SANBI

Rationale

Global

Diplodus cervinus ranges from the Bay of Biscay to the Canarian Archipelago and Cape Verde. This species is overfished in the Canary Islands and needs to be closely monitored there. This species has experienced a reduction in abundance to 85% of the unexploited equilibrium level, with 58% of the total catch below the length at first maturity. Restocking initiatives have taken place in Portuguese waters but additional management is likely required to prevent further population decline. This species is listed as Least Concern.

Europe

Diplodus cervinus can be locally abundant in European waters and there is evidence that the species distribution in the western Mediterranean has expanded in recent years, possibly as a result of climate change. There is some evidence of localized population declines, therefore, we recommend that this species be closely monitored. It is listed as Least Concern.

Distribution

Diplodus cervinus ranges from the Bay of Biscay to the Cape Verde Islands including Madeira and the Canary Islands (Pajuelo et al. 2003a, Eschmeyer 2014). This species has also been known to occur throughout most of the warmer waters of the Mediterranean, except for the Adriatic Sea (Bauchot and Hureau 1990, Louisy 2005). Diplodus cervinus can occur to 300 m depth but is more common to about 80 m depth (Pajuelo et al. 2003a).

Habitat View more ecological information

Population trend

Trend

In the Canary Islands, the exploitation rate indicates that the stock is overfished. The direct effects of fishing on the population result in changes in abundance, with a reduction to 85% of the unexploited equilibrium level. The length at first capture by the commercial fishery is less than the length at maturity and with 58% of the total catch below this length, there is a danger of recruitment overfishing (Pajuelo et al. 2003a).

Threats

Diplodus cervinus is overfished in the Canarian archipelago (Pajuelo et al. 2003a). Given that this species has a relatively slow life history and long generation time, these impacts are thought to pose a significant threat to local populations.

Uses and trade

Diplodus cervinus is one of the most important commercial species in the Canarian archipelago, primarily harvested with traps between three and 70 m depth year round with seasonal differences in landings (Pajuelo and Lorenzo 2001, Pajuelo et al. 2003a, 2003b). About 58% of the total catch of this species is below the length at first maturity. This species is reported to be over-fished in the Canarian archipelago (Pajuelo et al. 2003a).

Conservation

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for Diplodus cervinus, however its distribution may cover a number of marine protected areas, including some in the Canary Islands. In one marine reserve in the northwest Mediterranean Sea, there is evidence that this species is more common in the protected area with complete fishing prohibition, than in the surrounding area (Garcia-Rubies and Zabala 1990). This species is being reared in captivity and released in southern Portuguese waters as part of a restocking program (K. Erzini pers. comm. 2008).

As there are three distinct subpopulations of this species, further taxonomic research is needed to determine their status. Monitoring of potentially overexploited subpopulations, for example around the Canary Islands, is also needed.

References

[@electronic{53796951,
 address = {http://research.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp},
 author = {Eschmeyer, W.N.},
 title = {Catalog of Fishes. Updated 3 January 2014},
 year = {2014}
}
,@inbook{154708,
 address = {Lisbon, Paris},
 author = {Quero  and Hureau  and Karrer  and Post  and Saldanha },
 booktitle = {Sparidae},
 editor = {Bauchot, M.-L. and Hureau, J.C},
 pages = {790--812},
 publisher = {JNICT, SEI, UNESCO},
 title = {Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA)},
 year = {1990}
}
,@article{154708,
 author = {Pajuelo, J., Lorenzo, J., Domínguez, R., Ramos, A. and Gregoire, M.},
 journal = {Environmental Biology of fishes},
 number = {4},
 pages = {407--416},
 title = {On the Population Ecology of the Zebra Seabream Diplodus cervinus cervinus (Lowe 1838) from the Coasts of the Canarian archipelago, North West Africa},
 volume = {67},
 year = {2003}
}
,@article{154708,
 author = {Pajuelo, J.G., Lorenzo, M.J. and Dominguez-Seoane, R},
 journal = {Fisheries Research},
 number = {1},
 pages = {97 -- 103},
 title = {Age estimation and growth of the zebra seabream Diplodus cervinus cervinus (Lowe 1838) on the Canary Islands shelf (Central East Atlantic)},
 volume = {62},
 year = {2003}
}
,@book{154708,
 address = {Paris},
 author = {Louisy, P.},
 publisher = {Ulmer Editions},
 title = {Guide d'identification des poissons marins. Europe et Méditerranée},
 year = {2005}
}
,@article{154708,
 author = {Pajuelo, J.G. and Lorenzo, J.M. },
 journal = {Journal of Applied Ichthyology},
 pages = {121–125},
 title = {Biology of the annular seabream, <i>Diplodus annularis</i> (Sparidae), in coastal waters of the Canary Islands},
 volume = {17},
 year = {2001}
}
,@inbook{154708,
 address = {Rome},
 author = {},
 booktitle = {Sparidae},
 editor = {Bauchot, M.-l., Hureau, J.-C. and Miguel, J.C.},
 title = {FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic. (Fishing Areas 34, 47 (in part))},
 year = {1981}
}
,@article{154708,
 author = {Garcia-Rubies, A. and Zabala, M. },
 journal = {Scientia Marina},
 pages = {317 328},
 title = {Effects of total fishing prohibition on the rocky fish assemblages of Medes island marine reserve (NW Mediterranean)},
 volume = {54},
 year = {1990}
}
,]

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