Effects of fishing practice changes on pelagic shark longline captures in the Gulf of Gabes,Tunisia

1. In order to increase their catches, longliners targeting sharks in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, have increased the number of hooks per basket and have included new bait types instead of mackerel (Scomber scombrus). This paper reports the effects of these changes on catch composition, catch rates, size distribution, life‐stage captures, and mortality at haulback.
2. Data from 48 and 96 longline sets, carried out during the shark fishing seasons of 2007 and 2008, with two hooks per basket, and 2016 and 2017, with five hooks per basket, respectively, were examined to assess the effect of gear change. Moreover, the effects of bait types were inspected based on 33 fishing sets using whole mackerel, 19 using salema (Sarpa salpa) halves, and 27 using pieces of stingray (Dasyatis spp.), sampled during 2016 and 2017.
3. The species composition indicated that longliners expand the vertical distribution of their hooks to operate from the surface to the bottom. The catches with both longline designs were dominated by sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus). Despite gear changes, the catch rate of C. plumbeus decreased by 42.21%, suggesting population decline. The size composition indicated a shift towards larger specimens, mainly adult females, which could jeopardize the shark population. Moreover, the mortality of the main species at haulback seems to be affected by the design of the longline.
4. The bait used, mainly pieces of stingray, significantly increased the catch rate of sandbar shark, which suggests a greater attractiveness of the new bait; however, fish size and mortality rates at haulback were unchanged in response to bait variation.
5. The fishery operates in shark nursery grounds, which exposes these fish (principally C. plumbeus) to considerable exploitation pressure. The new fishing practices intensified the pressure and thus the risk of a rapid depletion of populations. To preserve the shark species in the area, the use of new gear and attractive bait should be banned.

     

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.

     

Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) distribution in relation to sea surface temperature fronts in the Gulf of Maine (1994–96)

Fishery‐linked aerial surveys for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) were conducted in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) from July through October, 1994–96. Each year, from 507 to 890 surface schools were detected and their locations examined in relation to oceanographic conditions. Correlations between bluefin tuna presence and environmental variables were explored for sea surface temperature (SST), distance to a SST front, frontal density (relative density of all SST fronts seen in a given 1 km area for 2 weeks prior to each tuna sighting), and bottom depth and slope. Mean SST associated with bluefin schools was 18.1°C (±2.8). Schools were located at a mean distance of 19.7 km (±19.6) from SST fronts, and in water masses with an average frontal density of 28.2 m km^?2 (±35.7). Mean bottom depth of detected schools was 139.0 m (±70.3), and mean bottom slope was 0.7% rise (±0.7). A binomial generalized linear model fit to these variables indicated that bluefin are seen closer to fronts than locations in which no tuna were seen. Using simple and partial Mantel tests, we investigated the spatial correlation between bluefin tuna presence and the environmental variables, controlling for spatial autocorrelation. For each day that schools were sighted, we performed 24 Mantel tests, on a combination of response and predictor variables. The spatial relationship between bluefin tuna and SST fronts was inconsistent. Our analysis identified significant spatial structure in the bluefin school locations that had no significant correlation with any of the measured environmental features, suggesting that other untested features, such as prey density, may be important predictors of bluefin distribution in the GOM.     

Effects of changing spatial scale on acoustic observations of patchiness in the Gulf Stream

We examine the influence of spatial scale on studies of nektonic patchiness at the north edge of the Gulf Stream by altering the grain size of acoustic cross sections and applying a patch-finding algorithm. From original pictures of 180 pixels deep by 540–1260 pixels long, we averaged depth and length, to give 9 scales ranging from fine grain (1 m vertical × 25 m horizontal sized pixels) to coarse grain (12 m × 300 m sized pixels). Measures of overall echo intensity within patches were the most predictable and showed little change with scale. Measures of variability of the echo within patches showed simple negative trends with scale and were best measured at fine spatial scales. Patch size and shape related variables have a more complex relationship with scale with differences between day and night transects more pronounced at intermediate scales. This suggests behavioral patch forming mechanisms within the nekton occur at a specific grain size (4 m vertical × 100 m horizontal) within the Gulf Stream front.     

