The Roles of Fishery Biology and Fish Population Dynamics in Fisheries Management—2nd Edition

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Pesquerías, Universidad Veracruzana, Hidalgo 617, Boca del Río 94290, Mexico
Interests: fisheries management; fish ecology; fisheries biology; species diversity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fisheries worldwide face challenges around the control, restoration, and prevention of the overexploitation of their resources; the timely assessment of fish stocks to support their sustainable use; the dynamic responses of fish stocks to the effects of climate change, the supply–demand relationships of a fluctuating market, and the fishing regulations to which they are subject; and food security in the face of growing increases in human population.

To address these challenges, it is essential to understand the state of a stock through the population parameters of growth, reproduction, recruitment, natural and fishing mortality, and bioeconomic yield. Understanding the life cycles of the resources subjected to exploitation, the spawning stock biomass, and the trend of long series of catches, preferably linked to environmental factors, are also relevant issues. All this is achieved through the application of classical methods of fishery biology, population dynamics, and time series analysis. Recently, given the limitations around sufficient data and the urgent need to establish strategies for fishery management, poor data modeling has become relevant.

Authors are invited to submit original articles and reviews to this Special Issue regarding the classic fishery biology and population dynamics of exploited resources (fish, mollusk, crustacean), as well as analyses based on poor data modeling, which are useful for assessing and managing small-scale and artisanal fisheries from around the globe. Submissions that offer new insights and approaches that contribute to the improvement of the evaluation and management of fishery resources are particularly encouraged. Topics of interest include novel research concerning fishery biology, fish population dynamics, fishing ecology, stock assessment, data-limited fishery management, fishery resource management, artisanal fishing, coastal fishing, and fishing in protected areas.

Dr. Lourdes Jiménez-Badillo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fishery biology
  • fish population dynamics
  • fishing ecology
  • stock assessment
  • data-limited fisheries management
  • fishery resource management
  • artisanal fishing
  • coastal fishing
  • fishing in protected areas

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 4270 KB  
Article
Growth, Reproductive Parameters and Stock Status of Brown-Marbled Grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, a Commonly Targeted Grouper in Saleh Bay, Indonesia
by Yudi Herdiana, Peter G. Coulson, James R. Tweedley, Budy Wiryawan, Sugeng H. Wisudo and Neil R. Loneragan
Fishes 2025, 10(12), 611; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120611 (registering DOI) - 27 Nov 2025
Abstract
The brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), a high-value species in international trade, has experienced population declines due to intensive fishing. It is one of 12 grouper and snapper species prioritized for management in Saleh Bay, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. This study analyzed [...] Read more.
The brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), a high-value species in international trade, has experienced population declines due to intensive fishing. It is one of 12 grouper and snapper species prioritized for management in Saleh Bay, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. This study analyzed catch data (2017–2022) and biological samples (2020–2021) to update key life history parameters, including natural mortality, von Bertalanffy growth parameters, asymptotic length, and size at maturity. Growth was estimated using an ELEFAN-optimized model applied to catch length–frequency data, while maturity was determined through macroscopic examination of gonads. The updated estimates (L50 = 488 mm for both sex; L95 = 568 mm for females and 616 mm for males) were incorporated into a length-based spawning potential ratio (SPR) assessment. Annual SPR values ranged from 0.13 to 0.28, substantially higher than previous estimates of 0.05–0.07, mainly due to the lower L50 used in this study. Despite this improvement, SPR values remain below the management target of 0.30 for groupers and snappers in Saleh Bay. Limited biological samples, particularly the scarcity of larger individuals and males, introduce uncertainty in the estimates. These findings emphasize the value of locally derived life history information and highlight the need for continued biological sampling to refine growth and reproductive parameters and support sustainable fisheries management. Full article
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20 pages, 989 KB  
Article
Growth, Mortality, and Stock Resilience of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) in the Romanian Danube: Insights into Sustainable Exploitation (2019–2024)
by Angelica Dobre, Maria Desimira Stroe, Floricel Maricel Dima, Livia Vidu, Monica Paula Marin and Carmen Georgeta Nicolae
Fishes 2025, 10(12), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes10120609 (registering DOI) - 27 Nov 2025
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 [...] Read more.
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. Full article
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