Profile of Marine Sport Fishers and Interannual Variation in Coastal Catches in Southeastern Spain

Abstract
Marine sport fishing is an increasingly important socioeconomic activity in Mediterranean coastal regions, although its ecological implications and interactions with vulnerable taxa remain poorly understood. This study analyses shore-based marine sport fishing competitions conducted along the southeastern Spanish Mediterranean coast between 2019 and 2025 to characterise sport fishers, evaluate interactions with vulnerable species such as elasmobranchs, and assess the spatial and temporal evolution of catches. The methodology combined structured surveys, fieldwork, and catch data collection during organised fishing competitions held in Alicante and the Region of Murcia. A total of 425 surveys were analysed together with catch records obtained from the Puerto de Mazarrón Fishing Open Championship and local fishing competitions. Results showed that sport fishing activity is predominantly carried out by experienced male fishers maintaining high fishing frequency throughout the year. Many participants reported previous interactions with elasmobranchs, particularly batoids, although limited knowledge among the sport fishers regarding species identification and protected taxa was detected. Catch composition was dominated by a few coastal teleost species, while multivariate analyses revealed significant spatial and temporal variability among fishing sectors and years. Overall, organised sport fishing competitions demonstrate considerable potential as complementary tools for ecological monitoring and conservation in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.

Keywords: Marine sport fisheries; shore-based fishing; elasmobranchs; Mediterranean Sea; ecological monitoring; citizen science; fish catches; threatened species

Key Contribution: This study provides one of the first integrated assessments of shore-based marine sport fishing competitions in the southeastern Spanish coast, combining fisher profiles, elasmobranch interactions, and long-term catch dynamics. The results demonstrate the usefulness of sport fishing events as complementary tools for ecological monitoring and conservation of vulnerable Mediterranean coastal species.