System evaluation of sustainability in the Norwegian cod-fisheries

Overcapacity in the fishing fleets is considered as the most serious threat to sustainable fisheries. More effective fishing vessels and catching gear contribute to increased catch capacity. Increased catch capacity causes environmental problems such as overexploitation and calls for larger quotas. The problem of overcapacity indicates the need for a stronger integration of technological aspects into fisheries management. This article assesses the differences in sustainability between the Norwegian ocean and coastal fishing fleets in the cod fisheries, by using systems engineering methods. Attributes of sustainability in the Norwegian cod fishing fleets are investigated, as well as acceptance criteria and performance indicators. The results show that there are huge differences in the performance between the vessel groups, and that the results of an evaluation of sustainability in the fishing fleets are dependent on which attributes are explored. Thus, the discussion may contribute to a better decision basis and improved sustainability in fisheries management.     

Eco-labeling of seafood: Does it affect the harvesting patterns of Norwegian fishermen?

The aim of this paper is to compare the criteria for eco-labeling of wild-caught fish in the Norwegian eco-certified fisheries, and to study if these eco-labels affect the harvesting patterns of Norwegian fishermen. The eco-labels Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), KRAV and Friend of the Sea (FOS) as applied in 2009 were studied. In this study, the harvesting patterns are defined by using the following parameters: season, catch area, size of fishing vessel, gear type, bycatch, location of landing site and distance to the fishing ground. KRAV had more specific criteria than did MSC and FOS in specific fisheries regarding time of the fishing effort, catch area, size of fishing vessels, gear type (e.g. hook size, and the use of beam trawlers was not permitted) and distance to the fishing ground. The findings show that few of the eco-label requirements influenced these aspects in Norwegian fisheries.     

ITQs under illegal fishing: An application to the red shrimp fishery in Chile

We study an individual transferable quota system with imperfect enforcement. We apply a model of individual fisherman behavior to the red shrimp (Pleuroncodes monodon) fishery in central-southern Chile. Simulation results suggest that illegal fishing could generate a 21% increase in fishing effort, resulting in a 13% increase in catch and a 2% lower quota price in comparison with the results of a system that operates under perfect compliance. The results are sensitive to changes in the level of fish abundance, total allowable catch, and the design of enforcement to induce compliance.     

Assessment of the exploitable biomass of thread herring(Opisthonema spp.) in northwestern Mexico

In recent years, the small pelagic fishery on the Pacific northwest coast of Mexico has significantly increased fishing pressure on thread herring Opisthonema spp. This fishery is regulated using a precautionary approach(acceptable biological catch(ABC) and minimum catch size). However, due to fishing dynamics, fish aggregation habits and increased fishing mortality, periodic biomass assessments are necessary to estimate ABC and assess the resource status. The Catch-MSY approach was used to analyze historical series of thread herring catches off the western Baja California Sur(BCS, 1981–2018) and the Gulf of California(GC, 1972–2018) to estimate exploitable biomass and target reference points in order to obtain catch quotas. According to the results, in GC,the maximum biomass reached in 1972(at the beginning of fishery) and minimum biomass reached in 2015; the estimated exploitable biomass for 2019 was 42.2×10~4 t; and the maximum sustainable yield(MSY) was 15.4×10~4 t.In the western BCS coast, the maximum biomass was reached in 1981(at the beginning of fishery) and minimum biomass was reached in 2017; the estimated exploitable biomass for 2019 was 3.2×10~4 t; and the MSY was 1.2×10~4 t.Both stocks showed a decrease in biomass over the past years and were currently near to point of full exploitation.The results suggest that the use of the Catch-MSY method is suitable to obtain annual biomass estimates, in order to establish an ABC, to know the current state of the resource, and to avoid overcoming the potential recovery of the stocks.     

