International fisheries agreement: Review of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas: Case study—Shark management

To properly manage world fisheries, especially highly migratory species, there are numerous treaties that have been implemented by specialized international fishery commissions. One of the oldest organizations is the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The main focus of this review was to summarize the history, roles and responsibilities of ICCAT, and to evaluate ICCAT's management of sharks in general and specifically for shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) shark. This review found that the Convention was established 40 years ago, but it was not until 2004 that the commission conducted its first population assessment on pelagic sharks.     

东海大陆架海域经济蟹类种类组成和数量分布

根据1998年5月、8月、11月和1999年2月东海区虾蟹类资源调查结果,用重量资源密度作为经济蟹类数量分布的数量指标,对东海区经济蟹类的种类组成、数量分布、季节变化趋势以及数量与环境的关系作了定量分析。结果表明,在东海调查海区,经济蟹类主要有细点圆趾蟹Ovalipes punctatus、三疣梭子蟹Portunus trituberculatus、日本蟳Charybdis japonica、锈斑蟳Charybdis feriatus、武士蟳Charybdis miles、光掌蟳Charybdis riversandersoni和红星梭子蟹Portunus sanguinolentus等。经济蟹类渔获量约占蟹类总渔获量的62.8%,渔获量的季节变化明显,年间有二个汛期,一个出现在春夏季,以细点圆趾蟹为主要捕捞对象,兼捕光掌蟳、日本蟳等,渔场的主体分布在东海北部近海,渔场范围较小,蟹群集中,是捕捞生产条件较为理想的渔场;另一个出现在秋冬季,以三疣梭子蟹为主要捕捞对象,兼捕武士蟳、日本蟳、锈斑蟳、红星梭子蟹等。高生物量分布区主要出现在长江口、大沙、舟山渔场20—60m水深海域,是东海三疣梭子蟹和日本蟳的主要渔场,该渔场也是捕捞条件较为理想的渔场。在长江口以南的东海南部海域也有经济蟹类的较高生物量分布区,是武士蟳和锈斑蟳的渔场,该渔场具有范围较大,蟹群较分散的特征,所捕捞的品种往往只能作为兼捕对象。     

闽南-台湾浅滩渔场鲐鲹鱼类群聚资源生产量和允许总渔获量

以海洋生态系营养动力学为基础 ,采用Steele模式估算闽南 台湾浅滩渔场中上层鱼类资源年生产量为 86 4.6 3kt,进而以鲐鱼参鱼类群聚资源在中上层鱼类资源的比例 ,估算鲐鱼参鱼类群聚资源的年生产量为 5 1 9.5 6kt。Gulland和MSY简单模式估算鲐鱼参鱼类群聚资源的最大持续产量分别为 2 5 0 .5 7kt和 2 5 9.78kt。Schae fer和Fox剩余产量模式估算鲐鱼参鱼类群聚资源的最大持续产量分别 2 36 .0kt和2 34.1kt,最大持续捕捞力量分别为 1 1 40 4.1和 1 2 6 6 6 .6MW·d ,折算为福建灯光围网渔船分别为 42 4和 471组 ,并从开发现状和种群生态学及捕捞死亡等参数分析鲐鱼参鱼类群聚资源的开发前景。     

Interdecadal variability of anchoveta abundance and overcapacity of the fishery in Peru

Paleontological and historical stock abundance estimates indicate that pelagic fish populations inhabiting upwelling ecosystems undergo large interdecadal variations in abundance with amplitudes equal to, if not larger than, the interannual variability. The interdecadal variability is characterized by periods of high and low abundance, termed “pseudo-cycles”, because of their irregular periodicity. Fisheries targeting small pelagic fish suffer from overall overcapitalization, like many other fisheries, but also from an additional overcapitalization problem: a phase displacement between rapid fish population decreases and a slower disinvestment which follows. This lag produces economic hardship.Here we document the fish:fishery relationship for the Peruvian anchoveta. Anchoveta pseudo-cycles of 20 to >100 years are observed, with the present stock abundance most likely located near upper part of the cycle. Fleet overcapacity expressed as the proportion of unused present capacity is estimated at 72% and processing overcapacity at 89%. A simple bio-economic model demonstrates the risks associated with the pseudo-periodicity in fish stock abundance in conjunction with fishery investment, open access, and overcapacity: a timing bomb for the fishing sector. The lag between disinvestment and decrease in fish abundance is quantified. A reduction of the fishing and processing capacity and measures to decrease the investment lag are recommended to limit the social, economical and political tensions that will result from the expected decrease in stock abundance. Finally, some management options to reduce these risks are discussed.     

