higher capture probabilities in comparison to female spiny lobsters. This could be linked to the species movement during the night, which is usually associated either with foraging or reproduction [20]; however, the sample size was relatively small and generalizations at the population level should be avoided at the present time, as further research is required.
The number of known fishermen that are directly active and systematically involved at the regional lobster fishery is small. The number of successful interviews, though low, represents 67% of the total, based on the data of the present study (see Figure 1). Besides the spiny lobster fishery, the participants were asked questions related to general issues, concerns, and management proposals of the artisanal fishery and the lobster fishery in the region. All fishermen indicated that the lobster stock—both spiny and clawed lobsters—declined significantly during the late 1980s and early 1990s, later than most cases in the Mediterranean Sea. According to the fishermen, the landings were as much as 10 times that of the present status, but some caution is required; however, these are the only available regional data. All fishermen identified as a major threat the interaction with dolphins, since they cause heavy and extensive damage to their gear (i.e., nets and long lines), being in accordance with a previous study [57]. Additionally, most fishermen (7/8) raised concerns about the import of fish and shellfish (frozen and fresh) from foreign countries, including live American lobsters (H. americanus). Additionally, 50% (4/8) of the interviewees, all young fishermen (≤45 years), blamed themselves and their ancestors for the present status of overharvested stocks. Lastly, young fishermen expressed their willingness to establish further regional management regulations and better enforcement regarding the lobster (P. elephas and H. gammarus) fishery and proposed various measures, yet they were against at the creation of an MPA (Marine Protected Area) in the area. Their management proposal was driven by their willingness to ensure the sustainability of the lobster fishery, and their suggestions were to: (1) legalize the use of nets (either gill, tangle, or trammel) with a mesh size of 30 mm from knot to knot; (2) alter the fishery prohibition period from 1 September to mid-August, since berried females are constantly observed in the region; and (3) improve enforcement efforts. Moreover, those who use lobster traps and creels suggested the re-introduction of suchlike gear and the total prohibition of net use, but most of them (6/8) were against net banning, since they were not familiar with the use of other gear.
Further management implications at the regional level should consider the characteristics of regional fishery such as the gear used, conflicts with other users, and environmental protection. Based on the present findings, the spiny lobster, along with H. gammarus, should be considered as a targeted species and not as a by-catch. Considering that most fishermen in the region use nets, larger mesh sizes of at least 50 mm (knot to knot) should be used, since many undersized individuals were caught during the sampling effort of the present study. In addition, further modifications to reduce by-catch with the use of a guarding net [58] should be tested and evaluated in situ, since, in other small-scale prawn (Penaeus kerathurus) fisheries in the Ligurian Sea, some biomass losses have been observed [59]. Lobster traps, modified with escapes gaps that increase selectivity in lobster size [60], will need to be evaluated in situ, and if proven successful, they should progressively replace nets. In agreement with earlier studies, the EU Landing Obligation should exclude spiny lobsters, since they are under threat [58].
Spiny lobsters, and lobsters in general, play an important role in humanity. For example, lobster use is present in many different forms of artifacts, writings, and artwork. Additionally, it is acknowledged that they were a valuable resource for the ancient Greeks and Romans, as both peoples had a remarkable state of knowledge of the biology of lobsters, etc. Furthermore, many indigenous societies across the globe utilize lobsters in many ways [61]. More importantly, they support important independent or multispecies fisheries globally. In addition, since they act as both prey and predators, they have a great contribution to the function, structure, and dynamics of the ecosystem. Spiny lobsters such as P. elephas have been identified as keystone species [62] in many ecosystems worldwide. For instance, in Mexico, lobsters have wreaked large changes on ecosystem structure as keystone predators [63]. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, spiny lobsters were the main factor impacting the presence of sea urchins [64]. Moreover, in Brazil, alterations in the abundance of spiny lobster by the gillnet spiny lobster fishery has posed a serious ecological imbalance, since the four lobster species have an important predatory role within the reef ecosystem, as well as being natural prey for several second-level consumers, such as reef fish species [65]. Lobsters fulfil the most important requirements of being characterized as ecosystem indicators, since they quantify wider environmental changes and their monitoring is essential [66]. Furthermore, the actual lobster landings may be several times more than reported ones, and fishermen interviews can contribute to the re-evaluation of fishing pressure, as demonstrated in other studies [67]. The actual number of catches of threatened marine resources could be several times higher than the official data. For instance, in Norway, it was observed that European lobster catches are as much as 14-fold when compared to official national data [68], which could prove unreliable (e.g., scalloped spiny lobster fishery) [69].
In Greece, thus far, the knowledge and information are sporadic, limited, and/or species-specific, most of which regard finfish fisheries [70]. There are limited published data on decapod fisheries, mainly regarding the Norway lobster, and most of the time, there are no data regarding the spiny lobster fishery biology (e.g., [71]). Therefore, studies such as the present one are quite useful. Furthermore, the national legislation is rather complicated or too generalized, creating great uncertainties regarding the effectiveness of fishery management [72]. It is noteworthy that P. elephas and its habitat are priority conservation features in many Mediterranean and EU counties. The Barcelona and OSPAR convections, signed by European countries including Greece, set specific priorities on the insurance of sustainable management regarding marine resources. Additionally, the EU Common Fisheries policy prioritizes the conservation of marine resources and the warranty of engagement in a profitable fishing sector by wider stakeholders’, such as fishers, engagement. In other regions of the world, the fishermen’s knowledge and in-depth experience have proven more than useful [43]. The associated ecosystems support an important biodiversity with threatened, economically important, and protected species such as the red coral, gorgonians, groupers, sponges, and the triton (Charonia tritonis). Furthermore, some of the spiny lobster habitats are listed among the threatened EU marine habitats [73] and almost all of them offer many different services, besides fisheries, to humans. These include, amongst others, recreational and tourism services (SCUBA diving), as well as ecological and biodiversity services, since they are biodiversity hotspots. Over and above, these ecosystems are heavily impacted by many threats, such as fishing, directly and indirectly (e.g., ghost fishing), habitat degradation, pollution, alien and invasive species [74], and, of course, climate change, whose impacts are rather unknown, both in terms of biodiversity and fisheries management.
The in-depth knowledge and experience of fishers have been recognized as a valuable source of scientific information and should be further acknowledged and utilized. Wider collaborations among scientists, practitioners, and policymakers should be further established [75].
European spiny lobsters and the relative fishery requires specific regulations and management that is acknowledged by the fishermen, at least in the study area, based on a three-axial basis: (1) regional conservation and protection of the species and habitats; (2) sustainable fishery management, keeping in mind livelihoods and welfare, with the active involvement of fishermen and other stake holders; and (3) the dissemination of recent trends in fisheries sciences, all of which are top priorities of the European Blue Growth strategy.

