Temporal variation of biodiversity and abundance of fish caught by intertidal fixed stake net traps (Moshta) in Bandar Abbas coastal waters

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this research was to investigate temporal variation of
biodiversity and abundance of fish caught by the intertidal fixed stake net traps (Moshta)
in coastal waters of Bandar Abbas between October 2019 to June 2021.
Materials & Methods: Sampling operation was carried out biweekly and nine fishing
gears (3 in the west, 3 in central region and 3 in the west of Bandar Abbas) were sampled
for three consecutive days at tide time.
Results: The species composition included 54 species belonging to 29 for autumn, 35
species belonging to 26 families for winter, 28 species belonging to 21 for spring. The
highest and lowest occurrence was observed for Liza subdivides (with 87%) and Upeneus
doriae (with 8%). Commercial catch to discard ratios were 1:4.33, 1:2.08 and 1:1.12 for
autumn, winter and spring seasons, respectively. Mean CPUE (±SD) of commercial catch
for autumn, winter and spring were (10 ±2.88), (5.41 ±0.98) and (8.69 ±1.73) kg. day-1. N-
1, respectively, which had not differed significantly (F=1.93 P=0.166). As well as, mean
CPUE (±SD) of discards were 43.33 ±14.18, 6.08 ±1.47 and 18.08 ±5.21 for these seasons,
respectively. Discards in spring were more significantly than other two seasons (F=4.123
P=0.142). Results of nMDS and ANOSIM tests showed a high similarity of fish
assemblages in the seasons.
Conclusion: Given that the catch to discards ratio in the sampled intertidal fixed stake
net traps (Moshta) is a large value, this fishing gear have many negative effects on the
diversity of coastal species.