辽东湾口虾蛄流刺网的渔获选择性研究

为了提高近海渔业资源养护型捕捞与管理技术,促进《全国海洋捕捞渔具目录》的实施,2014年10—11月在辽东湾以口虾蛄为目标渔获,进行了网目尺寸为40、50、60mm的单片型刺网、双重型刺网、三重型刺网以及生产对照网的选择性对比试验,为确定渤海三重型刺网管理的过渡归属提供依据。结果显示,各试验网具的主要渔获种类基本相同,渔获优势种为口虾蛄和花鲈,随着网目尺寸的增大,各型刺网的口虾蛄相对重要性指数递减,而花鲈相对重要性指数则呈递增趋势。单片型刺网、双重型刺网和三重型刺网间的口虾蛄渔获量差异显著(P=0.04,P=0.66×10-6,P=0.029),口虾蛄渔获尾数占总渔获的比例呈现出按单片型刺网、双重型刺网、三重型刺网顺序增长的趋势。相同网目尺寸条件下,未达到可捕标准的口虾蛄渔获尾数呈现出按单片型刺网、双重型刺网、三重型刺网顺序递增的趋势,但其所占比例并无明显差别;相同型的刺网,随网目尺寸的增大未达到可捕标准口虾蛄的渔获比例递减。Gamma选择性模型曲线显示,当网目尺寸大于50mm时,单片型刺网、双重型刺网、三重型刺网的口虾蛄渔获优势体长均大于可捕标准,但是三重型刺网的渔获数量明显大于单片型刺网,且在渔业资源损害方面并无明显差别,因此,在目前渤海的口虾蛄渔业中,单片型刺网难以取代三重型刺网进行作业。     

南海区金线鱼刺网网目选择性研究

为科学制订南中国海区金线鱼(Nemipterus virgatus)刺网最小网目尺寸标准,2008年5月在南海北部进行了5种网目(40mm、45mm、50mm、55mm、60mm)刺网联合捕鱼实验,渔获种类合计达72种,其中5种网目刺网均有捕获的仅13种.根据刺网渔获的种类、数量和生物量,利用研究生物群落的多样性指数、相似性指数和ABC曲线方法,研究了金线鱼刺网的种问选择性,探讨了不同网目刺网作业对渔业资源的影响.结果表明,不同网目实验刺网的渔获组成存在明显差异,随着网目尺寸的缩小,渔获种类和数量呈上升趋势,渔获平均体质量则呈下降趋势.多齿蛇鲻(Saurida tumbil)、长尾大眼鲷(Priacanthus tayenus)、金线鱼、带鱼(Trichiurus haumela)和花斑蛇鲻(Saurida undosquamis)为主要渔获种类,其渔获生物量分别占总渔获量的21.35%、15.76%、14.78%、8.43%、7.20%,40 mm和45 mm刺网中多齿蛇鲻和花斑蛇鲻的渔获比例较高,50mm、55 mm和60 mm刺网中长尾大眼鲷、金线鱼和带鱼的渔获比例较高.根据ABC曲线计算的40 mm、45 mm、50 mm、55 mm和60 mm 5种网目刺网W统计值分别为-0.023、-0.012、0.039、0.083和0.073.40mm和45mm刺网对渔获生物群落的干扰较大.南海区金线鱼刺网最小网目尺寸标准的制订应综合考虑金线鱼、带鱼、长尾大眼鲷这3种主捕经济种类的尺寸选择性和最小可捕标准,同时注意网线粗度对捕捞能力的影响.     

