The ornamental fish trade and fish conservation

The global trade in ornamental fish and associated aquarium and pond accessories is in excess of U.S. $7 × 10⁹ each year. Although the majority of freshwater fish involved in the trade are from captive-bred sources, significant numbers are still removed from the wild. In addition, almost all of the marine fish in the trade are wild-caught. Whilst habitat destruction, pollution and overfishing for food are the main threats facing fish populations in the wild, the ornamental fish trade may have adverse effects as a result of the introduction of nonnative organisms, and by the direct depletion of wild stocks. The ornamental fish trade is ideally placed to raise public awareness of, and actively support, fish conservation efforts, and must maintain a close liaison with legislative-forming organizations seeking to impose further trade restrictions.     

Human Health Risk from Metals in Fish from Saudi Arabia: Consumption Patterns for Some Species Exceed Allowable Limits

Fish are a healthful source of protein, but contaminants in some fish pose a risk. While there are multiple risk assessments from Europe and North America, there are far fewer for other parts of the world. We examined the risks from mercury, arsenic, lead, and other metals in fish consumed by people in Jeddah area, Saudi Arabia, using site-specific data on consumption patterns and metal levels in fish. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Hazard Quotient (HQ) and cumulative Hazard Index (HI) for non-cancer endpoints and Carcinogenic Index for cancer were used to determine the health risk based on fish consumption rates. Of the 13 fish species examined, HQ was greater than 1 (indicating elevated risk) in two species for arsenic, and seven species for methylmercury. The cumulative HI for all metals was above 1 for all but three species of fish at the mean consumption rates. Generally, fish species with HI above 1 for one sampling location, had HI above 1 for all sampling locations. The implications of these findings are discussed in the light of strategies for reducing risk from fish consumption while encouraging dietary intakes of fish with low mercury and arsenic levels.     

Scombroid fish poisoning. Underreporting and prevention among noncommercial recreational fishers.

Food-borne diseases, including those caused by seafood products, are common and greatly underreported sources of morbidity. In this article we review the epidemiology of scombroid fish poisoning and its possible relationship to the noncommercial and recreational catch and sale of fish. More than 20% of all fish sold in the United States is caught by sport fishers, and outbreaks of scombroid fish poisoning have involved improperly handled fish from private catches. We report an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning among recreational fishers in California. The unregulated sale of recreationally caught fish for consumption and the prevention of scombrotoxism are discussed from the perspectives of public health agencies, clinicians, and the fishing public. Scientific and policy issues that require further attention are high-lighted.     

Defense behavior of fish against predators and parasites

This paper is a review of empirical and theoretical studies of the behavioral mechanisms and ecological consequences of the anti-predator and anti-parasite activities of teleost fishes. While the individual and cooperative behaviors used by fish to protect themselves from predators have received marked attention from researchers in the fields of ecology, ethology and applied fish biology, the behaviors by which fish protect themselves from parasites have been poorly investigated. Generally, free-swimming parasites, which are difficult to distinguish, do not elicit any marked behavioral response from fish prior to contact. We hypothesize that the behaviors by which fish avoid parasites are much more efficient for fish in groups than they are for solitary fish. Early avoidance of predators and parasites is compared with the behavioral tactics fish use when such enemies are in close proximity. Individual versus cooperative tactics, as well as the role of learning, are also analyzed. Learning is more important for behaviors which protect fish from predators than those which they use against parasites, especially at the level of individual fish. Finally, we briefly discuss the importance of coordination of anti-predator and anti-parasite activities, which present the most complicated tasks for fish and intriguing problems for researchers.     

