Age and growth of narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson in the coastal waters of southern Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson is one of the most important linefish species caught in KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique waters, forming the basis of important commercial, artisanal and recreational fisheries. A total of 439 S. commerson were sampled along the east coast of southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and southern Mozambique) between April 2011 and March 2012. Retrospective length-at-age data observed from whole otoliths were used to compare and describe sex-specific growth. Growth rates obtained from otolith-derived data were compared with those estimated from 29 tag-recaptured fish. Overall, ages ranged from 0.48 to 14.6 years for females and 0.4 to 13.57 years for males. Otolith readings yielded an average percent error of 11.21%, lower than recorded in a previous study from the region. Marginal zone analysis provided strong evidence that one translucent and one opaque growth zone were laid down annually. Schnute growth-function parameters indicated significant differences in growth between sexes. Females approached their mean asymptotic length at a faster rate, and grew to a greater mean length-at-age, relative to males. Growth in both sexes was rapid, achieving 67.46 cm FL (females) and 65.4 cm FL (males) in their first year of life. Growth rates obtained from tag-recaptured S. commerson indicated slower growth for smaller/younger fish up until 70 cm FL after which growth was very similar to that observed from otolith-derived data. The results of this study provide accurate, validated life-history parameters for king mackerel that are important for the assessment of stock status in the region.     

自然死亡和亲体补充关系对黄鳍金枪鱼资源评估的影响

黄鳍金枪鱼（Thunnus albacares）是全球经济和生态价值最重要的鱼类之一,其资源养护和管理受到各方的高度关注。本文依据年龄结构产量模型研究了印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼的资源状态,着重探讨了其生活史特征的不确定性对资源评估结果的影响。研究结果显示,1960−1985年间印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼资源量保持相对稳定,之后开始逐渐下降,相应的捕捞死亡系数也在2010年之后迅速增加,目前其种群可能存在过度捕捞（F₂₀₂₀/F_MSY>1,SSB₂₀₂₀/SSB_MSY<1）。印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼的资源评估结果对自然死亡系数（M）和亲体−补充量关系陡度参数（h）的改变较为敏感。当h增大时,SSB_MSY和初始SSB（即SSB₀）的变化较大,分别减少了约25.53万t和34.04万t;F₂₀₂₀/F_MSY减小了1.15。当M增大时,F₂₀₂₀/F_MSY、SSB_MSY、SSB₀均减小。综上所述,今后应重视印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼资源的开发程度,重视其资源养护管理,同时充分了解黄鳍金枪鱼的生活史特征,提高自然死亡系数和陡度参数估算的准确性,以期为印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼的资源评估和渔业管理提供更准确的信息,实现该渔业的长期可持续发展。     

Reproductive biology of the mackerel scad Decapterus macarellus from Cabo Verde and the implications for its fishery management

The mackerel scad Decapterus macarellus is of great social and economic importance to Cabo Verde citizens; however, in recent years catches have shown an unexplained decline. The harvest is regulated by way of a minimum legal size and a seasonal closure, with both measures based on the results of reproductive studies that did not consider the microscopic characteristics of the gonads. This study aimed to analyse the gonads microscopically in order to classify the sexual development stage of individuals and to estimate the size at first maturity and the reproductive season. This information was then used to analyse the match between the reproductive parameters and the management measures. The samples comprised 284 females (20–36 cm fork length [FL]) and 85 males (21–35 cm FL). The annual variation in gonadosomatic index and the monthly frequencies of mature phases suggest that the reproductive season occurs from March to October, with two spawning peaks, one in March and another from July to October. The current seasonal closure (from July to September) covers the main reproductive period. However, the species has a long spawning period and the timing of peaks can vary between years; hence, a reassessment of this management measure is recommended. The sizes at first maturity were estimated at 24.1 cm FL for females, and 26.6 cm FL for males. These values are higher than the minimum legal size (20 cm FL) currently established for management of the species at Cabo Verde; thus, we strongly recommend an increase in the minimum legal size in an attempt to reduce catches of immature individuals.     

Age and growth of Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi (Pisces: Sparidae) in the Eastern Cape,South Africa

Rhabdosargus holubi is a small (maximum weight=2.4?kg) yet important fishery species in the estuaries of the south-east coast of South Africa. Little is known of its biology and specifically its growth rate, which is essential for sustainable management of the fishery. We examined and counted the opaque zones in the sectioned otoliths of 134 R. holubi to determine its age and growth parameters. The otoliths from two recaptured fish marked with oxytetracycline confirmed that one opaque zone was deposited annually. The species reached a maximum age of 18 years and growth was adequately described by a von Bertalanffy growth function of the form: L_t = 358.1 (1 – e^{?0.24(t+0.77)}) mm fork length. There were no significant differences between any of the male and female growth parameters (likelihood ratio test: p = 0.3). The growth was slow (omega index: ω = 86.56); however, despite this, the unique life history of R. holubi may provide a degree of resilience to heavy fishing pressure in estuaries.     