Assessment of efficiency and impacts of gillnets on fish conservation in a tropical freshwater fishery

1. Gillnets are commonly used in tropical multi‐species fisheries and there is a need to investigate the comparative efficiency and impacts of this gear on fish populations and diversity. The efficiency and the impact of gillnets of distinct mesh sizes were compared in the Lower Tocantins River (Brazilian Amazon).
2. Fish sampling was conducted in 12 floodplain lakes using gillnets of distinct mesh sizes and 345 fish landings were recorded. Indicators of gillnet efficiency were: (1) catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of total fish sampled; (2) CPUE of fish caught by fishers; (3) CPUE of commercial fish sampled; and (4) proportion of biomass of commercial fish sampled. Indicators of impact were: (1) the number of non‐commercial fish (by‐catch); (2) the proportion of fish above the length at first maturity; (3) mean fish size (length); (4) total number of fish species and of rare fish species caught.
3. Gillnets of 8 cm mesh size showed a higher CPUE in fish samples and fish landings. This mesh size also showed reduced impacts (lower numbers of non‐commercial fish caught and higher proportion of adult fish).
4. Gillnets of 6 cm mesh size caught a smaller proportion of adult fish, smaller fish, more species and more rare species. Therefore, intensive use of these gillnets could increase the risk of regional species extinctions and impair the provision of ecosystem services by target fish.
5. Gillnets of 8 cm mesh size could improve fish catches while minimizing adverse effects of gillnet fishing. The practical management recommendation would be to replace the more damaging small mesh gillnets by gillnets with intermediate mesh size. This recommendation could simultaneously protect small‐sized rare species and larger fish, being broadly applicable to other small‐scale and multi‐species fisheries that use gillnets intensively in tropical countries with high fish diversity.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discards from the commercial gillnet fishery for dusky flathead, Platycephalus fuscus, in New South Wales, Australia: spatial variability and initial effects of change in minimum legal length of target species

A scientific observer programme was used to quantify the composition and magnitude of discards in the gillnet fishery for dusky flathead, Platycephalus fuscus (Cuvier), in three barrier estuaries in New South Wales, Australia, during the 2001 fishing season. Regulations only permit the retention of legal‐sized dusky flathead and legal‐sized blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus L., and mud crab, Scylla serrata (Forskål); all other organisms were discarded. Sampling was stratified into two time periods; before and after 1 July 2001 which coincided with the increase in the minimum legal length (MLL) of dusky flathead from 33 to 36 cm total length (TL). Eighty one catches were sampled, yielding 38 finfish species and two portunid crab species. Legal‐sized dusky flathead were the most abundant organism captured, accounting for 23–47% by number and 34–54% by weight of the mean observed catch depending on the estuary and survey period, with a mean catch of 25–59 flathead weighing 13–25 kg per fishing‐night. Species composition and relative abundance of catches differed among estuaries, but not between sampling periods. Predominant bycatch species included legal and undersize blue swimmer crab, sea mullet, Mugil cephalus L., luderick, Girella tricuspidata (Quoy & Gaimard), bream, Acanthopagrus australis (Günther) and yellowfin leatherjacket, Meuschenia trachylepis (Günther). These five species accounted for 82% of total bycatch by number and 71% by weight, pooled across the three estuaries. More crabs were retained than discarded, with retained legal‐size crabs (byproduct) accounting for 16% of total bycatch by number and 13% by weight, with an average of 5–22 crabs weighing 1–6 kg being caught per fishing‐night, depending on the estuary. Overall, 7% of dusky flathead captured (number) were below the MLL of 36 cm and discarded, suggesting the nets as currently configured may be relatively selective in catching legal‐size flathead. However, 41% of dusky flathead were <40 cm TL, indicating that if the MLL for this species is increased to this length as proposed, new nets must be introduced into the fishery. The findings are discussed in terms of making the flathead fishery more sustainable, including alternative management strategies for the fishery.     

Can bycatch in a flatfish gillnet fishery be reduced with rectangular mesh?

Gillnets fished in North Carolina, USA, estuaries have high rates of bycatch relative to the target catch of southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma Jordan & Gilbert. This study tested whether rectangular‐mesh gillnets would maintain catch rates of southern flounder and reduce fish bycatch relative to conventional diamond‐mesh gillnets in two North Carolina estuaries. In the Neuse River estuary, catch rates of legal southern flounder were not different between the two mesh shapes, but the bycatch of red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus) and other fish species was reduced with rectangular‐mesh net. In the Newport River estuary, southern flounder and red drum catches were reduced in rectangular‐mesh net, but the decrease was greater for red drum. Catches of sublegal southern flounder were reduced in the rectangular‐mesh net in both estuaries. Reduced catch rates of sublegal southern flounder and bycatch species suggest rectangular mesh may help manage stocks of estuarine fish species in areas where gillnets are used to target flatfishes.     

