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.

     

An ecosystem modelling approach to deriving viable harvest strategies for multispecies management of the Northern Gulf of California

• 1. An ecosystem analysis was developed focusing on resource exploitation and biodiversity conservation for the Northern Gulf of California. The main tools employed were a trophic ecosystem model and time dynamic simulations.
• 2. The ecosystem was represented by an Ecopath model that included 34 functional groups, from primary producers to top predators. It included relevant species in the area such as commercially important shrimp (e.g. Litopenaeus stylirostris) and highly endangered species (Phocoena sinus and Totoaba macdonaldi).
• 3. Temporal simulations of changing fishing effort allowed the evaluation of fishing impact on the ecosystem components and, particularly, on protected species. Formal optimization methods were applied with the purpose of searching viable temporal patterns of fishing effort that might minimize social, economic and conservationist conflicts in the area.
• 4. The results of those simulations showed the capability of the model to represent reference temporal series of relative biomass. The search for viable fishing strategies resulted in effort allocation consistent with those proposed by other studies; that is, a decrease in the industrial shrimp fleet (35–65%), a decrease in the gillnet fishing fleet (52–57%), and an increase of the artisanal shrimp fishery (63–222%).
• 5. The main conflicts in the Northern Gulf of California seem to take place between social and conservation interests, while the economic and ecological benefits seem to be relatively independent. The next steps towards conflict resolution and ecosystem management should consider the design and operation of MPAs already established in the region.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative analysis of ichthyoplankton sampling gear for early life stages of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma)

Comparative gear tows were conducted during the summers of 1987–1990 in the Gulf of Alaska. Efficiencies of four types of ichthyoplankton sampling gear were compared with respect to total catch and size distribution of larval fish. Fish were sampled using the bongo net (333 and 505 μm mesh), 1 m Tucker net, 3 m Tucker net and the Methot frame net. Results indicate that the bongo and the 1 m Tucker nets caught similar numbers and size distribution of fish. The larger 3 m Tucker and Method frame nets caught a larger size class of fish but a smaller total catch. Although there was a slightly significant diel difference in total catch detected in the smaller nets, no diel differences in size distribution of fish caught were detected for any of the nets.     

Growth and biometric relationships of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata (Gould) on transplanting from the Gulf of Mannar to the Arabian Sea

Comparative studies were made on the growth and biometric relationships of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata (Gould) Tuticorin stock at (Tuticorin (TST) – parent stock) transplanted from the Tuticorin Bay (8.7°N; 78.2°E) in the Gulf of Mannar along the Indian southeast coast to Kollam Bay (8.8°N; 76.5°E) in the Arabian Sea along the Indian southwest coast (Tuticorin stock at Kollam (TSK) – transplanted stock). At the time of transplantation, Kollam Bay did not have a native stock, however, within a year, the transplanted stock spawned and oyster spats were collected from within the farm (Kollam stock (KS) – progeny stock). The growth in dorso‐ventral measurement and total weight in Kollam Bay was 1.4–1.6 times and 3.1 to 6.8 times respectively greater than that observed at Tuticorin. Furthermore, at Kollam Bay, the thickness observed at the end of first year was similar to that obtained at the end of second year in Tuticorin. Both the TSK and KS had significantly higher instantaneous growth rates (IGR) than TST. All the stocks displayed significantly different biometric relationships. The increased growth in Kollam Bay is attributed to the almost double productivity in the Arabian Sea compared with the Bay of Bengal. It is concluded that in the case of P. fucata, the site and its interaction with environment are important determinants of growth and shell dimensions. The present study clearly indicates that the environmental conditions prevailing along the southeast Arabian Sea are congenial for the growth, gametogenesis, spawning and settlement of P. fucata larvae. In spite of strong monsoonal influences in the hydrology of Kollam Bay, the growth and reproduction of P. fucata stocks indicates its relative hardiness and ability to adapt to a changed environment.     

