Dynamics of Commercial Goby Species Populations and Their Harvest in the Tendra Gulf

Abstract

The article deals with dynamics of populations of the commercial gobies (round goby <i>Neogobius melanostomus</i> (Pallas, 1814), knout goby Mesogobius batrachocephalus (Pallas, 1814) and grass goby <i>Zosterisessor ophiocephalus</i> (Pallas, 1814)) in the Tendra Bay for the past 30 years. The habitat of knout goby in the open sea 15 km to the south of the Tendra Island was revealed, which is one of the main reserves of the species in the nort-western section of the Black Sea. Dimensional and weight parameters and age structure of the considered species over 1989-2001 in the Tendra Bay and of knout goby in 2019 in the specified locationwere examined; their comparative analysis was carried out.