Recreational charter fishery attributes and variation in key species catches and discards: Resource management considerations

Strategic long‐term sampling programmes that deliver recreational catch, effort and species demographic data are required for the effective assessment and management of recreational fisheries and harvested organisms. This study used a spatially and temporally stratified observer programme to examine variation in the rates, quantities and lengths of retained and discarded catches of key species in a recreational charter fishery. Geographic region, but not season, significantly influenced catch rates of key demersal species, being driven by temporally persistent latitudinal clines in environmental conditions influencing species distributions. There was considerable trip‐to‐trip variation in catch rates that were attributed to localised differences in fishing operations, locations, environmental conditions and client preferences. Broad trends in retained and discarded catch rates were nevertheless, similar across different fishing effort standardisations (per‐trip, per‐hour, per‐client, per‐client/fished hour), demonstrating that the coarsest unit of effort could be used in fishery assessments. Discard rates of organisms were variable and driven by a combination of mandated legal lengths, individual client and operator preferences for particular species and sizes of organisms, and not due to attainment of catch quotas or high‐grading. This study has identified important fishery attributes that require consideration in assessing charter fisheries and stocks of recreational fish species.     

Catches of target species and bycatches of an artisanal fishery: The case study of a trammel net fishery in the Portuguese coast

In this work we studied an artisanal fishery targeting mainly soles (Solea senegalensis and Solea solea) and cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) with trammel nets. Catches of target species, bycatches and discards were studied from October 2004 until August 2005 in the west coast of Portugal. A total of 37 sampling surveys onboard commercial fishing vessels were conducted. The number and weight of individuals of all species caught were registered, as well as the amount discarded and retained by fishermen. A total of 112 species were identified: Scomber japonicus, Chelidonichthys obscura and Callioynimus lyra were the most discarded fishes, corresponding to 28% in weight and 36% in number of discards. Discards represented 22%, in weight, of the total catches, while the amount retained by fishermen for consumption or direct selling was 12%, also in weight. The overall estimate of the annual discards value due to this fishery was ca. 170 tonnes, comprising near 45 fishing vessels. Inconsistencies between the catches recorded onboard and the official landings were detected for the main target species. Some bycatches of species under recovery plans were also found.     

辽东湾不同型刺网捕捞性能的比较

为了提高近海渔业资源养护型捕捞与管理技术,促进《全国海洋捕捞渔具目录》的实施,2014年10-11月在辽东湾进行了网目尺寸为40 mm、50 mm、60 mm的单片刺网、双重刺网和三重刺网以及生产对照网的选择性对比实验.结果显示,各种实验网的渔获种类数均在6-9种之间,优势种口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)的优势度随网目尺寸的增大而减小,但花鲈(Lateolabrax japonicas)的优势度随网目尺寸的增大而增大.同型试验网在不同网目尺寸条件下的渔获量有显著性差异,其中,60 mm试验网与40 mm同型试验网的单位捕捞努力量渔获量(CPUE)比较,单片刺网为800％,双重刺网为650％,三重刺网为500％;而异型试验网在网目尺寸相同条件下对渔获量的影响相对较小.试验网的组内渔获组成平均相似度分别为单片刺网59.24％,双重刺网62.63％,三重刺网66.51％;组间分别为71.44％、67.50％和70.58％;对组内和组间平均相似度贡献最高的种类均为口虾蛄和花鲈.随着网目尺寸的增大,各型试验网的渔获物幼鱼比例呈下降趋势.     

