Morphometry, diet and reproduction of the black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus on the south-eastern coasts of France (NW Mediterranean)

The black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the main target species in the coastal fisheries of the south-eastern coast of France during the summer season. It lives on rocky bottoms and Posidonia seagrass meadows, contributing significantly to the total fish biomass in these habitats. Biological data (morphometry, diet and reproduction) of S. porcus were recorded on specimens obtained from professional fishermen in the Port-Cros National Park in two areas, which differed of management and fishing regulations: the core area of the Park (CORE) and the adjacent marine area (AMA). The enhanced protection in the CORE contributed to improve the reproductive potential of S. porcus, with bigger oocytes (more reserves), and thus better chances of survival for larvae. In the CORE area, the individuals collected in Porquerolles were more advanced in their reproductive cycle than those from Port-Cros, possibly due to their better body condition. The other biological parameters studied did not show any significant difference between CORE and AMA.