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Marine heatwaves (MHWs) have measurable impacts on marine ecosystems and reliant fisheries and associated communities. However, how MHWs translate to changes in fishing opportunities and the displacement of fishing fleets remains poorly understood. Using fishing vessel tracking data from the automatic identification system (AIS), we developed vessel distribution models for two pelagic fisheries targeting highly migratory species, the U.S. Atlantic longline and Pacific troll fleets, to understand how MHW properties (intensity, size, and duration) influence core fishing grounds and fleet displacement. For both fleets, MHW size had the largest influence on fishing ground area with northern fishing grounds gaining and southern fishing grounds decreasing in area. However, fleet displacement in response to MHWs varied between coasts, as the Atlantic longline fleet displaced farther in southern regions whereas the most northern and southern regions of the Pacific troll fleet shifted farther. Characterizing fishing fleet responses to these anomalous conditions can help identify regional vulnerabilities under future extreme events and aid in supporting climate-readiness and resilience in pelagic fisheries.

With the gain of scientific evidence concerning nociception in fish, the awareness about fish's welfare has been increasing not only for authorities but also for consumers. However, there is still a long way to go concerning how fish are being caught and slaughtered. In terms of welfare, fisheries are without any doubt a source of both stress and pain. Trawling has proved to be the most stressful fishing method; nevertheless, little has been done to try to minimise or better avoid such stress. This study's goal was to assess the welfare of pelagic fisheries using Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) as a model. This study stands out from others because it follows the fish from the minute it is pumped until they are dead. Two research trips were made, one onboard a commercial trawler and the other on a vessel that uses a hook in line as its fishing gear. Each captured individual went through a series of tests. First, consciousness assessments and morphological injuries and then blood sampling to get the physiological indicators of stress and x-ray to check for internal damage. Overall, individuals captured by a commercial trawler present higher mortality and extreme stress levels when compared with the ones caught by hook in line. However, the morphological assessment showed that all the individuals caught during the first research trip appeared to be fine apart from the scale loss. Therefore, based on the results of this study, it is possible to see that the welfare of fish is highly compromised during pelagic fisheries. However, it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause of death. Most likely, the individuals died due to a combination of factors, where osmotic imbalance due to the impairment of the skin and the overcrowding at the cod end are believed to be the most significant ones.

The Mediterranean Sea is among the most vulnerable semi-enclosed seas to climate change. Multiple oceanic changes occur besides warming that can generate numerous ecological, social, and economic risks, challenging fisheries management at various spatial scales - from local to international. In this study, we applied a semi-quantitative climate risk assessment (CRA) to the Mediterranean small pelagic and demersal fisheries in relation to a diversity of climate-related drivers and impacts. We assessed the risks of climate change effects on demersal and small pelagic fisheries resources, fishing operations, livelihoods, and wider social and economic implications in seven sub-regions of the Mediterranean Sea. Ocean warming, an increase in extreme weather events, and changes in vertical stratification resulted in the most important climate drivers. Overall, climate drivers present higher risks to fishing resources and livelihoods than to fishing operations and wider social and economic impacts. The study puts into evidence geographic differences in terms of the drivers and impacts, with the south-eastern Mediterranean being the sub-region with higher risk levels for both fisheries, while the north-central Mediterranean also showed important risk levels for the demersal fisheries. The study furthermore discusses the most plausible adaptive measures in management, policy, research, and livelihoods to be potentially applied to address high priority risks, as well as various implementation concerns and technical effectiveness issues. Enhancing adaptive fisheries management needs to be the primary strategy for this region to reverse the high number of overfished stocks and build resilience to climate change.

Standardized relative abundance indices of albacore (Thunnus alalunga Bonnaterre, 1788) caught by the Spanish surface longline (LLALB) in the western Mediterranean Sea were estimated for the period 2009-2019. Yearly standardized CPUE were estimated through Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models (GLMM) under a negative binomial error distribution assumption. The main factors in the standardization analysis were year and season (quarter). The index shows an increasing trend from the beginning of the series (2009) to a maximum in 2011; following a decrease up to 2013, and a relatively stable trend fluctuating around a level three and a half times lower compared to the maximum abundance for the period 2013-2019.

