Potential yield estimates of unexploited pelagic fish stocks in Lake Malawi

The biomass of the offshore pelagic fish of Lake Malawi was estimated at 168 400 t and is currently unexploited by a fishery. This biomass comprises, by weight, 81% Cichlidae, 15% catfish and 4% Cyprinidae. A Beverton and Holt dynamic pool model was used to estimate potential sustainable yields and to forecast likely changes to the size and age structure of the fish populations under various levels of fishing effort. The total sustainable yield from the offshore fish population was estimated at 34 000 t yr^–1 and, if harvested, would almost double the yield of fish from the lake. Potential yields on an areal basis are low (14.2 kg ha^–1 yr^–1), but are consistent with expectations from studies of pelagic ecosystem productivity.     

Hydroacoustic assessment of the fish stock in Theodorushaven, a small Dutch harbour

Assessment of the fish stock in the Theodorushaven was conducted with a dual-beam hydroacoustic system. Species composition determined by a seine and trawl fishery showed large concentrations of fish in the harbour during winter. The hydroacoustic survey showed that the distribution of fish in the harbour area was stratified with fish near the bottom. The overall density in the harbour area was 0.67 fish m^–3. The density in the associated channel area was estimated at 0.1 fish m^–3. The coefficient of variation for the estimated total fish abundance was >25%.Fish >25 cm were not caught in the Theodorushaven fishery, although analysis of the sonar data indicated their presence. Fishery data from the adjacent Volkerak-Zoommeer showed that bream was the dominant species. Therefore, the biomass estimate of the stock >25 cm in the Theodorushaven was based on the standard length–weight relationship of bream. This resulted in maximum biomass estimates of 5800 kg ha^–1 for the harbour area and 1100 kg ha^–1 in the channel area. The minimum biomass estimate, based on the assumption that the more slender zander was the dominant species >25 cm, gave values of 4100 kg ha^–1 in the harbour area and 780 kg ha^–1 in the channel area.     

Bycatch in a tropical schooling – penaeid fishery and comparisons with a related, specialised trawl regime

Abstract  The bycatch in a tropical Australian banana prawn, Penaeus merguiensis (de Man), fishery is described and contrasted with the closely related tiger prawn, Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan and Penaeus esculentus Haswell, fishery. Most of the similarity between banana prawn fishery catches was accounted for by three teleost species constituting 51.4% of the total bycatch weight. The bycatch assemblage structure of this fishery was significantly different ( P  <   0.05) from the adjoining tiger prawn fishery. The banana prawn fishery had a higher mean bycatch catch rate from shorter duration trawls, but lower estimated total annual bycatch (1502 t yr⁻¹) than the longer duration trawls of the tiger prawn fishery (20 073 t yr⁻¹). This study provides new data for quantifying bycatch and improving the accuracy of quantitative risk assessments currently being used to demonstrate sustainability of bycatch populations. The information will be incorporated into collaborative development of a long-term monitoring programme.     

A brief review of the status and practices of the reservoir fishery in mainland China

Abstract. The reservoir fishery of China is essentially a post-1950 development. China has an estimated reservoir acreage of 2 × 10⁶ha of which about 1.44 × 1O⁶ha is used for fisheries. The present reservoir fish production averages 214kg/ha/year and accounts for about 8-9% of the total inland fish production, which is around 4.0 × 1O⁶mt. The total reservoir fish production and production per unit area in China have been steadily increasing since 1980.
The Cwhinese reservoir fishery is essentially a stock and capture fishery. The reservoir management practices and aspects of the present fishery are discussed. Those practices which are not found in the rest of Asia are highlighted.     

