Artificial dens for Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 in the Sardinian Sea

MEREU, MARCO;AGUS, BLONDINE;ALVITO, ANDREA;Atzori, G;FOIS, MAURIZIO;CUCCU, DANILA

2014-01-01

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Abstract

Monitoring on 244 artificial dens from 2011-2013 in the Sardinian Sea, showed that Octopus vulgaris (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) chose them as shelters (40.72%), staying inside (86.67%) or leaving only signs of its occupation (13.33%). The 58.97% of the dens with animals inside had spawning females, with their eggs completed the embryological development. These preliminary results suggest the use of artificial dens in fishing management to protect the octopus stocks