Author Contributions

T.E.K. and I.E.B. conceived the study. T.E.K. performed the sampling. T.E.K. and D.M. ran the statistical analyses. T.E.K., D.K., and I.E.B. wrote the manuscript. G.E. and S.T. organized the questionnaires and arranged the interviews. T.E.K. conducted the interviews. D.K. and I.E.B. supervised the study. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Acknowledgments

All authors are grateful to Dimitris and Kyriakos Ganigiannis, who offered their vessel and fishing gear in kind, thus massively contributing to the present study. The authors also wish to thank all the fishermen that participated in the questionnaires and interviews and, essentially, provided important knowledge regarding regional spiny lobster fishery. Lastly, the authors would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for all of their comments that contributed to the improvement of this manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Appendix A

Table
Table A1. Minimum, median, average and maximum values of CW and CL regarding the spiny lobsters’ measurements, from the Thermaikos Gulf, 2017.
Table A1. Minimum, median, average and maximum values of CW and CL regarding the spiny lobsters’ measurements, from the Thermaikos Gulf, 2017.
CW (mm) (M)CW (mm) (F)CL (mm) (M)CL (mm) (F)
Minimum28.1629.0341.3652.12
Q141.454860.0460.82
Median54.2159.0075.7570.57
Q365.2970.2993.7088.32
Maximum85.5587.48127.88111.54
Mean54.9760.0679.1575.24
Range57.3958.4586.5259.42
Table
Table A2. Minimum, median, average and maximum values of ABW and ABL regarding the spiny lobsters’ measurements, from the Thermaikos Gulf, 2017.
Table A2. Minimum, median, average and maximum values of ABW and ABL regarding the spiny lobsters’ measurements, from the Thermaikos Gulf, 2017.
ABW (mm) (M)ABW (mm) (F)ABL (mm) (M)ABL (mm) (F)
Minimum24.5938.1652.3163.02
Q138.4144.7373.0679.52
Median47.0557.2593.07106.27
Q359.7563.92115.83115.41
Maximum76.2274.35152.79137.2
Mean49.5855.2295.92100.90
Range51.6336.19100.4874.18
Table
Table A3. Minimum, median, average and maximum values of W regarding the spiny lobsters’ measurements, from the Thermaikos Gulf, 2017.
Table A3. Minimum, median, average and maximum values of W regarding the spiny lobsters’ measurements, from the Thermaikos Gulf, 2017.
W (g) (M)W (g) (F)
Minimum56124
Q1157.25244.25
Median328.00443.00
Q3605.50561.00
Maximum1539932
Mean432.66432.83
Range1483808