In the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the assessment of demersal stocks mainly relies on scientific surveys (bottom and beam trawl) while the assessment of pelagic stocks is essentially based on acoustic surveys using acoustic techniques with mid-water trawling. These routine surveys-at-sea provide essential information, which in turn are crucial to fine-tune the assessments of the status of resources and to estimate more precisely indicators at the population and fish community levels. However, survey practices differ from one subregion to another, each approach having its own strengths and limitations. In addition, there is still a lack of large-scale standardized surveys aimed at analysing the diversity and distribution of the main demersal and pelagic species across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. One way of tackling this issue is to carry out international scientific surveys covering the main demersal and pelagic stocks based on a common methodology. The methodology presented in this publication aims at supporting the planning and implementation of regional demersal (bottom and beam) trawl and pelagic acoustic surveys. It can be useful for the implementation of new surveys-at-sea in areas where demersal trawl and pelagic acoustic surveys are not regularly carried out. It can also contribute to increasing comparability between existing surveys thanks to the standardization of methods, sampling of catches and data recording and analysis. Finally, it represents a valuable tool to define minimum requirements towards sustainability and management objectives at the regional and subregional level.

In the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the assessment of demersal stocks mainly relies on scientific surveys (bottom and beam trawl) while the assessment of pelagic stocks is essentially based on acoustic surveys using acoustic techniques with mid-water trawling. These routine surveys-at-sea provide essential information, which in turn are crucial to fine-tune the assessments of the status of resources and to estimate more precisely indicators at the population and fish community levels. However, survey practices differ from one subregion to another, each approach having its own strengths and limitations. In addition, there is still a lack of large-scale standardized surveys aimed at analysing the diversity and distribution of the main demersal and pelagic species across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. One way of tackling this issue is to carry out international scientific surveys covering the main demersal and pelagic stocks based on a common methodology. The methodology presented in this publication aims at supporting the planning and implementation of regional demersal (bottom and beam) trawl and pelagic acoustic surveys. It can be useful for the implementation of new surveys-at-sea in areas where demersal trawl and pelagic acoustic surveys are not regularly carried out. It can also contribute to increasing comparability between existing surveys thanks to the standardization of methods, sampling of catches and data recording and analysis. Finally, it represents a valuable tool to define minimum requirements towards sustainability and management objectives at the regional and subregional level.

In the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the assessment of demersal stocks mainly relies on scientific surveys (bottom and beam trawl) while the assessment of pelagic stocks is essentially based on acoustic surveys using acoustic techniques with mid-water trawling. These routine surveys-at-sea provide essential information, which in turn are crucial to fine-tune the assessments of the status of resources and to estimate more precisely indicators at the population and fish community levels. However, survey practices differ from one subregion to another, each approach having its own strengths and limitations. In addition, there is still a lack of large-scale standardized surveys aimed at analysing the diversity and distribution of the main demersal and pelagic species across the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. One way of tackling this issue is to carry out international scientific surveys covering the main demersal and pelagic stocks based on a common methodology. The methodology presented in this publication aims at supporting the planning and implementation of regional demersal (bottom and beam) trawl and pelagic acoustic surveys. It can be useful for the implementation of new surveys-at-sea in areas where demersal trawl and pelagic acoustic surveys are not regularly carried out. It can also contribute to increasing comparability between existing surveys thanks to the standardization of methods, sampling of catches and data recording and analysis. Finally, it represents a valuable tool to define minimum requirements towards sustainability and management objectives at the regional and subregional level.

This article serves to introduce the broad range of fishery-related topics covered in this online encyclopedia. The individual contributions within this theme area encompass overviews of global fisheries issues and trends, fishing practices and technology, fisheries for major taxonomic groups of fish and shellfish, exploitation of special habitats and ecosystems including coral reefs, deep-water environments and polar seas, dynamics of exploited marine systems at the population, community and ecosystem levels, the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, fishery management practices, and the human dimension in fisheries including consideration of resource economics and social dynamics. We provide a context for interpreting developments in these areas and point to critical issues and emerging concerns in the development of more holistic ecosystem-based strategies for sustainable resource use.

In tuna-RFMOs there has been an effort to move to quantitative stock assessments for pelagic sharks, especially for the main species such as blue shark Prionace glauca. In IOTC, blue shark was last assessed in 2017 with the use of an integrated length-based age-structured model (SS3). This paper now presents a preliminary exercise with data-limited Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE) to test options for different potential management procedures (MPs), using the data-limited methods toolkit (DLMtool). Reference points have not yet been adopted for sharks in IOTC, so for this exercise we set some tentative reference points noting that those can be updated in the future as needed. Eighty-nine MPs were evaluated with 9 considered potentially acceptable. Options and tradeoffs between those MPs are shown and described in the paper. We have focused mainly on trade-offs between biomass and yield, but according to the management objectives agreed other performance metrics can be applied. Even thought this is a preliminary exercise at this point, we hope that it provides initial thoughts and opens the discussion for the advancement of the blue shark management and conservation in the Indian Ocean.

