The benthic impacts of a large cod farm — Are there indicators for environmental sustainability?

A cod farm in Vidlin Voe, Shetland was at the time of the study the largest cod farm in Europe, and was started in 2003. Run according to organic principles, the farm consisted of 17  32 m diameter cages in the 3 km long sea loch (locally known as voe), which though extremely exposed at the mouth, is sheltered near the cages.Benthic macrofauna and physical/chemical sediment parameters were measured in the summer months of 2004, 2005 and 2006 as biomass increased in the growing cycle. A range of biotic indices showed the benthic environment was enriched at peak biomass of the farm, but by contrast, surficial CHN levels and organic matter were low and uniform. The commonly used sediment indicators redox, total organic carbon and total organic nitrogen did not correlate well with biotic indicators at this site. Predictions from a near-field particle tracking and resuspension model (CODMOD) and a simple nutrient enhancement box model of the voe system (Equilibrium Concentration Enhancement (ECE) model), were used to assess the assimilative capacity of the system.     

Do plant‐based diets for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) need additions of crystalline lysine or methionine?

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), initial weight 15 g, were fed ten experimental diets for 15 weeks. The diets were based on a mixture of plant proteins (PP) and fish meal (FM), where PP constituted 65% of dietary protein. PP mixtures were chosen to reach as low levels of lysine and methionine as possible. The diets were supplemented with increasing amounts of lysine (19.2–31.9 g kg^?1 diet) or methionine (9.4–12.3 g kg^?1 diet), in a regression design. No growth difference among diet groups was found in the plant‐based diets. Increased dietary lysine resulted in decreased liver size, plasma triacylglycerol concentration (TAG) and lipid productive value (LPV). Methionine additions did not result in changed Hepatosomatic index (HSI), LPV or plasma TAG. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein utilization were neither affected by lysine nor methionine. Plasma and muscle concentrations of free lysine and methionine correlated with dietary levels 5‐h post feeding. Overall conclusion was that cod maintain growth rates in plant‐based diets if dietary protein was high, without additional supplements of crystalline lysine or methionine. Lysine intake significantly influenced lipid metabolism, showing the necessity to add lysine in plant protein‐based diets to hinder increased lipid deposition. No such effects were found because of lack of methionine additions.     

Marine mortality in the river? Atlantic salmon smolts under high predation pressure in the last kilometres of a river monitored for stock assessment

The River Bush (Northern Ireland) is an index river for the estimation of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., stock size, population dynamics and marine survival rates. Marine survival estimates are based on the number of smolts counted at a trap 3.5 km upstream of the river outlet. The survival from release to coastal inshore waters for acoustic‐tagged smolts released at the Bushmills trap varied between 32% and 68%, with both year and brightness during river exit playing a significant role in explaining the variations in survival. This constitutes an important survival bottleneck. Contrary to true marine mortality, this significant loss of smolts in the river and nearshore environments could be reduced by focused management actions. More studies on other rivers, where smolts are enumerated above the head of tide, could further partition smolt and post‐smolt mortality, help differentiate true marine survival and help understand fluctuations in adult returns.     

The development of the northern European fishery for north Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus during 1900–1950

North Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, used to migrate to northern European waters (Norwegian Sea, North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat, and Øresund) where it supported important commercial and sportfisheries. The species disappeared from the region in the early 1960s and the species is now still extremely rare. The factors which led to the development of the fishery and its subsequent decline remain unclear and poorly documented. This investigation documents the development of the fishery in terms of landings, effort, and gears with focus on the time period from 1900 to 1950 when landings were increasing. The species was frequently sighted while fishermen were targeting other species (herring, mackerel) and occasionally was caught as bycatch with these and other species. Information from scientifically trained observers demonstrate that tuna schools were common in the North Sea for 2–3 months during the summers of 1923–1931. As fishermen realized that the species had market value, new catch methods were developed and employed. These included harpoon-rifle, improved hook and line methods, and hydraulically operated purse seines. Landings rose sharply as did the number of vessels and the capacity of processing facilities for bluefin tuna. Bluefin tuna in this area were generally medium-large (>50 kg whole weight). The most important countries which participated in bluefin tuna fisheries in this period were Norway, Denmark and Sweden, but bluefin tuna were also exploited by France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Similarly sportfishing increased in popularity in some of these countries and attracted many foreign participants. The increase in landings between 1900 and 1950 was driven particularly by an increase in fishing effort and technology. We found no evidence that the increase was due to a temperature-related shift in habitat into the region. Our results demonstrate that the species was an important part of the ecosystem at least back to the early 1900s and that commercial and recreational fisheries were well established in northern European waters before official ICCAT records.     

