Rationalization of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries

In recent years, overcapacity in Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands crab fisheries has resulted in a dangerous race for crab. This paper examines a unique management program developed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council intended to alleviate these problems, while accommodating a variety of stakeholders dependent on the fisheries. The discussion concludes by identifying some of the most substantial hurdles that the program must overcome to succeed and some characteristics of the fisheries that contribute to the potential to overcome these obstacles.     

Considering community allocations: Power and the politics of enclosure in the Gulf of Alaska

In 2012, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council initiated the process of designing a new management structure for the Gulf of Alaska trawl groundfish fleet. The new program is currently structured as a catch share program and driven by the need to end the ‘race for fish’ and provide the trawl fleet with the tools to reduce bycatch. To date much of the discussion among policy makers and stakeholders has centered on community protection measures and how best to avoid the negative social and economic impacts of catch share programs including impacts to crew, consolidation and the flight of quota and resource wealth from Gulf of Alaska fishery dependent communities. This paper examines how community protection measures related to the distribution of benefits and access to fishery resources are considered and challenged in the North Pacific today. Special attention is given to the ongoing debate surrounding the potential inclusion of an initial allocation to place-based Gulf of Alaska communities via a Community Fishing Association. As part of this effort, this paper examines the political space and underlying power dynamics in which consideration of alternatives to the commodification of fishing rights occurs.     

The emergence and effectiveness of the Marine Stewardship Council

This article examines the influence of patterns of emergence on the effectiveness of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)—a leading wild-capture fisheries certification program. Looking first at the origins and features of this program, direct effects are examined by describing the adoption of the scheme and the impacts of the fishery assessment process. In assessing broader consequences, the article examines patterns of adoption and certification effects that were not necessarily intended or anticipated. The article concludes that fisheries certification alone is unlikely to arrest the decline of fish stocks, and highlights the need for more research on the intersection of private and public efforts to address overfishing and environmental harm resulting from fishing.     

我国海洋渔业地理信息系统发展现状

详细总结了我国海洋渔业地理信息系统的研究与应用现状,远洋渔业地理信息系统主要应用于金枪鱼、鱿钓业和秋刀鱼的资源分布、渔获量与渔场环境关系、渔情预报、渔场图绘制等方面,近海主要用于分析东海渔业资源分布和漂移特征、渔场环境分布、部分种类渔获量分布与环境关系及渔情预报等方面。除渔业资源与渔场领域外,渔业地理信息系统还被应用到渔船跟踪、捕捞违法行为判别、渔业信息发布和水产品查询,以及渔港建设等领域,国内学者在进行渔业地理信息系统技术应用的同时,还注重了其技术的研究及改进。     

Perspectives for implementing fisheries certification in developing countries

This paper discusses the future of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a market-based certification program, in developing countries and exposes the challenges and opportunities for fish producers. The MSC needs to attract the interest of more fishing enterprises from these regions to increase its global presence. Because most fisheries in developing countries cannot meet the MSC standards, or afford the certification process costs, it is suggested that there is a need for developing different levels within the MSC system and additional third-party assessing organizations. MSC certification may mean adoption of improvements in fisheries management and approving fishing regimes in developing countries. However, post-certification benefits may decrease as more fisheries become certified.     

三种浮绳式框架养殖围网系泊缆绳和框架纲张力试验研究

浅海围网养殖是一种全新的海水生态养殖方式,敷设在开放性海域,承受风、浪和流的作用,产生复杂的水动力。本文根据养殖围网海上实际敷设情况和水文条件,基于松田皎模型准则设计制作了长方体、圆柱体和球体3种不同浮筒形状的浮绳式柔性框架养殖围网模型。在循环动水槽中采用预加张力的系泊方法测试了不同流速和系泊角度下围网框架纲和系泊缆绳的张力特征变化。研究结果显示:流速与张力的关联度大于系泊角度与张力的关联度;流速小于35cm/s时,系泊缆绳的张力变化较平稳;系泊角度在63°和74°之间时,系泊缆绳和框架纲张力的变化较平稳,且当系泊角度为71°时,张力相对较小;相比其他2种浮筒类型围网,长方体浮筒浮绳式框架养殖围网的系泊缆绳和框架纲张力的变化相对较平稳。     

MSC certification in Argentina: Stakeholders’ perceptions and lessons learned

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification is a market-based incentive program recognizing well-managed fisheries. Currently, four Argentine fisheries are involved in the MSC program. Using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with fishery stakeholders, the study surveys their perceptions regarding MSC certification. MSC certification is positively perceived because stakeholders focus on knowledge of the process. Most respondents consider certification as encouraging effective fishery stakeholders’ participation: access to information, increased communication, and reaching consensus. Market/political/social realities will prove whether a more intense participation of Argentine fisheries in the certification initiative is useful. Because some markets in the EU and USA are demanding MSC certified products, there is a need to work towards a governance structure that helps link certification with policy market outcomes to ensure exportation of Argentine fish. MSC certification may suggest improved management of participatory bottom-up planning. This bottom-up approach provides an opportunity to establish feedback mechanisms and organizational changes.     

