Brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) density distribution in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: an approach using boosted regression trees

The estuarine‐dependent brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, is a significant commercial fishery and important species in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) ecosystem as well as being a key component in energy transfer between benthic and pelagic food web systems. Because of the economical and ecological importance of brown shrimp, we developed a spatial population model to identify places of high shrimp density under a set of spatial, environmental and temporal variables in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM). We used fisheries‐independent data collected by the Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) from 1992 to 2007 (summer and fall seasons). The relationship between the predictor variables and shrimp density was modeled using Boosted Regression Trees (BRT). Within the environmental variables included in the model, bottom type and depth of the water column were the most important predictors of shrimp density in the NGOM. Spatial predictions performed using the trained BRT model for summer and fall seasons showed a spatial segregation of shrimp density. During the summer, higher densities were predicted near the Texas and Louisiana coast and during the fall, higher densities were predicted further offshore. The model performed well and allowed successful prediction of brown shrimp hot spots in the NGOM. Model results allow fisheries managers to evaluate the potential impact from fisheries on the resource and to develop future fisheries management strategies, understand the biology of brown shrimp as well as assess the potential impacts of oil spills or climate change.     

Using fishers' anecdotes, naturalists' observations and grey literature to reassess marine species at risk: the case of the Gulf grouper in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Designing fishing policies without knowledge of past levels of target species abundance is a dangerous omission for fisheries management. However, as fisheries monitoring started long after exploitation of many species began, this is a difficult issue to address. Here we show how the ‘shifting baseline’ syndrome can affect the stock assessment of a vulnerable species by masking real population trends and thereby put marine animals at serious risk. Current fishery data suggest that landings of the large Gulf grouper (Mycteroperca jordani, Serranidae) are increasing in the Gulf of California. However, reviews of historical evidence, naturalists’ observations and a systematic documentation of fishers’ perceptions of trends in the abundance of this species indicate that it has dramatically declined. The heyday for the Gulf grouper fishery occurred prior to the 1970s, after which abundance dropped rapidly, probably falling to a few percent of former numbers. This decline happened long before fishery statistics were formally developed. We use the case of the Gulf grouper to illustrate how other vulnerable tropical and semi‐tropical fish and shellfish species around the world may be facing the same fate as the Gulf grouper. In accordance with other recent studies, we recommend using historical tools as part of a broad data‐gathering approach to assess the conservation status of marine species that are vulnerable to over‐exploitation.     

Discards from the artisanal shrimp fishery in a tropical coastal lagoon of Mexico: spatio-temporal patterns and fishing gear effects

Abstract  Variability in community (richness, diversity and evenness) and population (size structure) attributes of discards was evaluated in a shrimp fishery in Celestun Lagoon, Mexico, in different climatic seasons and hydrological zones. Sampling was conducted using two bottom nets with different mesh size codends: 1.3 cm (used in the fishery) and 2.5 cm. Although the shrimp:discard ratio was 1:1 in both cases, total biomass and abundance with the 1.3-cm mesh size were, respectively, 4.6 and 1.8 times higher than with the 2.5-cm mesh size. This result was consistent in time and space. Discards were dominated by fishes [60% in 1.3-cm mesh size and 96% in 2.5-cm mesh size, mainly Cichlasoma urophthalmus (Günther), Eucinostomus gula (Quoy & Gaimard) and Lucania parva (Baird & Girard)] and shellfishes (40% in 1.3-cm mesh size and 4% in 2.5-cm mesh size, mainly Palaemonetes spp. and Callinectes spp.). The highest discards were registered the nortes season with both mesh sizes. The 1.3-cm mesh size retained significantly smaller sizes than the 2.5-cm mesh size in six of the eight most important species. An increase in mesh size, together with a fishery closure during the nortes season, are suggested to mitigate the impact of the fishery on the discarded fauna.     

