Growth of Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis off South Africa

Recent studies have provided evidence that the Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachwus capensis in South African waters is a unit stock. Therefore, an age and growth study of the entire stock throughout its distributional range was undertaken in 1988/89. Growth is described by the equation

L_t = 487,989 (1 – e^{?0.556(t – 0,229)}) mm.     

Reproductive biology of horse mackerel Trachurus capensis and Trachurus trecae in Namibia and Angola

Harvest control measures for Namibia and Angola are defined using reference points for spawning biomass, which requires knowledge of spawning potential and dynamics of fishery stocks. The reproductive biology of two species of horse mackerel, Trachurus capensis and Trachurus trecae, in these waters was investigated for spawning distribution in time and space. Samples were collected during two scientific cruises conducted in February and July/August 2007 off the coast of Namibia and Angola. A total of 396 fish ovaries was examined to determine the spawning dynamics of the two species. The ovaries were histologically analysed and their oocyte distributions mapped. The length (TL)–weight relationships of the two species differed significantly. The observed development of oocyte recruitment and absence of a hiatus in the oocyte distribution indicated that these species are indeterminate spawners. Analyses of the data from the NatMIRC database (2001–2004) indicated annual changes in gonadosomatic index (GSI) for T. capensis at different latitudes, but these changes were small. GSI also fluctuated between years and areas, but there were no clear spatial or temporal trends, with averages ≤4.0% at all stations. The GSI of both species was not indicative of the histologically determined development of gonad maturity. Oocyte maturation for T. capensis indicated that smaller and younger fish spawn first. Batch fecundity (F) for T. trecae was best described by F = 4 986 TL (cm) – 99 645 (r ² = 0.83). This study provided the first analyses of oocyte development in time and space for the two species in the region.     

Population genetic studies of horse mackerel Trachurus trecae and Trachurus trachurus capensis off Angola

Genetic variability of the Kunene horse mackerel Trachurus trecae and the Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis was examined using starch gel electrophoresis of enzymatic proteins on individuals collected along the Angolan coast. Six polymorphic enzyme loci were found in both species. The idh-2* locus displayed differences between the two species, and several alleles at different loci exhibited different allele frequencies between the two species, indicating that they are genetically different. Significant differences found in the distribution of allele frequencies between Kunene horse mackerel from the Benguela region of Angola indicated that this species consist of more than one randomly mating population in Angolan waters.     

Distribution patterns,stock size and life-history strategies of Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis,based on bottom trawl and acoustic surveys

Research surveys of Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis abundance on the south coast of South Africa are complicated because changes in the species' vertical and horizontal distribution limit the value of stock assessments based a single survey method. Annual bottom trawl surveys conducted in spring provide estimates of the abundance of fish close to the bottom over trawlable grounds. Between 1991 and 1994, hydroacoustic surveys conducted in spring have been used to estimate the pelagic portion of the stock, as well as the portion over untrawlable grounds. These two research datasets, as well as data from purse-seine, mid water and bottom trawl commercial landings, are reviewed to elucidate distribution patterns of horse mackerel and their migratory and spawning strategies. The problems and advantages of bottom trawl and acoustic surveys are discussed in the context of fluctuations in estimates of the size of the stock between 1991 and 1994 and the prevailing environmental conditions. It is concluded that combined acoustic and bottom trawl surveys are the only effective means of surveying horse mackerel, and that effort should be concentrated east of 22°E to assess the spawner stock. It is suggested that research effort directed at improving understanding of exchanges between West Coast (including Namibia) and South Coast population of horse mackerel, as well as of the role of vertical migrations in modulating these exchanges, would be beneficial.     

