Relationship between freshwater input to the coastal zone and the historical landings of the benthic/demersal fish Eleginops maclovinus in central-south Chile

The ecosystem off central-south Chile is one of the most productive marine systems in the world, providing approximately 4% of worldwide fish captures. We analysed the effect of freshwater input (river runoff and rainfall) to the coastal zone in central-south Chile (36°00'–37°30' lat. S) on the landings of the Róbalo ( Eleginops maclovinus ) using the following data: Róbalo annual landing statistics, monthly mean and annual mean runoff of Itata (1975–91) and Bio-Bio rivers (1975–94), and cumulative monthly rainfall and annual mean rainfall (1975–94). Time series were smoothed using three-point equally weighted running means. To analyse the relationship between Róbalo's landing and river runoff, as well as rainfall, Pearson's product-moment correlation analyses were conducted at relevant lag times. The statistical significance of correlation coefficients was calculated taking into account intraseries autocorrelation. Our results showed that Róbalo's landings were significantly correlated to freshwater input to the coastal zone in central-south Chile. Thus, significant correlation coefficients were found between annual Róbalo's landings and: (i) annual mean runoff of the Itata ( r =−0.94) and Bio-Bio ( r =−0.80) rivers lagged 3 and 4 years, respectively, and (ii) annual mean rainfall lagged 4 years ( r =−0.75). The lag time at which highest correlation coefficients between annual mean environmental and annual landing time series took place (i.e. 3–4 years) corresponded to the age at which Róbalo reaches the minimum exploitation size. Accordingly, we hypothesize that river runoff and rainfall strongly influence the survival rate of Róbalo's early stages during the first year of life.     

Time series analyses reveal transient relationships between abundance of larval anchovy and environmental variables in the coastal waters southwest of Taiwan

We investigated environmental effects on larval anchovy fluctuations (based on CPUE from 1980 to 2000) in the waters off southwestern Taiwan using advanced time series analyses, including the state-space approach to remove seasonality, wavelet analysis to investigate transient relationships, and stationary bootstrap to test correlation between time series. For large-scale environmental effects, we used the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) to represent the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO); for local hydrographic conditions, we used sea surface temperature (SST), river runoff, and mixing conditions. Whereas the anchovy catch consisted of a northern species ( Engraulis japonicus ) and two southern species ( Encrasicholina heteroloba and Encrasicholina punctifer ), the magnitude of the anchovy catch appeared to be mainly determined by the strength of Eng. japonicus (Japanese anchovy). The main factor that caused the interannual variation of anchovy CPUE might change through time. The CPUE showed a negative correlation with combination of water temperature and river runoff before 1987 and a positive correlation with river runoff after 1988. Whereas a significant negative correlation between CPUE and ENSOs existed, this correlation was driven completely by the low-frequency ENSO events and explained only 10% of the variance. Several previous studies on this population emphasized that the fluctuations of larval anchovy abundance were determined by local SST. Our analyses indicated that such a correlation was transient and simply reflected ENSO signals. Recent advances in physical oceanography around Taiwan showed that the ENSOs reduced the strength of the Asian monsoon and thus weakened the China Coastal Current toward Taiwan. The decline of larval anchovy during ENSO may be due to reduced China Coastal Current, which is important in facilitating the spawning migration of the Japanese anchovy.     

Fluctuations of landings and environmental conditions in the north-western Mediterranean Sea

Most of the monthly catches and CPUE of 13 studied commercial species in the coastal waters of the north-western Mediterranean were significantly positively correlated with run-off of local rivers (Rhône and Muga) and the wind mixing index during the spawning season, with time lags of less than a year (transfer function analyses). Rhône and Ebre interannual fluctuations in run-off were synchronous and were related to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), river run-offs being negatively correlated to high NAO episodes. The fluctuations of river discharges and the wind mixing index were cyclic but not related. The results showed that enhanced hydroclimatic conditions in the NW Mediterranean were favourable for the productivity of the fish and invertebrate stocks, and suggest the presence of linkage between recruitment of Mediterranean species and local (river discharges, wind conditions) and global (NAO) environmental conditions.     