海阳中心渔港建设对附近海域冲淤的数值模拟预测

利用MIKE21二维水动力模型,对海阳中心渔港建设前,以及两种预选方案建设后海域潮流分别进行数值模拟。在潮流模拟验证正确的基础上,建立了海底冲淤预测模型,预测了工程建设前后静风条件下全年冲淤趋势。并运用MIKE21Coupled ModelFM模块,模拟了极端天气条件（SE15m/s大风）浪流共同作用下工程附近海域的冲淤情况。根据方案建设前后潮流场、冲淤趋势进行分析,确定最优方案,为海阳中心渔港的规划设计提供决策参考。     

Factors that influence the entry–exit decision and intensity of participation of fishing fleet for the Galapagos lobster fishery

The Galapagos Islands are a prime example of a place where fishery management policies have been established without first understanding the behavior of fishermen. Since the creation of the Galapagos Marine Reserve in 1998, there has not been a single study in the archipelago that investigates fishing behavior and the factors affecting this behavior. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by describing and analyzing the decisions of the fishing fleet for the red spiny lobster fishery. It focuses on factors that affect the short-term decisions regarding both participation and intensity of participation in the lobster fishery. This paper finds that the fishing fleet in the Galapagos Islands behaves as profit maximizing firms, because they consider all the benefits and costs that affect both their participation decision as well as their decision about how frequently to be active after they have decided to participate. The results also show that there is a large latent effort in the lobster fisheries that could threaten the sustainability of any initiatives aimed at increasing catchability, prices, or markets. It is expected that this analysis will be valuable to policy makers when designing or improving the management plans for Galapagos fisheries.     

Status,trends and challenges in the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in the Philippines: Insights from FISHDA (Fishing Industries' Support in Handling Decisions Application) model

Managing small-scale fisheries in a developing country like the Philippines is very challenging because of high pressures from expanding fishing population, poverty and lack of alternative options. Thus, resource-focused fisheries management initiatives such as marine protected area (MPA) establishment will likely result in further marginalization of the poor fishers which could pose more serious problems in coastal communities. In this study, the status of small-scale fisheries in 44 coastal towns in the Philippines was assessed using FISHDA (Fishing Industries' Support in Handling Decisions Application), a simple decision support tool which requires minimal or easily-generated data. Results showed that 68% (30 out of 44) of the studied towns have unsustainable fisheries unless 58% of their fishing grounds are protected from all fishing activities. Alternatively, 53% of the active fishers in towns with unsustainable fisheries must totally stop fishing to avert fishery collapse. Alarming as it may sound, this is still an underestimate as catches incurred by the highly efficient and destructive illegal fishing activities such as blast, poison and large-scale fishing, which are reported to be still rampant in many coastal areas in the Philippines, were not accounted for in this study. This study demonstrated that MPAs alone may not be enough to avert fishery collapse even if MPA size is increased from the current 3% to 15% of the municipal waters, i.e. up to 15 km from the shore, as required by the Philippine law. Various challenges confronting the fishery and important recommendations to address them are further discussed.     

Cooperatives,concessions, and co-management on the Pacific coast of Mexico

Ten fishery cooperatives of the Pacific coast of Mexico were studied to examine reasons for successful community-based management of the fishery commons. The cooperatives hold exclusive rights to ‘concession’ territories for major fisheries and are linked by geographic adjacency and through a federation. The case study underscores the role of factors such as smallness of scale; the productivity, visibility and legibility of the resources and fisheries involved; clarity of social and territorial boundaries; adjacency and linkages among territorial units; a strong sense of community. The cooperatives also made considerable investments in attaining high levels of knowledge, leadership, transparent and democratic decision-making, and “vigilance,” or enforcement of the rules and the running of the organization. The study also shows the workings of windows of opportunity and experience with environmental change in the development of strong and adaptive capacities for co-management between local organizations and government agencies. Although particular histories and larger legal, political, and cultural contexts matter, the Mexican case supports arguments for greater community-level engagement in “catch share” and territorial management throughout the Pacific.     

Multilingual crews on Norwegian fishing vessels: Implications for communication and safety on board

In the last few decades, use of foreign labor in the Norwegian fishing fleet has increased. As fishing is a high-risk occupation, this article investigates a prevalent question regarding how the increased share of foreigners affects communication and safety on Norwegian fishing vessels. The article shows that multilingual crews and varying language proficiencies are not perceived by the fisheries actors themselves as risk factors in terms of safety in everyday operations. Fishing experience, hybrid language and body language compensate for language challenges and contribute to fishers' feeling of safety.     

Plastic contamination in the decapod crustacean Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The aim of this study was to determine the extent Nephrops consumes plastics in the Clyde Sea and if this intake occurs through their diet. Plastic contamination was found to be high in Nephrops, 83% of the animals sampled contained plastics (predominately filaments) in their stomachs. Tightly tangled balls of plastic strands were found in 62% of the animals studied but were least prevalent in animals which had recently moulted. No significant difference in plastic load was observed between males and females. Raman spectroscopy indicated that some of the microfilaments identified from gut contents could be sourced to fishing waste. Nephrops fed fish seeded with strands of polypropylene rope were found to ingest but not to excrete the strands. The fishery for Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus, is the most valuable in Scotland and the high prevalence of plastics in Nephrops may have implications for the health of the stock.