Fishers' perceptions as indicators of the performance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

How users perceive the performance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is fundamental for the social acceptance of these zones. Moreover, their perceptions may be relevant for monitoring the effects of MPAs on extractive activities. This study analyzes artisanal fishers' perceptions of the performance of a north-western Mediterranean coastal MPA, which encompasses two no-take zones (NTZs). Three viewpoints have been considered: the effect on the personal activity of fishers, the effect on the local fishery and the effect on the ecosystem. In order to test the hypothesis that biomass export (spillover) - which had previously been evidenced from the two NTZs - may influence fishers' perceptions of NTZ effects, fishers' perceptions were compared with both declared and observed fishing activity over an one-year period.The results show that negative perceptions of NTZs are either nil or are negligible. Most fishers are aware of the beneficial effects of NTZs on ecosystems and fisheries. However, they remain to be convinced of the beneficial effects of the NTZs on their own activity. For instance, the proximity of a NTZ appears never to be involved in the choice of a fishing spot. This partial lack of correspondence between scientific expectation and fishers' perceptions is discussed in the light of fishing habits in the zone adjacent to NTZs, and takes into account fishing grounds, targeted species and seniority (defined as the number of years the fisher has been fishing within the MPA). All three factors appear to influence fishers' perceptions. For example, having a positive perception about a NTZ and spending more time fishing in the adjacent zone are habits that can be associated with fishers with less seniority. Fishers' perceptions obviously indicate the social acceptance of the MPA and are an essential monitoring tool for MPA managers. However, perceptions cannot be seen as a substitute for scientific monitoring, as both approaches are clearly complementary.     

Genetic variability of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus in the Western Mediterranean Sea inferred by DNA microsatellite loci

Genetic variation at eight microsatellite loci was studied in nine populations of the blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus to investigate whether distinct stocks are present in the Western Mediterranean Sea. A high level of gene flow and no evidence of genetic partitioning were discovered. No significant variation was found (F_ST = 0.00673, P-value = 0.067) even when shrimps from exploited and those from deep-water unexploited grounds were compared. No evidence of reduction or expansion of population size in the recent past was found, as indicated by the bottleneck and interlocus g-tests. Our results are consistent with previous studies using mitochondrial gene methods and allozymes, indicating that, for this species, extensive pelagic larval dispersal and adult migration are probably responsible for the genetic homogeneity observed. In particular, due to a different bathymetric distribution of males and females, reported to be associated with different water masses and hence with possible differential dispersal capacity between sexes, the hypothesis of sex-biased dispersal was tested. Mean values of corrected assignment indices and mean relatedness values were higher for males, suggesting that females are the more widely dispersing sex. Molecular assessment of A. antennatus from the Western Mediterranean provides data of biological and evolutionary interest for the successful management of such a highly valuable fishery resource.     

虾血对兔耳瘢痕模型的防治作用

为探讨虾血对抑制兔耳瘢痕增生的影响,以成年新西兰大耳白兔建立兔耳增生性瘢痕模型,将增生性瘢痕块分为对照组(A组)、虾血治疗组1(B组)和虾血治疗组2(C组),以不同组瘢痕组织石蜡包埋HE染色,观察虾血治疗对瘢痕组织中成纤维细胞、胶原纤维的影响。结果表明:肉眼观察虾血治疗组的瘢痕较空白对照组有改善;光镜下见虾血治疗组成纤维细胞减少,胶原纤维含量降低且排列较规则有序,差异具有显著性(p<0.001);虾血治疗组2微血管均数较少,抑制疤痕增生效应最好(p<0.01);虾血可能具有抑制兔耳增生瘢痕的形成及瘢痕组织增生的作用。     

New Early Cretaceous shrimp (Decapoda) from the Sidi Aïch Formation of the Northern Chotts Range,southern Tunisia: Taxonomy,biostratigraphy, and palaeoenvironmental implications

The fossil dendrobranchiate shrimp Macropenaeus was originally described from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) limestones of Hadjoula, northwest Lebanon. A new species, M. sidiaichensis sp. nov., was recovered from the Sidi Aïch Formation in the Northern Chotts Range, southern Tunisia. The Barremian occurrence of the genus in Tunisia suggests that Macropenaeus most likely originated in northern Africa and then migrated to Arabia in the Cenomanian. The association of the fossil shrimp with conchostracans, plant fragments, and fish indicates the interaction of freshwater and marine conditions that characterized the northern African margin as part of widespread coastal complex, paralic environments during the Barremian.     

Species composition and gear characteristics of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Macrobrachium</Emphasis> fishery of the Cross River Estuary,Nigeria

The Cross River Estuary, Nigeria, is an important shrimping area for artisanal fishermen of the coastal communities. The multi-species Macrobrachium fishery is exploited with three main gears, namely beach seine, push net and trap. Studies on species composition of this fishery recorded thirteen shrimp species, one swimming crab (Callinectes amnicola) and two fish species (Eleotris sp. and Pellonula leonensis). The shrimp species identified included Macrobrachium macrobrachion (83.39% and 55.69% by number and weight, respectively), M. vollenhovenii (9.66% and 37.18%), M. equidens (3.8% and 2.87%), juveniles-sub-adults of Penaeus notialis (1.11% and 1.3%), M. dux, M. felicinum, Palaemonetes africanus, Palaemon maculatus, Palaemon elegans, Desmocaris sp., Leander sp., Nematopalaemon hastatus and Alpheus pontederiae. While the selectivity index for trap was 0.25, beach seine and push net had a lower index of 0.063. The results present the first comprehensive and representative report for the Estuary shrimp fishery and will assist in the management of the biodiversity of this ecosystem.     

