My scientific activity is mainly carried out within national and international programs for the monitoring of fishing activities and the collection and analysis of biological data on demersal species in the Mediterranean Sea, both with direct (experimental trawling campaigns) and indirect methods (biological sampling of commercial catches and waste). Such research is useful to support decision making in sustainable fisheries management, resource conservation and spatial management of the marine space. In particular, I deal with the following topics: the study of the spatio-temporal dynamics of marine fish resources in relation to environmental factors and fishing activities, in light of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management; identification of recruitment areas (nurseries) and reproduction (spawning areas) (essential habitats); processes of larval dispersal and connectivity of marine populations; models to support decision making on spatial measures of fisheries management, resource and habitat conservation and marine spatial planning. I am author/co-author of 61 scientific articles published in international ISI impact Factor journals, 7 book chapters (peer-reviewed) with national or international distribution, 21 articles published in national or international non-ISI journals (peer-reviewed), more than 70 Technical-Scientific Reports and non-peer-reviewed articles.
Referent:
Germana Garofalo
To provide key information on the biodiversity and marine ecosystems of the Central Mediterranean Sea - Strait of Sicily, the ecosystem services provided, human activities and pressures due to humans and climate change.