Impact of freshwater input and wind on landings of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus) in shelf waters surrounding the Ebre (Ebro) River delta (north-western Mediterranean)

Time series analyses (Box–Jenkins models) were used to study the influence of river runoff and wind mixing index on the productivity of the two most abundant species of small pelagic fish exploited in waters surrounding the Ebre (Ebro) River continental shelf (north‐western Mediterranean): anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus). River flow and wind were selected because they are known to enhance fertilization and local planktonic production, thus being crucial for the survival of fish larvae. Time series of the two environmental variables and landings of the two species were analysed to extract the trend and seasonality. All series displayed important seasonal and interannual fluctuations. In the long term, landings of anchovy declined while those of sardine increased. At the seasonal scale, landings of anchovy peaked during spring/summer while those of sardine peaked during spring and autumn. Seasonality in landings of anchovy was stronger than in sardine. Concerning the environmental series, monthly average Ebre runoff showed a progressive decline from 1960 until the late 1980s, and the wind mixing index was highest during 1994–96. Within the annual cycle, the minimum river flow occurs from July to October and the wind mixing peaks in winter (December–April, excluding January). The results of the analyses showed a significant correlation between monthly landings of anchovy and freshwater input of the Ebre River during the spawning season of this species (April–August), with a time lag of 12 months. In contrast, monthly landings of sardine were significantly positively correlated with the wind mixing index during the spawning season of this species (November–March), with a lag of 18 months. The results provide evidence of the influence of riverine inputs and wind mixing on the productivity of small pelagic fish in the north‐western Mediterranean. The time lags obtained in the relationships stress the importance of river runoff and wind mixing for the early stages of anchovy and sardine, respectively, and their impact on recruitment.     

Oceanographic investigation of the American Samoa albacore (Thunnus alalunga) habitat and longline fishing grounds

The American Samoa fishing ground is a dynamic region with strong mesoscale eddy activity and temporal variability on scales of <1 week. Seasonal and interannual variability in eddy activity, induced by baroclinic instability that is fueled by horizontal shear between the eastward‐flowing South Equatorial Counter Current (SECC) and the westward‐flowing South Equatorial Current (SEC), seems to play an important role in the performance of the longline fishery for albacore. Mesoscale eddy variability in the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) peaks from March to April, when the kinetic energy of the SECC is at its strongest. Longline albacore catch tends to be highest at the eddy edges, while albacore catch per effort (CPUE) shows intra‐annual variability with high CPUE that lags the periods of peak eddy activity by about 2 months. When CPUE is highest, the values are distributed toward the northern half of the EEZ, the region affected most by the SECC. Further indication of the possible importance of the SECC for longline performance is the significant drop in eddy variability in 2004 when compared with that observed in 2003 – resulting from a weak SECC – which was accompanied by a substantial drop in albacore CPUE rates and a lack of northward intensification of CPUE. From an ecosystem perspective, evidence to support higher micronekton biomass in the upper 200 m at eddy boundaries is inconclusive. Albacore's vertical distribution seems to be governed by the presence of prey. Albacore spend most of their time between 150 and 250 m, away from the deep daytime and shallow nighttime sonic scattering layers, at depths coinciding with those of small local maxima in micronekton biomass whose backscattering properties are consistent with those of albacore's preferred prey. Settling depths of longline sets during periods of decreased eddy activity correspond to those most occupied by albacore, possibly contributing to the lower CPUE by reducing catchability through rendering bait less attractive to albacore in the presence of prey.     

Fluctuation in the distribution of low-salinity water in the North Equatorial Current and its effect on the larval transport of the Japanese eel

Surface water in the North Equatorial Current (NEC) is composed of southern low‐salinity water diluted by precipitation to less than 34.2 psu and northern, high‐salinity tropical water greater than 34.8 psu. Analyses of 27‐year historical data, observed in winter and summer along the longitude 137°E by the Japan Meteorological Agency, shows that an obvious salinity front (34.5 psu) generated by the two water masses was usually located around 15°N. However, the salinity front has been moving northward during the past three decades. El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affected salinity in the surface layer, while temperature changed in the middle layer. The salinity front sometimes moved southward, mainly south of 5°N, and the movement was well correlated with the southern oscillation index (SOI). Because precipitation at Yap (9.5°N, 138.1°E) fluctuated with SOI, this spike‐like southward movement of the salinity front was probably affected by reduction of low‐salinity water during El Niño in the north‐western Pacific Ocean. However, ENSO only induced such large southward movements of the salinity front when the time lag between the low precipitation and low SOI was short (within four months). This salinity front is quite important for long‐distance migrating fish such as the Japanese eel because the eels spawn just south of the salinity front in the NEC. This behaviour suggests that the movement of the salinity front associated with ENSO may control the success of larval transport from the spawning ground in the NEC to the nursery ground in East Asia. In fact, catch of the Japanese eel larvae in Japan was well correlated with fluctuation of SOI and the location of the salinity front, and lower catch occurred during El Niño. The salinity front has moved from 13°N to 17°N during the past three decades. Considering that conditions of larval transport are worse north of 15°N, we suggest that decadal‐scale linear decrease of glass eel catch during the past three decades also can be explained by the displacement of the salinity front.     

