New Data on Brown Meagre Sciaena umbra (Sciaenidae) at the Crimean Shore of the Black Sea Based on Visual Underwater Observations Using Breath-Hold Diving

• Published in: Inland water biology Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 215 - 221
• Main Authors: Tamoykin, I. Yu, Kuleshova, O. N., Kuleshov, V. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.03.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Ecological aggregations; Fish; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Geoecology/Natural Processes; Ichthyology; Juveniles; Life Sciences; Sciaena umbra; Shoaling; Threatened species; Underwater; Visual observation; Weight; Black Sea; Crimea; brown meagre; Black Sea; visual underwater observations
• ISSN: 1995-0829; 1995-0837
• DOI: 10.1134/S1995082921020152

Visual observations performed by members of the International Public Organization Association of Underwater Activities of Crimea and Sevastopol have allowed for obtaining the abundance characteristics of brown meagre ( Sciaena umbra Linnaeus, 1758) in the Crimean Black Sea waters. There have been 290 observations completed with an average duration of 4 h each and 64 fish specimens examined with a length ( SL ) of 31.4 ± 0.9 cm and weight of 830 ± 65 g in adult fish and SL 13.5 ± 0.2 cm and weight of 78 ± 4 g in juveniles. The state of the species has not been evaluated as threatened. The distribution density is 2000–3100 ind./ km 2 . Adult fish up to 4 years old and ≤1000 g in weight account for 70% of the shoaling stock; individuals more than 1500 g in weight are few in numbers. Juveniles commonly form separate aggregations.