The paper describes the first finding of the European hake Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) in the northern part of the Black Sea, off the coast of Crimea, in December 2022 with a sea surface temperature of 13°C. The individual was found in the catch of a bottom trap installed at a depth of 24 m. The specimen with a total body length of 30.6 cm and a weight of 213.5 g was a sexually mature 3 years old male. According to the results of back-calculations obtained during the analysis of the otolith section, the individual growth of the caught fish occurred as follows: the total length was 17.7, 25.5, and 30.6 cm by the end of the first, second, and third years of life, respectively. No food items have been found in the gastrointestinal tract of the caught specimen. The geographical variability of the hake life cycle is considered. The species reaches its maximum size and age at high latitudes and at low water temperatures. Presumably, the maximum size and age of the hake in the Black Sea may be slightly higher than in the Mediterranean Sea, but lower than in the Northeast Atlantic. The prospects for further resettlement and increase in the number of the hake in the Black Sea are analyzed. Apparently, low salinity and competition with the native ichthyofauna may prevent successful naturalization of the species. However, the continuation of the trend of increasing salinity of the Black Sea under warming conditions will increase the possibilities of the hake naturalization.

The European barracuda Sphyraena sphyraena (Linnaeus, 1758) is occasionally recorded in the Black Sea, however its findings in the 21st century have become more frequent. This paper presents the results of biological analysis of a mature female barracuda with a total length of 35.4 cm and weight of 196.4 g, aged 4+ years, caught off the coast of Crimea (Sevastopol) in 2022. Oocytes in the ovaries (weight of 1.999 g) are at the resorption stage. Fragments of the spine of an unidentified fish have been found in the digestive tract of the specimen. Based on literary data, biological characteristics of barracuda individuals previously recorded in the Black Sea are presented. The prospects for the development of the Black Sea waters by this species are assessed; if the climate change trend towards warming persists, the possibility of successful naturalization of the barracuda will increase.

The painted comber Serranus scriba , a subtropical marine fish species assigned to the famiy Serranidae in the Black Sea is insufficiently studied. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite fish. Data on age, growth, and maturity of the painted comber inhabiting the Black sea area around Crimea, including its spatial variation within the entire habitat range are reported. Overall, 537 specimens caught from July to October 2022 are analyzed. The biggest specimen ever caught in the Black Sea with 26.1 cm total length and 265.1 g weight at the age of 15 years was registered. The values for the von Bertalnffy equation parameters were estimated. Thus, asymptotic length, asymptotic weight, and growth constant made up 28.3 cm, 358.6 g, and 0.17 year −1 , respectively. The exponent of 3.10 in the length-weight relationship equation (positive allometry) was estimated. Maturity was defined in 50% spesimens at 12.0 ± 0.2 cm total length in the third year of life. It was ascertained that spatial variation in the life history traits for the specimens is weakly expressed. The painted comber inhabiting the Black Sea is slightly different from the representatives of this species found in the Aegean and Adriatic Seas in age, size, and growth. In addition, the biggest and faster-growing specimens are recorded more often under the low-latitude climate conditions, in the water areas off Egypt and the Canary Islands.