Status of the fishery of Pimbmrettewa wewa, a man-made lake in Sri Lanka

Abstract. The status of the fishery of Pimburctlewa wewu, a man-made lake in Sri Lanka, was studied from January 1985 to January 1986. The annual fish yield in the reservoir is 441 kg/ha, one of the highest in the south-east Asian region. Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) is the dominant species in the fishery and accounted for about 90% by weight of the total catch. Although there were monthly variations in catch per unit effort, the daily catch per fisherman was not adversely affected. A possibility of having a more productive fishery is suggested In reducing The minimum permissible mesh size in the gillnet fishery during the peak recruitment season in May–June. The possible effects of reducing the mush size are discussed. Using the length-frequency data of O. mossambicus , the asymptotic length and the growth constant were estimated to be 39.3cm and 0.34 respectively. The estimates of total mortality (2.42). natural mortality (0–82) and mean selection length (24.6 cm) were based on these growth parameters Yield-per-recruit analysis indicated that the O. mossambictus fishery in the reservoir was optimally exploited.     

Growth rate and mortality of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, in four freshwater impoundments in south-eastern Queensland, Australia

Abstract  Growth and total mortality of Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata Steindachner, were studied in four freshwater impoundments using data from a cooperative angler tagging programme. Growth was modelled using the computer program GROTAG. Annual growth increments varied among impoundments, ranging from 5.0 to 7.8 cm yr⁻¹ among fish 20-cm total length (TL) and 1.7 to 4.9 cm yr⁻¹ among fish 30 cm TL, but exceeded previous estimates for the species. Annual total mortality rates, based on the decrease in recapture rate with time, ranged from 0.03 to 0.07 and were lower than for other comparable species, presumably because of the prevalence of catch and release fishing in the impoundments studied.     

Optimum Density of Red Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus×O. urolepis hornorum in a Pulsed-Flow Culture System

Abstract.— Densities of 9 tilapia (hybrid Oreochromis mossambicus × O. urolepis hornorum)/m³ gave the highest production among five densities (1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 fish/m³) tested in a pulsed-flow culture system. Culture of fish in irrigation ditches may have great potential for integrating fish farming with irrigated agriculture. Each 1,000 meters of ditch could potentially produce up to 1,400 kg of tilapia during a 112-d growing season.     

Population dynamics of tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, in the Lower Amazon, Brazil

Fishery statistics and length data series for Colossoma macropomum Cuvier obtained during 1992 and 1993 in the Lower Amazon, Brazil were used to describe the fishery and to estimate growth and mortality rates. Mean population parameters were L _∞ = 119.85 cm (total length), W _∞ = 33.4 kg, K = 0.228 year^–1, C = 0.505, Winter Point = July, M = 0.445 year^–1, F = 0.94 year^–1 and L_c = 28.29 cm. Yield-per-recruit analysis showed that an excessive fishing effort and principally a very low length at first capture lead to an increase in overfishing in the region. Corrective measures are recommended.     

Observations on the abundance of the exotic cichlid Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters) in relation to fluctuations in the water-level in a man-made lake in Sri Lanka

Abstract. The fishery of Parakrama Samudra, an ancient man-made lake of 2662 ha in Sri Lanka (8°-10°N; 80°-82°E), as in most other man-made reservoirs in the island, is dominated by the exotic cichlid Sarotherodon mossambicus (Peters), introduced in 1952. The fluctuations in catch per unit/fisherman over the period 1960 to 1982 are shown to be dependent on the yearly fluctuations in the water-level, the changes in the water-level effects being manifested in the fishery after a period of 3 years. The above results were arrived at by auto-correlation analysis of yearly catch per unit effort against the fluctuation of the water level at the main sluice. The changes in yield in a particular year are correlated to the changes in the water level and are described by the equation;
where Y = yield in kg fisherman^-1 month^-1 in year t and X = fluctuations in the water-level in year t - 3. The available growth rates in natural and semi-natural impoundments also indicate that the size at which S. mossambicus enter the fishery in Parakrama Samudra corresponds to their size in the third year of life (age 2+). The significance of the above observations is discussed on the basis of available knowledge on the reproductive cycle and the nesting requirements of S. mossambicus which are achieved when significant fluctuations in the reservoir level take place by making available optimal water depths in areas with a suitable substratum. The possible use of the above criteria as a management measure is also briefly discussed in the light of possible irrigational and fisheries conflicts in the utilization of the reservoir resources.     