Changes in the distribution of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence — effects of environmental change or change in environmental preferences?

Density-independent redistribution in response to changing temperature conditions and density-dependent redistribution in response to changing temperature preferences are two contrasting hypotheses to explain changes in the distribution of cod populations. I tested these hypotheses using survey data on the distribution of cod during the feeding season in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence. These tests used indices of cod distribution as the dependent variable and indices of cod abundance and bottom temperature as explanatory variables. Both hypotheses were often supported in univariate tests that ignored confounding between the two explanatory variables. Tests that accounted for this confounding indicated an effect of cod abundance on distribution for ages 4–8⁺ years, and 3⁺, but provided no support for an effect of environmental conditions on distribution except for age 3. Variation in the temperature distribution of cod was consistent with an effect of abundance on interannual variation in distribution and with no effect of environment except for age 3 cod. Age 3 cod were consistently under-represented in areas of very cold bottom water but older cod were not. As predicted by bioenergetic considerations, cod tended to occupy colder water at high levels of abundance, suggesting a mechanism for density-dependent shifts in distribution. Shifts in cod distribution during the feeding season in the southern Gulf appear to be more closely linked to density-dependent changes in environmental preferences than to density-independent responses to changing environmental conditions.     

Does different tank bottom colour affect the growth, survival and foraging behaviour of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae?

We examined the foraging behaviour, growth and survival of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae in two different colours of tank bottom; either beige (light hereafter) or black (dark hereafter) bottomed tanks with black walls. Results showed no significant differences in the growth, foraging behaviour, or survival of Atlantic cod larvae in response to tank bottom colour indicating that larvae could be reared in lighter bottom tanks without any detrimental effect to the larvae. Using a light bottom tank is also of greater benefit to the culturist as they provide better contrast to monitor the behavioural and morphological development of the larvae.     

The teleost pseudobranch: a role for preconditioning of ocular blood supply?

The physiological relevance of the teleost pseudobranch as a remnant of a reduced gill arch is still unclear. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed regarding its physiological role, but direct confirmatory evidence is lacking. The close relationship by serial blood flow arrangement with the fish eye’s choroid rete has sparked the idea that pseudobranchial preconditioning of blood pH may facilitate initiation of the Root effect and thus support the establishment of high oxygen tensions for retinal diffusive supply. This idea was critically tested by studies on isolated pseudobranchs in situ (Oncorhynchus mykiss), perfused with RBC/Ringer or RBC/plasma suspensions of widely varied composition (pH 7.4–8.2). Detailed analysis of inflowing as compared to effluent perfusates indicated normal aerobic metabolism expressed by a rise in Pco₂ (+0.39 ± 0.13 mmHg ), an oxygen utilization of 25% and a high oxygen consumption of ∼400 nmol g⁻¹ min⁻¹. Upon passage of the pseudobranch, pH (corrected for Haldane effect) was only slightly acidified (−0.03 to −0.10), [HCO₃ ⁻] and [lactate] were slightly enhanced (+0.51 mmol l⁻¹ or 0.13 mmol l⁻¹, respectively). In order to test for yet unknown plasma components involved in pseudobranch function, a second series of experiments was conducted using RBC-suspensions in fresh plasma instead of Ringer, with results closely resembling those of the RBC/Ringer series. Lacking any physiologically significant correlation with the level of perfusate pH, the obtained data indicate pseudobranchial basic metabolic activity rather than pH regulatory characteristics. Also the observed absolute changes in pH are negligible in terms of pH regulation towards the Root-threshold. Accordingly, the present experiments as well as plausibility evaluation of mechanisms do not support the idea of blood pH pre-adjustment prior to entry into the choroid rete structure of the teleost eye to facilitate the Root-mediated oxygen release.     

Decline and fall of the salmon fisheries in the Netherlands: is restocking the Rhine a reality?

