Fluctuations of landings and environmental conditions in the north-western Mediterranean Sea |
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| Authors: | Josep Lloret Jordi Lleonart Ignasi Solé & Jean-Marc Fromentin |
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| Institution: | Institute of Marine Sciences–CSIC, Passeig Joan de Borbósn, E–08039 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;Polytechnical University of Catalonia, High School of Engineering, Dept of Statistics, Avgda. Diagonal 647, E–08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain;IFREMER, 1 rue Jean Villar, F–34200 Sète, France |
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| Abstract: | Most of the monthly catches and CPUE of 13 studied commercial species in the coastal waters of the north-western Mediterranean were significantly positively correlated with run-off of local rivers (Rhône and Muga) and the wind mixing index during the spawning season, with time lags of less than a year (transfer function analyses). Rhône and Ebre interannual fluctuations in run-off were synchronous and were related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), river run-offs being negatively correlated to high NAO episodes. The fluctuations of river discharges and the wind mixing index were cyclic but not related. The results showed that enhanced hydroclimatic conditions in the NW Mediterranean were favourable for the productivity of the fish and invertebrate stocks, and suggest the presence of linkage between recruitment of Mediterranean species and local (river discharges, wind conditions) and global (NAO) environmental conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Box–Jenkins models Ebre River Gulf of Lions Gulf of Roses–Cape Creus Mediterranean fisheries Muga River NAO index Rhône River wind |
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