Life history and status of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) in the Potomac River

We collected the first life history information on shortnose sturgeon ( Acipenser brevirostrum ) in any of the rivers to Chesapeake Bay, the geographic center of the species range. In the Potomac River, two telemetry-tagged adult females used 124 km of river: a saltwater/freshwater reach at river km (rkm) 63−141 was the foraging−wintering concentration area, and one female migrated to spawn at rkm 187 in Washington, DC. The spawning migration explained the life history context of an adult captured 122 years ago in Washington, DC, supporting the idea that a natal population once lived in the river. Repeated homing migrations to foraging and wintering areas suggested the adults were residents, not transient coastal migrants. All habitats that adults need to complete life history are present in the river. The Potomac River shortnose sturgeon offers a rare opportunity to learn about the natural rebuilding of a sturgeon population.     

Reproductive cycle of female yellow snapper Lutjanus argentiventris (Pisces, Actinopterygii, Lutjanidae) in the SW Gulf of California: gonadic stages, spawning seasonality and length at sexual maturity

The yellow snapper ( Lutjanus argentiventris ) in the SW Gulf of California is being heavily fished and little information exists on status of this exploited population. From August 2001 to May 2003, 440 specimens in the size range of 10.8–59 cm were collected from four fishing areas: Huizache-Caimanero, Mazatlan, Marmol and Santa María la Reforma in the SW Gulf of California. Specimens were collected from fishermen and obtained by sampling with gill nets, hook and line and spear gun fishing. Gonadal stages, spawning season and length-at-first maturity were estimated for female yellow snapper through histological analyses and relative gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indexes. Six gonadal stages were identified and gonadal development was asynchronous. Gonads in advanced stage VI of vitellogenesis occurred during summer and winter together with the highest values of the GSI and HSI, indicating that spawning occurred during these seasons. Mean maturity length was determined to be 32.6 cm total length. The yellow snapper population was being adversely affected considering that the species was exploited throughout the year, including the reproductive seasons, and that organisms as small as 10 cm were found in fishermen's catches and at fish markets. Minimum capture sizes of 33 cm and a closed season during the reproductive periods of summer and winter are suggested as measures to reduce the adverse affects of this exploitation.     

Feeding habits of megrim, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis (Walbaum, 1792), from the central Adriatic Sea

The feeding habits of the megrim, Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis , from the central Adriatic Sea were investigated with respect to fish size and seasons. Stomach contents of 510 specimens, 9.0–28.9 cm total length (TL), collected by bottom-trawl from 2004 to 2006 were analyzed. The percentage of 97 empty stomachs varied significantly with season (maximum during the winter, 32.1%; minimum during summer, 7.4%). The food composition suggests that the megrim is a carnivorous fish. Prey items identified in the stomachs belong to four major groups: Teleostei, Decapoda, Mysidacea and Cephalopoda. Teleosts were the most important (%IRI = 82.2), especially in fish larger than 14 cm TL. Mysidacea constituted the main prey for fish less than 14 cm TL. At the species level, the teleost Antonogadus megalokynodon (%IRI = 1.5) and decapod Processa canaliculata (%IRI = 0.9) were the most frequent prey. The mean weight of stomach contents increased significantly for fish larger than 14 cm TL, while the mean number of prey items did not differ significantly among size classes. Diet composition showed little seasonal variation; teleosts were the most important prey in all seasons, especially during spring. The lowest intensity of feeding recorded in winter could be related to the lower sea temperature and to the spawning period.     

Growth and reproduction of the wedge clam (Donax trunculus) in the Sea of Marmara, Turkey

Reproduction, growth and mortality of the wedge clam Donax trunculus were studied in an unexploited population in the northern part of the Sea of Marmara. Age determination was based from counting shell increments by inspection of both the external ring structure and the internal structure on thin cross-sections of the shell. Maximum life span was observed as 6 years for the studied population, but 4 years (shell length 40–41 mm) were usually not exceeded. Maximum length was 44.8 mm. Growth parameters were estimated as L _∞   = 44.15 mm, k  =   0.62 year⁻¹, C  = 1 and WP = 0.83 from external ring structure, and L _∞   = 42.44 mm, k  =   0.75 year⁻¹, C  = 1 and WP = 0.79 from internal growth bands (thin section). Natural mortality ( M ) was estimated as 0.98 year⁻¹. Sex ratio was not significantly different from 1 : 1. The monthly maturation process was assessed macroscopically and from variation in the mean total ash-free dry weight per shell weight of adult individuals. Spawning occurred between April and July with a peak between May and June. The recruitment pattern was unimodal.     

Fisheries in southern Brazil: a comparison of their management and sustainability

Defined as operational units, the estuarine and marine fishing production systems (FPS) from the two southernmost states of Brazil, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul were analyzed using the RAPFISH technique with respect to sustainability of fisheries. The FPS were defined by 49 attributes divided into five fields: economic, social, ecological, technological and managerial. Data were obtained from the literature and interviews with fishers, skippers, and ship owners in 2003 and 2004. Overall, 26 FPS were identified: nine small-scale; three medium-scale; ten large-scale operating on the shelf, upper slope or nearby oceanic waters; and four large-scale fishing systems on the upper slope or neighboring oceanic waters. The latter included only foreign vessels, which produced frozen products exclusively for export. Analyses of 15 selected attributes more closely associated with sustainability in the five fields of evaluation showed all FPS in an intermediate position between the extremes of ideal and bad, reinforcing the perception that no FPS in southern Brazil can be considered truly sustainable; evidence of clearly unsustainable FPS was also not found. Thus RAPFISH fell short of producing a clear pattern that could result in sound management, probably due to disagreement among the different dimensions of sustainability. All five fields of evaluation were equally weighted; however, it could be argued that the biological and ecological status of fisheries were not given enough emphasis in relation to the other dimensions. Dissimilarities within FPS and differences regarding sustainability levels must all be taken into consideration for sound management measures.     