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。     

Sea turtle bycatch to fish catch ratios for differentiating Hawaii longline-caught seafood products

Sea turtles can be incidentally caught in pelagic longline fishing gear targeting tuna and swordfish. Bycatch to fish catch (B/C) ratios can differentiate seafood based on sea turtle impacts. This study demonstrates the use of B/C ratios indexed to the weight of fish catch: (1) to report on the significant progress in reducing sea turtle bycatch in Hawaii's swordfish longline sector and (2) to compare Hawaii and other Pacific longline fisheries by number of sea turtle interactions per weight of catch. Hawaii's longline tuna fishery sets the benchmark of 1 sea turtle interaction per 190,000 kg of tuna caught.     

Actions speak louder than words: Tournament angling as an avenue to promote best practice for pelagic shark fishing

Social research can aid in understanding the behaviour of the general public or stakeholders towards natural resources. In the case of recreational fishing, social research aids in integrating anglers' knowledge and attitudes into management frameworks to increase the likelihood of the uptake of new management regulations. Tournament anglers were surveyed at game fishing competitions throughout New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia between February 2012 and May 2013 to investigate their general beliefs around sharks and their behaviours when targeting pelagic sharks. Over half (55%) of the anglers interviewed practised catch and release of pelagic sharks. Of those, almost all (98%) asserted that they attempt to release sharks in good condition, but a large percentage of anglers (48%) did not use circle hooks that have been shown to increase post-release survival. Results showing some concordance between angler's beliefs and behaviours when targeting pelagic sharks suggest that anglers are cognisant of the functional role of sharks in the ecosystem and would be open to recommendations ensuring the long-term sustainability of recreational fisheries targeting pelagic sharks.     

Acceptable sustainability in the fishing fleet

This article discusses the performance of the Norwegian fishing fleet within an acceptable level of sustainability. Previously, the cod-fishing fleet has been evaluated at the attributes—accident risk, employment, profitability, quality of the fish meat, catch capacity, greenhouse gas emissions/acidification, and bycatch/selection. The assessments focused on the first four steps of the systems engineering process, i.e., from needs identification to trade-offs of system alternatives. The objective of this paper is to focus on the last steps of the process; design, solve, verify, and test, to improve the decision-basis for fisheries management in order to increase sustainability in the fishing fleet. More specifically, this means to analyze the decision-making situation and develop acceptance criteria of a sustainable Norwegian cod-fishing fleet to enable fisheries management to monitor the sustainability performance of the fleet on a regular basis.     

基于神经网络的南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼渔场预报

南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼是我国远洋渔业的重点捕捞对象;对南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼进行准确的渔场预报;可以提高捕捞效率;提高渔业的生产能力。本研究根据1993-2010年南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼的延绳钓生产数据以及海洋卫星遥感数据（海水表面温度;SST;海面高度;SSH）和ENSO（El Niño-Southern Oscillation）指标;采用DPS（data processing system）数据处理系统中的BP人工神经网络模型;以渔获产量（单位时间的渔获尾数）和单位捕捞努力量渔获量（CPUE;Catch per unit of effort）分别作为中心渔场的表征因子;并作为BP模型的输出因子;以月、经度、纬度、SST、SSH和ENSO指标等作为输入因子;分别构建4-3-1;5-4-1;5-3-1;6-5-1;6-4-1;6-3-1等BP模型结构;比较渔场预报模型优劣。研究结果表明;以CPUE作为输出因子的BP人工神经网络结构总体上较优;其中以6-4-1模型结构为最优;相对误差只有0.006 41。研究认为;以CPUE为输出因子的6-4-1结构的人工神经网络模型;能够准确预报南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼的渔场位置。     

捕捞和气候变化在南海北部湾口鱼类长期种类演替和种群动态的作用

捕捞压力在改变南海鱼类种类演替和生物量波动方面所起的作用大于气候和环境因素是一个普遍的、有争议的假设。根据1959~2010年南海北部北部湾口底拖网的调查数据,报告了该海域鱼类种类组成、优势类群的丰度比例、生物量的季节和年际变化。建立了鱼类生物量与捕捞压力和气候变化外部因素之间的广义加性模型。结果表明,捕捞压力驱动底层渔业资源急剧下降的主要因素,并随着时间的推移,高值鱼类被低值鱼类所取代。1993年和1998年期间鱼类生物量的突然减少与同期厄尔尼诺事件相对应,气候变化可能是渔业拖网捕捞中中上层鱼类比例变化的主要驱动因素。为了更好地了解鱼类群落动态,需要区分捕捞压力和环境驱动因素对不同生活史策略鱼类物种的影响。     

