Indirect effects of bottom fishing on the productivity of marine fish

One quarter of marine fish production is caught with bottom trawls and dredges on continental shelves around the world. Towed bottom‐fishing gears typically kill 20–50 per cent of the benthic invertebrates in their path, depending on gear type, substrate and vulnerability of particular taxa. Particularly vulnerable are epifaunal species, which stabilize the sediment and provide habitat for benthic invertebrates. To identify the habitats, fisheries or target species most likely to be affected, we review evidence of the indirect effects of bottom fishing on fish production. Recent studies have found differences in the diets of certain species in relation to bottom fishing intensity, thereby linking demersal fish to their benthic habitats at spatial scales of ~10 km. Bottom fishing affects diet composition and prey quality rather than the amount of prey consumed; scavenging of discarded by‐catch makes only a small contribution to yearly food intake. Flatfish may benefit from light trawling levels on sandy seabeds, while higher‐intensity trawling on more vulnerable habitats has a negative effect. Models suggest that reduction in the carrying capacity of habitats by bottom fishing could lead to lower equilibrium yield and a lower level of fishing mortality to obtain maximum yield. Trawling effort is patchily distributed – small fractions of fishing grounds are heavily fished, while large fractions are lightly fished or unfished. This patchiness, coupled with the foraging behaviour of demersal fish, may mitigate the indirect effects of bottom fishing on fish productivity. Current research attempts to scale up these localized effects to the population level.     

Quantitative ecological risk assessment for fishing effects on diverse data-poor non-target species in a multi-sector and multi-gear fishery

Assessment of ecological sustainability for all species impacted by fishing is one of the most important and practical steps towards an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries. We extend methods for Sustainability Assessment for Fishing Effects (SAFE) to assess diverse bycatch species in a multi-sector and multi-gear fishery. We develop methods for estimating fishing mortality rate, based on limited data, for demersal trawl, Danish seine, gillnet, and longline. The general approach involves estimating spatial overlap between species distribution and fishing effort distribution, catchability resulting from probability of encountering the gear and size-dependent selectivity, and post-capture mortality. We define three reference points (F_msm, F_lim, and F_crash) and use six methods to derive these reference points. As an example, we apply this method to nearly 500 fish species caught in the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, a multi-sector and multi-gear fishery in Australia. We assess sustainability risk for all captured fish species in each sub-fishery and the cumulative impact across all the sub-fisheries. The results indicate that chondrichthyans are more vulnerable to fishing impact than teleosts, and that impact differs among sectors of the fishery. This method could be easily applied to other fisheries. However, the results may require fine tuning by other means such as expert judgment.     

Interannual-decadal variability of demersal fish assemblages in the Tsushima Warm Current region of the Japan Sea: Impacts of climate regime shifts and trawl fisheries with implications for ecosystem-based management

Data sets for two bottom trawl fisheries, the coastal pair-trawler fishery and offshore single-trawler fishery in the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) region of the Japan Sea, were compiled and analyzed for the last three decades (1974-2006). These data sets were used to (1) identify and compare the variability in demersal fish assemblages, and (2) relate these to water temperature to examine the impacts of climate regime shifts. Principal component analysis (PCA) of catches of target species in the two trawler fisheries showed synchronous decadal variability with step changes around 1986/1987 and 1996/1997. These step changes strongly suggest the effect of the late 1980s climate regime shift, which was characterized by an abrupt change from a cool to a warm condition in the TWC. The first and second principal components (PC1 and PC2) for both trawler fisheries agreed closely with winter and summer water temperature in the Japan Sea, respectively, suggesting PC1 (PC2) was associated with cold- (warm-) water species. However, between warm- and cold-water species the response pattern to water temperature was different. CPUE (catch per unit effort) of warm- (cold-) water species correlated positively (negatively) with water temperature, indicating the increase in water temperature has a positive (negative) effect on warm- (cold-) water species. Cold-water species decreased (increased) both in biomass and distribution during the warm (cold) regime, while warm-water species increased in biomass and/or distribution during the warm 1990s. These results suggested that the demersal fish assemblage structure changed abruptly as a consequence of the late 1980s climate regime shift. Impact of fishing was unclear on the demersal fish assemblage as a whole, but fishing pressure has been intensified for specific species under unfavorable climate regimes even with a declining fishing effort. Differing response patterns between warm- and cold-water species to climate regime shifts suggest the importance of integrated assessment and ecosystem-based management for the whole trawl fishery rather than only for individual target species.     