Effects of fishing practice changes on pelagic shark longline captures in the Gulf of Gabes,Tunisia

1. In order to increase their catches, longliners targeting sharks in the Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia, have increased the number of hooks per basket and have included new bait types instead of mackerel (Scomber scombrus). This paper reports the effects of these changes on catch composition, catch rates, size distribution, life‐stage captures, and mortality at haulback.
2. Data from 48 and 96 longline sets, carried out during the shark fishing seasons of 2007 and 2008, with two hooks per basket, and 2016 and 2017, with five hooks per basket, respectively, were examined to assess the effect of gear change. Moreover, the effects of bait types were inspected based on 33 fishing sets using whole mackerel, 19 using salema (Sarpa salpa) halves, and 27 using pieces of stingray (Dasyatis spp.), sampled during 2016 and 2017.
3. The species composition indicated that longliners expand the vertical distribution of their hooks to operate from the surface to the bottom. The catches with both longline designs were dominated by sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus). Despite gear changes, the catch rate of C. plumbeus decreased by 42.21%, suggesting population decline. The size composition indicated a shift towards larger specimens, mainly adult females, which could jeopardize the shark population. Moreover, the mortality of the main species at haulback seems to be affected by the design of the longline.
4. The bait used, mainly pieces of stingray, significantly increased the catch rate of sandbar shark, which suggests a greater attractiveness of the new bait; however, fish size and mortality rates at haulback were unchanged in response to bait variation.
5. The fishery operates in shark nursery grounds, which exposes these fish (principally C. plumbeus) to considerable exploitation pressure. The new fishing practices intensified the pressure and thus the risk of a rapid depletion of populations. To preserve the shark species in the area, the use of new gear and attractive bait should be banned.

     

Fate and consumption of discarded by-catch in the Spencer Gulf prawn fishery, South Australia

Discarded by-catch in prawn fisheries is likely to affect trophic balance including the population structure and function of both the exploited species and scavengers on discards. The Spencer Gulf prawn fishery consists of 39 trawlers operating about 60 days a year with a management system allowing large differences in spatial effort. Such a system provides opportunities to study spatial effects of fishing in relation to habitat and fishing effort. In this study, the occurrence and consumption of scavengers on the Spencer Gulf prawn fishing grounds were studied at five sites subjected to different historical fishing effort and further estimated through field and laboratory experiments. Baited video experiments showed that the most common scavengers on discarded by-catch were Degens leatherjacket (Thamnaconus degeni), blue crabs (Portunus pelagicus) and sealice (a group of several species of isopods and amphipods), notably Natatolana woodjonesi, with variable abundances between sites and day/night. Scavenger abundance and consumption was higher at night than during the day. Total abundance and consumption during the day showed a negative correlation to historical trawl hours, while during the night showed a positive correlation. In the laboratory, in contrast to groups, individual leatherjackets showed little interest in bait. Consumption rates for both leatherjackets and blue crabs showed a logarithmic trend depending on bait species. The results showed that during the day blue crabs and leatherjackets were the dominating scavengers while during the night it was Port Jackson sharks and in particular sealice. The effects of site, historical trawl hours and relative importance of the scavenging species are discussed.     

Predicting the occurrence of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae in the northern Gulf of Mexico: building a classification model from archival data

Although bluefin tuna are found throughout the Atlantic Ocean, spawning in the western Atlantic has been recorded predominantly in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) in spring. Larval bluefin tuna abundances from the northern GOM are formulated into an index used to tune the adult stock assessment, and the variability of this index is currently high. This study investigated whether some of the variability in larval bluefin tuna abundances was related to environmental conditions, by defining associations between larval bluefin tuna catch locations, and a suite of environmental variables. We hypothesized that certain habitat types, as defined by environmental variables, would be more likely to contain bluefin tuna larvae. Favorable habitat for bluefin tuna larvae was defined using a classification tree approach. Habitat within the Loop Current was generally less favorable, as were warm‐core rings, and cooler waters on the continental shelf. The location and size of favorable habitat was highly variable among years, which was reflected in the locations of larval bluefin tuna catches. The model successfully placed bluefin tuna larvae in favorable habitat with nearly 90% accuracy, but many negative stations were also located within theoretically favorable habitat. The probability of collecting larval bluefin tuna in favorable habitat was nearly twice the probability of collecting bluefin tuna larvae across all habitats (35.5 versus 21.0%). This model is a useful addition to knowledge of larval bluefin tuna distributions; however, the incorporation of variables describing finer‐scale features, such as thermal fronts, may significantly improve the model’s predictive power.     