Impact of the Leeuwin Current on the spatial distribution of the puerulus settlement of the western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus) and implications for the fishery of Western Australia

Previous studies have shown that the strength of the Leeuwin Current is correlated with the level of the puerulus (post-larval stage) settlement in the western rock lobster ( Panulirus cygnus ). The level of puerulus settlement has also been shown to be a reliable predictor of catch in the rock lobster fishery in Western Australia, 3 and 4 yr later. This study examines the impact of the south-flowing Leeuwin Current on the spatial distribution of the puerulus settlement along the coast based on information from 10 settlement sites. In years of strong Leeuwin Current, the location of the peak settlement occurs further south by up to 2° latitude compared with years of weak Leeuwin Current. The key months of Leeuwin Current strength that affect the abundance of the puerulus settlement are generally February to April, during the early larval stages. However, the months that affect the spatial distribution are from June onwards, which is closer to the period of puerulus settlement that starts in about August each year. The mean latitude of puerulus settlement shows a very good relationship with Leeuwin Current strength in June to December ( r  = 0.86, P  < 0.001). The variation in spatial distribution in puerulus settlement can be used to predict the spatial distribution of fishing effort and catch, 3 and 4 yr later ( r  = 0.78 and 0.84, respectively, P  < 0.001).     

Temperature conditions in the Argentine chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) fishing ground: implications for fishery management

We describe the seasonal migrations of Argentine chub mackerel ( Scomber japonicus ) into the fishing ground in relation to sea surface temperature conditions and analyse the temperature evolution during the fishing season on the basis of 1955–97 time-series. The upper temperature limit for the presence of schools was around 19°C. At higher values, most schools leave coastal waters (< 50 m) for the shelf. An inverse relationship was observed between catches per unit of effort (CPUE) of the inshore fishery and sea surface temperature. The highest standardized CPUE values corresponded to temperatures lower than 19°C. Above this temperature, the probability of obtaining a standardized CPUE higher than 1 was extremely low, and the standard deviations were minimal. The economic benefit from catches was also analysed through the different months of the fishing season. It was found that the mean benefit corresponding to temperatures lower than 19°C exceeded approximately 15 times that obtained at higher temperatures. A simple fishing strategy was proposed to the commercial fleet in order to improve the economic benefit of the catches. The migratory pattern followed by mackerel during the spawning period was also analysed in relationship to other environmental factors like food availability. Zooplankton composition, size structure and abundance in coastal and shelf waters are described, and their implications for feeding ecology of larvae and adults of the species are discussed.     

Catch per unit effort trends in the coastal fishery of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico

The catch per unit effort (CPUE) values, expressed as kg trip^–1 in a coastal fishery, were considered to be an index of resource abundance to explain changes through time. The trends in catch and effort for three commercial landing sites in Manzanillo and Santiago Bays in Colima, Mexico, were analysed for the period November 1982 to May 1991. The CPUE data were analysed using the spectral method, which showed four harmonic periods of 38.53, 13.64, 9.29 and 6.26 months. To explain these variations, sea surface temperature (SST) was used as an indicator of environmental change. Two harmonic components were identified, with periods of 12.5 and 39.0 months each, which coincided with two of the periods found in the CPUE series. Once these harmonics, which were considered anomalous to the fishing effort, were subtracted a constant CPUE throughout the study period was found. It was concluded that in the CPUE series, the most influential component corresponded to a lapse of 38.53 months, suggesting a possible link with the 'El Niño' phenomenon. However, in the temperature series, the most important component was represented by a value of 11.95 months, which is believed to be associated with changes in the environment.     