Influence of mesoscale eddies on ichthyoplankton assemblages in the Gulf of Alaska

Mesoscale eddies (100–200 km in diameter) propagating along the shelf‐break in the Gulf of Alaska are ubiquitous and have been shown to influence the ecosystem, but their influence on ichthyoplankton species composition and diversity has not been described. Evidence for larval fish entrainment in these eddies was examined using data from a cruise in 2005 that sampled three eastern Gulf of Alaska mesoscale eddies, and sampling that compared shelf to slope ichthyoplankton assemblages in the northern Gulf of Alaska (2002–2004). Hierarchical cluster analysis of oceanographic data showed that stations grouped according to location within an eddy. Species hierarchical cluster analysis revealed a latitudinal turnover in species composition, and an abundant species group. Species richness was correlated with distance from eddy center (P = 0.00025), and assemblages within eddies were significantly different (P < 0.05) from those in surrounding basin and shelf waters. These results suggest that mesoscale eddies propagating along the continental shelf‐break influence larval fish assemblages over the shelf and slope, which has implications for the timing and extent of larval fish distribution in the Gulf of Alaska.     

Use of different geometric morphometrics tools for the discrimination of phenotypic stocks of the striped clam Ameghinomya antiqua (Veneridae) in north Patagonia,Argentina

The striped clam (Ameghinomya antiqua (King, 1832)) metapopulation of the San José Gulf is a good model for phenotypic stocks studies based on the shell shape variation in different fishing grounds. These sites show differences in circulation, tidal currents, coastal topography, and bathymetry. Furthermore, it is known that the diverse environments produce differences in the growth rate of this species. In the current work, we study the shell shape changes in the striped clam from different fishing grounds of the San José Gulf through geometric morphometrics methods. Outlines and landmarks analyses were successful to determinate the provenance of the individuals, with almost the 90% of correct assignations for the most of the fishing grounds. The different methodologies showed variations in diverse morphological traits, and as a result different patterns of the shell shape among localities were evidenced. Moreover, each site presented a typical shell shape. Our results showed that the geometric morphometrics methods are powerful tools to identify and separate intra-specific groups. This approach is applicable to other exploited species with subtle shape variations.     

Relationships between macro‐epibenthic communities and fish on the shelf grounds of the western Mediterranean

• 1. The present study characterizes the macro‐epibenthic assemblages, and the relationships between demersal species and benthic habitats on the shelf trawl fishing grounds off the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean).
• 2. The data used were collected during experimental bottom trawl surveys from 2002 to 2005. A total of 157 samples from 38–255 m depth were analysed.
• 3. Three macro‐epibenthic assemblages were identified in both the shallow (at 38–91 m) and deep shelf (90–255 m). Macroalgae bathymetric distribution was identified as the main factor explaining the segregation between shallow and deep shelf assemblages.
• 4. Two especially sensitive habitats were identified: maërl and crinoid beds; a third habitat was identified as Peyssonnelia beds, which represented the highest biomass on the whole shelf, with a similar species richness to the maërl beds. On the deep shelf, crinoid beds represented the highest biomass.
• 5. Habitat type had a significant effect on the distribution of demersal commercial species, most of them being more abundant in the two sensitive habitats mentioned and in the Peyssonnelia beds. Some species showed size‐specific habitat preferences.
• 6. Fisheries management in the area should take into account the resilience of these benthic habitats, and their importance from both ecological and sustainable fisheries management perspectives.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal changes in a deep‐water fish assemblage in response to monsoon‐generated upwelling events

The coastal shelf of the Gulf of Oman experiences periodic upwelling events during the summer months that are driven by the southwest monsoon. It is unclear what role these events play in the spatial and temporal distribution of the region’s fish assemblage. We carried out trials on two different video techniques to characterize the habitat and fish assemblage along the continental shelf margin near Muscat, Oman. Exploratory surveys with a drift stereo‐video revealed three main habitat types: Sand, Reef and Megabenthos. Three areas were chosen for additional sampling using stereo‐BRUVS (‘baited’ remote underwater‐video systems). On two separate occasions (November 2005 and March 2006) replicate stereo‐BRUVS were deployed in each area stratified by the main habitat types. For each teleost and elasmobranch species encountered on the video, an estimate of total body length and the relative abundance (MaxN_i) was made. The stereo‐BRUVS recorded a wide range of demersal and pelagic teleosts including species of conservation interest such as sharks, rays and groupers. The drift stereo‐video recorded significantly fewer species than the stereo‐BRUVS (N = 15 versus N = 43). Species diversity from the stereo‐BRUVS increased by 96% in March 2006 (N = 41) compared to November 2005 (N = 23), a pattern consistent at all three areas. The structure of the overall fish assemblage (using canonical analysis of principal coordinates analysis) was highly variable both in time and space. There was ample evidence of strong habitat associations, particularly with depth and seasonal shifts in abundance and diversity. We argue the upward migration of oxygen‐depleted water into the shallow depths during the late monsoon displaces the demersal fish community along this coast.     