Allozyme genetic analysis in hatchery strains and wild blue shrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) stylirostris (Stimpson), from the Gulf of California

We conducted a population genetic analysis of Penaeus stylirostris to describe the genetic variability in two wild samples (Guaymas and Peñasco) and in two cultivated strains (A and B), and to determine the relationship among samples. Seventeen enzymatic systems and general proteins were used to visualize 31 loci. Of the 31 loci, 11 polymorphic loci (35%) were detected in all the organisms, with an average heterozygosity of 0.10 and an average of 1.8 per locus. There were no significant differences among the four samples of observed heterozygosity or percentage of polymorphic loci. According to Hardy–Weinberg, both cultivated strains showed disequilibrium in more loci than the wild samples. Guaymas showed linkage disequilibrium in five pairs of polymorphic loci, Peñasco samples in two pairs, A in seven pairs, and B in nine pairs. Peñasco and both cultivated lineages showed evidence of recent reductions in their effective populations size. Based on the comparisons of F_st values, and the distribution of the allelic frequencies, the cultivated strains were significantly different from the two wild populations. There is evidence that strain B originated from A and the discrepancies between the strains are probably the result of genetic drift and a founder effect.     

Effects of a fishing gear on an artisanal multispecific penaeid fishery in a coastal lagoon of Mexico: mesh size, selectivity and management implications

Abstract  The spatiotemporal effects of a bottom net used in an artisanal multispecific penaeid fishery at Celestun Lagoon, Mexico, were evaluated. Selectivity experiments, based on the covered codend method, were carried out with two bottom nets operating simultaneously but using different mesh size codends: 13 mm (MS13: currently used in the fishery) and 25 mm (MS25). Length at 50% retention, L ₅₀, was twice as high with MS25 (15.34 mm carapace length, CL) than with MS13 (6.95 mm CL); this global pattern was recurrent for all species, seasons and hydrological zones. These differences in selectivity determined that MS13 mainly retained recruits and juveniles, whereas MS25 mainly retained sub-adults. However, smaller shrimps were caught by both mesh sizes during the 'nortes' season (November to February) and at the outer zones of the lagoon. Thus, an increase in mesh size from 13 to 25 mm, together with fishery closures within specific area–season windows, is suggested to reduce risks of overfishing of these shrimp populations.     

Multidecadal otolith growth histories for red and gray snapper (Lutjanus spp.) in the northern Gulf of Mexico,USA

Dendrochronology (tree‐ring analysis) techniques were applied to develop chronologies from the annual growth‐increment widths of red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) otoliths sampled from the northern Gulf of Mexico, USA. Growth increment widths showed considerable synchrony within and across species, indicating that some component of environmental variability influenced growth. The final, exactly dated red snapper chronology continuously spanned 1975 through 2003, while the gray snapper chronology continuously spanned 1975 through 2006. To determine baseline climate‐growth relationships, chronologies were compared to monthly averages of sea surface temperatures, U winds (west to east), V winds (south to north), and Mississippi River discharge. The gray snapper chronology significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with winds and temperature in March and April, while the red snapper chronology correlated with winds in March. Principal components regression including springtime winds and temperature accounted for 28 and 52% of the variance in the red and gray snapper chronologies, respectively. These results indicate that snapper growth was favored by warm sea surface temperatures and onshore winds from the southeast to the northwest in March and April. Overall, this study provides preliminary, baseline information regarding the association between climate and growth for these commercially important snapper species.     

Habitat associations of dolphinfish larvae in the Gulf of Mexico

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) as essential habitat of common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and pompano dolphinfish (C. equiselis) during early life and to characterize conditions in which they were found. Eight ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted during the summer months from 2007 to 2010 in northern Gulf waters off Texas and Louisiana (26–28°N, 87–93°W), during which 1145 dolphinfish larvae were collected. C. hippurus, the dominant dolphinfish species, were collected in 57% of sampling sites with an overall mean density of 0.73 larvae 1000 m^?3, whereas C. equiselis were only collected at 18% of sites with a mean density of 0.12 larvae 1000 m^?3. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to examine the relationship between several environmental parameters and C. hippurus presence/absence and density. Both presence/absence and density GAMs indicated that catches of C. hippurus larvae increased near fronts and eddies and that increased abundances were most strongly associated with higher salinities and cooler temperatures. In addition, our models showed that C. hippurus larvae were positively associated with C. equiselis larvae, suggesting that C. hippurus and C. equiselis use similar habitats. Results of this study indicate that the Gulf may represent important spawning and/or nursery habitat of dolphinfishes and that mesoscale features and physicochemical conditions influence the distribution and abundance of C. hippurus larvae in this region.     

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.

