Sea turtle by‐catch in the Mediterranean

Sea turtle by‐catch data in the Mediterranean were reviewed and analysed with fishing effort. The results indicate over 132 000 captures per year, with probably over 44 000 incidental deaths per year, while many others are killed intentionally. Small vessels using set net, demersal longline or pelagic longline represent most of the Mediterranean fleet and likely cause more incidental or intentional deaths than large vessels typically using bottom trawl or pelagic longline. When interactions, mortality, intentional killing, size (a proxy for reproductive value) and turtle populations are considered, results indicate that Mediterranean green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are more affected (i) by fishing gears such as bottom trawlers, demersal longlines and set nets, (ii) by small‐scale fisheries, and (iii) by fishing in the eastern basin. Although small‐scale fisheries should be the priority target, available measures are easier to implement on the fewer large vessels. Moreover, these measures are few, and they are not implemented yet, while others should still be tested for the Mediterranean fisheries. Thus, measures for reducing captures or mortality through changing gear‐specific characteristics may help, but probably a more holistic conservation strategy aimed to an ecosystem‐based fishery management for a sustainable fishing would be the only solution for the long‐term survival of Mediterranean Sea turtle populations and their habitats. Small‐scale fisheries should manage marine resources, including turtles, in a responsible and sustainable way. Turtles may not only benefit from but can also help this process if their non‐consumptive value is fully recognized.     

Sea turtles bycatch in the Adriatic Sea set net fisheries and possible hot‐spot identification

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Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation of Japanese anchovy <Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis japonicus</Emphasis> from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Sequence variation of a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was examined using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing among three populations of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. A total of 24 and 47 nucleotide sites were detected variable defining 29 and 32 haplotypes in cyt b and COI data, respectively. All variable sites except one in COI were silent in the two sets of sequences. The Ewens-Watterson test indicated that the observed allelic configurations in both data sets were in full agreement with neutral expectations. The variation level was high, with h=0.957±0.018, π=0.644±0.387 (%) in cyt b data set and h=0.958±0.021, π=0.640±0.386 (%) in COI data set, respectively. However, at the population level, Fst values between pairs of populations were not significantly different from zero (P>0.05) in both data sets. The analysis of haplotype frequency distribution showed no significant differences among populations. Similarly, the analysis of the partitioning of molecular variance indicated that all or almost all of the genetic variation was distributed within populations. Based on the data from this study, the existence of separate genetic stocks in this area were not detected. Mixing of stocks to some extent in migration cycle and dispersal capacity of anchovy’s planktonic larvae could be the reasons for genetic homogeneity in this species in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea.     

Sponge‐fishing,disease and farming in the Mediterranean Sea

1. Some Mediterranean sponge species belonging to the genera Spongia and Hippospongia, have been harvested for commercial purposes since ancient times. Recently, a widespread epidemic has greatly reduced the density of sponge populations which has had serious repercussions in the commercial field. 2. The synergetic action of harvesting and disease has taken a number of populations to the brink of extinction. Sponge‐population densities are steadily decreasing and their recovery after the disease event is incomplete and has taken a long time. 3. There is a simple solution to the problem: sponge‐farming. Trials have been underway since the beginning of the century and recently, Cuba, the Philippines and Micronesia Islands have started commercial sponge‐farming. 4. Sponges are naturally able to remove dissolved organic matter, organic particles and bacteria from the water‐column and this ability could be exploited in an integrated mariculture system. Floating cages for fish production result in the release of a lot of organic wastes that can be used as a source of food for surrounding intensive commercial sponge communities. Such an integrated system could result in effective eutrophication control, commercial sponge production and a consequent reduction of fishing effort on already heavily‐stressed natural sponge populations. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic population structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nibea albiflora</Emphasis> in Yellow Sea and East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   The population genetic structure and level of gene flow of Nibea albiflora from the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were examined with a 479-bp segment of a mtDNA control region. In total, 65 samples were collected from three locations and 37 haplotypes were obtained. Mean haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity for the three populations ranged from 0.9130 ± 0.0308 (Zhoushan) to 0.9926 ± 0.0230 (Xiamen), and from 0.0073 ± 0.0043 (Qingdao) to 0.0099 ± 0.0057 (Xiamen). Analysis of molecular variance and pairwise F _ST revealed little genetic structure between the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea in N. albiflora . But based on the exact test of differentiation, the null hypothesis that N. albiflora within the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea constitutes a panmictic mtDNA gene pool was rejected. This might be caused by the broad spawning areas but not by the Yangtze River outflow. Mismatch distribution revealed that N. albiflora has undergone population expansion, possibly before the last 85 000–170 000 years. The existence of high gene flow between stocks in the studied area was supported by our results. Annual migrations, larval drift in the ocean currents, and recent range expansion could be the reasons for little genetic structure in the studied area.     