Computer vision technique for freshness estimation from segmented eye of fish image

Preserving the quality of fish is a challenging task. Several different cooling methods and materials are used during their storage, transportation purpose. These are responsible factors that decide the freshness of a post harvested fish. In this proposed algorithm, a computer vision-based technique is developed to predict the freshness level of fish from its image. Eyes of the fish are considered as the region of interest, as a good correlation has been observed between the colour of the eye and different duration of storage day. It is segmented from the image of a fish sample and then a strategic framework is used for extraction of the discriminatory features. These extracted features show a degradation pattern which acts as an indicative parameter to determine the level of freshness of sample of fish. The proposed method provides a recognition accuracy of 96.67%. The experimental results indicate that this is an efficient and non-destructive methodology for detecting the fish freshness. The high accuracy of freshness detection and low computation time makes this non-destructive methodology efficient for real-world usage in the fish industry and market.     

Metal content in muscular tissue of commercially important fish from Novosibirsk reservoir and near dam on Ob’ River

The 2009 study on the content and accumulation of some metals, including heavy ones, in the muscular tissue of fish (perch, sander, bream, roach, and ide) from the Novosibirsk reservoir and around the HPP dam on the Ob’ river are presented. Interspecies and interpopulation (biotopical) differences found in the metal concentration are most likely caused by peculiarities in the feeding habits of fish. This coincides with data on the accumulation of metal in fish from other Siberian water bodies and bony fish as a whole. The metal content in the muscular tissue of fish does not exceed that accepted for fresh fish products in Russia.     

Interactions of pelagic cnidarians and ctenophores with fish: a review

Medusae, siphonophores and ctenophores (here grouped as `pelagic coelenterates') interact with fish in several ways. Some interactions are detrimental to fish populations, such as predation by gelatinous species on pelagic eggs and larvae of fish, the potential competition for prey among pelagic coelenterates and fish larvae and zooplanktivorous fish species, and pelagic coelenterates serving as intermediate hosts for fish parasites. Other interactions are positive for fish, such as predation by fish on gelatinous species and commensal associations among fish and pelagic coelenterates. The interactions range from beneficial for the gelatinous species (food, parasite removal), to negative (predation on them). We review existing information and present new data on these topics. Although such interactions have been documented frequently, the significance to either fish or pelagic coelenterate populations is poorly understood. The effects of pelagic coelenterates on fish populations are of particular interest because of the great importance of fisheries to the global economy. As fishing pressures mount, it becomes increasingly important to understand how they may influence the balance between pelagic coelenterates and fish.     

Der Micos-Fisch,Höhlenfisch in statu nascendi oder Bastard ?

The Micos Population–cave fish in statu nascendi or hybrid? Observations on the evolution of cavernicoles The Micos-Cave in the Sierra de la Colmena in the State of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, contains a cavernicolous population of Astyanax mexicanus, whose members are for the most part blind, but, in contrast to other cave dwelling populations of the same species, appear almost normal in their pigmentation. Besides these, there are also large eyed and pigmented specimens to be found in this cave. Any transitional stages between the blind and the normal visioned fish are lacking. Offspring of the blind cavernicoles that are raised under light conditions develop a superficially lying eye which is markedly smaller than normal, attaining its size proportional to the light-intensity of the experimental conditions. The size and structure of the eye-remnants of the blind fish as well as the eyes of their offspring are considerably more variable than in the river specimens. Crossings of the blind Micos fish with the river fish Astyanax and also with a blind and unpigmented troglobiont of the same species - Sabinos fish - result in both cases in a more or less intermediate F¹-hybrid. A strict inbreeding within the Micos fish, selecting specimens with especially large eyes, produced animals whose eyes are comparable to those of the river fish after only three offspring generations. Electrophoresis studies on the allozyme variability at various loci prove that the Micos fish is genetically only slightly different compared to the river fish. On the other hand in some allele frequencies there is an alternative variation between the two. The Micos fish also differs from the typical troglobionts which are monomorphic at almost all loci examined and also possess alleles that are not found in the river form. Based on the genetic constitution, the Micos fish and the river fish found in the cave do not form a panmictic population. It is also doubtful that the Micos fish is the progeny of a hybrid swarm which previously resulted from a cross between a real troglobiont and the newly arrived river fish, because the Micos fish is in every characteristic genetically very similar to the river fish, whereas no clear traces of troglobiont relationship are found. Thus the Micos fish actually appears to be a cave form in statu nascendi against which the river fish that find their way in from time to time cannot compete.     

