Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis growth and fish community structure, inside and outside a marine‐protected area in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

Growth of Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L. and fish community structure between sites within a marine -protected area (MPA) and unprotected sites in the Baltic Sea were examined. Von Bertalanffy, logistic and Gompertz growth models were fitted to P. fluviatilis length at age data, and the logistic model was the most parsimonious for growth between locations. A larger mean maximum size (L.) and a smaller instantaneous growth rate (g) were found within the MPA. All three models also predicted that after age seven, fish inside the MPA would be larger. Community structure differed with more P. fluviatilis collected outside of the MPA, and more roach Rutilus rutilus (L) and bleak Alburnus alburnus (L.) collected inside the MPA. These growth differences may be indicative of recreational fishing effects on P. fluviatilis outside of the MPA, a result of complex interspecific and intraspecific species interactions, or other undetected environmental variation between locations.

Keywords

age; Gompertz; logistic; marine protected areas; recreational fishing; von Bertalanffy

Published in

Fisheries Management and Ecology
2018, Volume: 25, number: 3, pages: 172-185 Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Mattila, Johanna

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Wildlife Management
Fish and Aquacultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12277

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96397