Mitochondrial DNA variation in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea populations of Japanese Spanish mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomberomorus niphonius</Emphasis>

Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius is a commercially important species in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea, but there is limited knowledge of its genetic population structure. In order to detect its genetic structure, sequence variation of the first hypervariable segment of the control region was analyzed among eight populations of S. niphonius from the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. A total of 119 polymorphic sites were detected in the 505-bp segment of the control region among 134 individuals of S. niphonius, defining 112 haplotypes. Mean haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity for the eight populations were 0.9963 ± 0.0017 and 0.0236 ± 0.0119, respectively. As expected, analysis of molecular variance detected no significant differences at all hierarchical levels, and most of the conventional population Φ_ST statistics were negative, indicating that no significant population genetic structure exists in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. Moreover, the exact test of differentiation supported the null hypothesis that S. niphonius within the East China Sea and Yellow Sea constitutes a panmictic mtDNA gene pool. Neutrality tests and mismatch distribution revealed that S. niphonius underwent population expansion in the late Pleistocene. Strong dispersal capacity of larvae and adults, long-distance migrations, and ocean currents in the studied area could be the reasons for genetic homogeneity in this species in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. Insufficient time to accumulate genetic variation might be another explanation for the lack of genetic structure in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea.     

短蛸繁殖行为及胚胎发育过程东海火枪乌贼角质颚的形态特征

根据2010年9月及2011年5月东海渔业资源底拖网调查资料,测定了火枪乌贼(Loligo beka)的胴长、角质颚形态指标等参数,阐述了火枪乌贼角质颚的形态特征及其长度的相对稳定性指标。结果表明,火枪乌贼角质颚的喙长(RL)、头盖长(HL)、脊突长(CL)、翼长(WL)、翼宽(WW)等长度上、下颚差异较大,其中,上、下颚HL相对于RL均存在着等速生长现象(P>0.05);CL相对于RL均存在着显著的异速生长现象(P<0.05);而WL、WW相对于RL则呈现极显著的异速生长现象(P<0.001)。上、下颚各长度指标均受生长的影响,均随胴长的增长呈极显著的线性增长趋势。RL/HL、RL/CL、HL/CL的比值非常稳定,不随胴长、体质量的变化而显著变化,可作为火枪乌贼角质颚形态特征的稳定性指标。     

Phylogenetic relationships of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomberomorus commerson</Emphasis> using sequence analysis of the mtDNA D-loop region in the Persian Gulf,Oman Sea and Arabian Sea

Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus commerson, is an epipelagic and migratory species of family Scombridae which have a significant role in terms of ecology and fishery. 100 samples were collected from the Persian Gulf, Oman Sea and Arabian Sea. Part of their dorsal fins was snipped and transferred to micro-tubes containing ethanol; then, DNAs were extracted and HRM-Real Time PCR was performed to designate representative specimens for sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships of S. commerson from Persian Gulf, Oman Sea and Arabian Sea were investigated using sequence data of mitochondrial DNA D-loop region. None clustered Neighbor Joining tree indicated the proximity amid S. commerson in four sites. As numbers demonstrated in sequence analyses of mitochondrial DNA D-Loop region a sublimely high degree of genetic similarity among S. commerson from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea were perceived, thereafter, having one stock structure of S. commerson in four regions were proved, and this approximation can be merely justified by their migration process along the coasts of Oman Sea and Persian Gulf. Therefore, the assessment of distribution patterns of 20 haplotypes in the constructed phylogenetic tree using mtDNA D-Loop sequences ascertained that no significant clustering according to the sampling sites was concluded.     