Larval Anisakid Infections in Marine Fish from Three Sea Areas of the Republic of Korea

The present study was performed to determine the infection status of anisakid larvae in marine fish collected from 3 sea areas of the Republic of Korea. Total 86 marine fish (8 species) collected from the East Sea (Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do), 171 fish (10 species) from the South Sea (Sacheon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do), and 92 fish (7 species) from the Yellow Sea (Incheon Metropolitan City) were examined by both naked eyes and artificial digestion method. Among the total of 349 fish examined, 213 (61.0%) were infected with 8 species of anisakid larvae, i.e., Anisakis simplex, 6 types of Contracaecum spp., and Raphidascaris sp., and the mean larval density was 13.8 per infected fish. Anisakid larvae were detected in 45 fish (52.3%) from the East Sea, 131 fish (76.6%) from the South Sea, and 37 fish (40.2%) from the Yellow Sea. The average numbers of larvae detected were 4.0, 16.6, and 15.9, respectively. Anisakis simplex larvae were detected in 149 fish (42.7%), and the mean larval density was 9.0 per infected fish. They were found in 26 fish (30.2%) collected from the East Sea, 96 fish (56.1%) from the South Sea, and 27 fish (29.3%) from the Yellow Sea. The average numbers of larvae detected were 2.9, 10.3, and 10.5, respectively. Conclusively, the present study suggests that the infection rate and density of anisakid larvae are more or less higher in the fish from the South Sea than those from the East Sea or the Yellow Sea.     

Fish in Reservoirs

In all reservoirs the fish fauna is recruited from their riverine antecedents. The nature of the riverine environment, created by its unstable hydrological regime, favours the evolution of generalist species. Of these species, only a few are preadapted to lacustrine conditions. When riverine fish communities are trapped in a reservoir, most of the fish stay close to the shore, the mouth of tributaries and in shallows. The pelagic and deep waters are poorly utilized and the yield of fish is below the natural productivity of these water bodies, especially in the case of deep and large reservoirs. This occurs unless the dammed river contains fish species from families which are preadapted for lacustrine conditions. A positive correlation between the percentage of pelagic fish and the total yield of fish in reservoirs indicates that the pelagial represents a vacant habitat, only seldom invaded by riverine species. This situation probably applies to the deep water of reservoirs too, although sufficient data to demonstrate this are not available. The littoral region of reservoirs is utilized by some generalists of euryoecious species derived from the indigenous riverine fauna which may be preadapted for lacustrine conditions. If such preadapted lacustrine species are not present, the introduction of lacustrine species or those preadapted for the lacustrine environment is desirable under certain circumstances. However, caution must be exercised in any introduction.     

Scale-eating habits of the marine teleost Terapon jarbua (Forskål)

Terapon jarbua , a marine teleost attaining a length of 25 cm, is abundant in the estuaries of the tropical and subtropical Indian Ocean. Fish scales removed from living fish are the most important food and represent the utilization of a niche previously unrecorded in the marine environment. Laboratory experiments show that T. jarbua can digest fish scales which have a relatively high energy content of 2cal mg⁻¹ and further that the scales are removed only from living fish and not collected off the bottom or from dead fish. The scales are taken under natural conditions from fish larger than T. jarbua and slow swimming species are favoured. T. jarbua always attacks the lateral surface of the prey species and scales are removed mainly from the posterior region of the body, particularly around the caudal peduncle. A variety of species are attacked. The black longitudinal stripes of T. jarbua fade during feeding but in the presence of conspecifics darken. This colour pattern, which is unique among south east African estuarine fish, together with the small size of T. jarbua scales, may prevent autopredation. It is suggested that the scale-eating habit of T. jarbua arose as a modified form of predation or as an extension of 'cleaning' ectoparasites from the scales of larger fish. Ectoparasites are relatively common in the diet of T. jarbua.     