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Water 12 02390 g001 550
Figure 1. The study area. The fishing operations are marked with the lobster icon. Black triangles indicate the locations that successful interviews with fishermen were undertaken, while grey triangles represent the unsuccessful ones.
Figure 1. The study area. The fishing operations are marked with the lobster icon. Black triangles indicate the locations that successful interviews with fishermen were undertaken, while grey triangles represent the unsuccessful ones.
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Water 12 02390 g002 550
Figure 2. The maximum, average, and minimum values of males (M; black box) and females (F; white box) from the sampling procedure. (A) CW and CL; (B) ABW and ABL; and (C) W.
Figure 2. The maximum, average, and minimum values of males (M; black box) and females (F; white box) from the sampling procedure. (A) CW and CL; (B) ABW and ABL; and (C) W.
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Water 12 02390 g003 550
Figure 3. Frequency size distribution of male (black) and female (white) spiny lobsters. (A) CL distribution; (B) CW distribution; (C) ABL distribution; (D) ABW distribution.
Figure 3. Frequency size distribution of male (black) and female (white) spiny lobsters. (A) CL distribution; (B) CW distribution; (C) ABL distribution; (D) ABW distribution.
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Water 12 02390 g004 550
Figure 4. Relationship between carapace length (CL) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
Figure 4. Relationship between carapace length (CL) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
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Water 12 02390 g005 550
Figure 5. Relationship between carapace width (CW) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
Figure 5. Relationship between carapace width (CW) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
Water 12 02390 g005
Water 12 02390 g006 550
Figure 6. Relationship between abdominal length (ABL) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
Figure 6. Relationship between abdominal length (ABL) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
Water 12 02390 g006
Water 12 02390 g007 550
Figure 7. Relationship between abdominal width (ABW) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
Figure 7. Relationship between abdominal width (ABW) and weight (W) of the male (left) and female (right) spiny lobsters Panilurus elephas from the Thermaikos Gulf. The linear regression was performed and plotted with R. Data presented after log-transformation.
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Table
Table 1. Status of the spiny lobster fishery regulations across its distribution, modified by [1,20].
Table 1. Status of the spiny lobster fishery regulations across its distribution, modified by [1,20].
CountryVessels InvolvedPast Fishing GearPresent Fishing GearFishing PeriodManagement Measures
Ireland20–25 vesselsTraps and diving (until 1970)Trammel netsMay–SeptemberMLS 110 mm CL
Area closure where netting is prohibited
The U.K.UnknownPotting, diving, and use of creels (traps) (until 1960–1970)Trammel and tangle nets, as well as creels in some areas of ScotlandMay–AugustMLS 87 CL, 90 mm in Shetland
MLS 155 mm for female lobsters
Some areas re-closed to potting
France (Atlantic coast)UnknownPotting and diving (until 1960–1970)Trammel nets (mesh size 240–320 mm)April–NovemberMLS95 mm CL or 23 cm TL
France (Corsica)200 vesselsNylon trammel nets and potting (until 1960–1970)Trammel nets (mesh size 125–160 mm)April–AugustMLS 80 mm CL
Fishing is prohibited from September to March
Portugal40 vesselsTrammel, tangle, and gill netsTrammel, tangle, and gill netsSpring and summerMLS 95 mm CL
Landing ovigerous females is prohibited
Spain (Mediterranean coast)>600 vesselsPotting (until 1960–1970)Trammel nets; some traps still operate in the Balearic IslandsMarch–AugustMLS 80 mm CL
Fishing is prohibited from September to February
Limitations on fishing gear
Landing ovigerous females is prohibited
MoroccoUnknownPotting and nettingPotting and nettingUnknownMLS 170 mm TL
Tunisia56 vesselsUnknownTrammel netsMarch–AugustMLS 67 mm CL
Fishing is prohibited from September to February
Landing ovigerous females is prohibited
ItalyUnknownPots and trapsTrammel netsMay until unknownMLS107 mm CL
Fishing is prohibited from January to April
Landing ovigerous females is prohibited
CroatiaUnknownUnknownTrammel nets (mesh size 80 mm) and gill nets (mesh size 120 mm)May until unknownMLS240 mm TL
Fishing is prohibited from October to April
Landing ovigerous females is prohibited