Regional oceans governance mechanisms: A review

The development of regional governance for the protection of the environment, sustainable use of natural resources and conservation of its biodiversity is unquestionably a cornerstone of international environmental law and policy. With regard to marine and coastal issues, it has mainly been taking place through Regional Seas programmes, Regional Fishery Bodies and Large Marine Ecosystems mechanisms. Based on a similar geographical approach, however, these regional mechanisms raise concerns relating to their coordination and efficiency, and possibly overlap in what they aim to achieve. This paper provides a review of existing regional oceans governance mechanisms, assessing their individual and collective capacities to move towards ecosystem-based management, and highlighting options to make the regional landscape more coherent and effective.     

Measuring fishery profitability: An index number approach

Tracking the financial well-being of vessels that depend on a marine fishery resource is an important function of regulators. This research demonstrates how simple indices can be constructed and utilized to track the economic well-being of vessels operating in the Northeast (USA) Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery. The indices, which use both public and private data, can separately track trends in inputs, outputs, and prices. For the Northeast Multispecies Fishery, the indices reveal that the economic well-being of the groundfish fleet has improved under catch share management through gains in productivity.     

嗜碱盐单胞菌X3中异化型硝酸盐还原酶编码基因簇的功能验证及蛋白结构预测

细菌的氮代谢推动环境的氮循环,硝酸盐还原反应是氮代谢途径中重要步骤之一。本文运用酶活测定、qRTPCR和生物信息学软件分析的方法,对嗜碱盐单胞菌(Halomonas alkaliphila)X3中编码细菌异化型硝酸盐还原酶(Dissimilatory nitrate reductase,Nar)不同亚基的基因簇narGYJV进行了功能验证、蛋白结构预测和系统发育分析。研究表明,X3菌株中存在narGYJV基因簇并具有表达活性,测得Nar的酶活为每克蛋白21.415U;预测到的narGYJV编码蛋白功能区域中1～1246氨基酸属于NarG超家族,编码Nar的α亚基;1261～1752氨基酸属于DMSOR-beta-like超家族,编码Nar的β亚基;2061～2279氨基酸编码γ亚基,1802～2018氨基酸编码δ亚基;Nar的二级结构中无规卷曲占37.59%,α螺旋占34.43%,延伸链占18.33%;NarG、NarY和NarV的3D结构与PDB中大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)的1Q16 3D结构最接近,覆盖率96%～100%。系统发育树显示,菌株X3中NarG与同属菌的遗传距离较近,在不同菌属间虽然功能相似,其同源性较低;NarY与大肠杆菌中的氨基酸序列的同源关系较近,说明异化型硝酸盐还原酶Nar中不同亚基的系统发育地位不同。研究结果表明,Halomonas alkaliphila X3菌株中存在编码Nar的基因簇narGYJV,编码蛋白具有独特的3D结构,不同亚基的系统发育地位不同。研究结果为进一步研究该菌的氮代谢通路选择和调控机制提供了依据。     

The ‘devils triangle’ of MSC certification: Balancing credibility,accessibility and continuous improvement

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has continued to strengthen its position in the market based on its credibility as a transparent, accountable and science-based third party certification scheme. However, the consolidation of MSC's credibility risks being undermined by the poor representation of developing world fisheries and concerns that the scheme provides little incentive for continual improvement for fisheries once certified. This paper argues that the challenge of maintaining credibility while increasing access and fisheries improvement constitutes a ‘devils triangle’. In the absence of a clear policy from MSC for balancing this triangle fisheries are taking their own actions to differentiate themselves both above (MSC-plus) and below (MSC-minus) the certification threshold. To avoid further undermining of the MSC the organisation should internalise such externally-led differentiation by moving towards an internally controlled tiered certification system based on its already existing metric-based principle indicator system. Doing so would communicate on equity and continual improvement both before and after certification, and create on-going incentives for fishers to enter into the MSC programme.     

Vessel buybacks in fisheries: The role of auction and financing structures

Vessel buyback programs intended to address overcapacity and excess capitalization in fisheries can lead to dramatically different levels of decapitalization depending on program structure and availability of vessel-specific information. This paper develops a simple theoretical model of self-financing vessel buybacks to examine equilibrium outcomes using sequential versus take-it-or-leave-it auctions, and financing schemes which allocate costs either homogeneously or according to rents captured through the buyback. This model demonstrates that programs which spread costs evenly among remaining vessels limit the possible extent of buybacks, as do programs which buy vessels one at a time in sequence rather than all at once. In addition to the theoretical modeling, a stylized case study inspired by the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Fishery is also provided. This analysis suggests that a wide range of auction structures could roughly half the size of the existing fleet, and starkly demonstrates how information poor settings can entirely derail a buyback.     

