The distribution of the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, in Irish waters
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Date
2017
Authors
O'Neill, Ross
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
In Irish waters comparatively little is known about the life history of the European sea bass
(Dicentrarchus labrax) compared to other fish species. Based on long term extensive
offshore surveys, the geographical location of sea bass catches and similarities of their life
history trajectories in other regions suggest those found in offshore Irish waters may be a prespawning
feeding aggregation which is part of a larger aggregation extending from the south
coast of Ireland to the Bristol Channel. Particle tracking model results show that it may be
possible that the dispersal of sea bass larvae from putative spawning areas in inshore and
offshore waters may influence recruitment at regional, national and international scales.
Acoustic tracking of sea bass in inshore waters found some evidence of inshore movement
between localities while also providing evidence of site fidelity. The residency of up to one
third of tagged fish during the assumed spawning season in inshore waters suggested
potential inshore spawning or skipped spawning. The long absence periods for two thirds of
tagged fish during this same period may suggest substantial offshore migration. The findings
using pop-off satellite archival tags suggest that at least some sea bass that originate in both
Irish and British coastal waters may aggregate in the same approximate location in the Celtic
Sea during the assumed peak spawning period. Genetic analysis supports the contention that
sea bass from inshore Irish waters, from offshore waters in the Celtic Sea and from the North
Sea may be part of the same panmictic population. The evidence presented here points to sea
bass occurring in Irish waters as being part of the larger trans-Celtic Sea population.
Therefore, the sustainable management and conservation of the species occurring in Irish
waters must be undertaken on a basis which is international, as well as local.
Description
Keywords
Sea bass , Ireland , Marine Institute , University College Cork , Dicentrarchus labrax , European sea bass , Telemetry , Particle tracking , Model , Satellite telemetry , Acoustic , Fisheries research
Citation
O'Neill, R. 2017. The distribution of the European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, in Irish waters. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.