Efficient synthesis of (+/-)-4-methyloctanoic acid, aggregation pheromone of rhinoceros beetles of the genus Oryctes (Coleoptera: Dynastidae, Scarabaeidae)

(+/-)-4-Methyloctanoic acid and its ethyl ester are aggregation pheromones of many rhinoceros beetles of the genus Oryctes and are investigated for the control of these pests by olfactory trapping. A simple, economical, and high-yield (>50%) synthesis of (+/-)-4-methyloctanoic acid and its ethyl ester is presented starting from n-hexanal. The key step in this sequence is an orthoester Claisen rearrangement for the elongation of the carbon chain by two.     

Fishing strategy choices of purse seines in the Mediterranean: implications for management

ABSTRACT:   An observer's sampling scheme, that employed fisheries scientists onboard fleet vessels was used to examine temporal fishing tactics and strategies affecting catches of the purse seine fishery in the Mediterranean. The month, water depth and the fishers' behavior were found to have an effect on total and Trachurus spp. retained catches, with fishers' behavior explaining the largest percentage of the data variation. The distance of the fishing ground from port and the market price modulated both the retained catches and the fishing location choice. Results confirmed that fishers while in a specific fishing ground developed strategies that would allow them to retain, and thus land, the best possible combination of landings × market value. The current findings also revealed that, when constrained by physical and economic conditions, fishers preferred to minimise risk rather than maximize landings. The observed major switches in fishing strategy were attributed to fishers' risk attitude response towards higher profitability. As the Mediterranean fishery system is mainly based on control effort and technical measures regimes, the current findings are discussed in the light of the need to consider additional information to management plans and decisions.     

Fishing capacity and capacity utilization of purse seiners using data envelopment analysis

Abstract:   The existence of excessive fishing capacity is globally recognized by resource managers as a major problem for fisheries, and it is responsible for the degradation of fishery resources and for significant economic waste. Estimates of fishing capacity and capacity utilization may provide helpful tools in designing an effective capacity management plan for Mediterranean fisheries. In this study, the fishing capacity and capacity utilization of eastern Mediterranean purse seiners were assessed using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Estimates were made for individual vessels based on the level of inputs used and outputs produced, relative to other vessels operating under similar conditions. Results indicated similar excess capacity for target species, which is in accordance with how the fishery operated. The 24–40-m fleet segment was found to be more efficient than the 12–24-m fleet segment in terms of landing weights. It was evidenced that purse seiners could have increased their catch during 2000–2005 by approximately 23% by increasing the variable inputs, for example days fished. Conversely, a fleet of smaller size could have achieved the reported catch. Under the condition that the remaining vessels will be fully utilized, a proportional decrease in the fleet size might seem a rational management measure towards reducing overexploitation and attaining sustainable fisheries in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.     

Economic efficiency analysis and fleet capacity assessment in Mediterranean fisheries

With fisheries resources being overexploited during the last decades, the matching of fleet capacity to resource conservation levels is urgently required. Data Envelopment Analysis was implemented to estimate and assess capacity utilization and efficiency for the first time in the eastern Mediterranean. The purse-seine fleet segments were found to operate below their capacity output level indicating the existence of overcapacity. The 24–40 m segment was evidenced to be more efficient than the 12–24 m fleet segment. Results suggested that purse-seiners could have increased their output by 89% (12–24 m) and 48% (24–40 m) providing current stock status and unrestricted access to resources. Fishing vessels may potentially improve their earnings by approximately 20% by increasing variable inputs. In data poor environments, such as the Mediterranean Sea, the simple DEA models applied in this study provide a useful approach to capacity and efficiency assessment. The quantitative measures of excess and overcapacity obtained, may contribute valuable information in balancing the productive capacity of the stock with the harvesting capacity of the fleet.     

Modeling and forecasting pelagic fish production using univariate and multivariate ARIMA models

ABSTRACT:   Univariate and multivariate autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used to model and forecast the monthly pelagic production of fish species in the Mediterranean Sea during 1990–2005. Autocorrelation (AC) and partial autocorrelation (PAC) functions were estimated, which led to the identification and construction of seasonal ARIMA models, suitable in explaining the time series and forecasting the future catch per unit of effort (CPUE) values. Univariate and multivariate ARIMA models satisfactorily predicted the total pelagic fish production and the production of anchovy, sardine, and horse mackerel. The univariate ARIMA models demonstrated a good performance in terms of explained variability and predicting power. The current findings revealed a strong autoregressive character providing relatively high R ² and satisfactory forecasts that were close to the recorded CPUE values. The present results also indicated that the multivariate ARIMA outperformed the univariate ARIMA models in terms of fitting accuracy. The opposite was evidenced when testing the forecasting accuracy of the two methods, where the univariate ARIMA models overall performed better than the multivariate models. The observed seasonal pattern in the monthly production series was attributed to the intrinsic nature of the pelagic fishery. As anchovy, sardine, and horse mackerel represent main target species in the Mediterranean pelagic fishery, the findings of the present study provided direct support for the potential use of accurate forecasts in decision making and fisheries management in the Mediterranean Sea.