Aerobic bacterial flora of the nasal cavity in Gulf of California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups

Nasal swab samples from clinically healthy California sea lions pups (Zalophus californianus) from six different reproductive rookeries in the Gulf of California were collected to determine the type and frequency of the representative aerobic bacterial microflora of their nasal mucosa. A total of 114 samples were examined and 100 bacterial isolates were identified and typified by microbiological and biochemical standard tests. Fifty four isolates corresponded to Gram positive bacteria (54%) and 46 isolates to Gram negative bacteria (46%). Fifteen bacterial genera were identified, including Micrococcus, Arcanobacterium, Corynebacterium, Moraxella, Neisseria, Escherichia, Kurthia, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Brevibacillus, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas and Aeromonas. The most frequently isolated genera were Moraxella (24%), Micrococcus (18%), and Corynebacterium (15%). These results show the presence in the nasal cavity of sea lions of several microorganisms. Although considered part of the normal microflora, they may also be opportunistic pathogens for their hosts and may act as a potential natural sentinel of environmental changes.     

《中越北部湾渔业合作协定》对我国南海各省（区）海洋渔业影响的初步分析

在初步分析了《中华人民共和国政府和越南社会主义共和国政府北部湾 渔业合作协定》的签定背景和主要内容的基础上，本文针对我国在北部湾业现状，由此可能产生的影响以及应采取的对策进行了初步探讨，认为划界后，南海区将有大批渔船湾西部渔场退出，造成经济损失约99．3亿元，同时渔民转产难度较大，会对近海渔业资源造成更大压力，增大机动渔船禁渔区和禁渔期等制度实施难度。此外，由于渔船的装备和渔民的水平等，难以确切把握北部湾的分界线，容易造成纠纷。本文据此对我国在北部渔业管理中应注意的问题提出几点看法；（1）扩大宣传，提高全社会保护渔业资源的理解；（2）降低捕捞强度，继续调整作业结构；（3）调查渔业资源，合理制定资源开发，利用方案；（4）成立专门机构，统一贯彻落实新规定。     

广西北部湾经济区生态承载力研究

基于生态足迹的基本理论方法,利用RS、GIS空间技术和手段,从图斑尺度对1990、2000、2005～2010年广西北部湾经济区生态承载力供给进行定量计算和空间格局分析.结果表明:广西北部湾经济区人均生态承载力从1990年的0.726 7 gha/cap,到2010年人均生态承载力减少到0.556 0 gha/cap,20年间人均生态承载力减少0.170 7 gha/cap.广西北部湾经济区生态承载力供给空间分布极不均匀,表现出明显的地带性与局地性,整体以大明山和十万大山为分隔带,两大山脉两侧生态承载力较高.     

基于GIS的广西北部湾经济区生态系统间接利用价值评估研究

针对目前生态系统间接利用价值评估中缺乏空间表达、对数据要求高、评估效率低等不足,构建了基于GIS的广西北部湾经济区生态系统间接利用价值评估方法.2005 ～ 2010年北部湾经济区间接利用价值呈现上升趋势;按研究区域间接利用价值统计,价值最高的是南宁市辖区,价值最低是北海市辖区;按单位面积间接利用价值统计,上思县价值最高,北海市辖区最低;间接价值较高区域主要分布在较高植被覆盖度的区域,如南宁市辖区、钦州市辖区、灵山县、上思县和防城港市辖区.     

县域人口集聚度与经济集聚度的面板数据分析——基于北部湾城镇群的实证研究

基于北部湾城镇群22个县域单元,利用面板数据模型,实证分析了人口集聚度与经济集聚度时空变化及相互关联情况。结果表明,人口集聚度与经济集聚度存在双向因果关系;南宁市、北海市、防城港市、玉林市及北部湾整体的县域人口集聚度与经济集聚度之间相互呈正效应,而钦州市、崇左市分别相互呈负效应、弱负效应。未来,北部湾城镇群应实施"大县城"战略,大力发展县域经济,加强县域尤其是县城的人口集聚与经济集聚,提高经济发展效率,优化城镇结构,走出一条富有自身特色的新型城镇化道路。     

基于问卷调查的广西北部湾居民对废弃土地的响应--以钦州市钦南区为例

采用问卷调查的方式,以钦州市钦南区为例,调查广西北部湾经济开发区荒废土地现状以及当地村民的反应。调查结果表明,在接受调查范围内有55%的村民有荒废土地;针对荒废土地的处理,45%的村民表示将荒废土地转让,33%的村民表示任其自由发展;面对被荒废的土地,28%的村民迫切想改变现状,41%的表示无能为力,31%的持无所谓态度。针对上述情况,分析了原因并提出了一定的措施,以期为当地的土地规划和利用提供参考。