     

Influence of oceanographic conditions on abundance and distribution of post‐larval and juvenile carangid fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Relationships between abundance of post‐larval and juvenile carangid (jacks) fishes and physical oceanographic conditions were examined in the northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in 2011 with high freshwater input from the Mississippi River. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to explore complex relationships between carangid abundance and physical oceanographic data of sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) and salinity. The five most abundant carangid species collected were: Selene setapinnis (34%); Caranx crysos (30%); Caranx hippos (10%); Chloroscombrus chrysurus (9%) and Trachurus lathami (8%). Post‐larval carangids (median standard length [SL] = 10 mm) were less abundant during the spring and early summer, but more abundant during the late summer and fall, suggesting summer to fall spawning for most species. Juvenile carangid (median SL = 23 mm) abundance also increased between the mid‐summer and early fall. Most species showed increased abundance at lower salinities and higher temperatures, suggesting entrainment of post‐larval fishes or feeding aggregations of juveniles at frontal convergence zones between the expansive river plume and dynamic mesoscale eddy water masses. However, responses were species‐ and life‐stage specific, which may indicate fine‐scale habitat partitioning between species. Ordination methods also revealed higher carangid abundances at lower salinities for both post‐larval and juvenile life stages, with species‐ and life‐stage specific responses to SST and SSHA, further suggesting habitat separation between species. Results indicate strong links between physical oceanographic features and carangid distributions in the dynamic northern GoM.     

DNA barcoding reveals clear delineation between spawning sites for neritic versus oceanic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico

We combined research‐vessel cruises of opportunity with DNA barcoding to survey planktonic, percomorph fish eggs at 40 stations distributed across and around the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The objectives were (a) to determine whether eggs of fishes that are potential candidates for the daily egg production method (DEPM) can be readily barcoded, (b) to identify taxa that are spawning in the GoM, (c) to determine encounter rates for eggs of economically valuable taxa, and (d) to characterize individual egg taxa as being primarily neritic, primarily oceanic, or primarily mixed (i.e., both neritic and oceanic). Of the 1,144 eggs that were individually barcoded, 709 (62%) were definitively identified to species (62 species from 42 families), with an additional 20 taxa identified to genus or subfamily level. The eggs of 15 economically important species were identified, most of which had intermediate encounter rates and moderately dispersed spatial distributions, as indicated by an index of aggregation. SIMPROF analysis of stationwise cluster analysis identified eight significant groups within the 35 stations that yielded percomorph eggs; a corresponding specieswise analysis identified six groups of stations as having a neritic egg community and two groups as having an oceanic community, with a community transition located at the shelf break. Although the neritic and oceanic stations did not share important species, it remains possible that coastal pelagic species have mixed neritic–oceanic distributions. Together, these results indicate DEPM fish‐egg surveys based on DNA barcoding are feasible at the large marine ecosystem scale.     

Long-term variation in the abundance of the brown shrimp Crangon crangon (L.) population of the German Bight and possible causes for its interannual variability

Time series on Crangon crangon densities in the German Wadden Sea show a considerable degree of interannual variability, for the entire region in spring and in autumn as well as for three subareas, North Frisia, East Frisia and Elbe estuary. Across the entire survey area C. crangon density was inversely related to water depth. In autumn after the recruitment, settlement shrimp densities are correlated across a larger spatial scale (>100 km longshore), whereas in spring the overwintering adult spawning stock is uncorrelated across subareas. Interannually, extreme density variations can develop even over a short time span of 1 yr. On a large spatial scale shrimp abundance in autumn was correlated with year‐to‐year changes in physical environmental and biological parameters, winter water temperature, autumn river runoff and the winter NAO index. On a regional scale (North Frisia), density of gadoid predators was an additional component affecting shrimp stock abundance. No correlations to such parameters could be detected for the C. crangon stock in spring. Possible causes for the spring situation and additional sources for variability are discussed.     

Genetic differentiation in hatchery strains and wild white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei (Boone, 1931) from northwest Mexico