东莞生态园湿地鱼类群落结构

为了解东莞生态园湿地水域群落结构特征,探讨2种类型刺网(沉网和浮网)及不同网目网片渔获物组成的差异性,实验利用多网目(1.0、1.25、1.6、2.0、2.5、3.1、3.9、4.8、5.8、7.0、8.6和11.0 cm)单层刺网对该湿地的鱼类进行了调查。研究期间共采集到13种鱼类,相对重要性指数显示,海南似和莫桑比克罗非鱼为优势种,前者密度最高(占84.8%),后者生物量居多(40.2%)。渔获物物种组成沉浮网间差异显著,但单位努力捕捞数量(NPUE)、单位努力捕获重量(BPUE)及物种数与沉浮网间均无显著差异;海南似的NPUE在2种类型刺网间无显著差异,但莫桑比克罗非鱼和尼罗罗非鱼的NPUE浮网显著低于沉网。12个网目网片的渔获物物种聚成2类,1.0～2.0 cm网目网片渔获物聚为1类,海南似为指示种;2.5～11.0 cm片的聚为另1类,莫桑比克罗非鱼和尼罗罗非鱼为指示种。渔获物大小结构聚为2类,1.0～3.9 cm网目网片渔获物聚为1类,4.8～11.0 cm网目网片的聚为另1类。随着网目大小增加,渔获物平均体长线性递增,NPUE呈幂函数式下降。研究表明,为对内陆水域鱼类群落...     

Catch length analysis, relation to minimum landing sizes and management implications from a Mediterranean small-scale fishery (Patraikos Gulf, Greece)

Fisheries management in the Mediterranean is planned on the basis of fishing effort allocation, gear technical characteristics and minimum landing sizes (MLSs), the latter being a measure recently updated in the EU Mediterranean fisheries policy. Very few elements on the evaluation of the MLS in regard to the catch and landings of the small-scale fisheries in the Mediterranean exist and this is due to both the great heterogeneity of the sector and the lack of systematic monitoring. The catch length composition of five species (Merluccius merluccius, Diplodus annularis, Mullus barbatus, Sepia officinalis and Squilla mantis) from a yearly record of small-scale fishing operations in the Patraikos Gulf (w. Greece, e. Mediterranean) was associated with temporal (season), spatial (depth of fishing, substrate type) and fishery (métier) characteristics by means of general linear models. Smaller individuals appeared in the catch in autumn for all five species indicating this season as suitable if a seasonal fishery closure was established. When length was found to be significantly different between different métiers this was either due to smaller mesh sizes (M. barbatus) or due to gear type (M. merluccius). For all species except S. officinalis, depth significantly affected length of individuals in the catch providing in the case of M. merluccius a clear association of bigger individuals with deeper fishing grounds. Substrate types also affected the length for the species D. annularis, M. barbatus. In relation to MLSs, the sizes of Mullus surmuletus and Scomber japonicus were fully legal, M. merluccius, M. barbatus, Solea vulgaris, Trachurus mediterraneus, Pagellus erythrinus had higher than 80% of the catch over MLS, while D. annularis, Diplodus sargus, Sparus aurata and Pagellus acarne had high fractions of the total catch below MLS. The métiers where undersized individuals appear were identified. Further management implications of the findings are discussed taking into account the current management scheme and the discarding practices in the area.     

东海区单层流刺网对棘绿鳍鱼的选择性

为了明晰东海区单层流刺网对棘绿鳍鱼的选择性特征,开展不同网目尺寸(45、50和55 mm)和网片高度(6和10 m)的单层流刺网生产实验。结果显示,不同实验网渔获物中棘绿鳍鱼体长频率呈单峰分布;选用Normal、Lognormal和Gamma模型对渔获数据进行拟合,并使用极大似然法估算模型参数,似然比卡方检验和赤池信息系数(AIC)比较表明,Lognormal模型拟合效果最佳,其卡方值为30.65,明显小于临界值,AIC值为147.78,模型曲线向右倾斜明显,峰值左侧选择率递增较快,右侧下降缓慢,与原始数据相符;50 mm网目50%选择性体长为123 mm,有效捕捞体长范围为123~209 mm;根据遭遇网具的棘绿鳍鱼资源结构估算结果,实验海域棘绿鳍鱼体长频率呈正态分布,优势体长范围为125~185 mm,与早期研究结果相近;50 mm网目有效捕捞体长范围与当前资源优势体长范围相近,可实现捕捞效率的最大化;总体上两种高度(6和10 m)实验网渔获物中,棘绿鳍鱼体长频率分布相似,优势体长范围相近,上述两种网片高度对棘绿鳍鱼资源的影响差异不显著。上述研究结果可为近海渔业生产和管理提供参考。     

