The invasive round goby in Danish waters: Investigations of depth distributions in relation to a targeted, efficient fishery after the species for human consumption (39402)

Round goby is an invasive benthic fish, native to the Ponto-Caspian region. It has on several occasions been introduced to the Baltic region, and is now wide spread here, with established populations in many areas. In some areas it dominates the local fish fauna, having out-competed native, and often commercially important, fish species.

Round goby is generally referred to as a coastal, shallow-water species. Yet, when temperatures drop at the onset of winter, the fish disappear from the shallow, cool waters, presumably to migrate to deeper, water waters. How deep they go, and how the onset of migration to deeper waters may relate to temperature (and hence season) however remains unknown. This information is nevertheless imperative in an evaluation of when, at what depths, and with what type of gear a potential targeted fishery after round goby should occur.

The present project will use all available national and international survey data throughout the Baltic region to map depths distributions of round goby, and analyze the correlations between depth distributions and temperature.

Partners
DTU Aqua, National Institute of Aquatic Resources (coordinator)

Funding
The project is funded by Direktør J.P. A. Espersen og hustru fru Dagny Espersens Fond.

Research area: Fish Biology