@article{FERRERI_GENOVESE_BARRA_BIAGIOTTI_BOURDEIX_De FELICE_GAŠPAREVIĆ_HATTAB_IGLESIAS_JURETIĆ_LEONORI_MALAVOLTI_RAYKOV_SARAUX_TIČINA_VENTERO_BASILONE_2021, title={Variability in size at maturity of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the Mediterranean Sea}, volume={22}, url={https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/hcmr-med-mar-sc/article/view/25995}, DOI={10.12681/mms.25995}, abstractNote={<p>Size at first sexual maturity (L<sub>50</sub>) represents an important life history trait in the development of management measures providing fundamental information to avoid the exploitation of younger individuals. L<sub>50</sub> is known to display variability due to fishing pressure, geographical gradient and environmental features. In this study, in order to investigate L<sub>50</sub> variability among areas of the Mediterranean and Black Sea, maturity ogives of anchovy (<em>Engraulis encrasicolus</em>) were estimated by considering samples collected during the anchovy spawning period in the framework of the MEDiterranean International Acoustic Survey (MEDIAS) program. Anchovy size and sexual maturity data from several Geographical Sub-Areas (GSA) – i.e. Northern Spain, Gulf of Lion, Tyrrhenian Sea, Strait of Sicily, Adriatic Sea and Black Sea – were gathered according to a standard methodological protocol. Maturity ogives were estimated by means of a logistic regression taking into account  total length, condition factor, sex and GSA. Obtained results evidenced a significant effect of condition factor, fish in better condition reaching maturity earlier, as well as differences in L<sub>50</sub> values among areas and between sexes, with males reaching the maturity at lower length than females. Even though the obtained L<sub>50</sub> estimates are relative to the spawning period only, the observed variability at the Mediterranean basin scale highlights the importance to explicitly consider the habitat peculiarities in order to provide management advices based on an ecosystem approach to fishery.</p>}, number={4}, journal={Mediterranean Marine Science}, author={FERRERI, ROSALIA and GENOVESE, SIMONA and BARRA, MARCO and BIAGIOTTI, ILARIA and BOURDEIX, JEAN-HERVE and De FELICE, ANDREA and GAŠPAREVIĆ, DENIS and HATTAB, TAREK and IGLESIAS, MAGDALENA and JURETIĆ, TEA and LEONORI, IOLE and MALAVOLTI, SARA and RAYKOV, VIOLIN ST and SARAUX, CLAIRE and TIČINA, VJEKOSLAV and VENTERO, ANA and BASILONE, GUALTIERO}, year={2021}, month={Dec.}, pages={858–870} }