Effect of changes in hook pattern and size on catch rate, hooking location, injury and bleeding for a number of tropical reef fish species

The Queensland Great Barrier Reef line fishery in Australia is regulated via a range of input and output controls including minimum size limits, daily catch limits and commercial catch quotas. As a result of these measures a substantial proportion of the catch is released or discarded. The fate of these released fish is uncertain, but hook-related mortality can potentially be decreased by using hooks that reduce the rates of injury, bleeding and deep hooking. There is also the potential to reduce the capture of non-target species though gear selectivity. A total of 1053 individual fish representing five target species and three non-target species were caught using six hook types including three hook patterns (non-offset circle, J and offset circle), each in two sizes (small 4/0 or 5/0 and large 8/0). Catch rates for each of the hook patterns and sizes varied between species with no consistent results for target or non-target species. When data for all of the fish species were aggregated there was a trend for larger hooks, J hooks and offset circle hooks to cause a greater number of injuries. Using larger hooks was more likely to result in bleeding, although this trend was not statistically significant. Larger hooks were also more likely to foul-hook fish or hook fish in the eye. There was a reduction in the rates of injuries and bleeding for both target and non-target species when using the smaller hook sizes. For a number of species included in our study the incidence of deep hooking decreased when using non-offset circle hooks, however, these results were not consistent for all species. Our results highlight the variability in hook performance across a range of tropical demersal finfish species. The most obvious conservation benefits for both target and non-target species arise from using smaller sized hooks and non-offset circle hooks. Fishers should be encouraged to use these hook configurations to reduce the potential for post-release mortality of released fish.     

The effects of the net fishery closure on angling catch in the River Hvítá, Iceland

Between 1991 and 2000, angling associations on the tributaries of the River Hvítá leased net fishery rights in the Hvítá mainstem, with the aim of eliminating net fishery harvest and improving the rod catch. The rod catch and net catch in the Hvítá system were significantly correlated (r = 0.94; P < 0.001) over the 10‐year period prior to (1981–1990) closure of the net fishery. The rod fishery in the tributaries of the River Hvítá was also significantly correlated to the rod fishery in selected groups of rivers in west (r = 0.80; P < 0.01) and north (r = 0.73; P < 0.05) before the closure. Significant increases (P < 0.01) were observed in rod catches in the Hvítá tributaries between 1991 and 2000 after the closure, while rod catches in control regions decreased. Based on evaluation of rod catch trends before and after the closure, it was estimated that the net fishery lease increased rod catches in the tributaries between 1773 and 2175 fish (28–35%). The increase in rod catches also suggested that the rod fishery may be taking 39–52% of the estimated previous net catch. The high price paid annually for the net fishery lease just to eliminate net fishing (€135 000) reflects the high value of rod caught salmon compared with salmon caught by the net fishery.     

Probarbus jullieni and Probarbus labeamajor: the management and conservation of two of the largest fish species in the Mekong River in southern Laos

• 1. Probarbus jullieni and Probarbus labeamajor are two of the largest carps in the Mekong River Basin, each reaching a maximum weight of about 70 kg. P. jullieni is listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, and both are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the first as ‘endangered’ and the second as ‘data deficient’.
• 2. Six years of quantitative monitoring of a large‐meshed gill net fishery for Probarbus just below the Khone Falls in Khong district, Champasak province, in southern Laos shows that 78% of the overall catch is comprised of Probarbus, with P. jullieni making up 65% of landings.
• 3. Over the 6‐year period catches of Probarbus declined significantly. However, catch‐per‐unit effort statistics do not indicate that the fishery is in decline, although fishers are convinced that real stock reductions are a large part of the reason for catch declines and decreases in fishing effort.
• 4. A number of ecological and social factors are affecting the number and quality of gill nets in use, the length of fishing seasons, and gill net efficiency, making it difficult to compare catch‐per‐unit effort between years.
• 5. There has been a shift from using large‐meshed gill nets for catching Probarbus to targeting smaller species using gill nets with smaller mesh‐sizes. This is an example of the ‘fishing down’ of a Mekong fish community, in which large long‐lived species are the first to be affected by heavy fishing pressure.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