The commercial exploitation of a protected anadromous species,the river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis (L.)), in the tidal River Ouse,north‐east England

• 1. Throughout Europe, populations of anadromous fish and lampreys have declined over the past centuries due to human activities. River lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis are representative of such species and are listed in international conservation agreements.
• 2. Historic (1908–09 to 1913–14) and modern (1995–96 to 2003–04) data were available on commercial catches of river lampreys in the tidal Ouse, north‐east England. During 2003–04, additional traps were operated by the University of Durham, downstream of the commercial fishery.
• 3. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the modern commercial fishery showed considerable variation between fishing seasons, ranging from a median CPUE of 0.5 lampreys per trap per day in 2000–01 to a median of 22.3 lampreys per trap per day in 2003–04.
• 4. The estimated catch of adult river lampreys each season in the historic fishery ranged between 25 500 (1913–14) and 54 500 (1910–11). Recent catches tended to be smaller, with a minimum catch of 9083 lampreys (2000–01) and a maximum of 30 992 lampreys (2003–04).
• 5. CPUE increased with discharge, up to a point above which CPUE declined with further increase in discharge. Migratory activity may be reduced at high flows and not stimulated at low flows, although the fishing efficiency of the traps themselves was probably reduced during high flows.
• 6. Samples of river lampreys caught in the university's traps were marked and released. Based upon the number of recaptures, the absolute minimum relative exploitation level of the commercial traps, over the whole fishing season, was estimated as 9.9%. The effect of such a reduction in the spawning population upon future recruitment is at present unknown.
• 7. The population of river lampreys in the tidal Ouse is potentially threatened by an unregulated increase in fishing effort. Current legislation needs to be modified to allow effective fishery management.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

我国东、黄海鲐鱼灯光围网渔业CPUE标准化研究

日本鲐是我国近海重要的中上层鱼类资源之一,评估其资源量需要对单位捕捞努力量渔获量（CPUE）进行标准化。影响CPUE标准化的因素很多,包括季节、区域和海洋环境等。本文利用广义线型模型（GLM）和广义加性模型（GAM）,结合时空、捕捞船、表温等因子,对1998-2006年东、黄海大型灯光围网渔业鲐鱼CPUE进行标准化,并评价各因子对CPUE的影响。首先应用GLM模型评价时间、空间、环境以及捕捞渔船参数对CPUE的影响,并确定显著性变量。其次,将显著性变量逐一加入GAM模型,根据Akaike信息法则（AIC）,选择最优的GAM模型。最后,利用最优的GAM模型对CPUE标准化,并定量分析时间、空间、环境以及捕捞渔船参数对鲐鱼CPUE的影响。GLM模型结果表明：8个变量对CPUE有重要影响,依次为年、船队、船队与年的交互效应、月、船队与月份的交换效应、经度、纬度和海表温。根据AIC,包含上述8个显著性变量的GAM模型为最优模型,对CPUE偏差的解释为27.78%。GAM模型结果表明：高CPUE分别出现在夏季海表温为28～31 ℃的东海中部和冬季海表温为12～16 ℃的黄海;1998-2006年,标准化后的CPUE呈逐年下降趋势,与持续增长的捕捞努力量有关。     

Catch forecasting and relationship between water temperature and catch fluctuations in snow crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chionoecetes opilio</Emphasis> in the western Sea of Japan

Catch forecasting and the relationship between water temperature and catch in the snow crab Chionoecetes opilio in the western Sea of Japan were investigated. Catch was used as an index of abundance on the basis of high correlations between catch per unit effort for the period when the latter data were available. The pattern of fluctuations, in catches and index coincided well with each other. Therefore, catch data were regarded as an index of abundance and the correlation coefficient between catch and water temperature was calculated at several depths from 1964 to 1999. Catch forecasting models were composed using significantly correlated variables with the following results: (i) in April and September, the catch showed high positive correlation with water temperatures (depth 50, 100, and 200 m, time lag 4–6 years); and (ii) a model using water temperatures in April alone (depth 100 m, time lag 4–7 years) forecasted the catches with a coefficient of determination of 0.504, where models using more variables (water temperatures in the 2 months and catches) showed a coefficient of 0.587 at most. Environmental conditions during the early life stages of the snow crab are thought to deeply influence the fluctuations, in abundance.     

Changes in the fish catches during a trial opening of sluice gates on a run-of-the river reservoir in Thailand

Abstract  Changes in catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) were evaluated when all the sluice gates on the Pak Mun Dam, Mun River, Thailand, were opened between July 2001 and June 2002. CPUE ranged from 0.38 to 1.70 and 0.61 to 2.71 kg fisherman⁻¹ night⁻¹, downstream and upstream of the dam, respectively. No statistical differences ( P  > 0.05) among months were observed in both areas. The monthly percentage index of relative importance (%IRI) of the fish species caught varied between months.     

