IMIS - Marine Onderzoeksgroepen

Estuaries have long been recognised as areas which naturally support high densities and production levels of fish, as permanent residents, during migration, or during specific life stages, particularly as juveniles. These ecosystems are important to fisheries because of their roles in production and biological cycles of many marine species.Each estuary has its own geographical, hydraulic, sedimentological and biological characteristics. These specific features influence the makeup and structure of the fish assemblages and the dynamic of fish populations.

The estuary of the river Arade is located in the central part of the Algarve (south Portugal), near the city of Portimão, and is the second biggest estuary of this region. The present study aims to characterise the dynamics of the fish assemblages of the Arade estuary, focusing on the species with commercial value.