INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (IJESE) Vol. 1: 21-34 http://www.pvamu.edu/texged Prairie View A&M University, Texas, USA

Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt Alaa Edin Elhaweet1, Mohamed R. Fishar2, Yasser Geneid2, and Essam Abdel-Moula1 1- Arab Academy for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt 2- National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Egypt.

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History A research cruise was carried out to assess the fisheries and marine Received: Dec. 20, 2010 biodiversity of the Gulf of Sallum, with a view for the protection, Accepted: May 2, 2011 conservation, and management of its resources. To achieve this aim, Available online: Sept., 2011 the Egyptian Research Vessel “Salsabil” was used, deploying otter ______bottom trawl for fisheries data, CTD for collecting environmental Keywords parameters, and a bottom grab sampler for obtaining samples of Mediterranean Sea benthos fauna. Moreover, diving was used to survey the under-water Sallum sea grass beds. Fisheries The Gulf of Sallum supports a wide range of ecosystems, from Biodiversity the rich sea grass meadows and rocky reefs of the coastal zone, to the Conservation little seamounts. It is thus considered as a great resource for many Benthos. economic fish species. Seagrass plants were found forming from scattered small areas to dense vegetation that covered extended areas of the sea floor. The macrobenthic community in the investigated area consisted from 57 species belong to seven groups, while fish populations contained more than 90 species. Species Richness was closely correlated to depth, organic matter concentrations and sediment characteristics. Some invasive polychaete and introduced fish species were recorded in the present study, moreover few considered as threatened species. Using GIS analysis to the survey result showed that diversity of seagrass beds, benthic fauna and fish species in the Gulf could be divided into two sections. First section lies to the west of 25º 30’E longitude; contains the highest species composition, while second section (eastward of 25º 30’ E) contains the lowest species composition. It was highly recommended, therefore, to declare the first section as a marine protected area (MPA). As the results of this study, the Gulf of Sallum was declared as the first marine Egyptian protected area in the Mediterranean Sea by the Egyptian Prime Minister's decision No. 533 for the year 2010. 1. INTRODUCTION The Sallum area a part of the western Mediterranean coastal region of Egypt, ling about 600 km from Alexandria in the East and the Libyan border in the West. It is quite distinct from the remainder of the vast Western Desert. ______Corresponding Author: e-mail: [email protected] ISSN 2156-7549 2156-7549 © 2011 TEXGED Prairie View A&M University All rights reserved. 22 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt

Near the Town of Sallum, the viewpoint of their conservation and shoreline changes its east-west facet, to a sustainable development. northerly direction in a rather sharp bend, forming the Gulf of Sallum. The coastal 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS plain narrows towards the west, as inland The marine research cruise was limestone ridges approach the coast and carried out in the Sallum Gulf, Egyptian meet the coastline just north of the town Mediterranean Sea coast from 20 to 31 of Sallum. Sea cliffs are formed further August 2007, using the Egyptian north of the town. Research Vessel “Salsabil” of the For Egypt, the Mediterranean Sea National Institute of Oceanography and is one of its major natural resources. The Fisheries. The survey area extended Biological diversity of the Egyptian between 31° 31’ 25” and 31° 44’ 55” N Mediterranean waters is therefore latitudes, and 25° 09’ 55” to 25° 44’ 55” important at the community and E longitudes. The R/V “Salsabil” (31 m ecosystem levels, where it can affect long and 950 HP) was fitted with all natural recourses functioning. Diversity navigational and hydrographic can be measured in terms of the numbers equipments, oceanographic instruments of species and their relative importance and fishing gears, necessary for in different ecosystems. Such undertaking the field survey of the information can be obtained using a project. Fish samples were collected variety of survey methods, and can be using the otter bottom trawl (horizontal gathered in terms of the abundance of opening 14 m & height 1.8- 2 m). A CTD different species or in terms of their was used to collect the environmental presence absence in an ecosystem. parameters and a grab sampler for The Mediterranean coastline of collecting bottom samples. Egypt is undergoing rapid development, Seagrass plants were harvested where every section of the coast has haphazardly from the seafloor by hand, witnessed rapid, large-scale through scuba diving. Three transects environmental changes. The coastal were made at each site to cover most of challenges here include road the seagrass meadow. An iron quadrate construction, drainage form wastewater (25 cm x 25 cm x 5 cm) with sharp edges and irrigation, lagoon management and for cut of the seagrass rhizomes and roots land reclamation. Major view settlements was used for the collection of the are being constructed along coastal areas different seagrass species from the with little land planning and little chosen sites. The biomass of the different infrastructure (Mostafa, 2000). seagrass species was determined by Unfortunately, inspite of some weighting them as dry weight and sporadic and fragmentary studies that calculated as gram/m2. have been undertaken in the Sallum area Benthic macroinvertebrates of the Mediterranean Sea in a rather samples were collected using three individual or occasional fashion (NIOF, different methods: 1975; 1983 and 2005), very little 1. Bottom trawl net was used for attention was given in the past to the collection of fishes. Benthic collection question of the biodiversity in this area. by this method was carried out in The present study is a serious areas with large depths (usually more attempt to assess, through field surveys, than 40 meters). the marine biological diversity status in 2. Van Veen Grab with opening this critical and sensitive area of the area equivalent to 250 cm² (for sites Egyptian Mediterranean coast from the with depths between 40 and 20 meters). Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt 23