Catch rates, size structure and sex ratio of Melicertus kerathurus (Decapoda: Penaeidae) from an Aegean Sea trawl fishery

Otter-trawl catch rates and population structure of the prawn Melicertus kerathurus were studied at the fishing ground of Thermaikos Gulf (North Aegean Sea, Eastern Mediterranean), where the stock is exploited both by otter-trawlers and the artisanal local fleet. Sampling was conducted on board commercial trawlers on a monthly basis in two consequent open fishing seasons (October to May 2000–2001 and 2001–2002) resulting to a total of 70 hauls. Samples were also obtained through experimental trawling (24 hauls) during the closed season. The main trawling ground is located near the border between the outer and the inner gulf, and along the western and northeastern coasts of the outer gulf in depths ranging from 35 to 70 m (most frequently at 40–50 m). Catch per unit effort (CPUE) varied significantly with month but not with fishing season (mean CPUE 3.18 and 1.78 kg/h for the 2 successive years) or depth. Catches were at maximum (up to 7.5 kg/h) at the beginning of the open season in autumn and decreased sharply as the season proceeded (<2.5 kg/h), which is likely to be due to induced fishing mortality in the preceding months, to prawn dispersal and/or to its tendency for longer burrowing. Commercial fishing trips consisted of multiple, short efforts when catches were high, whereas low yields during winter–spring led to less hauls of longer duration: ln CPUE = 2.974 − 2.047 ln HD, r = −0.57. Prawn size ranged from 17 to 60 mm CL, showing a consistent difference in favor of females. A weak recruitment to the fishery was observed from autumn through winter, while, as shown by experimental trawling, the main recruitment pulse to the fishery occurs just prior to the season's opening. The delayed arrival of the prawns on the fishing ground during the second fishing season, accompanied by smaller prawn size and shallower exploitation depth, was possibly related to decreased autumn rainfall. In both years, sex ratio showed a temporal pattern, which seems to be the result of sex-related differences in fishing vulnerability, in timing of inshore migration and in mating mortality.     

Genetic identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conger myriaster</Emphasis> leptocephali in East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   A subsample of Conger leptocephali collected in the East China Sea (ECS) was genetically analyzed and most were found to be the larvae of Conger myriaster , the most commercially important marine eel species in East Asia. However, these leptocephali (22.3–74.0 mm total length [TL]) did not have a complete row of lateral pigmentation, like the leptocephali of this species are commonly known to have when they are collected over the continental shelf or in coastal waters as they recruit. These leptocephali were in the western edge of the Kuroshio Current and the mixing zone over the shelf in the northern part of the ECS, and two smaller leptocephali (22.3, 46.5 mm TL) were collected to the south of the Ryukyu Islands. This evidence of an ontogenetic change in the presence of lateral pigmentation of C. myriaster indicates that previous efforts to determine the spawning area and recruitment patterns based on only morphological examination of Conger leptocephali in the region must be reconsidered. New research efforts based on genetic identification methods are needed to understand the spawning ecology and recruitment of this important fishery species.     

Spatial correlation patterns in coastal environmental variables and survival rates of salmon in the north-east Pacific Ocean

We examined spatial correlations for three coastal variables [upwelling index, sea surface temperature (SST), and sea surface salinity (SSS)] that might affect juvenile salmon ( Oncorhynchus spp.) during their early marine life. Observed correlation patterns in environmental variables were compared with those in survival rates of pink ( O. gorbuscha ), chum ( O. keta ), and sockeye ( O. nerka ) salmon stocks to help identify appropriate variables to include in models of salmon productivity. Both the upwelling index and coastal SST were characterized by strong positive correlations at short distances, which declined slowly with distance in the winter months, but much more rapidly in the summer. The SSS had much weaker and more variable correlations at all distances throughout the year. The distance at which stations were no longer correlated (spatial decorrelation scale) was largest for the upwelling index (> 1000 km), intermediate for SST (400–800 km in summer), and shortest for SSS (< 400 km). Survival rate indices of salmon showed moderate positive correlations among adjacent stocks that decreased to zero at larger distances. Spatial decorrelation scales ranged from approximately 500 km for sockeye salmon to approximately 1000 km for chum salmon. We conclude that variability in the coastal marine environment during summer, as well as variability in salmon survival rates, are dominated by regional scale variability of several hundred to 1000 km. The correlation scale for SST in the summer most closely matched the observed correlation scales for survival rates of salmon, suggesting that regional-scale variations in coastal SST can help explain the observed regional-scale covariation in survival rates among salmon stocks.     