Ten enzymatic systems were analyzed to determine allozyme genetic differentiation among three hatchery strains (A, B and C) of white shrimp, Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei, commonly used in shrimp farming in northwest Mexico. A wild population from northern Sinaloa was used as a reference. Fifteen loci were detected, nine of which were polymorphic (ACP-1*, ACP-2*, AKP-2*, EST-2*, EST-3*, EST-4*, EST-5*, LAP*, and LDH*). Polymorphism of A, B and C were 53, 53, and 40%. The mean observed heterozygosity per locus was 0.071, 0.093, and 0.050 without any significant difference among them or with respect to the wild population (0.056). In all samples observed heteroxygosity was smaller than expected. The mean number of alleles per locus was 1.8 in A and 1.87 in both B and C. Strain A was the only sample without rare alleles. Only EST-3* and LAP* of strain A were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; the other loci were in disequilibrium in all samples. High inbreeding values and heterozygote deficiencies were detected in all samples. Distribution of allelic frequencies was heterogeneous among the samples (G-test), involving all polymorphic loci and suggesting a genetic differentiation. According to Fst, a moderate genetic differentiation (7.4%) was detected among the samples. Greater differences were between strains A and C. Based on genetic distance, the samples were grouped into two pairs, B-C and A-wild. Strain A is a young strain related to the wild sample, whereas strains B and C have a different geographic origin than the wild sample.     

Spatiotemporal variability in the phenology of the initial intra‐annual molt of American lobster (Homarus americanus Milne Edwards, 1837) and its relationship with bottom temperatures in a changing Gulf of Maine

This study uses the Maine Department of Marine Resources Lobster Sea Sampling data (2000–2016) and logistic models to develop the first time series for the timing and suddenness of onset of the initial intra‐annual molt of American lobster in the Gulf of Maine (GoM), an annual fishery recruitment event crucial to fishermen. Data from three GoM regions (eastern, central, and western coastal Maine) were further divided by sex and estimated maturity of sampled lobsters for analysis. We found differences in the patterns of initial molt timing and suddenness between the regions, sexes, and stages of maturity. Using the Northeast Coastal Ocean Forecasting System hindcast temperatures, seasonal accumulated degrees above 5°C were used to describe the thermal history for each region at ocean depths of about 5 and 110 m. These temperature metrics were used in generalized linear models to investigate the potential effects of seasonal temperatures on the initial molt season. Results showed that initial intra‐annual molting of lobsters was variable from 2000 to 2016, with periods of both earlier and more sudden molts and later and more protracted molts. Warmer temperatures, specifically inshore temperatures, were generally associated with an earlier molt, but without complete uniformity in the direction and magnitude across seasons, regions, and lobster demographics. We also discuss why developing molt time series and quantifying the connection to the bottom temperatures are necessary and emphasized why existing monitoring programs and the applied quantification techniques herein make this relationship difficult to quantify.     

Simulating the economic viability of Nile tilapia and Australian redclaw crayfish polyculture in Yucatan, Mexico

Tilapia culture in rural communities in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, has been increasing in recent decades. Polyculture of tilapia with other more commercially valuable species provides an opportunity to substantially improve the economic yields of rural producers. The economic viability of implementing Nile tilapia with Australian redclaw crayfish in polyculture was analyzed using profitability indicators such as internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV). A bioeconomic model was developed to simulate three production densities, accounting for investment recuperation in time horizons of 5, 10 and 15 years. Simulations showed a notable improvement in profitability when farms adopt the polyculture strategy, particularly over the 5-year horizon. Nile tilapia with Australian redclaw crayfish polyculture shortens investment return time and buffers risk related to changes in tilapia sale price. Of the three studied polyculture combinations the optimum outcome was achieved with medium redclaw crayfish density.     

Use of satellite data to identify critical periods for early life survival of northern shrimp in the Gulf of Maine

The northern shrimp Pandalus borealis is at its southern limit in the Gulf of Maine (GOM), and recruitment success is higher in years with relatively cool water temperature. However, the mechanisms for the temperature effect are not clear. We used rolling window analysis of daily satellite data to identify critical periods for early life survival of the 1998–2012 northern shrimp year‐classes and to investigate the importance of the phenology of the hatch and bloom. Survival was negatively correlated with sea surface temperature (SST) during a 6‐week period around the time of larval emergence (late winter) and during a 4‐week period in late summer when SST and stratification reached annual maxima. Survival was negatively correlated with chlorophyll‐a concentration (chl‐a) during two 5‐week periods centered approximately a month before the hatch midpoint and around the time of settlement to the benthos. A small‐magnitude winter bloom occurred around the time of the hatch in many years, but our results did not reveal a link between survival and bloom‐hatch phenology. The timing of winter and spring blooms were correlated with SST during the preceding 10 months. A survival model including SST and chl‐a during the critical periods explained 73% of the variance in survival. Summer SST increased significantly during the study period; the other critical variables showed no trend. The rolling windows approach revealed sensitive periods in early life history that may not have otherwise been hypothesized, providing a foundation for research towards a greater understanding of processes affecting recruitment.