3. Quadrate (0.5 m2) from the al, 1987, FAO 2006) were used for that bed of the shallow areas of depth less purpose. After each tow, the total catch than 20 meters were collected. was weighed and measured. The The collected samples were washed commercial targeted fish and the bycatch in the field through a small hand net of were recorded. 500 μm mesh diameter. Factor analysis was applied as a data Invertebrates were identified to reduction or structure detection method. species level wherever possible. Results The software STATISTICA 7 was used in were given as the total numbers of bottom performing factor analysis technique. fauna per square meter. Based on the ray-Curtis similarity analysis Bottom otter trawl net (Japanese between the fish production in the 4 years, design) was used to collect fish samples. the cluster or dendrogram explaining the The trawling time in sampling areas did similarity between the 4 years were not more than 3/4 of an hour. Speed of the plotted. Cluster analysis, diversity, richness boat during trawling time and geographical and evenness were calculated using position were measured using differential PRIMER 5 statistical package. A stratified GPS. Trawling was carried out during survey design (depth, latitude) with fixed night and daylight hours. Classification positions was used for spatial distribution and ordination were performed in order to (GIS analysis). The study area was divided identify demersal fish assemblages. in to 7 sectors (sub-areas) along the coast FishBase (Froese and Pauly 2000) and of the Gulf of Sallum for comparison and FAO Identification Sheets for Fishery distinguishing between the different parts Purpose – Mediterranean and Black Sea of the Gulf (Fig. 1). Fishing Area 37 (Fischer, 1973, Fischer et

Fig. 1: Location of sampling sits in the different sections taken during the Sallum Gulf survey in August 2007.

Spatial analysis production was (spatial) values are subdivided into calculated using the inverse distance classes. These classes are represented by squared weighted interpolation technique different colours on the maps. using ArcGis ARCMAP 9.2 software. 3. RESULTS Created colour contour areas are 3.1. Macrophytes representing a prediction values Two seagrass species belonging to calculated by interpolation of the the families: Posidoniaceae (Posidonia sampling stations (which are represented oceanica) and Cymodoceaceae on the maps by points). The prediction (Cymodocea nodosa) were identified 24 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt during this survey along the study sites. oceanica grows on sandy and/or rocky Seagrass plants were found forming from substrates, and in some sites on dead scattered small areas to dense vegetation Posidonia mats. that covered extended areas of the sea Mean biomass of P. oceanica floor. Plants of Posidonia oceanica were varies between sites and with depth. The found from 6 meters to a depth of more highest biomass was recorded in station than 28 meters forming monospecific 3D while the lowest was recorded in populations that covers large areas of the station 10D (Table 1). sea floor. It was observed that P.

