@article{fdi:010097522,
  title = {{T}axonomic and ontogenetic composition of fishes in mosquito net trawls catches in {M}adagascar's seagrass meadows},
  author = {{J}aonalison, {H}. and {P}onton, {D}ominique and {L}{\'e}opold, {M}arc and {R}aharinaivo, {R}. {L}. and {N}omenisoa, {A}. {L}. {D}. and {F}r{\'e}d{\'e}rich, {B}. and {D}urand, {J}ean-{D}ominique and {M}ahafina, {J}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{M}osquito net trawling in seagrass meadows is a widespread but illegal fishing practice in southwestern {M}adagascar, with poorly documented ecological impacts. {T}his study assessed fish assemblages in trawl catches across two warm seasons (2016-2018) using both morphological and molecular-based identification, focusing on species composition, ontogenetic structure, and spatial and temporal variation in fish assemblages. {A} total of 201 species from 50 families were recorded across 72 hauls, with an average catch density of 2465 +/- 2166 individuals ha(-)1 and a mean size of 4.7 +/- 2.8 cm. {J}uveniles comprised 51.6% of total individuals, with an average of 58 +/- 26 juvenile species per sample and a density of 1193 +/- 1040 individuals ha(-)1. {T}he foremost dominant juvenile species was {S}iganus sutor (43% of juvenile catch, with a mean body size of 3.3 +/- 1.5 cm), followed by {S}tethojulis strigiventer, {L}ethrinus borbonicus, and {F}istularia commersonii. {M}oreover, trawls captured juveniles of two threatened species-{L}ethrinus mahsena (endangered, 2% of juvenile catch) and {H}ippocampus kuda (vulnerable, less than 0.1%). {W}hile juvenile assemblages showed no significant interannual variation, spatial differences among substrate types were significant with {ANOSIM} {R} = 0.47. {T}hese findings confirm that mosquito net trawling contributes to high juvenile mortality, including for long-lived and conservation-priority species. {P}rotecting seagrass meadows as nursery habitats is essential to ensure sustainable recruitment and preserve the fish diversity and production. {E}ffective small-scale fisheries management will require urgent restrictions on destructive gear and expanded community-based conservation initiatives.},
  keywords = {{DNA} barcoding ; {F}ish assemblages ; {F}ish density ; {J}uvenile proportion ; {I}nterannual variability ; {MADAGASCAR}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}nvironmental {B}iology of {F}ishes},
  volume = {109},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {102 [16 p.]},
  ISSN = {0378-1909},
  year = {2026},
  DOI = {10.1007/s10641-026-01873-1},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097522},
}