GreeceUnknownPotting and netting (until 1980)Trammel, tangle, and gill nets, as well as pottingApril–AugustMLS240 mm TL
MLW < 420 g
Fishing is prohibited from September to December
Landing ovigerous females is prohibited
TurkeyUnknownUnknownTrammel nets (mesh size 85–170 mm)April–JuneUnknown
MLS, minimum landing size; CL, carapace length; TL, total length; MLW, minimum landing weight.
Table
Table 2. Characteristics of the spiny lobster fishery along the Chalkidiki Peninsula and its status based on interviews and questionnaires.
Table 2. Characteristics of the spiny lobster fishery along the Chalkidiki Peninsula and its status based on interviews and questionnaires.
Fishermen Demographics
F1F2F3F4F5F6F7F8
Age (in 2017)45 years37 years63 years65 years38 years66 years48 years42 years
Fishing Experience30 years21 years53 years52 years28 years50 years33 years28 years
Fishing Vessel and Gear
Vessel Length7 m
12 m *		10.5 m10.5 m6 m7 m15 m9.5 m8 m
Crew Number2 persons2 persons2 persons2 persons1 person3 persons2 persons2 persons
Vessel MaterialWoodenPlasticPlasticWoodenPlasticPlasticPlasticPlastic
Vessel Horsepower35 HP45 HP45 HP30 HP15 HP40 HP25 HP25 HP
Gear TypeTrammel netsTrammel netsTrammel netsTrammel netsTrammel netsTrammel netsTrammel netsTrammel nets
CreelsCreels
Long line (very rarely)
Net Length1–5 km2–4 km2–5 km5 km3–6.5 km1.4 km600 m–1.5 km3–5 km
Mesh Size (Knot to Knot)30–40 mm35–50 mm35–50 mm25–35 mm40–50 mm32 mm40–45 mm32–50 mm
Fishery Characteristics
Distance from Ports1–8 h1–10 h1–10 h1–2 h1–10 h1 h1–1.5 h1–3 h
Soak time12–14 h14–16 h14–16 h10–20 h12–14 h12–16 h10–12 h12–14 h
Effective Fishing HoursLate night–before sunriseLate night–before sunriseLate night–before sunriseEarly morningEarly morningNightLate night–before sunriseEarly morning
Fishing Depth60–100 m30–90 m30–90 m20–110 m40–110 m35–130 m80–90 m90 m
Fishing SeasonApril–AugustMarch–AugustMarch–AugustMarch–MayApril–AugustMarch–AugustMarch–AugustMarch–August
Catches per Season1–2 individuals (April–June)2–11 kg per deployment2–11 kg per deploymentNo specific data2–5 kg
per deployment		1–5 kg
per deployment		1–10 kg
per deployment		No specific data
15 kg (July–August)
Economic Data
Wholesale Price30–45 EUR/kg30–40 EUR/kg30–40 EUR/kgNo data30–35 EUR/kg45–50 EUR/kg35–40 EUR/kg35–45 EUR/kg
Retail Price60 EUR/kg--No data60–90 EUR/kg-60–120 EUR/kg60–90 EUR/kg
*: F1 owns two vessels.
Table
Table 3. Targeted species associated with the spiny lobster fishery along the Chalkidiki Peninsula based on interviews and questionnaires.
Table 3. Targeted species associated with the spiny lobster fishery along the Chalkidiki Peninsula based on interviews and questionnaires.
Targeted Species
SpeciesF1F2F3F4F5F6F7F8
Sparidae
Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758)YYYYYYYY
Diplodus vulgaris (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817)YYYYYYYY
Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum, 1792)YYYYYYYY
Spondyliosoma cantharus (Linnaeus, 1758)YYYNYYYY
Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus, 1758)YYYNNYYY
Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus, 1758)YYYYYYYY
Dentex dentex (Linnaeus, 1758)YYYYYYYY
Dentex gibbosus (Rafinesque, 1810)YYYYYYYY
Scorpaenidae
Scorpaena elongata Cadenat, 1943YYYYNNYY
Triglidae
Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus, 1758)NYYNNNNN
Lophiidae
Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus, 1758NYYNNNYN
Lophius budegasa Spinola, 1807NYYNNNYN
Sciaenidae
Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758NNNNYNYY
Serranidae
Epinephelus costae (Steindachner, 1878)NNNNNYNN
Labridae
Wrasses (Labrus sp.)NNNNYNNN
Nephropidae
Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus, 1758)YYYYYYYY
Y, yes; N, no.
Table
Table 4. The values of Student’s two-sample t-tests, comparing all characteristics between sexes.
Table 4. The values of Student’s two-sample t-tests, comparing all characteristics between sexes.
Characteristict-Valuep-ValueSignificance
CW−1.41p = 0.043NS
CL0.82p = 0.037NS
ABW−1.91p = 0.062S
ABL−0.87p = 0.033NS
W−0.002p = 0.038NS
NS, non-significant; S, significant.
Table
Table 5. CL–W, carapace width (CW)–W, abdomen length (ABL)–W, and abdomen width (ABW)–W relationship parameters, after log-transformation of the Thermaikos Gulf spiny lobsters (2017).
Table 5. CL–W, carapace width (CW)–W, abdomen length (ABL)–W, and abdomen width (ABW)–W relationship parameters, after log-transformation of the Thermaikos Gulf spiny lobsters (2017).
SexCL-W ParametersCW-W Parameters
abr2abr2
Males−6.242.770.91−5.492.830.99
Females−2.551.970.6−1.341.790.75
ABL-W ParametersABW-W Parameters
Males−6.692.750.9−4.432.630.94
Females−5.12.40.9−4.82.690.89