Role of lunar phases,rainfall, and wind in predicting Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) catch in the northern Bay of Bengal

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is an important commercial fish in India. This study investigates relationships among Hilsa catch per unit effort (CPUE) and the corresponding lunar phase, rainfall variability, wind vector, and month in the northern Bay of Bengal. Hilsa catch during the monsoon season of three consecutive years (2013–2015) was analyzed by using a Generalized Least Square model with lunar phase and monsoon months (June–September) as categorical variables and wind direction as circular variable. Significantly higher Hilsa catch was observed during the waning crescent and waxing gibbous lunar phases and during easterly winds. There was no significant effect of wind velocity. Daily rainfall was significantly correlated with Hilsa migration toward the estuary. Among the four monsoon months, September exhibited the most positive significant correlation with the Hilsa CPUE. Model predicted CPUE underestimated the actual CPUE in 2016 by 20%.     

Inter‐ and intra‐specific interactions affecting crustacean trap fisheries—Implications for management

The UK coastal trap fisheries target two key species, European lobster Homarus gammarus (L.) and brown crab Cancer pagurus L. Their stock status is assessed periodically using size‐based, yield‐per‐recruit analysis. Fishery trends are described using landings and, where available, effort data to estimate catch per unit of effort (CPUE), nominally proportional to abundance. Despite being caught together, assessments assume that concurrent capture of these species does not distort their individual CPUE estimates. Here, an in situ experiment tested impacts of inter‐specific and intra‐specific interactions by pre‐loading baited traps with different species and observing subsequent catches. Pre‐loaded European lobster significantly reduced brown crab catches, whereas, other species produced no such effects. The findings highlight the likely inconsistency of using CPUE as an index of abundance if landings data originate from a mixed‐species fishery in which species interactions and targeting behaviour of fishers are unknown or un‐quantified.     

Comparisons of monthly and geographical variations in abundance and size composition of Pacific saury between the high-seas and coastal fishing grounds in the northwestern Pacific

The monthly and geographical abundances and size compositions of Pacific saury were compared between the high-seas and coastal fishing grounds in the northwestern Pacific during 2000–2005 based on Taiwanese fishery data. The large-sized saury was dominant (44.3–71.4% of the catch) in the beginning of the fishing season, while the medium-sized saury followed and dominated from September to the end of the fishing season (70.1–92.4% of the catch). In the high seas, the total catch per unit effort (CPUE) (about 71.2% of the mean coastal value) and both the large- (about 55.0%) and medium-sized saury CPUEs (about 81.8%) were significantly smaller than those in the coastal waters. The mean proportions of the large- and medium-sized saury in the high-seas catch were about 86.6 and 107.0% of the coastal values, respectively. CPUEs for the total catch and the catch of medium-sized saury varied in a highly consistent way. The total and medium-sized CPUEs were negatively correlated with the sea-water temperature. When the temperature was held the same statistically, the total and medium-sized CPUEs were larger in the shoreward, southward, and shallower waters of the fishing grounds, while the large-sized CPUE was larger in the shoreward waters.     

Feasibility of cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty at different localities on the Northwest coast of India

Kappaphycus alvarezii was cultivated at three places, viz. Mithapur, Okha and Beyt Dwarka on the Northwest coast of India. The biomass and growth rates were measured at 15-day intervals up to 45 days and varied differently for different growth periods at these places. Thus, at 15, 30 and 45 days, the biomass (fresh wt) varied from 182.0±19.96 to 435.0±23.66 g, from 366.0±118.09 to 1096.0±61.43 g and from 530.5±50.95 to 1537.0±43.54 g, respectively, with respective daily growth rates (%) from 3.95±0.78 to 9.80±0.63, from 3.64±0.01 to 13.98±3.07 and from 3.69±0.23 to 6.07±0.06. The seawater temperature, salinity, nitrate and phosphate ranged from 19.3 to 26.9 °C, from 30.81 to 36.83‰, from 11.60 to 19.75 μmol L⁻¹ and from 2.37 to 5.0 μmol L⁻¹ respectively. The growth rate between the culture months was significantly different at Okha at P <0.01. Further, it was significantly correlated to salinity at Mithapur while at Okha and Beyt Dwarka, the same was significantly correlated to nitrate and seawater temperature. Based on this study, commercial cultivation at these localities is quite feasible.