Catch and growth of Umbrina cirrosa (L.) around artificial reefs in the Adriatic sea

Catch and biological data of Umbrina cirrosa were collected during a fishing survey carried out with a standard trammel net in different coastal areas of the Central and Northern Adriatic Sea, before and after the deployment of concrete artificial reefs. At all sites mean catch of U. cirrosa drastically increased after the immersion of the artificial structures: the ratio between the catches at the reef sites and the commercial landings showed and increase corresponding to 10-70 times. Comparison of length-weight relationships computed separately for adult males and females did not show any significant difference., so that only one length-weight relationship for both sexes pooled together and one for juveniles from all the sites were reported. The seasonal Von Bertalanffy growth equation for 1734 specimens showed fast growth rate during the first three years.