Abstract. The Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., was once of major importance to the fishing industry along the River Rhine. This paper discusses the Dutch and German salmon catches over the years 1863–1950. Even up to the end of the last century, it was not uncommon for Dutch and German fishermen to land 100000 salmon a year. However, factors such as the increased use of locks and weirs along the Rhine, coupled with growth in pollution, soon led to a rapid decline in numbers. By 1933, the salmon fishing industry in the Netherlands had virtually ceased to exist. Analysis of the available catch statistics suggests that the decline in the salmon population could have started before official records began. Although the degree of scatter in the data and uncertainties in the assumptions preclude the possibility of drawing firm conclusions about the survival rate of salmon, these figures illustrate how difficult it will be to maintain a stable population in the Rhine. Moreover, a number of changes have taken place since the heyday of salmon in western Europe, which could compound the problem. Of particular importance in the context of the Rhine are:

• 1 the closure of two of the major migration routes to the sea (Haringvliet and Zuiderzee);
• 2 morphological changes in the river;
• 3 chemical and thermal pollution;
• 4 the loss of accessible spawning and nursery areas of the required quality;
• 5 the disappearance of salmon from other rivers that flow into the North Sea such as the Rivers Elbe, Weser and Ems. If salmon were only reintroduced into the Rhine, a certain proportion would probably stray and infiltrate these other rivers.

The fact that the impact of these changes is difficult to quantify increases the uncertainty associated with maintaining a stable stock of salmon in the Rhine.     

Is observed variability in the long-term results of the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey a response to climate change?

In the more than 50 years that the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey has operated on a regular monthly basis in the north-east Atlantic and North Sea, large changes have been witnessed in the planktonic ecosystem. These changes have taken the form of long-term trends in abundance for certain species or stepwise changes for others, and in many cases are correlated with a mode of climatic variability in the North Atlantic, either: (1) the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), a basin-scale atmospheric alteration of the pressure field between the Azores high pressure cell and the Icelandic Low; or (2) the Gulf Stream Index (GSI), which measures the latitudinal position of the north wall of the Gulf Stream. Recent work has shown that the changes in the GSI are coupled with the NAO and Pacific Southern Oscillation with a 2 year lag. The plankton variability is also possibly linked to changes observed in the distribution and flux of water masses in the surface, intermediate and deep waters of the North Atlantic. For example, in the last two decades, the extent and location of the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water, Labrador Sea Intermediate Water and Norwegian Sea intermediate and upper-layer water has altered considerably. This paper discusses the extent to which observed changes in plankton abundance and distribution may be linked to this basin-scale variability in hydrodynamics. The results are also placed within the context of global climate warming and the possible effects of the observed melting of Arctic permafrost and sea ice on the subpolar North Atlantic.     

Interspecific germ cell transplantation: a new light in the conservation of valuable Balkan trout genetic resources?

Interspecific transplantation of germ cells from the brown trout Salmo trutta m. fario and the European grayling Thymallus thymallus into rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss recipients was carried out in order to improve current practices in conservation of genetic resources of endangered salmonid species in the Balkan Peninsula. Current conservation methods mainly include in situ efforts such as the maintenance of purebred individuals in isolated streams and restocking with purebred fingerlings; however, additional ex situ strategies such as surrogate production are needed. Steps required for transplantation such as isolation of high number of viable germ cells and fluorescent labeling of germ cells which are to be transplanted have been optimized. Isolated and labeled brown trout and grayling germ cells were intraperitoneally transplanted into 3 to 5 days post hatch rainbow trout larvae. Survival of the injected larvae was comparable to the controls. Sixty days after transplantation, fluorescently labeled donor cells were detected within the recipient gonads indicating successful incorporation of germ cells (brown trout spermatogonia and oogonia—27%; grayling spermatogonia—28%; grayling oogonia—23%). PCR amplification of donor mtDNA CR fragments within the recipient gonads additionally corroborated the success of incorporation. Overall, the transplantation method demonstrated in this study presents the first step and a possible onset of the application of the germ cell transplantation technology in conservation and revitalization of genetic resources of endangered and endemic species or populations of salmonid fish and thus give rise to new or improved management strategies for such species.     

Collection of marine invertebrates for the aquarium trade in European waters: is anyone surveying?

