SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN THE SOUTH EUBOIKOS GULF (GREECE) - SPECIES COMPOSITION AND GEAR COMPETITION

In the present study, we compared the species composition and gear com petition of the small-scale fisheries in the South Euboikos Gulf, Gree ce, from samples collected during 1992-1993 by beach seine (8 mm mesh size, bar length) and gill and trammel nets of different mesh sizes (g ill nets: 17, 19, 21 and 23 mm, bar length; trammel nets: 19, 24 and 3 0 mm, bar length). The sampling depth ranged from 18 to 60 m. Comparis ons used univariate and multivariate techniques based on species compo sitions and the commercial/total (C/T) ratio in terms of weight and nu mber. The results of the various techniques were in close agreement, c omplemented each other, and suggested that the eight gears used may be aggregated into three main groups: (a) 30 mm trammel net (group I), w hich is highly selective when compared with all remaining gears; (b) a ll remaining gill and trammel nets (group II); and (c) beach seine (gr oup III), which is an active unselective gear. These groups differed f rom each other in terms of species composition and, generally, diversi ty increased and C/T ratio decreased from group I to group III. The re sults indicate that banning the beach seine could be essential for con servation of demersal and inshore biodiversity.