虾类微量元素含量的主成分分析

应用主成分分析法对湛江几种养殖对虾和海捕天然对虾的微量元素的含量进行综合评价。结果表明:虾体中微量元素含量均衡;综合排名依次为野生斑节对虾、野生凡纳滨对虾、养殖斑节对虾、养殖凡纳滨对虾,两种野生对虾的综合排名均高于养殖对虾;野生斑节对虾综合得分为1.6708,微量元素含量最均衡,营养价值最高,养殖凡纳滨对虾营养价值最低,综合得分为-1.20943。     

远洋渔船动态监控系统研究

针对远洋渔业生产中的渔船监控问题,以卫星通讯、GIS、GPS、数据库等技术手段为支撑,进行了远洋渔船GPS动态监控系统的研究和开发工作。本文在介绍了系统总体框架的基础上,系统阐述了通讯文件的解包和数据质量的控制过程,并对渔船的动态监视和轨迹分析功能进行了论述。     

Defining dynamic pelagic habitats in oceanic waters off eastern Australia

Although many species in the pelagic ocean are widespread, they are not randomly distributed. These species may have associations with particular water masses or habitats, but to best understand patterns in the ocean, these habitats must be identified. Previous efforts have produced static or seasonal climatologies, which still represent smearing over habitats. The Eastern Tuna and Billfish Longline Fishery (ETBF) targets a range of high trophic level species in oceanic waters off eastern Australia. In this study, dynamic ocean habitats in the region were identified for each month based on cluster analysis of five oceanographic variables averaged at a monthly time scale and a spatial scale of 0.5° for the period 1995-2006. A total of seven persistent habitats were identified off eastern Australia with intra and interannual variation in size and location, indicating the importance of spatial and temporal variation in the dynamics of the region. The degree to which these dynamic habitats were distinguished was tested using (i) stable isotope analysis of top fish predators caught in the region and (ii) estimates of variation in estimated abundance generated from catch data from the fishery. More precise estimates (measured as lower total CV) of isotopic values from swordfish (Xiphias gladius), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and albacore (Thunnus alalunga) were obtained for 4 of 6 isotope comparisons using the dynamic habitat groupings, which indicate that stratifying by pelagic habitat improved precision. Dynamic habitats produced more precise abundance estimates for 7 of 8 large pelagic species examined, with an average reduction in total CV of 19% compared to when abundance was estimated based on static habitat stratification. These findings could be used to guide development of effective monitoring strategies that can distinguish patterns due to environmental variation, and in the longer term, climate change.     

A review of Epipenaeon ingens Nobili, 1906 (Isopoda: Bopyridae) host species and documentation of a new host, Metapenaeopsis stridulans (Alcock, 1905) (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

We collected 3 596 Metapenaeopsis stridulans (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from the southeast coast of India between January and December 2007. Sixty three specimens (43 females and 18 males) were parasitized by the bopyrid isopod Epipenaeon ingens (Isopoda: Bopyridae). This is the first report of the occurrence of E. ingens in this host; therefore, it was considered as a new host record. The highest level of infestation (3.2%) occurred in October 2007, coincident with observations of gravid females (9). The total prevalence and presence of gravid females were 17.46% and 28%, respectively. Infestation caused a characteristic bulge of the branchial chamber, growth retardation, and degeneration of the sex organs, but had no effect on the host weight.     

山东半岛南部近岸海域渔业资源群落结构的季节变化

根据2006年夏、冬季和2007年春、秋季在山东半岛南部近岸海域进行的渔业资源底拖网调查资料,初步分析了该海域渔业资源群落结构特征。结果表明,该海域4个航次的调查共捕获渔业资源种类72种。2006年夏、冬,2007年春、秋4个航次的单位网次渔获量分别为18.1、6.9、1.3、10.3 kg/h。生物量的季节变化,依次呈夏季>冬季>秋季>春季。优势种类主要为赤鼻棱鳀(Thryssakammalensis)、长蛇鲻(Sauridaelongate)、方氏云鳚(Enedrias fangi)及口虾蛄(Oratosquillaorato-ria)、剑尖枪乌贼(Loligoedulis)、鹰爪虾(Rachypenaeus curvirostris)等。根据4个航次的调查数据,分别计算了渔业生物群落的种类丰度指数R、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H′、Pielou均匀度指数J′。通过聚类分析、单因子相似性分析(ANOSI M)、相似性百分比分析(SI MPER),以及对该海域游泳动物资源结构现状与历史调查数据对比分析表明,该海域渔业资源群落结构存在衰退现象。本研究为山东半岛南部海域渔业生物多样性保护和资源管理提供了参考依据。