渤海口虾蛄三重刺网渔获组成及其捕捞性能分析

为研究渤海口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)三重刺网的捕捞性能,以河北省昌黎县的口虾蛄三重刺网为基础,于2013年4、5、7月在河北省秦皇岛近海进行50 mm、55 mm、60 mm和65 mm 4种网目尺寸的三重刺网作业性能比较实验,并与60 mm网目单片刺网和底拖网进行渔获对比分析。结果表明:三重刺网具有捕获渔场中绝大多数渔业种类的能力,选择能力较差。春季的渔获种类19种,为渤海近岸底层种类;夏季的渔获种类19种,除了小黄鱼(Pseudosciaena polyactis)和带鱼(Trichiurus lepturus)等底层鱼类外,还有日本鲭(Scomber japonicus)和蓝点马鲛(Scomberomorus niphonius)等中上层鱼类。春季的渔获结构单一,口虾蛄占渔获量的90%以上,主要兼捕种类鲜明鼓虾(Alpheus distinguendus)占4.1%,渔获选择性较好;夏季的渔获中,口虾蛄比例在75%左右,兼捕对象主要为小黄鱼、蓝点马鲛等经济鱼类的幼鱼,对渔业资源造成一定程度的损害,但渔获选择性比底拖网好。单片刺网的选择性最好,但渔获量低,只有三重刺网渔获量的30%左右,无法满足生产要求。建议开展渤海口虾蛄的可捕产量和分区域捕捞管理研究,开发作业性能更优越的口虾蛄专业捕捞渔具。     

Implications of using small meshed gillnets for the sustainability of fish populations: a theoretical exploration based on three case studies

The study explores the impacts of varying gillnet mesh size and fishing level on yield per recruit (Y/R), escapement spawning stock (ESS) and mega‐spawners (MS) of three widely distributed freshwater fishery target species. Y/R is maximised when the optimal length of capture (L_cap) is above the size of maturity (L₅₀). However, the unimodal shape of gillnet selectivity results in lower impacts to ESS and MS with both smaller and larger mesh sizes. Under conditions of moderate exploitation, the fraction of MS was significantly larger if small meshed gillnets were used. This is due to the relatively smaller cumulative vulnerability from small mesh sizes through time, as they target a smaller size range of fish, which also grow more quickly through the vulnerable window due to higher growth rates. Therefore, unlike trawls and beach seines, which select all size classes beyond the minimum length of capture (L_c), small meshed gillnets are not necessarily destructive and may rather promote sustained production by allowing a higher proportion of the spawning biomass to remain in the stock. The work also helps to explain the observation of sustained fish production in many developing countries despite the persistent use of gillnets of small mesh size that target small, under‐sized individuals.     

几何相似原理在过滤性渔具网目选择性研究中的应用

利用几何相似原理将传统的过滤性渔具选择性曲线转化为选择性曲面。运用选择性方程，并假设不同网目大小的渔具对相同尺寸渔获个体的渔获服从多项分布后，对过滤性渔具的网目选择性建立模型。使用极大似然估计法对模型进行拟合，同时，通过假设检验对模型进行简化。使用平行作业法试验条件下的张网渔具的黄鲫(Setipinrm taty)渔获数据进行模型拟合。结果显示，所建模型可以在没有对照网的情况下估算出各不同网目大小网囊的选择率，并同样适用于套网法试验条件下的选择性分析。模型的建立为今后进行过滤性渔具网目选择性试验方法改革提供了理论参考。通过与SELECT模型比较，认为模型使用选择性方程并区分渔获能力和捕捞努力量使得模型更具普遍性。     