ESTIMATION OF FISHING MORTALITY AND ABUNDANCE OF PACIFIC HERRING IN THE HUANGHAI SEA BY COHORT ANALYSIS (VPA)

In this paper Cohort Analysis (VPA) with the data on catch in number by age and year is used to estimate independently fishing mortality, abundance and actual number of spawning stock of the Pacific herring in the Huanghai Sea. The results show that catch rate of the fishery is very high, and that the fishing mortality of the dominant age group aged 2-4 was 0.87-2.97 during the years 1971-1984. The size of year class has been decreased since 1982 although the variability for this species in the Huanghai Sea is frequent. This results in reducing the recruitment of the fishery, the abundance and the actual number of spawning stock. Therefore, an urgent management measure should be considered.The magnitude of several sources of errors in Cohort Analysis (VPA) are examined, and the precision of the estimates is mainly dependent on an accurate natural mortality.     

Hawaii Cyclonic Eddies and Blue Marlin Catches: The Case Study of the 1995 Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament

The combination of prevailing northeasterly tradewinds and island topography results in the formation of vigorous, westward propagating cyclonic eddies in the lee of the Hawaiian Islands on time scales of 50–70 days. These mesoscale (∼10² km) features are nowhere more conspicuous or spin up more frequently than in the Alenuihaha Channel between the Island of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii. Cyclonic eddies in subtropical waters such as those around Hawaii vertically displace the underlying nutricline into the overlying, nutrient-depleted euphotic zone creating localized biologically enhanced patches. Insight into how these eddies may directly influence pelagic fish distribution is provided by examination of recreational fish catch data coinciding with the presence of eddies on the fishing grounds. We highlight the 1995 Hawaii International Billfish Tournament in which a cyclonic eddy dominated the ocean conditions during the weeklong event and the fish catch distribution differed significantly from the average historical tournament catch patterns. On the tournament fishing grounds, well-mixed surface layers and strong current flows induced by the eddy's presence characterized the inshore waters where the highest catches of the prized Pacific blue marlin (Makaira mazara) occurred, suggesting possible direct (e.g., physiological limitations) or indirect (e.g., prey availability) biological responses of blue marlin to the prevailing environment. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fishery management techniques: Practical aspects and limitations

This article investigates practical aspects and limitations of various fishery management techniques. Restrictions on catch and fishing effort (active regulations) are described, and the authors point out that catch restrictions are less robust scientifically than effort restrictions. Spatial — temporal restrictions, gear restrictions, and restrictions on the nature of the catch-which are passive with respect to fishing mortality-are reviewed and it is concluded that fishing mortality is theoretically unbounded when only passive methods of fisheries management are applied.     

Fishing selectivity as an instrument to reach management objectives in an ecosystem approach to fisheries

With the development of the ecosystem approach to fisheries, improving fishing selectivity has increasingly been put forward as an objective for management. The aim of this paper is to clarify the limits of fishing selectivity and its use in fisheries management. Fishing selectivity would be better apprehended if restricted to the catching process only, not to the utilisation that is made of the catch once onboard, which falls under catch utilisation. Confusion would be further limited if fishing selectivity is restricted to the fishing operation scale, while exploitation pattern, i.e. the distribution of fishing mortality at the population or community level, applies to larger scales. Fishing selectively is minimizing bycatch – catching primarily the fishing trip targets. Since the ecological consequences of maximising the target catch relative to bycatch remain unknown at integrated scales, fishing selectivity cannot be used as an objective in itself. However, its small scale, high manageability and good understanding make it a convenient instrument to reach management objectives at large scales. Selectivity can serve to manage what is extracted from the ecosystem and thus what can be used, and/or to manage what is left in the ecosystem and how fishing impacts it. Different factors affect fishing selectivity, catch utilisation and exploitation patterns, some of them are manageable and thus can be used to move towards these objectives. Management tools are diverse, but need to be integrated to meet large-scale objectives. The complexity of dealing with large scales incurs a need to develop the available knowledge on exploitation patterns and catch utilisation to be able to adequately manage and monitor progress toward selectivity-related objectives.     