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Kampouris, T.E.; Koutsoubas, D.; Milenkova, D.; Economidis, G.; Tamvakidis, S.; Batjakas, I.E. New Data on the Biology and Fisheries of the Threatened Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) (Decapoda, Achelata, Palinuridae) from the North-West Aegean Sea, Greece. Water 2020, 12, 2390. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092390

AMA Style

Kampouris TE, Koutsoubas D, Milenkova D, Economidis G, Tamvakidis S, Batjakas IE. New Data on the Biology and Fisheries of the Threatened Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) (Decapoda, Achelata, Palinuridae) from the North-West Aegean Sea, Greece. Water. 2020; 12(9):2390. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092390

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kampouris, Thodoros E., Drosos Koutsoubas, Debora Milenkova, Georgios Economidis, Stylianos Tamvakidis, and Ioannis E. Batjakas. 2020. "New Data on the Biology and Fisheries of the Threatened Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) (Decapoda, Achelata, Palinuridae) from the North-West Aegean Sea, Greece" Water 12, no. 9: 2390. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092390

APA Style

Kampouris, T. E., Koutsoubas, D., Milenkova, D., Economidis, G., Tamvakidis, S., & Batjakas, I. E. (2020). New Data on the Biology and Fisheries of the Threatened Palinurus elephas (Fabricius, 1787) (Decapoda, Achelata, Palinuridae) from the North-West Aegean Sea, Greece. Water, 12(9), 2390. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12092390

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