黄渤海区张网渔业

2010年6～7月,利用抽样调查方法对黄渤海区32个主要渔港、渔村的张网渔业进行了实地调查和现场测量。依据调查资料并结合2009年度河北、辽宁、山东以及天津三省一市的渔具渔法调查报告、1983～2009年中国渔业年鉴中记载的张网捕捞产量分类统计资料,对黄渤海区的张网渔业进行了研究。结果表明,1998年张网产量最高,达90.43万t,贡献率为17.18%,此后逐年波动下降。当前,张网是黄渤海区捕捞作业的重要渔具渔法之一,处在第3位,年产量为38.15万t,贡献率为10.49%。目前在黄渤海区进行捕捞作业的张网共有4个型、7个式、19种张网网型、总量69万顶。辽宁省的张网数量占三省一市张网数量的53.54%,主要分布在辽东湾作业;河北省的张网数量占24.69%,主要分布在渤海湾作业;山东省的张网数量占23.08%,主要分布在日照至烟台近海作业。其中以捕捞海蜇、虾类和小杂鱼为主的并列单片张网占54.51%;以捕捞毛虾为主的双锚竖杆张网占16.12%。大多数张网的最小网目尺寸均在4～30mm之间。综合分析表明,张网在黄渤海区渔业中所占比重较大、选择性较差、最小网目尺寸偏小,不利于黄渤海区渔业资源可持续利用。     

2003年东海及部分黄海海域表面水温状况分析

本文分析了2003年东海及部分黄海海域的表面温度状况。研究表明,不同的水团具有不同的温度年变化特点。大陆水系的均极差远大干多年平均的水平,说明沿岸海域的表面温度年变化比常年更大,但黑潮主干区的均极差却和多年平均值差不多。虽然各海域的温度季节变化因海区的不同略有不同,但各种水团的年平均温度比多年平均都要高一些,说明这一年是比较温暖的一年。     

Life‐history characteristics of ide Leuciscus idus in the Eastern Baltic Sea

Otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca profiles were used in parallel with age data to investigate the life‐history characteristics of ide, Leuciscus idus (L.) (n = 111), in the Väinameri Sea, West Estonia. Sr:Ca profiles were more variable and useful than Ba:Ca profiles. Flexible life‐history patterns were observed within and among the three study sites. Most of the individuals (72%) hatched in semi‐enclosed bays that are fresh water during spring spawning but are often flooded with brackish water during other seasons. The importance of lotic spawning varied among sites and was the highest (88%) in Matsalu Bay, moderate in Saunja Bay (33%) and lowest (0%) in Käina Bay. Young of the year emigrated from natal sites and entered the sea within the first summer; 95% did so during the first month post‐hatch. Juvenile ide undertook non‐spawning, freshwater migrations in the following spring; however, the reasons behind this phenomenon remain unknown. As the importance of lotic spawning has significantly decreased and multiple historically important ide spawning rivers lack anadromous runs altogether, it is suggested that actions should be taken to aid the recovery of those imperilled spawning stocks.     