Characteristics and economic contribution of a developing recreational fishery in southern Angola

Abstract  The characteristics and contribution of a developing recreational fishery to the local, regional and national economy of Angola were evaluated in 2006. Annual angling effort was 13 435 h, while the estimated total catch of the three target species [leerfish, Lichia amia (L.), west coast dusky kob, Argyrosomus coronus (Griffiths & Heemstra) and shad, Pomatomus saltatrix (L.)], was 5913 fish with a mass of 27 975 kg. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) for all teleost species combined was 0.44 fish per angler h⁻¹ and 2.08 kg per angler h⁻¹. Total harvest of the three species was 576 fish with a total mass of 2221.6 kg. The total contribution of this recreational fishery (mostly anglers from South Africa) to the local economy was US$ 1007 per harvested fish and US$ 243 per harvested kg. This equated to a contribution to the local, regional and national economies of US$ 151 685, US$ 44 767 and US$ 344 364 respectively. Although the regional contribution was less than half of the national contribution, it was regionally significant when the low population density and the general absence of other formal sector employment opportunities are considered. As a result of the largely undisturbed nature of the southern Angolan coastline, the catch, effort and CPUE information was considered suitable as a baseline for a cost-effective method of future fisheries monitoring in the region.     

Fishery resources and economic gain in three mangrove areas on the south-east coast of India

Abstract The fishery resources and fishing income in three different mangrove areas were evaluated. The mangrove-rich area provided high catches of shellfish and finfish and yielded high fishery income, compared with the mangrove-poor areas. Luxuriant mangrove areas supported a catch of 11 kg shellfish ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 4.5 kg finfish ha⁻¹ day⁻¹, corresponding with an economic gain of US$ 14 (Rs 603.7) day⁻¹ for shellfish and US$ 3 (Rs 130.5) day⁻¹ for finfish. The value of maintaining mangroves to ensure better fishery resources and to support coastal economies was identified. Management practices for conserving and enhancing mangroves and associated fishery resources are suggested.     

Management of selected Polish commercial and recreational lake fisheries activities

The objective of management of Polish lakes is to fulfil the needs of commercial and recreational fishermen that developed after the political changes of the last decade. The effectiveness of the policies and practices adopted has never been studied. Six lake enterprises were selected, two in each of the lake districts: Mazuria, Pomerania and Great Poland. The two Mazurian enterprises manage a total of 13 325 ha of lakes, the Pomeranian ones 6130 ha and those of Great Poland 4156 ha. All data on commercial fisheries were collected and studies of anglers' activities were carried out through 550 questionnaires. The six enterprises were analysed as a whole and separately, with attention being paid to commercial landings and stockings in 1995–1999, and anglers' catches in 1998. Two enterprises and lakes were chosen for closer analysis. It was estimated that an average lake angler caught 59.2 kg of fish in 1998, and the overall landings by anglers was 35.0 kg ha^–1 yr^–1. Fish yield from lakes was 50.0 kg ha^–1 yr^–1 without considering poachers' catches.     

Individual and population-level food consumption by cyprinids and percids in a mesotrophic lake

Abstract – Mesotrophic Lake Pohjalampi in eastern Finland was fished intensively from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, the biomasses of the dominant fish species, roach and bream, were reduced to 14% and 6%, respectively, of that in 1992. The total biomass of percids was, however, unchanged or slightly increased. The proportion of benthic invertebrates in the total food of the fish decreased from 57% to 36% during the study period, whereas the proportion of zooplankton increased from 31% to 56%. At the same time the number of young planktivorous fish increased. Thus, the main object of fish predation turned from benthic invertebrates to zooplankton due to change in fish population structure. At the beginning of the study the amount of detritus eaten by cyprinids was about 620 kg  ·  ha⁻¹  ·  year⁻¹, but this decreased by 82% due to the intensive fishing. Thus, by recycling nutrients from the sediment, the detrivorous-benthivorous feeding of cyprinids is an important factor in the nutrient balance of the lake. ^Note     

The fishery of the Ea Kao reservoir, southern Vietnam: a fishery based on a combination of stock and recapture, and self-recruiting populations