Effect of baiting gillnets in the Canadian Greenland halibut fishery

Catch rates were compared between gillnets with and without bait in the Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Walbaum) fishery off Baffin Island, Canada. Two different types of baiting techniques were compared: bait bags where squid were placed into 2‐mm mesh bags, and tied bait where squid were tied into meshes. Both types of baited gillnets significantly increased the capture of the target species, Greenland halibut, with increases of 253.8% and 149.7% for the bait bag and tied bait, respectively. Common bycatch species showed mixed effects, with roughhead grenadier Macrourus berglax Lacépède showing no increase in catch per unit effort (CPUE) for either bait type (p > 0.05), and porcupine crab Neolithodes grimaldii (Milne‐Edwards and Bouvier) only had a higher CPUE with baited gillnets when bait bags were placed on the footrope. Less common bycatch species—but with threatened populations—showed an increase in CPUE, including Greenland shark Somniosus microcephalus (Bloch and Schneider) and Northern wolffish Anarhichas denticulatus Krøyer. Baiting gillnets affected the CPUE of gillnets in the Greenland halibut fishery, and management should consider how the increased CPUE of both target and bycatch species are affected by this new fishery trend.     

Are circle hooks effective management measures in the pelagic longline fishery for sharks in the Gulf of Gabès?

1. This study evaluated the circle hook use as a tool for shark management in the pelagic longline fishery in the Gulf of Gabès.
2. The usual J‐hook No. 2 with 10° offset, which has been traditionally used by the fishery, was compared to the 18/0 non‐offset circle hook in an alternating fashion along the main line. In total, 22 experimental longline sets were deployed through the shark fishing seasons of 2016 and 2017 to examine the effects of hook types on the catch composition, the catch rates, the hooking location, and the status at haulback.
3. The catch composition differed significantly among hook types. Moreover, an overall increase in catch rates for the main species, the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus, and the shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus, was observed when using circle hooks.
4. There was no size‐selective effect of circle hooks for the common species. The circle hooks were not effective at reducing at‐haulback mortality of sandbar shark. Conversely, shortfin mako and smooth‐hound shark Mustelus mustelus showed significantly lower relative mortality at haulback with circle hooks than with J‐hooks. Furthermore, circle hooks were more frequently hooked externally than the J‐hooks for the three shark species.
5. Results demonstrated that the use of 18/0 non‐offset circle hooks in the pelagic shark longline fishery can reduce mortality at haulback for some species without any benefit for the dominant species, the sandbar shark.
6. Overall, it is difficult to promote the adoption of the use of circle hooks as a management measure in this specialized fishery. Management measures focusing on fishing effort controls, fishing closures in critical habitats, and size limits could have significant benefits for the conservation of shark species and may help to improve the sustainability of the shark fishery in the Gulf of Gabès.

     

How do individual transferable quotas affect marine ecosystems?

Published papers were reviewed to assess ecosystem impacts of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) and other dedicated access systems. Under ITQs, quota shares increase with higher abundance levels, thus fishers may request lower total allowable catches (TACs) and pay for monitoring and research that improves fishery sustainability. Mortality on target species generally declines because catches are closer to TACs and because ghost fishing through lost and abandoned gear decreases. High-grading and discarding often decline, but may increase if landings (and not catches) count against ITQs and when there is little at-sea enforcement. Overall, ITQs positively impact target species, although collapses can occur if TACs are set too high or if catches are routinely allowed to exceed TACs. Fishing pressure may increase on non-ITQ species because of spillover from ITQ fisheries, and in cases where fishers anticipate that future ITQ allocations will be based on catch history and therefore increase their current catches. Ecosystem and habitat impacts of ITQs were only sparsely covered in the literature and were difficult to assess: ITQs often lead to changes in total fishing effort (both positive and negative), spatial shifts in effort, and fishing gear modifications. Stock assessments may be complicated by changes in the relationship between catch per unit effort, and abundance, but ITQ participants will often assist in improving data collection and stock assessments. Overall, ITQs have largely positive effects on target species, but mixed or unknown effects on non-target fisheries and the overall ecosystem. Favourable outcomes were linked to sustainable TACs and effective enforcement.