Fish habitats sustain essential functions for fish to complete their life cycle, such as feeding, growing and spawning. Conservation is crucial to maintain fish populations and their exploitation. Since 2013, the spawning stock biomass of the northern stock of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) has been in a worrying state. A series of low recruitments with a persistently high level of fishing has been blamed, raising concerns about the processes involved in seabass reproduction and settlement in nurseries. Here, we characterise seabass spawning areas along the French Atlantic coast using vessel monitoring system (VMS) data. A non-linear geostatistical approach was applied, from 2008 to 2014, to detect locations where seabass aggregate for spawning. Occurrence maps of spawning distribution were combined into probability maps to quantify the seasonal and inter-annual variability and to highlight recurrent, occasional and unfavourable spawning areas. We identified three main spawning areas: the Rochebonne Plateau in the Bay of Biscay, the Western English Channel and the North of the Cotentin peninsula in the Eastern English Channel. The correlative link between this geographical distribution and environmental factors was investigated using a Bayesian spatio-temporal model. The spatio-temporal structure accounted for the vast majority of the model predictive skills, whereas environmental covariates had a negligible effect. Our model revealed the persistence of the spatial distribution of spawning areas with intra- and inter-annual variability. Offshore areas appear to be essential spawning areas for seabass, and should be considered in spatial management strategies.

中文翻译：

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使用渔业数据的时空分析表征基本鱼类栖息地：欧洲鲈鱼产卵区的案例研究

鱼类栖息地维持鱼类完成其生命周期的基本功能，例如摄食、生长和产卵。保护对于维持鱼类种群及其开发至关重要。自 2013 年以来，欧洲鲈鱼北部种群 ( Dicentrarchus labrax)的产卵种群生物量)一直处于令人担忧的状态。人们指责一系列低招募率和持续高水平的捕捞，引发了人们对鲈鱼繁殖和在育苗场定居的过程的担忧。在这里，我们使用船舶监测系统 (VMS) 数据描述了法国大西洋沿岸的鲈鱼产卵区。从 2008 年到 2014 年，应用非线性地质统计方法来检测鲈鱼聚集产卵的位置。产卵分布的发生图被组合成概率图，以量化季节性和年际变化，并突出重现、偶然和不利的产卵区。我们确定了三个主要产卵区：比斯开湾的 Rochebonne 高原、英吉利海峡西部和英吉利海峡东部的科唐坦半岛北部。使用贝叶斯时空模型研究了这种地理分布与环境因素之间的相关联系。时空结构占模型预测技能的绝大部分，而环境协变量的影响可以忽略不计。我们的模型揭示了具有年内和年际变化的产卵区空间分布的持续性。近海区域似乎是鲈鱼的重要产卵区，应在空间管理策略中加以考虑。我们的模型揭示了具有年内和年际变化的产卵区空间分布的持续性。近海区域似乎是鲈鱼的重要产卵区，应在空间管理策略中加以考虑。我们的模型揭示了具有年内和年际变化的产卵区空间分布的持续性。近海区域似乎是鲈鱼的重要产卵区，应在空间管理策略中加以考虑。