The present paper describes the fishery of the Ea Kao reservoir in south Vietnam. Historical data on the total production and total numbers of fish stocked were available from 1983 to 1996, and this information, together with the results of monthly monitoring of the fishery from June 1996 to December 1998, was used in the present study. A number of gears are used in the Ea Kao fishery, the most important being gill, lift and integrated nets, and beach seines. The fishery of Ea Kao is based on the annual stocking of advanced fry/early fingerlings of 0.3–1.0-g bighead carp, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Richardson), silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Cuvier & Valenciennes) and rohu, Labeo rohita Hamilton, as well as the self-recruiting indigenous species Toxabramis houdemeri Pellegrin and two exotic species, i.e. Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), and common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. On average, the regularly stocked species contribute to 78% of total production, which has been around 400–450 kg ha⁻¹ in the last few years. The monthly peak catches of stocked species tend to coincide with the rainy season from May to October and the catches of self-recruiting species peak between February and April. A significant relationship ( P < 0.001) exists between the stocking density in year n (SD, n ha⁻¹) and the yield of stocked fish in year n + 1 ( Y , kg ha⁻¹):     

Use of geographical information systems as a tool for predicting fish yield in tropical reservoirs: case study on Sri Lankan reservoirs

Use of geographical information systems (GIS) in inland fisheries has hitherto been essentially restricted to site evaluation for aquaculture development and assessment of limnological changes in time and space in individual water bodies. The present GIS study was conducted on the land-use pattern of the catchments of nine reservoirs in Sri Lanka, for which detailed fishery data, viz. yield, fishing intensity, landing size of major constituent species, together with selected limnological data such as conductivity and chlorophyll- a , were available. Potential statistical relationships (linear, curvilinear, exponential and second-order polynomial) of fish yield ( FY , in kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) to different land-use patterns, such as forest cover ( FC , in km²) and shrub-land ( SL , in km²), either singly, or in combination, and/or the ratio of each land type to reservoir area ( RA in km²) and reservoir capacity ( RC in km³), were explored. Highly significant relationships were evident between FY to the ratio of SL and/or FC + SL to RA and/or RC . Similarly, the above land-use types to RA and RC ratios were significantly related to limnological features of the reservoirs. The relationships of FY to various parameters obtained in this study were much better correlated than those relationships of FY to limnological and biological parameters used in yield prediction in tropical and temperate lacustrine waters previously.     

Growth, Survival, Yield, and Size Distributions of Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Polyculture and Monoculture Systems in Puerto Rico

Abstract.— Tilapia and freshwater prawn production in Puerto Rico for monoculture and polyculture systems were compared. The experiment consisted of three treatments with three replicates each. The stocking rates for the prawn monoculture, fish monoculture and polyculture treatments were respectively: 7 prawns/m², 1 tilapia/M², and 7 prawns with 1 tilapia/ m². The mean stocking size for tilapia and prawn were respectively, 7–8 g and 1–1.3 g. After 145 d of culture, yields and mean weight of tilapia in monoculture and polyculture system were not significantly different. Total yields were 2,942 and 2,769 kg/ha, respectively. Mean weights were 348 g in monoculture and 331 g in polyculture. Yields and mean weight of prawns in monoculture and polyculture were significantly different. Total yields were 1,367 and 951 kg/ha, respectively. Mean weights were 55 g in monoculture and 31 g in polyculture. Total yield in polyculture was 3,720 kg/ha showing an increase over the production separately obtained in prawn and fish monoculture.     

Energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)

Factorial determinations of energy and protein requirements in growing Sparus aurata were carried out at 23–24°C. The energy content in the whole fish was dependent on fish weight and ranged from 5 to 11 MJ kg⁻¹ body mass for 1–250 g fish, whereas the protein content remained constant at 179 g kg⁻¹.
During starvation the fish lost 42.5 kJ body weight (BW) (kg)^−0.83 day⁻¹ and 0.42 g protein BW (kg)^−0.70 day⁻¹. The maintenance requirement for energy was calculated to be 55.8 kJ BW (kg)^−0.83 day⁻¹ and for protein 0.86 g BW (kg)^−0.70 day⁻¹. Utilization of digestible energy and digestible crude protein below and at maintenance was determined as 0.72 and 0.51, respectively. Utilization of digestible energy and digestible crude protein for growth above maintenance was determined as 0.46 and 0.28, respectively.
These values allow estimation of requirements for growing Sparus aurata .     

