Regulated Fishery Is Beneficial for the Sustainability of Fish Population in Lake Kinneret (Israel)

摘要

Analysis of long-term data-sets of limnological and ichthyological features of the Lake Kinneret ecosystem structure revealed evidence that the decline of fish landings during 2007-2008 was not an unpredicted crisis and included only Tilapias, and mostly S. galilaeus. Several factors were found to be responsible for the decline and recovery afterwards: decline of stocking, enhancement of population size of food competitors (Bleaks), the use of smaller mesh size of fishing nets, increase of predation pressure by Cormorants, the burst of Viral Disease, natural cyclic oscillation of ENSO event and its higher frequencies and intensities during the 2000’s. Therefore, recommendations aimed at ceased fishing are not justified and fishery continuation is correct: renewal of Bleaks fishing effort, improvement of fishing legislations, enforcement and management of fish stocking, and efficient implementation of Cormorants deportation.