Overview,roles, and performance of the North East Atlantic fisheries commission (NEAFC)

According to the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA), straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks are to be managed by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs), consisting of coastal states and relevant Distant Water Fishing Nations (DWFNs). In the North East Atlantic there are several straddling stocks, including herring, mackerel, blue whiting, redfish and numerous deep sea stocks that are exploited both within coastal states’ 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zones and on the high seas. Management of such stocks poses special management problems. In this area, the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) represents the relevant RFMO. So far the literature has devoted little attention to RFMOs in general and to NEAFC in particular. The purpose of this report is, first, to provide an overview of the organisation, structure, and objectives of NEAFC and, second, to consider its performance with regard to resource management.     

红鳍笛鲷亲鱼培育及产卵技术研究

采用控温、营养强化的方法培育红鳍笛鲷(Lutjanuserythropterus)亲鱼 ,并结合激素诱导使其在1周年内每个月不间断产卵。实验亲鱼454尾 ,培育成活率为96% ,共采卵147150×104粒 ,平均每尾雌鱼年产卵量为541.0×104粒 ,人工催产卵的受精率为40 %～86.2 % ,自然产卵的受精率为68.3%～91.2%。     

Comparative study of haematological, serum electrolyte and nonelectrolyte parameters of male and female Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) brood stocks

Sturgeons are the most important principal market species in the Caspian Sea. In the present study, measurement of blood parameters was carried out with the aim of evaluating the normal value of hematological and serum biochemical parameters of brood stocks Acipenser persicus during spawning season. Blood samples were collected from 36 brood stocks of A. persicus (18 males and 18 females) during the spawning season. Higher value of red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin, haematocrit was observed in male breeders with significant differences between female breeders (p>0.05). Haemoglobin and haematocrit value in this study was within the range of 8.70 to 9.2 g/dL and 29.73% to 30.26%, respectively. The statistically significant differences between mean corpuscular volumes, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, lymphocyte and neutrophil percentages, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase were observed in the male and female brood stocks. It is concluded from this study, some of the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of male and female A. persicus breeders were significantly varied from each other. In comparative investigation with earlier reports, the values of red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit are highly varied due to age variations of fish. However, further studies are necessary to understand the impact of sexual, age, size, length, and season and habitat variation. Serum biochemical parameters can be used for confirming the maturity of A. persicus and monitoring any changes in the water quality parameters and soil.     

The Detritic Compartment in a Posidonia oceanica Meadow: Litter Features, Decomposition Rates, and Mineral Stocks

Abstract. The ecosystem associated to the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica shows a clear distinction in two subcompartments regarding turnover time: aboveground and belowground. Aboveground parts (leaves) are highly dynamic, and most of the leaf material is decomposed or exported in less than one year, representing a net loss of nutrients. In contrast, belowground biomass (roots and rhizomes) has a turnover time of the order of centuries, with a consequent accumulation of organic matter in the sediment. The accumulation rates for the single elements rank in the order C > N > P. This ecosystem may be considered as a sink for biogenic elements.     

山东近海牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)自然和养殖群体10个微卫星基因座位的遗传多态性分析

采用微卫星遗传标记技术对山东近海牙鲆自然群体和养殖群体的遗传多样性进行了研究。实验所用牙鲆于2003年5月分别采自山东近海和青岛胶南养鱼场，各20尾，取全血或肌肉组织，以酚-仿抽提方法提取基因组DNA，利用筛选获得的10对微卫星引物进行PCR扩增，反应产物经8％非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离、EB显色，用ImageMasterl D Elite(Version 3．01)软件分析电泳结果，并计算了相应的遗传学参数。结果表明，在自然和养殖群体中，10个基因座位的等位基因平均数(α)分别为6．7和6．1，每个基因座位有效等位基因数(αe)分别为1．8—6．8和2．5—6．7，群体平均杂合度(H)分别为0．8120和0．7310；两个群体间的遗传相似性系数、遗传距离和基因分化系数为0．8558、0．1557和0．0558；自然群体内每个座位上的多态信息含量(PIC)为0．59—0．84、个体识别率(DP)为0．54—0．86、非父排除率(PPE)为0．41—0．72，其累积个体识别率和非父排除率均达到0．9999，表明所选座位属中高识别力的遗传标记，可以将它们应用于今后牙鲆雌核发育群体的遗传变异分析以及进一步的遗传育种的研究中。     

Fish catch data: Less than what meets the eye

A recent opinion piece published in Nature summarises the differing views held by Pauly on the one hand, and by Hilborn and Branch on the other, regarding the challenge faced by fishery scientists in accurately determining the status of the world's fisheries. Both commentaries discuss whether the fisheries catch data published by FAO can by themselves be used to infer fishery status. The purpose of this short communication is to examine both views and to propose additional solutions to contribute to the understanding of fishery status globally. These may include expanding data-poor stock assessment methods as well as community-based data collection and monitoring programs, particularly in developing countries.     