Acute effects of sediments taken from an urban stream on physiological and biochemical parameters of the neotropical fish Prochilodus lineatus

Juveniles of Prochilodus lineatus were exposed to sediments collected from one of five sites along an urban stream into which various types of contaminants are discharged. After 24 or 96 h fish were examined and the results compared with those from control groups (fish exposed only to water, for the same period). Plasma ion levels varied significantly and fish exposed to site 5 sediment showed a transient increase in both sodium and chloride concentrations. Plasma glucose was significantly higher in fish exposed to sediment from sites 2 and 5. The higher liver glutathione-S-transferase activity registered in fish exposed to sediment from sites 1, 4 and 5 suggests the presence of organic contaminants at these sites and the enhancement of liver catalase activity in fish exposed to sediment from sites 3 and 4 may be due to contaminant-mediated oxyradical production. The overall results revealed that sites 4 and 5 are more severely contaminated, probably due to organic contaminants from agricultural sources and municipal landfill.     

抗鱼肉蛋白冷冻变性机理的研究进展

简述了鱼肉蛋白冷冻变性机理的研究现状,综述了糖类、盐类、乳蛋白、不同水解物等添加物的抗冷冻变性机理,介绍了鱼肉蛋白冷冻变性的评价指标及其测定方法,展望了抗鱼肉蛋白冷冻变性的新途径及应用前景。论文内容对于深入研究抗肉类蛋白冷冻变性具有较大的参考价值。     

BY-F剑尾鱼白内障的观察

目的了解BY-F近交剑尾鱼白内障的发展及其对剑尾鱼生存的影响。方法观察眼球出现混浊的剑尾鱼,定期观察眼球病变的发展情况以及眼病引起的外部形态和行为的变化;对病鱼的眼球等进行组织病理观察。结果病鱼一般体色晦暗,眼球可见不同程度的圆环状浑浊,后期发展有角膜表面出现红色增生物等现象;组织病理观察发现,其主要病变在晶状体。结论所发现的剑尾鱼眼睛疾患为白内障;剑尾鱼的白内障后期发展可导致其他眼睛疾病并发症;BY-F剑尾鱼是白内障的易发群体。     

Prey diversity and selectivity of the African fish eagle: data from a roost in northern Kenya

A total of 1872 bones from a fish eagle roost at Lake Turkana, Kenya was identified and analysed to provide data on fish eagle prey and diet. The approach of this study complements field observation studies in that it provides a long‐term analysis and quantification of the diet, rather than short qualitative observations. The study found that, at least where fish is relatively abundant, fish eagles are both selective and opportunistic: selective in taking preferred fish in much greater proportions than natural availability, and also in avoiding unwanted fish regardless of abundance, but opportunistic in taking certain other species in proportion to their availability. They also show considerable selection in size and habitat preferences of prey. Non‐fish prey forms a considerable proportion of the diet, and probably represents both opportunistic hunting, possibly when conditions for fishing are poor, and killing of other predators robbing fish eagle nests.
As well as describing and quantifying the fish eagle diet at Lake Turkana, data from this study suggest that further study is needed to quantify the impact of fish eagle predation on Clarias lazera , a rare, but valuable species to the Lake Turkana fishery. The study of bird roost prey remains also provides baseline data for studies of fossil microfaunal accumulations. Scatters of bones under fish eagle roosts are common in eastern Africa, and undoubtedly contribute to many of the fossil bone accumulations recovered. One of us (DM) has noted that the taxonomic and skeletal composition of the Koobi Fora roost bears a great resemblance to some of the clusters she is analysing from Olduvai Gorge. Further similar studies will provide additional data on bird roost accumulations.     