Biophysical dynamics of western transition zones: a preliminary synthesis

The nature of the western portions of the biogeographic temperate or transition zones in the North Pacific and North Atlantic is reviewed. The physical transport of nutrients and biomass into them from the Kuroshio and Gulf Stream as well as from the poleward sides are estimated. The conclusion is that the upwelling in the two western boundary currents makes the largest contribution to the nutrient and biomass fluxes into these transition zones. A conservative estimate of the amount of upwelled fluid is derived from absolute velocity sections in the Gulf Stream. The estimate suggests that upwelling into the euphotic zone exceeds 2 × 10⁶ m³ s^–1. This implies that upwelling in these western boundary currents matches or exceeds that in eastern boundary currents such as the California Current. The two western boundary regimes have very different poleward situations. The Oyashio extension flows parallel to the Kuroshio and is a deep current. The North Atlantic Shelf Front flow is to the west where it is ultimately entrained into the edge of the Gulf Stream. There does not seem to be any tendency for this to occur in the Kuroshio. Despite these differences in the northern and western boundaries, the two transition zones are similar with large amplitude meanders, anticyclonic rings and streamers dominating their physical structure. The physical features responsible for the transfer of materials from the boundary current extensions into the transition zones are similar in both systems. Ring formation contributes only ? 10% of the transfer, while ring‐induced streamers contribute 30%. The rest of the transport is contributed by branching of the boundary current front. Both currents have well developed secondary fronts consisting of subtropical surface water pulled into the transition zone. Biologically, the upwelling in both western boundary currents leads to a biomass maximum along the boundary in both secondary producers (copepods) and in small pelagic fish. In the Kuroshio, the latter are the Japanese sardine, Sardinops melanostictus, that spawn in the Kuroshio and then enter the transition zone for the summer and fall months. In the Gulf Stream, the dominate species are menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus and B. smithi. These species make use of the coastal environments of North America and although the adults spawn in the Gulf Stream, they are not thought to play a major role in the Slope Water, transition zone. The similar differences in the use of the Kuroshio and the Gulf Stream ecosystems occurs in the behaviour of bluefin tuna, squid and other large pelagics. The Gulf Stream system also lacks an equivalent to Pacific saury, Cololabis saira. The biology therefore is at least subtly different, with saury and sardines being replaced by mid‐water fish in the North Atlantic. A fuller comparison of the biology with quantitative methods in both systems should be encouraged.     

Provincial Comparative Advantages of Watermelon Production in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

[目的]阐明西瓜生产比较优势区域的空间特征,为广西及中国西瓜产业战略决策提供重要的参考依据。[方法]利用广西及中国的农业统计资料,以产量比较优势指数、效率比较优势指数、规模比较优势指数、集中度比较优势指数、综合比较优势、单位面积产量比指数和播种面积比指数分析广西及中国西瓜生产比较优势状况,并通过＆quot;地图汇＆quot;软件在地图上进行空间表达。以基于省域的广西及中国西瓜播种面积、总产量和单位面积产量为研究单元,系统分析广西及中国西瓜产量、效率、规模、集中度、综合比较优势和单位面积产量比、播种面积比及其空间分布特征。[结果]中国西瓜生产优势区域依次是山东、河南、安徽、河北、湖北、江苏、湖南、浙江和广西等9个省区,华中和华东产区为中国西瓜生产的综合比较优势区,华南、东北、华北和西北产区可作为后备发展区域。西南产区近年来在瓜果类生中优先发展西瓜产业,其优势不断增强。[结论]以研究结果为依据,确定西瓜为广西近期发展的优势农产品,进一步优化广西西瓜产业的区域优势布局,提升西瓜专业化生产水平,推动区域间健康有序竞争。     

广西蔗糖产业经济基础数据管理系统的研建

基于B/S 3层架构,采用Visual Studio 2010+SQL Server 2008的开发方案构建了广西蔗糖产业经济基础数据库管理系统。系统采用NHibernate数据操作和j Query数据表现技术,不仅可对全国蔗糖最大主产区广西的蔗糖产业信息进行有效管理,避免有用的数据随时间流失,还可为农业科研人员、政府部门及广大农业生产者提供数据及分析服务,必将推动广西蔗糖产业乃至全国蔗糖产业的发展。     

广西地区桉树人工林外来入侵植物现状与防治对策研究

根据野外调查,探讨了广西桉树人工林外来入侵植物的种类组成、生长型、危害程度和生活史对策。结果表明院桉树人工林内现有外来入侵植物12科26属30种,种数最多为菊科植物,有13种,占总种数43.3%,生活型组成以草本植物为主,共有23种,占总物种数76.7%;危害状况严重的有7种。改变林地清理方式、适当人工清理和加强监控管理是控制入侵植物危害的有效途径。     

桂林市水稻主栽品种对南方水稻黑条矮缩病的抗性评价

采取田间自然诱发的方式,对桂林34个水稻主栽品种进行南方水稻黑条矮缩病抗性评价,结果表明:表现为抗病的有淦鑫203、顺优109、株两优4024、T78优2155、岳优9113、中浙优8号、中浙优1号、Y两优302、桂两优2号等14个品种;表现为感病的有陆两优28、EK优18、淦鑫206、五优308、淦鑫699、丰源优299、Q优6号、丰两优4号等20个品种;未发现免疫品种。建议农户选用上述抗性较好的品种,慎用高感品种。同时,在现阶段,"治虱防矮"仍然是防治水稻南方黑条矮缩病的最主要措施。