Temporal and spatial patterns of trawl fishing activities in the Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea, GSA17)

Abstract Trawl fishing activities have occurred for centuries on large spatial scale in the entire Mediterranean Sea, and today they are considered as one of the main and widespread causes of anthropogenic disturbance and habitat alteration in the marine environment. In order to delineate when, where and how marine ecosystems have been perturbed and to implement ecosystem-based management strategies, the identification and investigation of the spatial and temporal distribution of fishing effort and the fleet dynamics play a key role. In this context, Geospatial Technologies such as the Automatic Identification System (AIS) could represent a useful tool. The aim of the present work is to reconstruct spatial and temporal patterns of the trawl fishing activities in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea (GSA17), by using AIS data. High-resolution maps of fishing effort per fishing gear allowed us to identify the main fishing grounds and seasonal variations, for the small and large trawlers, but also for the Rapido and mid-water pair trawlers, during the period 2015–2016. Moreover, the effects of the closure of the Pomo Pit in terms of fishing effort redistribution and possible effects of the enlargement of the ban for trawling to the 3–6 nm area have been explored. Obtained results highlighted the importance to take into account the spatial and temporal dynamics of the fishing effort within the context of the implementation of an ecosystem approach management in the study area.