北部湾深水金线鱼种群参数的动态变化

根据1992年—1993年(1992年)、1997年—1999年(1997年)和2009年—2010年(2009年)北部湾底拖网渔业资源调查的生物学资料, 对深水金线鱼群体组成、生长和死亡参数等种群生物学参数进行研究。结果表明, 北部湾深水金线鱼的种群生物学有明显的年际变化, 种群趋向小型化和低龄化, 生长速度加快, 性成熟提前。平均体长从1992年138.25 mm下降到1997年的112.70 mm和2009年的118.28 mm, 相应地平均体质量分别为60.06 g、39.03 g和48.85 g。1992年、1997年和2009年间von Bertalanffy生长方程的渐近体长(L?)、生长参数(k)和理论初始年龄(t0)分别为242.2 mm、0.39、?0.39; 220.4 mm、0.45、?0.35和235.5 mm、0.48、?0.32。体质量拐点年龄(tr)分别为从1992年2.19龄提前到1997年1.97龄和2009年1.86龄。50%性成熟体长(L50)则从1992年的128.6 mm下降到1997年116.5 mm和2009年的110.5 mm。1992年、1997年和2009年间的开发率(E)分别为0.57、0.62和0.58, 表明自20世纪90年代以来, 北部湾深水金线鱼种群已处过度捕捞状态。深水金线鱼的种群参数的一系列变化表明, 在高捕捞强度的胁迫下, 深水金线鱼为延续种群, 其种群产生了适应性变化。     

Thirty years of fleet dynamics modelling using discrete‐choice models: What have we learned?

Anticipating fisher behaviour is necessary for successful fisheries management. Of the different concepts that have been developed to understand individual fisher behaviour, random utility models (RUMs) have attracted considerable attention in the past three decades, and more particularly so since the 2000s. This study aimed at summarizing and analysing the information gathered from RUMs used during the last three decades around the globe. A methodology has been developed to standardize information across different studies and compare RUM results. The studies selected focused on fishing effort allocation. Six types of fisher behaviour drivers were considered: the presence of other vessels in the same fishing area, tradition, expected revenue, species targeting, costs, and risk‐taking. Analyses were performed using three separate linear modelling approaches to assess the extent to which these different drivers impacted fisher behaviour in three fleet types: fleets fishing for demersal species using active gears, fleets fishing for demersal species using passive gears and fleets fishing for pelagic species. Fishers are attracted by higher expected revenue, tradition, species targeting and presence of others, but avoid choices involving large costs. Results also suggest that fishers fishing for demersal species using active gears are generally more influenced by past seasonal (long‐term) patterns than by the most recent (short‐term) information. Finally, the comparison of expected revenue with other fisher behaviour drivers highlights that demersal fishing vessels are risk‐averse and that tradition and species targeting influence fisher decisions more than expected revenue.     

北部湾二长棘犁齿鲷的时空分布特征

二长棘犁齿鲷(Evynnis cardinalis)作为北部湾主要经济鱼类之一,长久以来受过度捕捞的影响,其资源量发生较大波动,将对渔业生产和种群结构有较大影响。文章根据2014年~2015年近海渔业资源调查资料,应用生物量和个体数单位捕捞努力量渔获量(CPUE)综合分析该鱼种资源的季节变化和空间分布。结果表明该鱼种广泛分布于北部湾中国管辖海域内,四季的出现率均在86%以上。生物量和个体数CPUE有明显的季节变化,均表现为最高值在夏季(平均值分别为7.3 kg·h~(-1)和240.83尾·h~(-1)),而冬季最低(平均值分别为1.76 kg·h~(-1)和21.94尾·h~(-1))。从空间分布看,生物量和个体数CPUE高值区主要分布于北部湾20°N以北海域,而低值区则处于海南岛西部海域。近年来在该海域实施的资源养护措施已取得初步成效,相比于20世纪90年代,二长棘犁齿鲷的资源量有所恢复。但二长棘犁齿鲷生物学特征分析结果表明,体长200 mm或体质量80 g以上的群体比重总体偏低,种群低龄化和小型化问题仍较为严峻,需采取新的管理措施(增大最小网目和开捕体长),以降低捕捞强度,改善种群结构。     