Table 1: Biomass (gm dry weight /m2) of Posidonia oceanica at different sampling sites collected from Sallum Gulf during August 2007. Mean Biomass Site (gm dry weight Dive type number /m2) 1181.19 Deep 1D

1455.8 Deep 2D

1679.46 Shallow 3D

1287.91 Deep 4D

1597.28 Deep 5D

1381.7 Deep 6D

1343.07 Shallow 7D

1045.9 Deep 8D

1535.3 Shallow 9D

916.5 Shallow 10D

1309.12 Deep 11D

1050.94 Shallow 12D the second set of community with Cymodocea nodosa was found in percentages of 9.59% & 9.10%, only one site (station 10D, <4m depth), respectively. The remaining orders were occurring in a small scattered recorded with fewer numbers, where monospecific population which was Porifera represents a percentage of mixed with Posidonia in the offshore 7.87% followed by Ascidiacea (3.69%), direction. The recorded biomass for this Cnidaria (1.23%) as shown in Fig. 2. seagrass plant was: 82.47 gm dry weight /m2. Average standing crop of macrobenthos 3.2. Macrobenthos was calculated in the whole sampling The macrobenthic community in area by 37 Organisms/m². the investigated area consisted from 57 The community of sponges consisted species belong to seven groups from 9 species namely Myxilla prouha, (Appendix No 1). Mollusca and Annelida Spongia afficinalis, Halichondria panacea, represent the main components of the Suberites doumuncula, Cacospongia molliar, benthic fauna in the area of investigation Agelas oroides, Spongia zimocca, Ircinia fasciculate, Hisppaspongia communis. constituting 35.92% & 32.60% of the The highest average number of total number of benthos, respectively. benthos was recorded in stations 1D and 4D Echinodermata and Crustacea occupied (92 and 70 organisms/m2) which was mainly Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt 25 due to a high number of mollusk and annelid and 10 organisms/m2, respectively. The species in these sites. On the other hand, the results showed that site 4T is the most eastern sites (6G & 3D) were the poorest diverse site in the area because it represented sites in the investigated area with values of 6 by 5 groups of macrobenthic fauna.

Fig. 2: Percentage of different benthic groups in study area.

3.3. Fisheries for Fisheries Resources Development Only three to five artisanal boats are (GAFRD). Grouper (Epieniphelus aeneus sailed from Sallum port. Although about 30 and E. alexandrnus) is the most landed fish motorized fishing boats (using longline or group followed by common sea bream trawl net) registered and landing in (Pagrus spp and Pagellus spp) and Alexandria eastern harbour or Matrouh cartilaginous fishes (Ray spp and Mustelus fishing port are utilizing the Sallum fishing spp). Also, red mullet (Mullus spp), bogue, ground. lizard fish (Synodontus spp) and cuttlefish Landing of Matrouh port was are important economic landed species dominated by 15 species during eight years (Fig. 3). (1998-2006) according to General Authority

Fig. 3: Catch composition in Matrouh Sector (Source data: GAFRD, 1998-2006). Bottom trawl catch composition dominant species followed by common was estimated during the August 2007 sea bream (Pagrus spp and Pagellus spp) cruise, cuttlefish Sepia spp was the most Octopus, Synodontus spp and Mulles spp. 26 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt

Moreover, cartilaginous fishes, Bothus and 71 Bony fish) (Appendix 2). Almost spp, Serranus spp and Xyrichtys spp all of these species are demersal or which were bycatch fishes came next semidemersal fishes. Some pelagic fishes while its small sized one discards (Fig. were recorded in the catch of other boats 4). catching fish in the same area with Through four surveys carried out in different types of nets (e.g. longline, Sallum Gulf (during five years from trammel or gill net). Those species 2003 to 2007), the total number of mainly include Scomber japonicas, recorded species rise up to 89 species (6 Sardinella aurita, Sardina pilchards and, Mollusca, 5 Crustacea, 7 Cartilaginous Sphyreana sphyreana.

Fig. 4: Dominant species in the catch (in weight) of bottom trawl net of Sallum Gulf during August 2007 cruise. Catch per unit effort, defined as Apogon taeniatus, Atherinomorus average weight (kg) per hour trawling, lacunosus, Diplodus bellottii, and the spatial distribution was expressed Lagocephalus sceleratus, Oratosquilla using Bottom Trawl Survey data massavensis, Pteregogus pelycus, collected during August 2007 in Sallum Saurida undosquamis, Scomberomorus Gulf. Among seven sections that the gulf commerson, Siganus luridus, Upeneus was divided (Fig. 1), section II and V had asymmetricus, (Appendix 2). higher CPUE. While, sections I, VI and 3.5. Threatened species VII had lower CPUE as shows Fig. 5. According to the Protocol of 3.4. Invasive species Specially Protected Areas and Biological During the present study only one Diversity in the Mediterranean (SPA invasive polychaete species was recorded Protocol 1995+) and including Annexes in the present study, Hermodice on endangered and threatened species curunculata (Appendix I), and 5 two species recoreded in this survey are introduced fish species were recorded on Annex II. These species are the (Fistularia commersonii, Lagocephalus Echinoderm Ophidiaster ophidianus and spadiceus, Himantura uarnaka, Siganus the mollusk Pinna nobilis. Furthermore, rivulatus, Stephanolepis diaspros). 3 species of Porifera were recorded Moreover, 10 species were recorded during this study, namely Hippospongia during previous cruises in Sallum Gulf communis, Spongia officinalis and by the NIOF research vessel, these are; Spongia zimocca are on Annex III. Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt 27

