Use of bio-promotors to improve depleted coastal and semi-closed marine areas

The progressive pauperisation of the marine fauna is also testified by the results of fishing obtained along the Ionian coast that indicate a progressive decrease in the quantity and marine species fished. The local economy is heavily penalized by the low yield of fishing caused by problems related to environmental pollution and water heating. Use of bioactivator, mixtures of selected microorganisms, enzymes, plant extracts and mineral catalysts that, once released along the coastal areas, can activate and improve the quality of marine ecosystem. For the trial in an area close to the mouth of the river Cavone (Pisticci, MT) 2 sites of equal surface area and comparable as by kilograms of fish caught as by number of species fished were identified (C – Control and T – Treated). On site T were weekly released 2 bioactivator (MICROPAN OXYLESS and MICROPAN AQUA PE). During the treatment, in each site, were performed a caught monthly (T0; T1; T2 and T3); on the boat the specimen fished was identified and numerated, individually weighed and delivered to the laboratory in refrigerated conditions (4 °C). Hence, the following measurements were made: total, fork and head length and maximum height. From linear and weight measurements, morphometric indexes, as relative profile, cranial index and condition factor were calculated. Rheological properties of the raw fish fillets were assessed using an Instron 5544 Universal Testing Machine. Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) was performed using a flat steel probe of 25 mm diameter, through a double compression test elaborated by the incorporated software. AOAC procedures were used to assess the moisture, ether extract, raw protein and the ash. The results of comparison between T0 and T1 do not indicate significant differences in the parameters considered; at T2 the results indicate an amount of 8,1 times greater in site T then the site C and relative to the number of species have been counted 11 more in area T compared to the C. In T1 and T2, samples analysed have significative differences in total length, relative profile and condition factor for grey mullet (mugil cephalus), and striped seabream (Lithognathus mormyrus). No significative differences are notable in colour and textural parameters in fishes analysed. Our study indicates that the bioactivators were effective in the increasing of number of species caught and the quantity fished for each.