Fish assemblages in headwater tributaries of the Agano River System,Japan

The present study examined fish assemblages in ten tributaries with different environmental characteristics in the upper drainages of the Agano River system, northern Honshu, Japan. Seven fish species (five families) were found in the 10 tributaries examined. White-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis and sculpin Cottus pollux were common in almost all tributaries. Masu salmon Onchorhynchus masou masou inhabited the tributaries at relatively low densities despite intensive stocking in the study region. No statistically significant relationships between local environmental factors and the number of species captured were found. However, all seven species, including age-0 fish of each species, were recorded in the tributary with the lowest gradient and second-narrowest stream width, suggesting that small tributaries potentially provide an important habitat for a diverse range of species. The relative density of white-spotted charr in tributaries subject to fishing prohibition was higher on average than that in tributaries not subjected to fishing prohibition, suggesting that fishing depresses the abundance of white-spotted charr.     

夏季台湾海峡北部及邻近海域鱼类群落结构及环境解释

根据2014年7月台湾海峡中部、北部及邻近水域渔业资源底拖网调查资料,分析了该水域的鱼类群落结构,包括种类组成、区系特点、优势种、多样性及空间分布等,探讨了鱼类群落结构与环境因子的关系,并阐述了鱼类群落的群聚结构。结果表明,调查海域共捕获鱼类84种,隶属于16目、48科、69属。从种类数上看,适温类型以暖水种为主,区系类型以大陆架浅水底层鱼类以及大陆架岩礁性鱼类为主;从生物量组成上看,区系类型则以大陆架浅水中低层鱼类为主。优势种为带鱼(Trichiurus japonicus)和七星底灯鱼(Benthosema pterotum),合计渔获质量占总渔获质量的46.92%,对总渔获质量的回归贡献值分别为0.30和0.62;高生物量区集中分布在台湾海峡北口海域,在空间上表现为明显的生态位重叠。层次聚类分析将群落优势物种划分为2个主要的生态类型:沿海类型和广布类型,沿海类型的代表性物种包括龙头鱼、黄鲫、鳓;广布类型物种有带鱼、窄颅带鱼、七星底灯鱼、竹荚鱼、刺鲳、麦氏犀鳕。Shannon-Wiener多样性、Pielou均匀度和Margalef丰富度的变化范围分别为0.22~2.31、0.11~0.72、0.36~4.04,平均值分别为1.44、0.51、1.59,丰富度与总渔获质量表现为显著负相关(r=?0.65),与深度显著正相关(r=0.48)。物种?环境典范对应分析表明,与物种空间结构关系密切的影响因子为底盐、底层无机氮、底温、表底温差和水深;而影响群落优势群体分布的因子为底温、底盐和底层无机氮。     

北部湾带鱼空间聚散变化特征

本研究利用 2006―2018 年北部湾底拖网渔业资源调查的带鱼(Trichiurus haumela)资源密度数据, 通过标准差椭圆(standard deviational ellipse, SDE)分析带鱼空间分布格局, 利用广义可加模型(generalized additive model, GAM)研究带鱼资源密度与环境因子叶绿素 a (Chl-a)、海表水温异常值、水深、离岸距离、经度和纬度的关系, 为北部湾带鱼资源的可持续利用和保护提供科技支撑。研究结果显示, 北部湾带鱼资源密度分布呈逐年集聚现象, 渔场分布方向受海底地貌影响呈现西南–东北向, 夏季资源密度重心呈西南–东北向移动, 冬季资源密度重心呈南–北向移动, 且冬季带鱼资源密度重心较夏季更偏东北向; 春、秋季为带鱼主要的产卵季节, 其资源密度重心位于夏、冬季带鱼渔场中部。研究表明北部湾带鱼资源密度的逐年下降是导致其空间分布逐渐集聚的主要原因。Chl-a 对带鱼资源密度和空间分布均有影响, 水深、经度和海表水温异常值对带鱼资源密度有影响, 但对其空间分布无直接影响。     

Distribution of demersal fish assemblages along the west coast of St Lucia: Implications for planning no-take marine reserves