Fig. 5: Fish spatial distribution in Sallum Gulf using CPUE as index of abundance.

4. DISCUSSION Ophidiaster ophidianus and the mollusk Study of species richness, density Pinna nobilis were recorded as and abundance (the number of species endangered or threatened species (Annex per area) has been key points in II). Moreover, 3 species of Porifera biodiversity. The indicators of habitat namely Hippospongia communis, change are generally expressed in spatial Spongia officinalis and Spongia zimocca terms, usually as some aspects of the were recorded according to Annex III habitat area, while feasible, geographic (List of species whose exploitation is information systems should be used to must regulated). map important habitats on a regular Only one invasive polychaete basis. species was recorded in the present Only 9 species of sponge were study, Hermodice curunculata. Beltagi reported in the present study that seem (1993) previously recorded this species few if compared with 589 sponge species in Marsa Matrouh. Fishelson et al. recoided in the Mediterranean (Pansini, (2002) stated that this species 1995, 1996). It has to be mentioned that a Invertebrates of Red Sea origin dominant sharp decrease in the annual catch of the along the Israeli Mediterranean shore. Egyptian commercial sponge fisheries The appearance of this species means was repealed in 1987. A total of about that it continues widespread westward. 5663 Kilogram were obtained in 1986, In the present study, 15 dropped suddenly to about 1087 introduced (invasive) species were Kilogram in 1987 (under the same recorded. The Mediterranean, the impact fishing conditions, e.g. numbers of of invasive species on biodiversity (from fishing vessels and divers), and reached species to community to ecosystem level) about 615 kilogram only in 1992. and to a lesser extent on socioeconomic According to Protocol concerning values and health have been partially Specially Protected Areas and Biological covered in various syntheses. Many cases Diversity in the Mediterranean of economic losses to fisheries and (Mediterranean SPA Protocol) which aquaculture associated with invasive was revised in Barcelona, Spain, on 9-10 species have been reported. June 1995 and including Annexes which Displacement of native fish and prawns were adopted in Monaco, on 24 (due to Upeneus moluccensis and November 1996. The Echinoderm Saurida undosquamis, Oratosquilla 28 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt massavensis) has also economic communities (Rumohr and Krost, 1991; implications, as these animals are fishery Watling and Norse, 1998; Koslow et al., commodities, which now require more 2001). effort for their harvesting. Abundant The use of trawling in demersal populations of fish of no economic fisheries should be banned by law in importance is another example of areas of sensitive benthic habitats such as economic burden to fishermen as fish are sea-grass beds, corals, sponge, etc. and caught in fishing gears and have to be be strictly controlled in other areas with discarded, as in the case of Sphoeroides no such habitats. An integrated pachygaster (Golani et al., 2002). The management approach should be opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 developed and adopted for the coastal allowed entry into the eastern areas of the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean of Indo-Pacific biota, particularly for such fast developing having a significant effect on the areas as in the North Coast of Egypt. community structure and function of the The result of the survey revealed Levantine littoral zones (Goren & Galil, that diversity of benthic fauna, fish 2005). species and seagrass beds in the Gulf Some irrational and unsustainable could be divided into two sections. The fishing activities have serious negative first section lies to the west of 25º 30’ E impacts on the fisheries resources and the longitude and contains the highest ecosystem in general and on the fish species composition, while second biodiversity, the benthic and the section (eastward of 25º 30’ E) contains demersal environments in particular. The the lowest species composition (Fig. 6). impacts of such fishing activities could Moreover, there is a positive correlation have either direct effect (e.g. removal of in the spatial distribution which is clear species) or indirect effect (e.g. habitat in the section I. Therefore, it is suggested modification, changes in prey or predator that section I should be considered as a densities). These effects include the marine reserve, as it has an observable capture of non-target species, known potential to be declared as a marine collectively as bycatch. Bycatch includes protected area (MPA) GIS map showed species that are unwanted and thrown that richness of benthos was high in most away (discards), and species that are western part of Gulf (in front of Sallum retained and sold (byproduct). In the City), and decreased towards east and present study, discards of bottom trawl closely correlated with organic matter net ranged between 50 and 80% of the and mud. This agreed with Taylor (1993) total weight of different benthic who stated that there is usually high organisms and plants collected by the net species abundance in organically rich in every shot. environment than in organically poor The Mediterranean Sea is markedly environment. different from most other areas where An important element within the impact studies have been conducted aim of the present work had been to because of its oligotrophy, high level of provide the scientific basis and relevant salinity, high temperatures, negligible information that would assist in tidal currents and deep trawlable depths conserving biodiversity and the natural (Smith, et al., 2000). Several studies on ecosystem in this important area, and to the impacts of trawling on benthic ensure that economic development and communities state that trawling is the uses of marine resources therein are most disruptive and widespread ecologically sustainable. This is with the anthropogenic disturbance on benthic view to ultimately declaring the western habitats and may alter benthic part of the Gulf of Sallum in the Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt 29