东、黄渤海带鱼的洄游路线

为了研究带鱼的洄游路线,根据我国10余个主要渔业公司1971、1972、1981和1982年带鱼捕捞统计资料,先绘制带鱼鱼群移动影像图,据此进一步研究东、黄渤海近海带鱼的洄游路线图。结果显示,带鱼越冬场、产卵场和索饵场范围广阔,在空间上具有一定的重叠性。带鱼还有分批越冬、产卵和索饵洄游的特性,不同群体越冬、产卵和索饵洄游在时间上也有一定的重叠性。北方带鱼群体的越冬场主要在32°00'～36°00'N,124°00'～126°00'E黄海暖流水域。3—7月北上进入海州湾、乳山湾、海洋岛和渤海各湾产卵场;8—9月在产卵场外围宽阔水域索饵;9—11月游出渤海,绕过成山头南下,沿禁渔线外侧,沿途分别汇合海州湾、乳山湾及海洋岛的越冬鱼群,到了34°00'N后折向东南,分批于12月到达越冬场。南方带鱼群体越冬场主要位于浙江中南部禁渔线外侧,其次是济州岛西南海域。每年3—4月起,南部越冬的带鱼鱼群大致以每2个月1个纬度的速度向东北方向移动;5—7月,产卵洄游的鱼群到达舟山渔场和长江口渔场产卵;7—8月,产卵后的索饵群体北上黄海南部大沙渔场索饵;9月,索饵群体前锋到达35°00'N禁渔线外侧。10月以后,随着冷空气南下,南部群体带鱼向南越冬洄游,并且在10月回到长江口海域。其中小部分群体游向外海越冬场,大部分群体继续南下回到东海中南部近海的越冬场。台湾暖流和黄海暖流的进退和消长是影响带鱼越冬洄游路线空间和时间变化的主要环境因素。     

黄渤海夏季微藻调查

根据2011年夏季在黄渤海的采样调查分析了该海域网采浮游微藻的多样性,并从71个站位的采水样品与12个站位的拖网样品中分离了大量可培养的藻种。调查区拖网样品中共发现浮游微藻4门30属44种藻,以硅藻门(Bacillariophytas)为主,甲藻门(Dinophytas)次之。在实验室内利用毛细管法、平板法和稀释法分离纯化获得92株可培养微藻,经分子学鉴定为19种,包括9种硅藻、3种褐藻、3种不等鞭毛藻、2种绿藻、1种甲藻、1种定鞭藻。这些可培养微藻个体较小,多为微微型藻类和微型藻类,其中伪菱形藻(Pseudonitzschia sp.)和舟形藻(Navicula sp.)既能在固定样品中观察到,又能在实验室培养。圆筛藻(Coscinodiscus sp.)、梭角藻(Ceratium fusus)和夜光藻(Noctiluca scintillans)等小型藻类虽然在固定样品中所占比例较大,但是难以培养。此外,本次调查还首次在中国海域发现了Pseudobodo tremulans。黄渤海藻株的鉴定与培养不仅补充了中国微藻种质资源,还为促进微藻的研究和开发利用提供了重要材料。     

再议东黄渤海带鱼种群划分问题

本研究根据中国水产科学研究院东海水产研究所早年收集的1971—1982年带鱼(Trichiurus lepturus)捕捞统计资料,从地理隔离、数量动态方面分析我国近海带鱼种群的划分问题。研究结果表明,东黄渤海带鱼存在两个种群,即黄渤海种群和东海种群。通过带鱼鱼群移动影像发现,黄渤海带鱼和东海带鱼在江苏北部近海(34?00?N,121?00?E)附近发生了混栖,这一海域的带鱼产量仅占当月总产量的1.16%;两种群带鱼在外海越冬场也发生混栖,这一海域带鱼产量仅占当月总产量的5.51%。本研究认为,之所以分为黄渤海带鱼和东海两个种群,主要证据有6个:其一,可能发生混栖海域带鱼群体的数量很少,均仅占当月带鱼产量的极少数;其二,在混栖海域,不同带鱼鱼群并未发生群体间个体完全混合,在产卵洄游过程中,各自群体将仍旧依照各自洄游路线回到越冬场,因而在产卵场发生遗传杂交的可能性很少;其三,带鱼在越冬场的混合不属于产卵场杂交,因此,不同种群带鱼因为产卵和杂交发生种群遗传性状融合的可能性较少;其四,黄渤海带鱼和东海带鱼有着各自不同的数量变化规律,两者近年来产量差距悬殊,黄渤海种群带鱼资源在衰退的同时,没有得到东海带鱼群体的补充;其五,除了在江苏北部近海和外海发生群体混栖,黄渤海带鱼和东海带鱼各自的分布空间完全隔离;其六,这两个不同带鱼种群在洄游中存在不同的水团背景。结合以往带鱼种群体征差异分析的结果,可以认为,黄渤海带鱼和东海带鱼分属不同的带鱼种群。在东黄渤海,带鱼整体上可以划分为黄渤海带鱼种群和东海带鱼种群。     