Growth and Survival of the Australian Red Claw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus at Three Densities in Earthen Ponds

Australian red claw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus were cultured in nine 0.02-ha earthen ponds at densities of l/m², 3/m² and 5/m² for 158 d. Average weight at stocking was 3.2 g. All ponds were provided with a combination of hay and corn silage at a rate of 500 kg/ha per month and a commercial crayfish ration fed at 5%, decreasing to 2% of estimated biomass/d during the growing season. Overall survival rate was 72%, and did not differ among treatments. Final yields and average weights varied significantly with stocking density. Red claw averaged 67 g with an average pond yield of 475 kg/ha at l/m². At 3/m² and 5/m², red claw averaged 48 g and 38 g, respectively, and yielded 1,020 kg/ha and 1,422 kg/ha, respectively.     

Effects of Population Density and Feeding Rate on Growth and Feed Consumption of Red Swamp Crawfish Procambarns clarkii

Wire-mesh enclosures were used in production ponds to conduct growth trials in which population density and feeding rate were evaluated in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for their effects on crawfish growth. Juvenile Procambarus clarkii of uniform size (0.5 g) were stocked at 2 or 20 animals/m² in experiment 1 and weighed biweekly for 12 wk. Rice forage served as the detrital base, and supplemental feed (25% crude protein) was provided at either a low (26–52 kg/ha per week) or high (104–418 kg/ha per week) rate. In experiment 2, mixed sizes of crawfish were stocked at 10/m² or 20/m² and fed the formulated feed at either 52 or 312 kg/ha per week. Feed consumption was estimated for each treatment combination. Only population density significantly affected crawfish growth. Mean weight gain and final weights were inversely proportional to density but only when total crawfish biomass exceeded 1,235 kg/ha. Growth was not significantly influenced by feeding rate, but the high feeding rate resulted in a significantly greater ratio of hepatopancreas weight to body weight and tended to decrease hepatopancreas moisture levels, indicating improved condition. Population density, feeding rate, and their interaction had significant effects on estimated feed consumption. From the simple linear regression of mean feed consumption on crawfish standing crop, it was estimated that crawfish consume about 0.1 kg of dry feed per ha per week per kg of crawfish biomass on a 5 d per week feeding schedule at mean water temperatures, ranging from 14 to 30 C.     

Phosphorus Fractions in Soil and Water of Aquaculture Ponds Built on Clayey Ultisols at Auburn, Alabama

Phosphorus fractions in soil and water were determined for a 22-year-old, 400m² fish pond constructed on clayey Ultisols at Auburn, Alabama. This pond had been used in pond fertilization and fish feeding experiments each year. Total phosphorus concenlrations in bottom soil were greater in deep water than in shallow water areas. Highest concentrations of phosphorus occurred in the 5–10 cm soil layer, but phosphorus had accumulated above its original concentration to depths of 20 to 45 cm ( x = 36.8 cm). The soil phosphorus accumulation rate was 2.68 g/m² per year. Less than 1% of the total phosphorus in soils from three ponds was extractable in distilled water or 0.5 M NaHCO₃. Sequential extraction with 1 M NH₄Cl, 0.5 N HCl, and 0.1 N NaOH removed less than 25% of the total phosphorus. The loosely-bound phosphorus fraction (1 M NH₄Cl extractable) was 0.4 to 5.2% of the extractable phosphorus. The ability to adsorb phosphorus decreased and the capacity to release phosphorus increased in pond soils as total phosphorus concentration increased. After 22 years of aquacultural production, phosphorus adsorption sites in a pond soil were only about half-saturated. Although soluble phosphorus accounted for 37% of the phosphorus in pond water, only 7% of the total phosphorus in pond water was soluble reactive phosphorus. The phosphorus pool in pond soil was over 500 times greater than that of pond water, but most of the soil phosphorus was strongly adsorbed and unavailable.