Length–weight relationships for ten shark species from Saros Bay (North Aegean Sea)

Length-weight relationships are presented for ten shark species sampled with a commercial trawl vessel at depths ranging from 5 to 500 m between March 2005 and June 2008 in Saros Bay, Turkey. The values of the exponent b of the length-weight relationships ranged from 2.6816 to 3.6060.     

An experimental assessment of genetic tagging and founder representation in hatchery-reared red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) used in stock enhancement

Multiplexed microsatellite markers were evaluated as genetic tags for red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) juveniles used in stock enhancement. Offspring were generated from spawns of nine sets of five broodfish (three dams and two sires) in individual brood tanks. Intensive sampling, by trawling, at 2, 7, 8, 10 and 11 days after release of ∼192 500 hatchery-raised fingerlings resulted in recovery of a total of 310 fingerlings. All parents and recovered offspring were genotyped for variation at 30 microsatellites combined for simultaneous assay in six multiplex panels. An optimal combination employing three of the six multiplex panels allowed unambiguous parentage assignment of all recovered offspring. Only 21 of 52 possible dam x sire combinations were represented among recovered offspring. The founder equivalent ( f _e) of the recovered offspring was 8.7 vs the expected f _e of 36.0 (95% CI = 33.3–38.4) if reproductive success was randomly distributed among breeders. The significantly lower founder equivalent translated into reduced genetic diversity among the recovered offspring and may reflect differing contributions of individual broodfish to spawning events, differing productivity among brood tanks, and/or variable survival of families during early larval and/or juvenile stages.     

Age, growth and feeding of the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca, L., 1758) in the Cilician coastal basin, northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Growth and feeding of stingray ( Dasyatis pastinaca ) were studied using 346 specimens from the Cilician Basin coastal area (northeastern Mediterranean). Age classes between 0 to XII were found. The total length of all specimens ranged from 14.6 to 100.9 cm, and total weight was between 22.5 and 6800 g. Total length (TL)-weight (W) and disc width (DW)-weight (W) relationships were W = 0.0033*L^3.1429 and W = 0.0039*DW^3.4914, respectively. The age data, derived from central readings, were used to estimate the von Bertalanffy length and weight growth parameters. The results were L_∞ = 294.9 cm, W_∞ = 198690.1 g, K = 0.029 year⁻¹; t₀ = −2.2 year. The D. pastinaca diet was composed mainly of crustaceans.     

Reproduction, age and growth of Sillago maculata in south-eastern Australia

Sillago maculata is endemic to the east coast of Australia where it is harvested by recreational and commercial fishers; however, little is known of the important aspects of its biology and ecology to assist with fisheries management planning. This situation is redressed here by investigating aspects of the reproduction, age and growth of estuarine populations of S. maculata in south-eastern Australia. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) values indicated peak spawning occurred between September and February and that the estimated mean fork length at maturity (L₅₀) was 14.6 cm for males and 15.2 cm for females. Females displayed an asynchronous pattern of oocyte development, with individuals probably spawning multiple times in a spawning season. A validated aging protocol using thin sectioned otoliths was used to estimate the age of fish. The maximum ages for males and females were 9.5 and 12.0 years, respectively. Growth differed between sexes, with males ( L ∞ = 24.04, K  = 0.70, t ₀ = −0.09) attaining a smaller maximum length than females ( L ∞ = 25.01, K  = 0.72, t ₀ = −0.04). The age composition of gill-net and beach-seine samples mainly consisted of individuals aged 2–4 years, and there was evidence of variable recruitment. Management implications are also discussed.     

Assessing CITES non-detriment findings procedures for Arapaima in Brazil

Arapaima are listed as endangered fishes according to the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), thus their international trade is regulated by non-detriment finding (NDF) procedures. The authors critically assessed Brazil's regulations for NDF procedures for Arapaima using IUCN's checklist for making NDFs, and found that those regulations cannot ensure the sustainability of Arapaima populations. Arapaima are among the largest fishes in the world, migrate short distances among several floodplain habitats, and are very vulnerable to fishing during spawning. They are threatened mainly by overfishing. The fishery is largely unregulated because government regulations on size, season, and even moratoriums on capture have been very poorly enforced. Arapaima remain poorly understood and the taxonomy and geographical distribution of the genus remain uncertain. There are no data on catch levels or status of wild populations, although available information suggests they are in decline. Brazil's NDF procedures for specimens originating in the wild are inadequate as they rely on 'technical opinion reports', which do not necessarily require scientific evidence. Furthermore, Brazil's NDF procedures exempt the need for NDF reports on 'captive' specimens; however, 'captive' specimens originating in the wild and raised in captivity can be exported because regulations do not specify that they must be 'captive-bred'. Six suggestions are offered to improve the reliability of NDF procedures for Arapaima in Brazil, emphasizing the utility of participatory monitoring and adaptive harvesting to strengthen much needed harvest control capacity in other tropical fisheries.