Temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a values showed a typical seasonal distribution with lower values during winter (Temp.: 7.7 oC, Sal.: 4.3, Chl-a: 0.99 mg m-3) and higher values during summer (Temp.: 24.8 oC, Sal.: 37, Chl-a: 16.9 mg m-3) (Fig. 2a–c).