Black Sea Shad
Alosa maeotica (Grimm, 1901)
Clupea maeotica Grimm, 1901: Drensky, 1924: 57; Caspialosa brashnicovi maeitica (Grimm, 1901): Drensky, 1951: 42.
Order Clupeiformes
Family Clupeidae
Conservation status: in Bulgaria: Endangered EN [B1c (iv)], BDA-II, IV; International: IUCN [DD], HD-II, V.
General distribution. It inhabits the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. In the Black Sea, it occurs in the south of Kerch Strait, along the Caucasus Mountains coast, as well as along the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. In the Sea of Azov, it is found in the summer, mainly in its western parts, entering the Gulf of Taganrog and the delta of the Don River.
Distribution and abundance in Bulgaria. Along the Bulgarian coast of the Black Sea, it is found rarely, mainly in April and May but not every year [1, 2, 3, 4]. It has been reported in the region of Burgas [1, 5], Cape Kaliakra and Varna Bay [6, 7].
Habitats. It inhabits the open sea, mainly the bathypelagic zone. Occasionally, it enters brackish waters, but it avoids purely fresh water sections.
Biology. A non-anadromous species. It prefers cold marine water, with temperature in the range from 10 to 15 °C. It winters in the western part of the Black Sea, whereby, in contrast to the Pontic shad, it does not migrate to its southernmost regions. Sexual maturity is attained in the second year at body length of 13–15 cm. Spawning occurs from April to the middle of June, most likely in the brackish waters in the western parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The species feeds on small fish (sprat, anchovy, small needle fishes, etc.) and crustaceans [4].
Similar species. In the Bulgarian section of the Black Sea, it is found together with the Pontic shad (Alosa pontica), from which it can be differentiated by the smaller sizes and the lower number of gill rakers on the first gill arch – 29-39.
Negative factors. The main threats to the species are water pollution and overfishing.
Conservation measures taken. The species was included in Annexes II and IV of the Biological Diversity Act (2002).
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the habitats of the species against pollution and strict control of observing fishing regulations.
References. 1. Drensky, 1951; 2. Stojanov et al., 1963; 3. Karapetkova, Zivkov, 1995; 4. Kolarov, 1991; 5. Drensky, 1924; 6. Sivkov, 2000; 7. Sivkov, 2003.
Authors: Yanaki Sivkov, Tihomir Stefanov, Teodora Trichkova