山东近海褐牙鲆自然与养殖群体生化遗传结构及其遗传变异的比较分析

山东近海褐牙鲆自然群体活样本共 79尾 ,分别于 1 996年 5月、1 997年 1月和 1 998年 4月采自青岛近海 ;养殖群体活样本 5 2尾于 1 997年 1 2月采自山东荣成寻山养鱼场。采用水平淀粉胶和垂直聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳方法及 3种缓冲系统 (TC、EBT和TG)分别对自然和养殖群体的 1 5种同工酶进行生化遗传分析。结果表明 ,山东近海牙鲆自然群体的多态基因座位比例 ( 31 .0 % )和群体平均杂合度 ( 0 .0 80 2 )都明显高于养殖群体 ( 2 4 .1 % ,0 .0 788) ;在自然群体的 9个多态基因座位、养殖群体的 7个多态基因座位中 ,除了Cat(P <0 .0 5 )和Idhp - 1(P <0 .0 5 ,养殖群体中 )有显著差异、Ldh -C(P <0 .0 1 )完全偏离Hardy -Weinberg定律外 ,其余多态座位基因频率均符合Hardy-Weinberg遗传平衡定律     

Managing fishing capacity in tuna regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs): Development and state of the art

Overcapacity is a major threat to the sustainability of tuna resources. Diverse actions are being carried out by tuna RFMOs to counteract this problem. This paper reviews and analyses both the historical development of fishing capacity management in tuna RFMOs and their state of the art practices. Despite the fact, that thus far, management measures have not yielded the expected results for capacity reduction, they provide a good basis for improved management of capacity at regional and global levels.     

Submerged vegetation of the Rotorua and Waikato lakes

Five plant communities in Lake Rotoiti, North Island, New Zealand (38° 02’ S, 176° 24’ E) are described. In shallow water (0–2 m depth) partly protected from the prevailing westerly winds, some indigenous species form characteristic mounds. From 2 to 6 m depth the exotic macrophyte Lagarosiphon major (Ridley) Moss is the dominant and forms dense beds which appear to have completely replaced any native vegetation. Elodea canadensis Michx., a longer‐established exotic, may form a minor component of this zone, but may become the dominant species in water above and below the Lagarosiphon zone. Lagarosiphon appears to be primarily restricted to silty sand, but on pure silt areas it is replaced by Elodea and/or Nitella hookeri A. Braun. These zonations are probably static rather than successional. On underwater cliff faces and boulder shores a seasonal succession of algae was the major vegetation. Only filamentous cyanophytes grew within 1–2m of geothermal springs in the lake.     

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.     

Cheating about the cod

The Northeast Arctic cod is managed by a total quota shared evenly between Norway and Russia. It appears that Russia has been overfishing its quota by substantial amounts for a number of years, due to insufficient monitoring of fishing vessels. This paper considers what would be the best reply by Norway to given levels of Russian overfishing. It is found that in most cases the best Norwegian reply would be also to overfish its quota. An aggregate biomass model with stochastic growth and recruitment is used to analyze this question, with parameters estimated from 1946 to 2005 data. Recruitment is serially correlated but apparently independent of the spawning stock. A model using the estimated serial correlation in recruitment and a random disturbance is capable of reproducing recruitment patterns similar to the irregular pattern observed since 1946.     

Juvenile slender tuna from New Zealand (note)

Two juvenile slender tuna Allothunnus fallai Serventy, 278 mm and 282 mm fork length, were identified from a catch by a purse seiner 23 km off the Moko Hinau Islands, New Zealand, on 23 January 1974. As the slender tuna were observed to school in association with skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis L., it is probable that adults also school, and could be available as a yet unexploited resource to New Zealand fishermen, especially to the south‐east of New Zealand.     

Rethinking the principle of abstention: the North Pacific and beyond

While the principle of abstention was established as part of the International North Pacific Fishery Convention in 1952, it was generally overlooked for several decades afterwards. The 1995 Straddling Stocks Agreement says that states parties to the Agreement enjoy a right to access to high seas fishery resources, but on the condition that they respect existing regional conservation and management measures. This Agreement also introduces the concept of a precautionary approach. The end result is that the 1995 Agreement fulfilled the same intent of the original 1952 principle of abstention—that is, it places some kinds of restrictions on high seas fishing. The degree of restrictions depends on the activities and policies of new regional fishery organizations like WCPFC and so on. Even if the new version of the principle of abstention succeeds in excluding distant fishing states from high seas, it will do little to solve the larger problems facing today's ocean fishery resources.     

An overview of the ecosystems of the Barents and Norwegian Seas and their response to climate variability

The principal features of the marine ecosystems in the Barents and Norwegian Seas and some of their responses to climate variations are described. The physical oceanography is dominated by the influx of warm, high-salinity Atlantic Waters from the south and cold, low-salinity waters from the Arctic. Seasonal ice forms in the Barents Sea with maximum coverage typically in March–April. The total mean annual primary production rates are similar in the Barents and Norwegian Seas (80–90 g C m⁻²), although in the Barents, the production is higher in the Atlantic than in the ice covered Arctic Waters. The zooplankton is dominated by Calanus species, C. finmarchicus in the Atlantic Waters of the Norwegian and Barents Seas, and C. glacialis in the Arctic Waters of the Barents Sea. The fish species in the Norwegian Sea are mostly pelagics such as herring (Clupea harengus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), while in the Barents Sea there are both pelagics (capelin (Mallotus villosus Müller), herring, and polar cod (Boreogadus saida Lepechin)) and demersals (cod (Gadus morhua L.) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)). The latter two species spawn in the Norwegian Sea along the slope edge (haddock) or along the coast (cod) and drift into the Barents Sea. Marine mammals and seabirds, although comprising only a relatively small percentage of the biomass and production in the region, play an important role as consumers of zooplankton and small fish. While top-down control by predators certainly is significant within the two regions, there is also ample evidence of bottom-up control. Climate variability influences the distribution of several fish species, such as cod, herring and blue whiting, with northward shifts during extended warm periods and southward movements during cool periods. Climate-driven increases in primary and secondary production also lead to increased fish production through higher abundance and improved growth rates.