1. Evidence-based decisions relating to effective marine protected areas as a means of conserving biodiversity require a detailed understanding of the species present. The Caribbean island nation of St Lucia is expanding its current marine protected area network by designating additional no-take marine reserves on the west coast. However, information on the distribution of fish species is currently limited.
2. This study used baited remote underwater stereo-video to address this shortcoming by investigating the effects of depth and seabed habitat structure on demersal fish assemblages and comparing these assemblages between regions currently afforded different protection measures.
3. From the 87 stations visited a total of 5,921 fish were observed comprising 120 fish taxa across 22 families. Species richness and total abundance were higher within the highly managed region, which included no-take reserves. Redundancy analysis explained 17% of the total variance in fish distribution, driven predominantly by the seabed habitats. The redundancy analysis identified four main groups of demersal fishes each associated with specific seabed habitats.
4. The current no-take marine reserves protected two of these groups (i.e. fishes associated with the ‘soft corals, hard corals or gorgonians’ and ‘seagrass’ groups). Importantly, habitats dominated by sponges, bacterial mats, algal turfs or macroalgae, which also supported unique fish assemblages, are not currently afforded protection via the marine reserve network (based on the five reserves studied). These results imply that incorporation of the full breadth of benthic habitat types present would improve the efficacy of the marine reserve network by ensuring all fish assemblages are protected.

     

Shelf‐edge reefs as priority areas for conservation of reef fish diversity in the tropical Atlantic

• 1. Data from fishing surveys employing bottom long‐lines were analysed to characterize the diversity, assemblages and distribution patterns of demersal fish along the Brazilian outer shelf and upper slope, between latitudes 13°S and 22°S.
• 2. Non‐metric multi‐dimensional scaling (MDS) and cluster analysis indicate three distinct species assemblages separated primarily by depth (the 200 m isobath) and secondarily by latitude (19°S), suggesting a continual transition along the depth and latitudinal gradients in the study area. Species richness was negatively correlated with depth, but with no clear relationship with latitude.
• 3. Results suggest the existence of reef formations on the shelf‐edge zone (40–200 m) and slope down to 500 m depth off the eastern Brazilian coast. More than 75% of the catches recorded were reef fish species from the families Serranidae, Lutjanidae, Malacanthidae, Muraenidae, Sparidae, Balistidae, Carangidae, Haemulidae, Scorpaenidae and Priacanthidae.
• 4. The maximum depth of occurrence for 20 reef species was extended from limits previously recorded.
• 5. The findings reinforce the hypothesis of a faunal corridor for species associated with deep reef formations along the shelf‐edge zone (40–200 m), in the South American continental margin, connecting the south‐western Atlantic and the Caribbean provinces.
• 6. The shelf‐edge reefs support important multi‐species fisheries and harbour critical habitats for the life cycle of many reef fish species, including spawning aggregation sites that are extremely vulnerable to human pressures, such as intensive fishing, shipping and offshore oil and gas exploitation; all activities currently expanding off the Brazilian coast.
• 7. Results reveal the biological importance of deep shelf‐edge reefs as a critical ecological area. Despite their importance, shelf edge reefs are not currently included in any marine protected area network in the tropical south‐western Atlantic. There is now an urgent need to enhance knowledge, implement adequate management strategies and consider these deeper habitats as priority areas for conservation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

南沙群岛西南部陆架海区主要经济鱼类渔业生物学的初步研究

本文根据１９９２－１９９３年南沙群岛西南部陆架海区底拖网渔业资源调查资料，分析了 １７种主要经济鱼类的渔业生物学特性，并应用体长方法估计了 ｖｏｎ Ｂｅｒｔａｌａｎｆｆｙ生长参数（Ｌ和Ｋ）、总死亡系数、自然死亡系数、捕捞死亡系数和开发率，讨论了资源的开发状况。     

Benthic foraminifera as proxies of marine influence in the Orosei marine caves,Sardinia, Italy

