Recent evolution of the fishing exploitation in the Thau lagoon, France

Fisheries activity in the Thau marine lagoon (Mediterranean coast of France) has an old tradition and involves different types of gears (set nets, traps and lines) that are used seasonally with varying frequencies in different areas. A survey of fishing activity, main fishing methods and main commercial species composition in the lagoon was carried out to assess the current fishing effort and seasonal yield. Many important changes in fishing effort and in the most important target species occurred during the last 10 years. A gradual decline in eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), catches followed by an increase of other commercially-exploited species, particularly the gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata L., was observed.