Parameter estimation for basin-scale ecosystem-linked population models of large pelagic predators: Application to skipjack tuna

A Spatial Ecosystem and Population Dynamic Model (SEAPODYM) is used in a data assimilation study aiming to estimate model parameters that describe dynamics of Pacific skipjack tuna population on ocean-based scale. The model based on advection–diffusion–reaction equations explicitly predicts spatial dynamics of large pelagic predators, while taking into account data on several mid-trophic level components, oceanic primary productivity and physical environment. In order to improve its quantitative ability, the model was parameterized through assimilation with commercial fisheries data, and optimization was carried out using maximum likelihood estimation approach. To address the optimization task we implemented an adjoint technique to obtain an exact, analytical evaluation of the likelihood gradient. We conducted a series of computer experiments in order to (i) determine model sensitivity with respect to variable parameters and, hence, investigate their observability; (ii) estimate observable parameters and their errors; and (iii) justify the reliability of the computed solution. Parameters describing recruitment, movement, habitat preferences, natural and fishing mortality of skipjack population were analysed and estimated. Results of the study suggest that SEAPODYM with achieved parameterization scheme can help to investigate the impact of fishing under various management scenarios, and also conduct forecasts of a given species stock and spatial dynamics in a context of environmental and climate changes.     

Ecosystem structure and resilience—A comparison between the Norwegian and the Barents Sea

Abundance and biomass of the most important fish species inhabited the Barents and Norwegian Sea ecosystems have shown considerable fluctuations over the last decades. These fluctuations connected with fishing pressure resulted in the trophic structure alterations of the ecosystems. Resilience and other theoretical concepts (top-down, wasp-waste and bottom-up control, trophic cascades) were viewed to examine different response of the Norwegian and Barents Sea ecosystems on disturbing forces. Differences in the trophic structure and functioning of Barents and Norwegian Sea ecosystems as well as factors that might influence the resilience of the marine ecosystems, including climatic fluctuation, variations in prey and predator species abundance, alterations in their regular migrations, and fishing exploitation were also considered. The trophic chain lengths in the deep Norwegian Sea are shorter, and energy transfer occurs mainly through the pelagic fish/invertebrates communities. The shallow Barents Sea is characterized by longer trophic chains, providing more energy flow into their benthic assemblages. The trophic mechanisms observed in the Norwegian Sea food webs dominated by the top-down control, i.e. the past removal of Norwegian Spring spawning followed by zooplankton development and intrusion of blue whiting and mackerel into the area. The wasp-waist response is shown to be the most pronounced effect in the Barents Sea, related to the position of capelin in the ecosystem; large fluctuations in the capelin abundance have been strengthened by intensive fishery. Closer links between ecological and fisheries sciences are needed to elaborate and test various food webs and multispecies models available.     

Incentivising selective fishing under a policy to ban discards; lessons from European and global fisheries

The reduction of discards in European fisheries has been identified as a specific objective of the reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy. To reduce the uncertainty in catch data and the socially unacceptable waste of resources that results from the disposal of catch at sea, a policy to ban discards has been proposed. Discard bans are currently implemented in Alaska, British Columbia, New Zealand, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Iceland. Experience from these countries highlights that a policy of mandatory landings can result in a reduction in discards, but relies upon a high level of surveillance or economic incentives to encourage fishers to land more of their catch. Discard bans will also not result in long term benefits to stocks unless total removals are reduced, through the avoidance of undersized, non-commercial or over quota catch. Experience shows that additional management measures are required to incentivise such a move towards more selective fishing. Success has resulted from the use of area closures and bycatch limits, with potential applications in EU fisheries. However, selective fishing will not be a panacea for the current state of European fisheries; discard bans and accompanying measures must be embedded in a wider management system that constrains fishing mortality to reasonable levels before sustainable exploitation can occur.     