Egyptian territorial waters as a Marine in the Mediterranean Sea by the Egyptian Protected Area. As the results of this Prime Minister's decision No. 533 for the study, the Gulf of Sallum was declared as year 2010. the first marine Egyptian protected area

Fig. 6: Diversity of benthos and fish species (expressed in number) in the western part (section 1) and the eastern part (section 2) Gulf of Sallum in August. 2007.

30 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt

5. APPENDICES 5.1. Appendix (1) Checklist of recorded benthic macrobenthic invertebrates recorded during August 2007 at Sallum Gulf, Egypt. (* indicates invasive species). Species Group Species Group Atylus swammerdami Bathyporeia Stylophora sp. Cnidaria Sphaeromall walkeri Myxilla prouha Hayle schimediti Spongia afficinalis Atilecylus sp. Halichondria panacea Crustacea Pagarus anachoretus Suberites doumuncula, Aceroides latipes Cacospongia molliar

Echinaster sepositus Agelas oroides Porifera Ophidiaster ophidiarum Spongia zimocca Ceramaster placenta Ircinia fasciculate Cidaris cidaris Hisppaspongia communis Astropecten bispinosum Sabella sp. Anseropoda placenta Harmothoe sp. Sphaerechinus granularis Lanthina commun Amphiura chiajei Echinodermata * Hermodice carunculatta Arbacia lixula Eteone sp

Ophiomyxa pentagona Capetella capitata Annelida Didemnum gelatinosum Syllidia armata Ascidia mentula Myxicola sp. Styela partita Aeolidacea sp. Botrylloides leachi Pecten jacobaeus

Botryllus schlosseri Ascidiacea Abra alba Halocynthia papillosa Spondylus gaederopus

Pinna nobilis Arca noae Venus verrucosa Natica dilwyni Thias haemastome

Cerithium vulgatum Mollusca Turritella communis Bulla striata Calyptraea chinensi Conus mediterraneus Tricolia pulla Murex trunculus

Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt 31

5.2. Appendix (2) Fish species identification sheets during four cruses carried out in the Sallum Gulf, Egypt during the period from 2003 to 2007. (* indicates invasive species). Aug May Oct Ma Arabic English name Scientific name Family Group 200 2005 200 y name 7 4 200 Shark Scyliorhinus Scylirhinidae قرش X x canicula Smooth hound shark Mustelus mustelus Triakidae مستوال X Cartilagenous fish Common Stingray Dasyatis pastinaca Dasyatidae بقره مزركشة X

Honeycomb Stingray * Himantura بقره X x uarnaka Common Eagle Ray Myliobatis aquilaa Myliobatidae وطواط x

Browen Ray Raja miraletus Rajidae راي بعينين x

Rough Ray Raja radula رايه X x x

Cardinal Fish Apogon imberbis Apogonidae أبجون X x

Twobelt Cardinal *Apogon taeniatus أبجون x x

*Atherinomorus Hardyhead Silverside Atherinidae بساريا x lacunosus Gray Tigger Fish Balistes carolinesis Balastidae خنزير بثالث x شوكات