Overview of Fish Consumption Rates in the United States

Contaminants that accumulate in fish may pose health risks and have raised concerns among consumers. Contaminated finfish and shellfish are possible routes of human exposure to toxic chemicals. Fish advisories are established to protect local populations from the consumption of contaminated commercial and non-commercially caught fish. Children, women of childbearing age, and subsistence fishermen or other highly exposed individuals who for socioeconomic or cultural reasons consume more fish than the general population are among the populations of concern from the ingestion of contaminated fish. Estimating exposure to a toxic chemical among fish-consuming populations requires knowledge about intake rates of fish and shellfish. Data on fish consumption rates come from various sources, including national, state, and local government studies. Although these data have their limitations, they serve as a source for deriving fish consumption rates that may be used by exposure assessors. Data on specific populations of concern are critical. Studies presented here show that ethnicity, age, and geographical region play an important role in fishing behavior and consumption. Results from studies on Native American populations show that this ethnic group eats fish at a higher rate than recreational anglers. This article summarizes data on fish consumption for various populations and provides a framework for evaluating data from these studies for exposure assessment applications.     

Prevalence of zoonotic trematodes in fish from a Vietnamese fish-farming community

The prevalence of fish-borne zoonotic trematode (FZT) metacercariae was investigated in fish farmed by rural households in Nghe An Province, located in northern Vietnam. In total, 716 fish, including tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and 6 carp species, i.e., grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypophthalmychthys molitrix), and roha (Labeo rohita), collected from 53 fish farms were examined. The overall prevalence of FZT metacercariae was 44.6%, ranging from 12.5% to 61.0% in fish species collected from grow-out ponds, which are the production system for growing fish from fingerling size to market size. The overall prevalence was 43.6% in fingerlings cultured in nurseries, ranging from 7.4% to 62.8% for different fish species. The FZT species recovered were heterophyids and echinostomatids and included Haplorchis pumilio, H. taichui, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus formosanus, Stellantchas musfalcatus, and Echinochasmus japonicus, all of which are intestinal flukes in humans, other mammals, and birds. This is the first report of H. yokogawai and E. japonicus in fish in Vietnam, and the first record for S. falcatus in northern Vietnam. Although a previous cross-sectional survey of the people living in these fish farm households revealed a very low prevalence of FZTs (< 1%), our results demonstrate that intestinal flukes are common in farmed fish in this area, suggesting that reservoir hosts such as dogs, cats, and pigs are more important in sustaining the life cycles of these flukes in fish farms than human hosts. This has implications for the effectiveness of control programs focused mainly on treatment of humans.     

Non-native fish species in Slovak waters: origins and present status

Freshwater fishes recorded in the territory of Slovakia include 95 fish species. As many as one third of these are allochthonous fish species belonging to 14 families, among which several have not occurred in Slovakia recently. Historically, there were three main periods of introduction: the first is the beginning of the 20^th century, the second includes two decades between 1955 and 1975 and the third period is from the year 1990 up to the present time. The origins of the exotic species seen in Slovakia are the four continents — Africa (3), North America (7), Central America (3), and Asia (13) and ten of them are from different regions in Europe. The purpose of intentional introductions of non-native species was to occupy vacant ecological niches in the ecosystems reshaped by human activities, fish stocking, angling or fish farming. Some of these species spread from their original ranges or they penetrated spontaneously from the adjacent countries via the river network system. At the present time, 76 fish species in total form populations in Slovakia. There are 54 autochthonous and 22 allochthonous species, 14 of them are exotic fishes. The invasive characters in 13 fish species were considered, the recent native/total fish ratio is 0.71.     

Hydroacoustic characteristics of mass fishes of the Ob-Irtysh Basin

Hydroacoustic characteristics of mass fish species of the Ob-Irtysh Basin are investigated for elaboration of instrumental methods of fish identification by the results of hydroacoustic surveys. Linear-logarithmic regression equations of average values of the acoustic “target strength” are obtained, depending on the body length and weight of located objects. Instant values of the form of the echo signal envelope of amplitudes of echo signals from fish are analyzed. The numerical values of their statistical parameters are obtained. The characteristics of the backscattering from different species may be used for the solution of practical tasks of identification of fish and estimation of bioresources on inland water bodies.