Cladocora caespitosa bioconstructions in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (Spain,NW Mediterranean): distribution,size structure and growth

Today, living banks of the coral Cladocora caespitosa appear to be restricted to a few Mediterranean locations and are threatened by the escalating impacts affecting coastal areas. In this study the exceptional occurrence of the Mediterranean coral C. caespitosa in the Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve (NW Mediterranean, Spain) is characterised in terms of spatial distribution, cover area, colony size and growth rates. The coral colonies form beds and banks in rocky bottoms within a semi‐enclosed bay that offers both hydrodynamic protection and high water exchange. The spatial distribution of the C. caespitosa colonies, from 5 to 27 m depth, is highly aggregated, depending on sea‐floor morphology and showing up to 80% of substrate coverage. The annual corallite growth rates obtained through the alizarin red staining method and x‐ray image analysis are similar, and range between 2.55 ± 0.79 mm and 2.54 ± 0.81 mm, respectively. The exceptional nature of these bioconstructions is due to their cumulative cover area, which is comparable in size to the largest C. caespitosa bioconstructions described to date in Mljet National Park (Croatia, Adriatic Sea).     

自然死亡率变化对黄海蓝点马鲛渔业管理的影响

传统的渔业资源评估方法对数据有一定的要求,而现有的许多渔业缺乏相关数据,造成了渔业评估和管理上的障碍。特别是自然死亡率,由于观测和计算的困难,研究中一般通过经验公式等方法进行假话,而不同来源的数据和估算方法的结果存在较大差异,可能导致在渔业资源评估和管理中很大的不确定性。本研究以蓝点马鲛（Scomberomorus niphonius）为例,利用MSE比较了22种基于有限数据的渔业管理规程（MP）,筛选出DCAC、SPMSY、curE75、minlenLopt1 4种对于M不确定性较为稳健的的管理方法,并针对不同年代的自然死亡率以及通过不同计算方法得出的自然死亡率对这4种MP进行了管理策略评价。结果表明：M自1980s至今的不同年代间有显著降低趋势,该变化对MP管理效果产生了较强影响。随着M降低,种群B>0.5BMSY的概率显著上升,而过度捕捞可能性在不同MP间有方向性的差异。M变化对对curE75、minlenLopt1的长期产量的影响较小,而对DCAC、SPMSY的AAVY<15%的可能性变化较大,即降低产量的波动。不同M估算方法的估计值相差不大,对MP管理影响不明显。综合结果来看,Cur75受自然死亡率不确定性影响较小,对于渔业资源的开发和保护两个方面有着最好的权衡,最适用于我国蓝点马鲛渔业的管理。     

Estimates on age,growth,and mortality of Gymnocypris firmispinatus(Cyprinidae: Schizothoracinae) in the Anning River,China

The age, growth, and mortality of Gymnocypris firmispinatus were studied by 582 individuals that collected between July 2015 and June 2016 from the tributaries of the Anning River, China. The total length (TL) ranged from 27 mm to 242 mm, total weight (W) ranged from 0.2 g to 148.2 g. The relationship of total length and weight was expressed as W =7.754×10^-6 TL^ 3.304 for the total samples. The age classes of males were 1–9 a, and that of females were 1–13 a. The von Bertalanff y functions based on otolith readings and observed length data were L t ♂=198.6(1–e^-0.094 ( t +3.497)), and L t ♀=289.3(1–e^-0.089 ( t +1.109)). The total mortality ( Z ) of male and female G . firmispinatus was estimated as 0.73/a and 0.40/a, respectively. The natural mortality ( M ) was evaluated as 0.25/a for males and 0.20/a for females, fishing mortality ( F ) was 0.35/a for males and 0.16/a for females. The exploitation ratio of the population was 0.66/a for males and 0.50/a for females. It was concluded that the growth of the fish is relatively slower than other congeneric fishes. The population of G . firmispinatus in the tributaries of the Anning River might be in over-exploitation under the current fishing intensity.     

Age and growth of bluenose,Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Pisces: Stromateoidei) from the lower east coast,North Island,New Zealand

Growth of the bluenose, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) from the lower east coast, North Island, was determined by counting growth check rings in otoliths. One growth check ring appeared to be laid down each year, so this technique is probably valid for aging bluenose. Female fish had a significantly higher growth rate than males. Comparisons of samples from three sites indicated no significant regional differences in growth. The von Bertalanffy parameters L8,K, and t0 fitted to back‐calculated fish lengths were, respectively, 81.1 cm, 0.308, ‐0.627 for males, and 86.1 cm, 0.308, ‐0.384 for females.