Butterfly Blennie Blenius ocellaris Blennidae أبو قراع X x x

Blennie Parablennius أبو قراع x incognitus Bony fish White-Eyed Flounder Bothus podas Bothidae سنجتا X x x x

Trachurus Blue Scad Carangidae شاخورة X x mediterranean

Picarel Spicara flexuosa Centracanthidae موزة الجر X x x

Plotched Picarel Spicara meana Centracanthidae موزة x x x

Picarel Spicara smaris موزة x x x

Spotted Flounder Citharus linguatula Citharidae موسى منقطه X x x x

Ariosoma Balearic Conger Congridae ثعبان X x balearicum

Anchovy Engraulis Engraulidae أنشوجه encrasicolus Cornetfishes *Fistularia Fistularidae ابو صفارة X x x commersonii Black Goby Gobius niger Gobiidae أبوكرش x

Red Soldier Fish Holocentrus rubrum Holocentridae جحاية x

Rainbow Wrasse Coris julis Labridae عروسه x x x

Sideburn Wrasse *Pteregogus pelycus عروسة بخط x بنى Symphodus spp عرائس x

Cleaver Wrasse Xyrichthys novacula ببغاء X x x

European Hake Merluccius Merluccidae نازلي X x merluccius Leatherjacket *Stephanolepis Monacanthidae خنزير بشوكة X x x diaspros

Stephanolepis خنزير بشوكة x hispidus Striped Red Mullet Mullus barbatus Mullidae بربوني X

Striped Mullet Mullus surmuletus بربون حجر X x x x

*Upeneus Golden Striped Goatfish بربونى x asymmetricus

Upeneus francisi بربونى X x

Scissortail Sergeant Abudefuf Pomacentridae دمسل x sexfasciatus Damsel Fish Chromis chromis فناشة X x x

Scarus cretensis Scaridae مرزبان X x

Parroy wrasse Sparisoma cretensa مرزبان X x x

*Scomberomorus Spanish Mackerel Scoberomoridae دراك x commerson

Small-Scaled Red Scorpaena notata Scorbaenidae عقرب أحمر X x x x Scorpionfish Red Scorpionfish Scorpaena scrofa عقرب أحمر X x x

32 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt

Small-Scaled Black Scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus عقرب بنى x White Grouper Epieniphelus aeneus Serranidae وقار x x Golgen Grouper Epieniphelus alexandeinus وقار x Comber Serranus cabrilla شيخ X x x x Brown Comber Serranus hepatus شيخ X x x x Dusky Spinefoot *Siganus luridus Siganidae بطاطا x x Marbled Spinefoot *Siganus rivulatus بطاطا X x x x Thickback Sole Microchirus ocellatus Solidae شبه موسي بدوائر X x x Egyptian Sole Solea aegyptiaca موسى x

Adriatic Sole Solea impar موسى X x Solea nasuta موسى مزركشة x Common Sole Solea vulgaris موسى X x x Bogue Boops boops Sparidae موزة X x x Annular Sea Bream Diplodus anunularis سبارس X Diplodus bellottii وزانية x Two-Banded Bream Diplodus sargus شرغوش حر x x White Sea Bream Diplodus vulgaris Sparidae شرغوش رشيدى X x x

Striped Sea Bream Lithognathus mormyrus مرمار X x x

Spanish Bream Pagellus acarne غزيله برونزية X x x Pandora Pagellus erythrinus غزيله حمراء X x x x Common Sea Bream Pagrus pagrus مرجان X x x x Salema Sarpa sarpa سرب X Gilt-head Sea Bream Sparus aurata دنيس x Brushtooth Lizard Fish *Saurida undosquamis Synodontidae مكرونة مخططة x x Atlantic Lizard Fish Synodus sourus مكرونة صفراء X x x Lagocephalus sceleratus Tetradontidae* أرنب ببقع x Half-Smooth Golden Bufferfish *Lagocephalus spadiceus أرنب X x x

Spotted Weaver Trachinus araneus Trachinidae بالمة x x x Greater Weaver Trachinus draco بالمة X x x Starry Weaver Trachinus radiatus بالمة X x x Large-Scaled Gurnard Lepidotrigla cavillone Triglidae فرخة X x Streaked Gurnard Trigloporus lastoviza فرخة حمراء X x x Tub Gurnard Trigla lucerna فرخة x Piper Gurnard Trigla lyra فرخة X x Stargazer Uranoscopus scaber Uranoscopida قط X x x x e John Dory Zeus faber Zeidae عفريت X x x x Loligo vulgaris Loliginidae كاليماري X x Common cuttlefish Sepia officinalis Sepiolidae Mollusca سبيط X