Fisheries and failing states: The case of Sierra Leone

Marine fisheries play an important role in the economy of Sierra Leone, supporting livelihoods and contributing significantly to food security. This paper looks in detail at how the performance of fisheries was impacted by the ten year civil war, an event which contributed to the country's reputation for being a “failed state”. The paper focuses mainly on the artisanal fisheries sector, which employs the majority of the country's coastal population, and demonstrates how the conflict caused major social dislocation to fishing communities as well as reducing the productive capacity of the fleet. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy challenges now facing Sierra Leone, particularly the prevention of resource looting through illegal fishing of the offshore stocks and the development of strategies to enable the potential wealth of these fisheries to be captured.     

Management procedures in the US fishery conservation zone

The author provides an overview of the management process and indicates, on the basis of experience to date, how procedures are being developed to generate and implement fishery management plans. The article includes discussion of the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 and of the structure and operation of US regional fisheries commissions. It concludes with an analysis of potential problem areas that threaten the development of a sound management programme.     

栖息地指数模型在北太公海秋刀鱼渔情预报中的应用

秋刀鱼(cololabis saira)作为高度洄游的大洋性鱼类,因其资源量大、分布广而成为我国远洋渔业重要的捕捞对象之一。本文根据2003～2015年我国大陆在北太平洋公海秋刀鱼的生产调查数据,结合所获得的环境数据,以秋刀鱼单位捕捞努力量渔获量(Catch Per Unit Effort,CPUE)为适应性指数(suitability index,SI),利用几何平均法、算术平均法、最大值法和最小值法分别建立基于海水海表面温度(sea surface temperature,SST)、海表面高度(sea surface height,SSH)和海表面叶绿素a浓度(sea surface chlorophyll,SSC)的综合栖息地指数(habitat suitability index,HSI)模型。并利用2015年5～11月生产数据用于HSI模型验证,T检验结果表明算术平均值法拟合效果最好(P<0.05),模型准确度达70%以上,确立最适的秋刀鱼渔情预报模型,可为秋刀鱼的生产提供参考。     

Education for sustainable development for Tokyo Bay: Developing a practice framework of university-based coastal ESD

This paper reviews the initial phase of a coastal education for sustainable development program for Edomae, the innermost reaches of Tokyo Bay. The program has been steered by a working group of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology faculty members from different academic backgrounds. Although the process began with conventional educational ideas, the ESD practice framework evolved to include more interactive activities. The overall goal is to pursue discussions of a plan for the sustainable use of Tokyo Bay in the coastal communities through a university–community partnership by developing Edomae ESD leaders in the coastal community.     

Assessment of MSC-certified fish stocks in the Northeast Atlantic

This study examines the status and exploitation level of 31 northern European stocks targeted by fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as being sustainable and well managed. In the first year of certification, 11 stocks (52% of stocks with available data) were exploited above the maximum sustainable level and four stocks (16% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. MSC states that it certifies sub-standard stocks because they will improve once they are in their program. However, after a duration of certification of one to ten years (average four years), no significant changes in fishing pressure or stock size were detected. In the last certified year with available data, seven stocks (44% of stocks with available data) were subject to overfishing and five stocks (21% of stocks with available data) were outside of safe biological limits. Certification should guarantee that fishing quotas are set correctly and are enforced. However, in 11 stocks quotas were set 20–60% above the level that fishers were taking, whereas in three stocks landings exceeded quotas by 30–50%. The study concludes that MSC should change its rules such that overfishing or unsafe stock sizes lead to immediate suspension of certification and that no certification is issued in the first place for a stock that is already in such a situation.     

Assessment of eco-labelling schemes for Pacific tuna fisheries

Developments in fisheries governance in recent decades—notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its implementing agreements—have established a framework of principles, standards, institutions and regulations that is broader and more complex than traditional fisheries management, which has generally focused on individual target species. As this framework has evolved, a number of seafood eco-labelling schemes have also developed. These schemes aim to identify well-managed fisheries and give competitive advantage to their products, thus translating the environmental awareness of consumers into direct support for sustainable fishing practices. This paper evaluates a number of these schemes in the context of international fisheries governance principles and considers the conservation benefits that may result from sustainability certification of Pacific tuna fisheries. The paper briefly summarises developments in eco-labeling of Pacific tuna fisheries in relation to the evolution of fisheries management, where focus has shifted from the maximum sustainable yield of individual tuna species to ecosystem-based approaches that directly consider the broader environmental impacts of fishing. The paper discusses two different ‘Dolphin Safe’ eco-labels, the third-party scheme of the Earth Island Institute and the intergovernmental scheme of the Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program, and two broader eco-labels offering sustainability certification of fisheries, ‘Friend of the Sea’ and the ‘Marine Stewardship Council’. The role played by seafood-industry associations with sustainability claims, such as the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation, is also considered.