Back to the list

Monitoring fish juveniles

Natural Heritage

A monitoring program for juvenile fish in Monaco's Marine Protected Areas was initiated in 2023 by Dr. Eugenio Di Franco, a member of AMPN's permanent team. This monitoring, which included a campaign in early July 2024, is conducted every three months and tracks "baby" fish, known as juveniles, as well as the habitats where they settle and grow, called nurseries.

Monitoring juveniles and nurseries is essential to ensure, first, the consistent arrival of new recruits in the protected areas and, second, that the habitats that welcome them are in good ecological condition.

During this summer's survey, no fewer than 6,000 individuals were recorded, including species like salema, sand smelt, saddled seabream, mullet, and white seabream. Two juvenile European sea bass and two juvenile barracudas were also observed, indicating that predators are indeed present in these protected areas. Most of these individuals were concentrated around algae-covered rocky areas, highlighting the importance of protecting this habitat. The next survey will take place in the fall!

This program is supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Discover the dedicated page on the website for this monitoring: Click here

Photo credit : Stéphane Jamme - Aquanaute expertise.