Monitoring of the Montenegrin Fisheries Sector: BIOLOGICAL SAMPLING (September 2007–August 2011)

This document introduces the results of the monitoring of the fisheries sector in Montenegro through fisheries dependent data collection, implemented in the framework of the FAO AdriaMed Project. The results of the data collection, the methods adopted and a description of the main biological features of the species sampled are provided. The sampling took place in three main fishing ports (landing sites) along the Montenegrin coast (Geographical Sub-Area 18): Herceg Novi, Budva and Bar. Catch and effort data on all active fleet segments in the sampling ports were gathered by interviewing the fishermen at the end of fishing trips. Data collection started in September 2007 with monthly samples (each month from a different ports). During the monitoring activities, samples of the most important fisheries target species (for quantity landed and economic value) were collected in order to investigate their main biological characteristics and of their occurrence in the catch: e.g. average size and size frequency distribution, sex ration, occurrence of sexual maturity stages in the commercial landings. Size at first maturity and length-weight relationship parameters were estimated. The biological monitoring was at the time of writing of this document the only national monitoring system covering catch and effort statistics at landing sites, which could support the fisheries administration in the adoption of responsible fisheries management strategies based on an ecosystem approach to fisheries.