• 1. Recently, the snails Hinia reticulatus, Cyclope neritea and Cerithium rupestre and the hermit crabs Diogenes pugilator and Clibanarius erythropus from warm European coastal waters have started to be commercially collected and traded.
• 2. The average number (± standard deviation) of specimens captured per hour, by collectors were 475±237 for H. reticulatus, 363±112 for C. neritea, 384±173 for C. rupestre, 302±121 for D. pugilator and 210±54 for C. erythropus.
• 3. All species survived well during transportation, were popular among aquarium hobbyists and attained high retail values, ranging from €0.90 to €4.00 per specimen.
• 4. The collection and trade of these novel commercial species can either become a sole economic activity or an additional one for traditional fishermen and aquaculturists.
• 5. Although no destructive collection techniques are employed, the lack of population biology studies and legislation regulating the capture of these species is a major problem in ensuring the sustainable use of these highly valuable marine resources.
• 6. These species are currently mainly collected from natural parks areas protected by Portuguese and European Union designations.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Direct contact between Pseudo-nitzschia?multiseries and bacteria is necessary for the diatom to produce a high level of domoic acid

Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries loses most of its ability to produce domoic acid when it is cultured axenically. However, domoic acid production recovers when bacteria from the original culture are reintroduced to axenic cultures, indicating a bacterial association with domoic acid production in this species. In order to determine the role of bacteria in domoic acid production, an axenic strain prepared from a nonaxenic strain of P. multiseries was inoculated into media in cellophane tubes, which were then placed in a bottle containing the original nonaxenic culture. Both strains showed characteristic domoic acid production similar to that previously observed. Domoic acid level in the cells of the axenic strain in the tubes was much smaller than that of the cells outside the tubes. These results show that direct contact between living bacteria and P. multiseries is necessary for producing high levels of domoic acid in P. multiseries.     

The modified Johnson-Reid method--a practice model for coccidiosis monitoring in the fattening of young fowl?

Models of coccidiosis-monitoring known from literature are described. A suitable alternative of determining the coccidia status in a broiler population is the "modified Johnson-Reid method". This method makes a standardization of diagnostic finding and evaluation possible as well as a differentiated intestinal localization and the determination of coccidia incidence severity. In addition to the microscopic screening of the caecum contents--as described by Johnson-Reid--it appears necessary to take also swabs from parts of the duodenum and jejunum (near the Meckel's diverticulum). Subsequently this method is an important help for veterinarians working with broiler production, for diagnostic institutions as well as producers of anticoccidial agents, especially in regard to its documentation rate and the resulting consequences. In this way other diagnostic efficiency data in broiler production are significantly completed.     

Is the lagoonal mudsnail Hydrobia neglectarare because of competitively-induced reproductive depression and,if so,what are the implications for its conservation?

1. Females of the rare lagoonal mudsnail Hydrobia neglecta respond to increasing population density by a lowered output of eggs. The effect is even more marked when the widespread and abundant congener H. ulvae comprises part of a joint population. Thus, increasing the density by 50% from 18 000 H. neglecta per square metre decreases egg production by 30%, but when H. ulvae comprises 33% of the higher mudsnail density the decrease is 63%. 2. Mortality of both male and female H. neglecta is also greater in the presence of H. ulvae than in its absence, whilst mortality of H. ulvae in mixed populations is minor. 3. Since an allopatric female H. neglecta produces only 11–14 eggs during her expected reproductive lifetime, such a reduction of fecundity in the presence of moderate numbers of H. ulvae could prove disastrous for populations of H. neglecta closed to intraspecific immigration but open to invasion by H. ulvae. Such is the position in several areas, including the semi-isolated, landlocked lagoons that are the habitat of H. neglecta outside the Baltic Sea. 4. This probably partly explains why H. ulvae and H. neglecta are rarely sympatric in such lagoons, and why H. neglecta is only common in Britain where H. ulvae is absent from the adjacent intertidal zone and unable to be washed into lagoons by overtopping. This has important repercussions on attempts to conserve this rare hydrobiid, and probably on other rare and legally-protected lagoonal species. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Does the capacity for energy utilization affect the survival of post‐smolt Atlantic salmon,Salmo salar L., during natural outbreaks of infectious pancreatic necrosis?

If osmotic stress and reduced seawater tolerance are predisposing factors for infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) outbreaks in farmed Atlantic salmon, increased survival by enhancing access to energy would be expected. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to increase energy access in 1-year old Atlantic salmon after sea transfer by increasing the level of dietary fat, by exchanging some of the dietary oil with more easily oxidized medium chain triacylglycerols, or by dietary supplementation of potentially energy enhancing additives such as clofibrate and tetradecylthioacetic acid (TTA). A natural outbreak of IPN occurred 8 weeks after sea transfer, and a significant dietary effect explaining 76% of the variation in mortality was observed. Relative percentage survival for the fish fed TTA in sea water was 70% when compared with the unsupplemented control, reducing mortality from 7.8 to 2.3%. Muscle fat content and plasma chloride were related to IPN mortality, suggesting that reduced hypoosmoregulatory capacity might be a predisposing factor to the onset of an IPN outbreak. Based on the observation of a threefold increase in white muscle mitochondrial fatty acid oxidizing activity by TTA, it is suggested that TTA has resulted in a re-allocation of dietary fatty acids from storage to energy producing oxidation.     

