Measuring fish catch and consumption: Practical methods for small‐scale fisheries based on length as an alternative to weight‐based approaches

Small‐scale fisheries are recognised as making important contributions to nutrition and economic development despite a lack of accurate quantitative information on catches and consumption. While direct measurement remains the most appropriate way of collecting such data, it is impractical at large scales. Instead, household surveys based upon informant recall of fish caught and/or consumed are frequently used. However, the accuracy of weight recall by informants (even over short recall periods) has not been established. Using data from household surveys, the accuracy and precision of catch and consumption estimates derived from: (a) asking informants to recall weights of fish caught and (b) asking respondents to recall lengths of fish caught and converting to weight were tested. Length‐based methods, using visual aids to assist recall, were more accurate, precise and correctable. These methods could be useful for catch estimation, especially where fish are processed, sold or consumed shortly after capture.     

基于改进VMD的离心泵空化声发射信号特征提取

针对变分模态分解算法中分解层数和惩罚因子不易确定的问题,提出一种改进变分模态分解(improved variational mode decomposition,IVMD)算法,并将其应用于离心泵空化声发射信号特征提取.应用IVMD算法时,首先根据包络熵差异系数确定变分模态分解的分解层数;然后采用人工蜂群算法优化得出惩罚因子,并将其作为变分模态分解的最佳输入参数.利用IVMD算法对仿真信号进行分析,并与集合经验模态分解结果进行比较.以60%额定流量下采集到的离心泵进口处的声发射信号为例进行IVMD计算,分析携带原信号大量信息的信号分量的频域特征及其绝对能量随离心泵空化状态变化的关系.结果表明:IVMD算法能够择优确定分解层数和惩罚因子,实现非平稳信号的自适应分解.反映离心泵空化状态的声发射信号特征频率集中在50,100 kHz及其附近.随着离心泵空化从无到有、从弱到强的变化,这2个特征频率范围信号分量绝对能量值呈“基本保持不变-减小-增大”的变化规律.     

垂直轴风力机翼型涡流噪声的数值分析

为了了解垂直轴风力机翼型涡流噪声特性,以LUT翼型为研究对象,首先利用Fluent进行流场分析,流场计算选用DES湍流模型,再结合Lighthill声类比方法计算翼型周围声场,将数值模拟计算得到的气动特性相关数据与该翼型的风洞试验结果作对比分析,同时分析了不同攻角对该翼型气动噪声特性的影响,最后研究了在攻角为8°时不同雷诺数对该翼型的声压级指向性特征影响.结果表明:数值计算所得气动数据与风动试验数据拟合良好,建立的仿真模型、网格质量和边界条件合理有效;随攻角增加,翼型涡脱落从尾缘向前缘推进,同时涡流脱落强度增大,气动噪声增强;随着雷诺数的增加,翼型四周声压级先增加后减小;雷诺数与声压级关联较大,控制叶片雷诺数有助于降低叶片噪声,为该翼型适用于低噪声垂直轴叶片提供理论基础.     

Movement behaviour of large female yellow European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in a freshwater polder area

Due to a recruitment decline of more than 90% in 30 years, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) has been classified by IUCN as critically endangered. Although the species has been studied intensively to obtain knowledge to improve management, studies about the resident yellow stage are relatively scarce. In this study, 52 large female yellow eels were tagged with acoustic transmitters in a Belgian polder system and tracked by a network of 23 automatic listening stations. We studied both circadian and seasonal movement patterns and the effect of environmental variables on these patterns. Large female yellow eels were most active at night in late summer and early autumn. A generalised linear mixed model showed that their movement is only slightly influenced by environmental variables. Moreover, as yellow eels show high site fidelity (i.e., the majority was detected only in the habitat type of their catch‐release location), they do not encounter many human‐induced connectivity problems in polder systems, which makes these systems highly suitable as eel growth habitat. These results can contribute to an effective eel management regarding habitat protection and restoration.     

