Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024)

Dobre, Angelica; Stroe, Maria Desimira; Dima, Floricel Maricel; Vidu, Livia; Marin, Monica Paula; Nicolae, Carmen Georgeta

doi:10.3390/fishes10120609

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Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024)

by

Angelica Dobre

^1,2,*

,

Maria Desimira Stroe

^2,*,

Floricel Maricel Dima

^2,3,

Livia Vidu

¹

,

Monica Paula Marin

¹

and

Carmen Georgeta Nicolae

¹

Faculty of Animal Productions Engineering and Management, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd, District 1, 011464 Bucharest, Romania

²

Research and Development Institute for Aquatic Ecology Fishing and Aquaculture, 54 Portului Street, 800008 Galati, Romania

³

Faculty of Engineering and Agronomy in Braila, “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, 29 Calea Calarașilor Street, 810017 Braila, Romania

^*

Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Fishes 2025, 10(12), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120609 (registering DOI)

Submission received: 22 October 2025 / Revised: 26 November 2025 / Accepted: 26 November 2025 / Published: 27 November 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Roles of Fishery Biology and Fish Population Dynamics in Fisheries Management—2nd Edition)

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Abstract

Increasing environmental variability and fishing pressure in the Danube raise concerns about the status of common carp populations. Between 2019 and 2024, we assessed the population structure, growth, and mortality of common carp in the Romanian sector of the Danube River to evaluate its status and support sustainable management. A total of 2646 specimens (8658.29 kg) were collected using fixed and floating gillnets from representative sites along the river, and morphometric data were recorded annually, including total length, weight, and sex. Length distributions showed stable recruitment in younger classes (35–44 cm) and dominance of medium-size classes (45–64 cm), with large individuals (>70 cm) peaking in 2021. Growth and mortality parameters (L∞ = 78.75–99.75 cm, K = 0.41–1.50 year⁻¹, Z = 1.11–2.43 year⁻¹) represent model-derived annual estimates, obtained through standard length–frequency methods, with ranges reflecting interannual variation. Sex ratios ranged from 0.77 to 0.94 (F/M), with significant male bias in 2019 and 2021, while other years were near-balanced. Comparison with Total Allowable Catch data revealed that reported catches were often below permitted limits, exceeding 50% only in 2021 and 2023. Overall, results may suggest a resilient and moderately exploited carp population in the Romanian Danube.

Keywords: growth parameters; mortality; sex ratio; fishery exploitation; length-converted catch curve; Total Allowable Catch

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MDPI and ACS Style

Dobre, A.; Stroe, M.D.; Dima, F.M.; Vidu, L.; Marin, M.P.; Nicolae, C.G. Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024). Fishes 2025, 10, 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120609

AMA Style

Dobre A, Stroe MD, Dima FM, Vidu L, Marin MP, Nicolae CG. Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024). Fishes. 2025; 10(12):609. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120609

Chicago/Turabian Style

Dobre, Angelica, Maria Desimira Stroe, Floricel Maricel Dima, Livia Vidu, Monica Paula Marin, and Carmen Georgeta Nicolae. 2025. "Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024)" Fishes 10, no. 12: 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120609

APA Style

Dobre, A., Stroe, M. D., Dima, F. M., Vidu, L., Marin, M. P., & Nicolae, C. G. (2025). Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024). Fishes, 10(12), 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120609

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Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024)

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