The Influence of the Moon Phase on the CPUEs of Swordfish Gillnet Fishery in the Aegean Sea, Turkey

WOS: 000327456000018This paper provides the analysis the moon phase's on CPUE (Catch per Unit Effort) related to Turkish Aegean swordfish (Xiphias gladius) gillnet fishery during 2009-2010 fishing seasons. Mean CPUE (kg/km) was 47.0 +/- 14.5 during the dark period, against 24.1 +/- 3.8 in light period in 2009. Besides, mean CPUE was 56.3 +/- 10.2 during the dark period, whereas 45.1 +/- 7.8 in light period in 2010. In the two years periods (2009-2010) examined, the mean CPUE was 50.5 +/- 9.7 during the dark period, while 32.8 +/- 4.1 in light period. All the CPUE peaks were clearly close to each new moon phase and the highest peak (300 kg/km) was computed in May 2009 during the dark period. The results obviously indicate the increasing of the swordfish landings during the dark periods.TUBITAK projectTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [108O210]This study is supported by TUBITAK project (108O210) and also I am thanking to chair and members of the Association of the Fishing for Swordfish and Albacore for given the opportunity to work freely onboard