Experience of the monitoring of the littoral fish assemblages at reserved waters (on the example of the Karadag Nature Reserve aquatory, Crimea)

Feasibility of monitoring of the littoral fish assemblages at the reserved water areas (Karadag Nature Reserve, Crimea) by methods of visual estimation and video recording involving data of fish catch statistics of fishing companies and recreational fishermen providing fishing in the waters adjacent to the reserved aquatory is discussed. At the water area of the reserve 18 species (35%) were identified exclusively by visual recording and video recording methods, 13 more species were identified by the mentioned contactless methods and simultaneously as a result of the analysis of information from recreational fishermen and fish catch statistics. As a result, 31 species of fish (or 61 % of the identified species) were identified visually or by video recording. The contactless methods were detected mostly sedentary (15) and nomad (11) species. Migratory species in the majority (9 species vs. 6) were identified only as a result of the analysis of information from recreational fishermen and fish catch statistics.