Vertical migration,catchability and acoustic assessment of semi-pelagic Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis in the southern Benguela

The vertical distribution and migration of the Cape horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus capensis were investigated on the basis of midwater and bottom trawl collections taken over diel cycles at two sites on South Africa's south coast. Attempts were also made to investigate the relationship between bottom trawl catch rates and acoustic abundance estimates. During the first cycle, horse mackerel were dispersed in midwater during the night, and towards sunrise they coalesced into schools and migrated to the seabed where they remained throughout the day. During that cycle, horse mackerel did not appear to feed, despite the prevalence of potential food, mainly Calanus copepods and euphausiid larvae, in the water column. In contrast, during the second cycle, horse mackerel remained near the seabed during the 24-h experiment, but they exhibited a marked feeding periodicity, with most feeding taking place in the late afternoon. They appeared to select for larger copepods in the water column. Several reasons are advanced to explain the difference in the vertical migratory behaviour of horse mackerel between the two sites, on the basis of the vertical distribution of their potential prey. Diel differences in acoustic estimates of horse mackerel abundance were significantly reduced after applying an acoustic deadzone correction factor. Trawl catches, however, could not be reconciled with acoustic estimates during the day, when horse mackerel were too close to the bottom for effective echo-integration.     

Analysis of bycatch in the South African midwater trawl fishery for horse mackerel Trachurus capensis based on observer data

The South African midwater trawl fishery targets adult horse mackerel Trachurus capensis. The bulk of the catch is taken by a single freezer-trawler, the biggest fishing vessel operating in South African waters. As fishing takes place off the south coast in ecologically sensitive areas, there are concerns about the potential impacts of this fishing operation on non-target species. Fishing behaviour and bycatch of this fishery from 2004 to 2014 were investigated by analysing observer records with regard to catch composition, volume and temporal and spatial patterns. The midwater trawl fishery was estimated to have caught 25 415 tonnes annually, with a bycatch of 6.9% of the total catch, by weight. There are species overlaps with various fisheries, namely the demersal trawl, small-pelagic, line, shark longline and squid fisheries, yet the total bycatch estimates from this fishery are generally small relative to catches taken in the target fisheries. Bycatch species with the highest average annual catches were chub mackerel Scomber japonicus, redeye roundherring Etrumeus whiteheadi, ribbonfish Lepidopus caudatus and hake Merluccius spp. Large-fauna bycatch species included sunfish Mola mola as well as a number of CITES II- and IUCN-listed species, such as Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus, dusky shark Carcharhinus obscurus, smooth hammerhead shark Sphyrna zygaena and thresher sharks Alopias spp. The 97.9% observer coverage is high and the 6.9% bycatch rate low compared to other South African fisheries; however, due to the large size of the individual hauls (average of 46.3 t), the average sampling rate of 1.56% is low. Our analyses suggest that bycatch in the South African midwater trawl fishery has been lower than in other South African fisheries and similar fisheries elsewhere, but due to the combination of high catch volumes and low sampling rates, estimation errors for rare species are high and there is a substantial risk of incidental unmonitored bycatch of rare large fauna and aggregations of small fauna. This could be mitigated by spatio-temporal management of this fishery, to avoid fishing in high-risk areas, and the introduction of an electronic monitoring programme.     

New age-determination method based on fast growth rate of Cape hake Merluccius capensis in Namibia

Namibia’s most important commercial fisheries resource, the shallow-water Cape hake Merluccius capensis, is currently assessed using statistical catch-at-age analysis. Age data obtained from otoliths constitute an important data component of this model. Recent age-validation studies of M. capensis showed that growth was previously underestimated. We investigated this new fast-growth hypothesis (FGH) by using measurements and counts of translucent zones (T1 to T14, from otolith core to edge) on two survey otolith samples covering the entire range of fish lengths. We compared three hypotheses of periodicity of otolith zone formation and show that, if all zones are counted, T2 (at 9.0 mm otolith length), T5, T8, T11 and T14 are most likely to be annuli. A conversion from the slow-growth-hypothesis (SGH, currently used) age data was calculated as: FGH age group = round (0.41[SGH age group] + 0.25), and this formula should be applied to compute and test updated catch-at-age data in a future hake stock assessment. Additional adjustment for the hake stock assessment following the FGH, such as the timing of recruitment in winter and catches in summer, should be considered in future assessments.     