1. As a result of their location at the boundary between marine and continental domains, marine caves are affected by wide spatial and seasonal environmental changes. Only recently have benthic foraminifera been recognized as reliable indicators for the ecological zonation of these environments.
2. The present study is focused on two marine caves of the Orosei Gulf, Sardinia, Italy: Bue Marino and Bel Torrente. It investigates the spatial and seasonal variability of benthic foraminiferal assemblages relative to sediment grain size and water parameters (temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen) collected during two campaigns in August 2014 and April 2015. The results from 2014 have been partially published.
3. Based on a comparison of the results of the two campaigns, the considerable reduction of foraminiferal abundance in Bel Torrente was deduced to occur because of the strong freshwater flows occurring during the rainy season; in Bue Marino, the less severe water flow allowed the identification of both living and dead foraminifera, although strongly reduced in number. These identifications allowed benthic foraminifera to be used to define the ecological zonation.
4. Entrance, confluence, and transitional ecozones were identified in Bue Marino cave on the basis of species abundance. The second ecozone, not recognized in 2014, was correlated with plant debris at the confluence of the two cave branches. The other two ecozones, which are characterized by the faunal shift from hyaline‐ to agglutinated‐prevalent assemblages, were attributed to the gradient of abiotic parameters detected from the outer to the inner portions of the cave. In both campaigns the same ecozones were recognized in terms of species composition, with exceptions being found to different extents as a result of seasonal variability.
5. As the distribution of foraminiferal ecozones is conditioned by a decreasing gradient of marine influence, long‐term monitoring may be regarded as a promising tool for future studies on sea‐level change.

     

Cyclic fluctuations of blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) linked to open‐sea convection processes in the northwestern Mediterranean

In the Mediterranean, blue whiting, Micromesistius poutassou, constitutes a traditional fisheries resource. Over several decades, blue whiting landings in the Catalan coast (northwestern Mediterranean) have displayed cyclical variations, of c. 6 yrs, slightly decreased to five in the last two decades, as shown through wavelet analysis. These fluctuations have persisted under very different levels of fishing effort. This study evaluates the hypothesis that deep‐water formation in the adjacent Gulf of Lions, and the enhanced primary productivity related to it, determines recruitment strength in blue whiting that results ultimately in the observed periodicity of the blue whiting landings. The link between landings and environmental drivers was explored using lagged cross‐correlations, with 0‐ and 1‐yr lag. The variables considered included large‐scale indices [North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and the Atlantic Multi‐decadal Oscillation (AMO)], Mediterranean climate indices [MO and Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO)], and variables defining the local environmental conditions in the northwestern Mediterranean (sea‐air heat flux, winter air temperature anomaly and Rhône river runoff). Significant correlations were only found between landings (1961–2011) and sea‐air heat flux, which is generally taken as an indicator of processes of deep water convection, at 0 and 1‐yr lag. These results suggest that the observed fluctuations in blue whiting landings respond to oceanographic processes taking place in the Gulf of Lions.     

A geostatistical approach for the stock assessment of the edible sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, in four coastal zones of Southern and West Sardinia (SW Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

Quantitative surveys of the edible sea urchin, Paracentrotus lividus, were conducted in four fishing zones of Sardinia (Southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea), in Autumn 2007. A total of 120 stations were geo-located along a bathymetric gradient ranging from 0 to 10 m. A geostatistical method was used to evaluate spatial patterns in density and to estimate harvestable stocks. Variographic analyses showed that the isotropic Gaussian and spherical models successfully explained the spatial structure of sea urchin assemblages in these areas. Density maps obtained by punctual kriging showed that sea urchin populations tend to be patchy rather than uniform in their density distribution. A combination of mapping and size categories was used to generate diverse scenarios of harvestable stocks (specimens ≥50 mm in diameter) before the start of the current fishing season. We conclude that the geostatistical approach, which takes into consideration the spatial autocorrelation structure of the populations in small areas, seems to be a good estimator of P. lividus density and biomass and for the assessment of its harvestable stocks, and thus provides an initial step towards a scientific approach to the management of local sea urchin fisheries.     

南沙群岛西南陆架区底拖网主要经济渔获种类组成和数量变动

根据1993-2002年南海区3省市渔业公司在南沙群岛西南陆架区底拖网的生产资料和渔业资源调查资料，分析了底拖网主要渔获种类组成和数量变动。结果表明，底拖网渔获种类组成基本相同，主要渔获经济种类有20多种，以蛇鲻属（Synodidae）、大眼鲷属（Priacanthidae）等底层鱼类为主，占总渔获物的70．9％。经济鱼类资源渔获率有明显的年间变动。底层鱼类资源除蛇鲻属和大眼鲷属外，其他种类如石斑鱼属（Serranidae）、鲱鲤属（Mullidae）、红笛鲷（L．sanguineus）、黄鳍马面纯（T．xanthopterus）、刺鲳（Psenopsis anomala）等波动很大，而中上层鱼类资源和头足类资源则相对稳定。分析认为捕捞是引起经济鱼类资源数量变动的主要原因。