The European Water Framework Directive: a new era in the management of aquatic ecosystem health?

1. The forthcoming European Commission Water Framework Directive will introduce catchment management throughout Europe, and could have major impacts on the conservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The Directive is outlined, and the proposed mechanisms for determining water quality status under the Directive are described. 2. The Directive is assessed using the developing ideas of ecosystem health. These combine scientific validity with an open acknowledgement of the value judgements inherent in all assessments of ecological quality, and emphasize the importance of public involvement. 3. Permitted derogations and exemptions are identified and their likely consequences discussed. These include substantial reductions in the potential of the Directive to improve water status in some cases. Existing bioassessment methods relevant to the proposed scheme are reviewed, and the sampling and statistical implications of the Directive are explored. Much work is needed on the development of ecological classification and referencing systems if the requirements of the Directive are to be met. 4. The emphasis of the Directive on biological (and not just chemical) quality goals, and the introduction of a consideration of ecological functioning (as well as structure) is welcomed. Although the Directive requires the assessment of hydromorphological and chemical, in addition to biological, variables, in most cases biological assessment is given priority. We advocate inclusion of all three elements in quality assessments. 5. The Directive gives little advice on policy integration for catchment management at European and national levels, and fails to provide for public involvement in the process of ecosystem management. These omissions will limit the ability of the Directive to deliver ecosystem health, and need to be addressed if the goals of the Directive are to be achieved. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How consistent is the advice from stock assessments? Empirical estimates of inter-assessment bias and uncertainty for marine fish and invertebrate stocks

Fishery management frequently involves precautionary buffering for scientific uncertainty. For example, a precautionary buffer that scales with scientific uncertainty is used to calculate the acceptable biological catch downward from the overfishing limit in the US federal fishery management system. However, there is little empirical guidance to suggest how large buffers for scientific uncertainty should be. One important component of uncertainty is variation among different assessments of the same stock in estimates of management-relevant quantities. We analysed commercially exploited marine fish and invertebrate stocks around the world and developed Bayesian hierarchical models to quantify inter-assessment variation in terminal year biomass and fishing mortality estimates, reference points, relative biomass and fishing mortality estimates, and overfishing limits. There was little evidence of inter-assessment bias; stock assessment estimates in the terminal year of the assessment were not consistently higher or lower than estimates of the same quantities in future years. However, there was a tendency for extreme values from the terminal year to be pulled closer to the mean in future years. Inter-assessment variation in all estimates differed across regions, and a longer inter-assessment interval generally resulted in greater variation. Inter-assessment uncertainty was greatest for estimates of the overfishing limit, with coefficients of variation ranging from 17% in Europe (non-EU) to 107% for Pacific Ocean pelagic stocks. Because inter-assessment variation is only one component of scientific uncertainty, we suggest that these uncertainty estimates may provide a basis for determining the minimum size of precautionary buffers.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kr?yer) larvae in a sea loch containing Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms on the north-west coast of Scotland.

A plankton survey investigated spatial and temporal distributions of larval sea lice in a sea loch on the north-west coast of Scotland. Plankton tows were collected approximately weekly at two depths (0 and 5 m) at five sample stations over a 2-year period. The survey began in March 2002 when Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms in the study area stocked with fish and finished in March 2004, after farms completed harvesting. Over 90% of lice recovered were Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Kr?yer); therefore, the results of this paper refer largely to that species. The data were analysed using generalized additive models with explanatory variables for time, depth and station. Greatest densities of nauplii were recovered at stations adjacent to farms indicating that the local salmon farms were a likely source of larvae at times during the production cycle. There were significant temporal trends in larval densities and the stocking and harvesting of farms can possibly account for these increases and decreases, particularly at the start and at the end of the production cycle. The distribution of copepodids was more widespread than that of nauplii, indicating that the larvae can be transported several kilometres from the point of release.