Diel effects on bottom-trawl survey catch rates of shallow- and deep-water Cape hakes Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus off Namibia,using solar zenith angle

Diel patterns in survey trawl catches for the Cape hakes Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus off Namibia were studied in order to examine the effect of diel bias on catchability, and its implication for survey abundance estimation and the consistency of the survey time-series. Catch rates (numbers per haul) by species and length from summer demersal biomass surveys conducted during the period 2002–2013 were used, together with a computation of the corresponding light-level data from which the solar zenith angles were obtained. Generalised additive models were fitted to assess the relationship between the catches and a number of explanatory variables. Significant covariates were zenith angle, depth and geographical position. The final models explained 78% and 59% of the variability in catch rates of M. capensis and M. paradoxus, respectively. For M. capensis, the response to zenith angle increased sharply for values above 100°, which represents the time between sunset and sunrise. For M. paradoxus there was a moderate increase in the response to zenith angle during the night. In cases where some fishing took place at night in shallow water, the survey results for M. capensis were more greatly affected than was the case for M. paradoxus, which is related to the different depth preference of the two species. Fishing in depths shallower than 400?m outside daylight hours should therefore be avoided in order to reduce bias and ensure consistency in abundance estimates from surveys.     

基于线粒体控制区的中国近海竹荚鱼种群遗传结构和种群历史动态分析

竹荚鱼(Trachurus japonicus)是中国近海主捕鱼种之一, 在海洋食物网中扮演了重要角色, 然而环境污染和过度捕捞导致其出现种群数量衰退以及个体趋于小型化等现象。为了解中国近海竹荚鱼的种群遗传格局, 文章以线粒体DNA控制区为遗传标记研究了东海大陆架、福建近海和南海北部湾竹荚鱼群体的遗传结构以及种群历史动态。结果表明, 中国近海竹荚鱼整体呈现高单倍型多态性(H_d=0.998±0.001)和高核苷酸多态性(π=0.01259±0.00041)的遗传多样性特征。单倍型网络图呈现为星形辐射状的单一谱系, 利用最大似然法构建的系统进化树也未发现谱系分化。不同海区地理群体的分子方差分析显示东海群体和南海北部湾群体间无遗传分化, 遗传变异主要来源于群体内部(99.39%)。中性检验和核苷酸歧点分布分析结果暗示各海区竹荚鱼群体(东海、南海北部湾)以及整个群体均经历过近期的种群扩张。中国近海竹荚鱼群体呈现为遗传均匀的种群结构, 可以作为一个单一的种群加以管理, 人类高强度捕捞压力尚未影响其种群恢复潜力。     

基于地统计学南海北部近海竹荚鱼空间分布特征

竹荚鱼(Trachurus japonicus)是我国南海北部近海主要渔获物之一。根据2014—2017年对南海北部开展的8个航次近海渔业资源和环境调查数据, 采用地统计学方法分析竹荚鱼时空分布特征和相关生态动力过程。结果表明, 竹荚鱼总体布局以低密度为主, 高密度海域较少, 季节性集聚特征明显, 依次为夏季>春季>秋季>冬季。竹荚鱼空间分布具有极强的空间异质性, 空间结构性比例均在75%以上, 变异模型以高斯模型为主, 空间相关距离(变程)大约在0.52°左右, 且季节性特征明显。对地统计参数值和单位捕捞努力量(catch per unit effort, CPUE)的相关关系研究发现, 竹荚鱼资源密度越大, 空间异质性特征越明显。通过统计各向分维值分析竹荚鱼各向异质性特征, 发现西北—东南向的空间异质性较为显著, 表明该方向的海洋动力过程将对竹荚鱼洄游分布产生重要影响。此外, 基于克里格插值分析, 发现竹荚鱼呈西南—东北向洄游分布规律, 空间布局呈片状和斑块状, 且易受极端气候(厄尔尼诺和拉尼娜等事件)影响。