Sepia elegans Sepiolidae سبيط X x x x Common octopus Octopus vulgaris Octopodidae أخطوبوط x x x

Musky octopus Eledone moschata أخطوبوط X Long-legged octopus Octopus macropus أخطوبوط X Trachypenaeus curvirostris Penaeidae جمبرى عجوز(عقر) X x Crustacea Panulirus homzrus Portunidae أستاكوزا x

Medit. Locust lobster Scyllarus latus Scyllarides استاكوزا X

Mantis shrimp Squilla mantis Squilidae شكالة X

Oratosquilla Massavensis شكاله x Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt 33

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Fishar, M. R. and A.E. El-Haweet (2006) This work was done in Diversity and distribution of cooperation with and support from macrobenthos and fish in Abu Qir IUCN’s Center for Mediterranean Bay, Alexandria, Egypt. In. F. Cooperation. PROJECT NUMBER Scapini (Ed.): The Mediterranean 76500-080.: Assessment of fisheries and coastal areas from watershed to the marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf sea: interactions and changes. within the broader context of Marsa Proceedings of the MEDCORE Matrouh. Project International Conference, Authors would like to express its Florence, Italy 10-14 November, sincere gratitude to all those who made 2005, 327- 344. this study possible. Without the ample FISHBASE: website www.fishbase.org support we received, from IUCN Fishelson, L; Bresler, V.; Abelsonb, A.; especially project leader Dr. Ameer Stonea, L.; Gefena, E.; Rosenfelda, Abdallah, NIOF and EEAA, Egypt, this M. and Mokadyb, O. (2002). The task would not have been accomplished two sides of man-induced changes in littoral marine communities: Eastern 7. REFERENCES Mediterranean and the Red Sea as an Beltagi, A. I. (1993). The marine example. The Science of the Total ecosystems of Fuka- Matruh area Environment. 296: 139–151. (Egypt). Status of species and Froese, R. and D. Pauly, Ed. (2000) habitats. In Report to MAP CAMP FishBase 2000: concepts, design and project (Fukah-Matrouh) data sources. ICLARM, Los Baños, UNEP/MAP, Egypt. 1-58 pp. Laguna, Philippines. 344 p. FAO (2006) Species Catalogues FAO GAFRD (1998-2006) Statistical Records. Fisheries Synopsis 125:1 -18. General Authority for fisheries Farag, F. M. (1981). Studies on Resources Development (GAFRD) – macrobenthos along the Ministry of Agriculture. Mediterranean coast west of Golani, D., Orsi-Relini, L., Masuti, E. & Alexandria. M.Sc. Thesis, Fac. Sci., Quingnard, J.P. (2002) CIESM Atlas Mansoura University, 136 pp. of Exotic Species in the Fischer, W. (Ed.) (1973) FAO Mediterranean Volume 3: Fishes. F. Identification Sheets for Fishery Briand (Ed.), Monaco. CIESM Purpose – Mediterranean and Black Publishers, 256p. Sea Fishing Area 37. Rome, FAO. Goren, M. & Galil B., (2005) A review Pag.var. of changes in the fish assemblages of Fischer, W. ; M.-L. Bauchot et M. Levantine inland and marine Schneider (rédac- 1987 teurs), Fiches ecosystems following the FAO d’identification des espèces introduction of nonnative fishes. pour les besoins de la pêche. Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 21: (Révision 1). Méditerranée et mer 364-370. Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Volume I. IUCN (1994) Guidelines for Protected Végétaux et Invertébrés. Publication Area Management Categories. préparée par la FAO, résultat d’un Commission on National Parks and accord entre la FAO et al. Protected Areas with the assistance Commission des Communautés of the World Conservation Européennes (Projet Monitoring Centre, Gland, GCP/INT/422/EEC) financée Switzerland. conjointement par ces deux organisations. Rome, FAO, 1:760 p. 34 Alaa Eldin Elhaweet et al.: Assessment of fisheries and marine biodiversity of Sallum Gulf, Egypt

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