Sea bream culture in Egypt; status, constraints and potential

Marine fish farming in Egypt began in 1976 with the culture of gilthead sea bream, (Sparus aurata) as this fish was notably adaptable to brackish and marine pond conditions. Today, marine fish and shrimp farms amount to about 19,000 ha, out of which 42% is already in production while the rest, i.e., 58% is still under construction. In 1997, cultured gilthead sea bream production of 2,250 tons made up 3% of the 75,000 tons total aquaculture catch. In polyculture, usually with the grey mullet and sea bass, gilthead sea bream contributed 440 kg ha^–1 to the total yield of 1,700 kg ha^–1 (26%) over a period of 16 months. For the same period, the yield of monoculture ponds averaged 100 kg ha^–1, while in marine cages, yields ranged from 4–10 kg m³. In 1996–1997, fry of 0.25–1 g and fingerlings 1–10 g with a total of 3 million, were collected from the wild and 1 million fry were produced in the three marine hatcheries out of the four existing ones. The development of sea bream culture in Egypt is now severely inhibited by the shortage of seeds and adequate feeds. Exports of both sea bream and sea bass, during 1994–1996 averaged 1,300 tons per year.     

Climate‐driven winter variations of Calanus sinicus abundance in the East China Sea

Global environmental changes threaten the sustainable use of resources and raise uncertainties regarding marine populations' responses in a changing Ocean. The pelagic copepods of the genus Calanus play a central role in shelf ecosystems transferring phytoplankton carbon to harvested populations, from boreal to temperate regions. Here we examined a 15‐yr time series of Calanus sinicus abundance in regards to climate forcing in the East China Sea. We identified a compound effect of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) on environmental conditions in the East China Sea. Such climate influences not only a southward transport of C. sinicus from its population centres into the Taiwan area, but favours advantageous thermal conditions for the species as well. On the interannual scale, our results show that the population size of C. sinicus echoes climate‐driven temperature changes. Hence, the possibility of using the PDO and EAWM variability for assessing and predicting interannual abundance changes of C. sinicus in the East China Sea is considered. The observed close relationship between climate and C. sinicus may promote bottom‐up controls in the pelagic food web, further influencing the southern edge of the species' geographic distribution. Owing to the prominent role this species plays in food web dynamics these results might help integrative fisheries management policies in the heavily exploited East China Sea.     

Migration of eels tagged in the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren—in the context of the stocking question

Eels (Anguilla spp.) are in decline worldwide, and the signs of reduced recruitment have been observed in continental Europe since the early 1970s. To aid recovery of the European eel, stocking is used by many European countries as a management option. In this study, tagging experiments were conducted to follow eel migration from Lake Mälaren and four sites along the Swedish east coast in the Baltic Sea. The recaptured tagged eels were retrieved from fishermen, allowing for the opportunity to investigate their origin (brackish water, stocked in freshwater or a mix in between) by otolith microchemistry and to assess for morphological differences after tagging. Several changes took place; for example, eye index increased while weight and condition decreased with migrated distance and time until recapture. In Lake Mälaren, the majority of tagged eels did not migrate out of the outlets, irrespective of their origin. Most of them were caught in the opposite direction and continued to be caught in the lake 1–3 years after tagging, with significant weight losses. Overall, overwintering is suggested to be an inferior option, but it is uncertain whether this is a natural behaviour or a result of translocation and restocking. For coastal eels, origin had no effect on migratory behaviour; a majority of the tagged eels migrated towards the outlet of the Baltic Sea. Interestingly, a minority of the recaptured eels originated from stocked fish. Instead, recaptures were dominated by natural immigrants that had spent most of their lives in brackish waters.