不同环境因子权重对东海鲐鱼栖息地模型的影响研究

鲐鱼（Scomber japonicus）是栖息在西太平洋沿岸的中上层鱼类,了解其栖息地分布及其与海洋环境因子的关系有助于合理开发和管理该资源。本文根据2003-2011年7-9月中国东海鲐鱼的生产数据,采用正态分布函数分别构建海表面温度（sea surface temperature,SST）、海表温梯度（gradient of sea surface temperature,GSST）和海表面高度（sea surface height,SSH）与作业次数的适应性指数（suitability index,SI）,基于不同权重的算术平均法（arithmetic weighted model,AWM）分别建立栖息地指数（habitat suitability index,HSI）模型,并用2012年7-9月生产数据进行验证。结果显示,7、8、9月各月最佳HSI模型的SST、STG和SSH的权重分别为0.5、0.25、0.25,0.8、0.1、0.1和0、1.0、0,利用2012年7-9月生产数据与环境数据对各月份最佳权重HSI模型进行验证,在HSI>0.6的海域,7、8、9月各月作业次数比重和产量比重分别为85.87%和92.55%,76.74%和86.69%,51.83%和56.11%。研究表明,不同月份的环境因子对鲐鱼渔场分布的影响程度不同,本研究为更好地预测鲐鱼栖息地奠定了基础。     

表层水温结构变化对东南太平洋秘鲁鳀渔场的影响

秘鲁鳀（Engraulis ringens）是栖息于东南太平洋沿岸的小型中上层鱼类,掌握其渔场变化及其与海洋环境因子的关系有利于企业把握该渔业的生产情况。研究结合2005-2014年渔汛期间秘鲁各港口出港的船数及其所获得的秘鲁鳀渔获量和表层水温数据（海表面温度,sea surface temperature,SST）,以单位捕捞努力量的渔获量（catch per unit effort,CPUE）和捕捞努力量（Effort）数据构建的渔场指数（fishing ground index,FGI）为渔场指标,对秘鲁鳀的渔场类型进行分类,探讨水温结构变化对秘鲁鳀渔场的影响。方差分析表明:渔场指数在不同渔汛阶段（渔汛前期、中期和末期,P<0.01）和不同捕捞区域（北部、中部和南部,P<0.01）都有着极显著的差异。以表层水温大于20℃的海水是否入侵到近岸为标志,可以将秘鲁鳀渔场分成两种类型:大于20℃的海水没有入侵到沿岸（A型渔场）和入侵到沿岸（B型渔场）。研究表明,在渔汛前期和中期阶段,A型渔场的出现有利于渔场的形成,其中渔汛前期沿岸19℃或20℃等温线的出现以及渔汛中期沿岸18℃或19℃等温线的出现可以作为中心渔场形成的指标。     

Transferable quotas,efficiency and crew ownership in Whalsay,Shetland

The resource economic theory tells us that individual transferable quotas (ITQs) improve efficiency in the fishing industry by removing the least efficient actors from a fishery and allowing ownership to concentrate in the hands of the most efficient operators. Assertions about the nature of this allocative efficiency are, however, often based on purely theoretical assumptions. This paper presents a case study of the efficient operators remaining in the UK pelagic fishing fleet. After over 30 years of rights-based management (RBM) and 12 years of ITQs, the UK pelagic fleet numbers only 31 large-scale boats. Seven of these operate from the island of Whalsay in Shetland, which, with a population of approximately 1000 people (0.000016% of the population of the UK), is entitled to land around 22% of the UK pelagic catch. A key characteristic of the economically efficient Whalsay fleet is a crew ownership structure. This is now under threat from the long-term dynamics of the UK's ITQ system, as the high price of quota prevents the renewal of the fishery through new entrants. In the majority of global fisheries, where vessel ownership structures do not follow an assumed economic norm, fully marketised transferable rights may not be the most efficient method of management.