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<p>Trash fish (TF) are small, low-value species, juveniles, and fish with low freshness, primarily processed into fishmeal for animal feeds. Although TF utilization is often criticized for stock depletion and ecosystem damage, concrete evidence remains limited. The Gulf of Thailand (GoT) is a large tropical marine ecosystem with multispecies and multi-gear fisheries. It plays an important role in fishmeal production, with TF the primary raw material. This study examined the ecology of TF catches and evaluated their impact on fish stocks and marine food webs in the GoT. During the period 2016–2023, TF catches showed no detectable directional change impact on either fish stock status or mean trophic levels (MTLs) (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.05). Key TF families (e.g., Leiognathidae) have remained largely unchanged over five decades. The top 10 species in 2016–2023, including <i>Uroteuthis duvaucelii</i>, <i>Selaroides leptolepis</i>, and <i>Priacanthus tayenus</i>, exhibited similar <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\({L}_{50}\)</EquationSource> <EquationSource Format="MATHML"><math> <msub> <mi>L</mi> <mn>50</mn> </msub> </math></EquationSource> </InlineEquation> values and overlapping size distributions between TF and consumable fish (CF), suggesting that trawl gear retain individuals at comparable sizes regardless of end use. The MTLs of CF, TF, and total catches were significantly higher than the historical minimum associated with past ‘fishing-down’ trends in the GoT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), indicating a more balanced exploitation in trophic structure.</p>

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Ecological reality of trash fish catches from trawlers under tropical multispecies and multi-gear fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月12日

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  • Jeeratorn Yuttharax,
  • Pavarot Noranarttragoon,
  • Weerapol Thitipongtrakul,
  • Matsuishi Takashi Fritz

摘要

Trash fish (TF) are small, low-value species, juveniles, and fish with low freshness, primarily processed into fishmeal for animal feeds. Although TF utilization is often criticized for stock depletion and ecosystem damage, concrete evidence remains limited. The Gulf of Thailand (GoT) is a large tropical marine ecosystem with multispecies and multi-gear fisheries. It plays an important role in fishmeal production, with TF the primary raw material. This study examined the ecology of TF catches and evaluated their impact on fish stocks and marine food webs in the GoT. During the period 2016–2023, TF catches showed no detectable directional change impact on either fish stock status or mean trophic levels (MTLs) (p ≥ 0.05). Key TF families (e.g., Leiognathidae) have remained largely unchanged over five decades. The top 10 species in 2016–2023, including Uroteuthis duvaucelii, Selaroides leptolepis, and Priacanthus tayenus, exhibited similar \({L}_{50}\) L 50 values and overlapping size distributions between TF and consumable fish (CF), suggesting that trawl gear retain individuals at comparable sizes regardless of end use. The MTLs of CF, TF, and total catches were significantly higher than the historical minimum associated with past ‘fishing-down’ trends in the GoT (p < 0.001), indicating a more balanced exploitation in trophic structure.