Migration pathways,speed and mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts in a Scottish river and the near‐shore coastal marine environment

Long‐distance migration of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is known to result in high levels of mortality. For a species experiencing global population decline, it is thus vital to better understand migration behaviour, both in the river and marine stages. Atlantic salmon smolts (n = 50) were tracked using acoustic telemetry in the River Deveron, Scotland, and adjacent coastal area. Higher rates of mortality were observed in the river (0.77% per km) than the early marine stage of migration (0.0% per km). Mortality likely resulted from predation. Higher swim speeds were recorded in the early marine stage compared with the river (marine = 7.37 ± 28.20 km/day; river = 5.03 ± 1.73 km/day [mean ± SD]), a potential predator avoidance behaviour. The majority of smolts leaving the river did so in darkness and on a flooding tide. Overall river and marine migration success were linked to nights of lower lunar brightness. Marine migration speed decreased with increasing environmental noise levels, a finding with implications for fisheries management. The migration pathway in the early marine environment did not follow obvious geographical features, such as the coastline. Thus, we suggest that early marine environment pathways are more influenced by complex water currents. These findings highlight factors that influence smolt migration survival and behaviour, areas on which future research should focus.     

Potential application of baited remote underwater video to survey abundance of west coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii

The first assessment of the baited remote underwater video system (BRUVs) for monitoring rock lobster Jasus lalandii (Milne‐Edwards) in South Africa was compared to annual ring net and trap survey data. Count data from 58 BRUVs, 36 ring net and 95 trap samples were fitted with generalised additive models using depth, habitat, time and spatial gradient as independent variables. A power analysis was used to determine the number of samples needed per annum to detect a 5 and 10% increase and decrease in population size. The BRUVs outperformed the nets and traps in terms of sampling effort and were better at detecting changes in abundance of lobster than abundance of three fish species. Considering factors such as cost, analysis time, additional data and environmental impact, traps are the most feasible method in deeper waters but BRUVs could replace nets and traps in depths less than 60 m, low‐density areas and marine reserves.     

Winter movement activity patterns of anadromous Arctic charr in two Labrador lakes

Anadromous Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, feed in the marine environment for several months during the summer and migrate back to fresh water in late summer to spawn and/or overwinter. While overwintering, anadromous Arctic charr are generally believed to reduce or cease feeding, and they are poorly described in their winter movement activity. This study used telemetry data collected from two locations to describe overwintering movement activity, including interindividual variation. Movement activity declined markedly during the ice‐covered period, suggesting opportunistic maintenance feeding was used as an energy conservation strategy. Fall and spring movement was correlated with daylight hours, and ice break‐up had a significant effect on the timing of outmigration. Movement activity was negatively correlated with body length, with smaller individuals being more active than larger fish. Although general activity patterns were evident, there were significant differences among individuals, particularly during spring immediately prior to lake departure. Lake size and individual differences in metabolic rate may account for some of this variation.     

大连市中心区声环境功能区划调整研究

在分析了大连市中心区声环境功能区划调整必要性的基础上,全面评估了现有区划实施效果,以问题为导向提出了区划调整的方法体系,并阐述了区划调整结果的可行性,为城市环境噪声管理和防治提供科学依据。     

Using acoustic telemetry and snorkel surveys to study diel activity and seasonal migration of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in an estuary of the Western Baltic Sea

In just two decades, round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas) has dispersed throughout most of the Baltic and the North American Great Lakes. It thrives in shallow sheltered areas, where it is impacting native fauna. In Denmark, researchers, governmental institutions and fishers have joined in an effort to establish a sustainable round goby fishery. To do so, basic information about the movement of round goby is essential, so the movements of 50 round gobies were tracked using acoustic telemetry. The results revealed that activity took place mainly at night and seasonal migrations were common. The most frequent migration behaviour observed was a seaward return migration during winter, which was further confirmed by a snorkel survey. Tracking data also revealed riverine upstream dispersal. The results demonstrate that the round goby can be mapped using telemetry, and it is suggested that fishing for round goby may improve efficiency by targeting seasonal migration corridors.