MAPPING ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF INDO-PACIFIC STRIPED EEL CATFISH Plotosus lineatus IN THE NORTHEASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Cemal Turan¹ , Servet Ahmet DOĞDU²

The underwater visual census is the most widely used approach for assessing the density and biomass of fishes. Iskenderun and Mersin Bays are the most important pathway of alien species in the northeastern Mediterranean, Turkey. In this study, Indo-Pacific striped eel catfish Plotosus lineatus was monitored in twelve different regions at the Iskenderun and Mersin Bays in the northeastern Mediterranean, by underwater visual census method. The total transect area monitored was 2.0 ha. P. lineatus was usually observed under rocky and dark habitats with aggregations. Mean density comprising 8-20m depth was 106n/ha-1, indicating that P. lineatus has significant population increases after the first occurrence in Turkish coasts. The establishment and invasiveness of P. lineatus in Turkish marine waters were also confirmed with this study. If management action is not taken, it is estimated that the species will spread to all Turkish Mediterranean coasts in a few years.

Keywords
Plotosus lineatus, Mapping, Northeastern Mediterranean, Underwater Visual Census, Abundance and Distribution,