Silky shark in the Indian Ocean can be targeted by some semi-industrial, artisanal and recreational fisheries, and is a bycatch of industrial fisheries such as pelagic longlines and purse seines. Currently there are not stock status estimations, but the WPEB has in its workplan a first assessment of this species in 2019. The objective of this paper is to provide preliminary support for that scheduled assessment, namely by providing: 1) a reconstruction of the time series of catches, 2) explore the possibility to standardize CPUEs for the EU pelagic longline fleets, 3) estimate prior for intrinsic population growth rate (r) and 4) test the feasibility to implement a data-limited assessment model (CMSY) and 5) provide a tentative stock status. From the final CMSY model configuration tested, the catches of silky shark in the Indian Ocean exceeded MSY from 1994 onwards. The exploitation rate for 2015 (last year in the model) was predicted to be well above MSY-level (F2015/Fmsy = 2.07). The estimation of current biomass (B2015) was 1.03 of Bmsy, with a considerable margin of uncertainty in the prediction (0.44-1.39), meaning that at present the silky shark stock in the Indian Ocean is subject to overfishing but not yet overfished. A fishing reduction to the levels observed in the late 1990s and early 2000s (around 9,000 t) would likely be sustainable. However, given the current level of uncertainty, the estimated lower 95% confidence limit of MSY (6,400 t) could serve as a more conservative guidance for total allowable catches. Due to the preliminary nature of this work and considerable uncertainty associated with the estimations, management advice is not clear. However, this work it could serve as a starting point to the scheduled 2019 IOTC silky shark assessment

The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is the most frequently captured shark in pelagic oceanic fisheries, especially pelagic longlines targeting swordfish and/or tunas. As part of cooperative scientific efforts for fisheries and biological data collection, information from fishery observers, scientific projects and surveys, and from recreational fisheries from several nations in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans was compiled. Data sets included information on location, size and sex, in a total of 478,220 blue shark records collected between 1966 and 2014. Sizes ranged from 36 to 394 cm fork length. Considerable variability was observed in the size distribution by region and season in both oceans. Larger blue sharks tend to occur in equatorial and tropical regions, and smaller specimens in higher latitudes in temperate waters. Differences in sex ratios were also detected spatially and seasonally. Nursery areas in the Atlantic seem to occur in the temperate south-east off South Africa and Namibia, in the south-west off southern Brazil and Uruguay, and in the north-east off the Iberian Peninsula and the Azores. Parturition may occur in the tropical north-east off West Africa. In the Indian Ocean, nursery areas also seem to occur in temperate waters, especially in the southwest Indian Ocean off South Africa, and in the south-east off south-western Australia. The distributional patterns presented in this study provide a better understanding of how blue sharks segregate by size and sex, spatially and temporally, and improve the scientific advice to help adopt more informed and efficient management and conservation measures for this cosmopolitan species.

In the West Indies, artisanal vessels target pelagic fish off the coast using several fishing gears in the same trip, which complicates their codification based on ICCAT references. This paper describes the fishing techniques used in Martinique in exploiting offshore pelagic species. A distinction is made between two métiers, fishing for large pelagic species on free schools or around driftwood and fishing close to anchored fish aggregating devices. These two métiers can be used in the same trip. Fishers can also suspend their use to catch small offshore pelagic species such as flying fish. Each gear enables a species group to be targeted. However, data collection carried out at landing sites does not allow assignment of catches to each of the gears used in the trip., Dans les Antilles, les unités artisanales exploitant les poissons pélagiques du large utilisent, au cours de la même sortie, plusieurs engins de pêche, rendant complexe leur codification à l’aide du référentiel de l’ICCAT. Ce document décrit les techniques de pêche déployées en Martinique pour l’exploitation des pélagiques hauturiers. Une distinction est faite entre deux métiers, la pêche des grands pélagiques sur bancs libres ou autour de bois flottés et celle réalisées à proximité de dispositifs de concentration de poissons ancrés. Ces deux métiers peuvent être mis en oeuvre au cours de la même sortie. Ils peuvent également être interrompus pour capturer des petits pélagiques hauturiers comme les poissons volants. Chaque engin utilisé permet de cibler un groupe d’espèces. Cependant, les collectes de données réalisées sur les points de débarquement ne permettent pas d’attribuer les prises à chaque engin mis en oeuvre au cours de la sortie., En las Antillas, las unidades artesanales que explotan los peces pelágicos costeros utilizan, durante la misma marea, varios artes de pesca, lo que dificulta su codificación mediante las referencias de ICCAT. En este documento se describen las técnicas de pesca desplegadas en Martinica para la explotación de pelágicos de alta mar. Se establece una distinción entre dos "métiers" 1) la pesca de grandes pelágicos en bancos libres o en torno a maderas flotantes y la que se realiza cerca de dispositivos de concentración de peces fondeados. Estas dos técnicas pueden también utilizarse durante la misma marea. También pueden interrumpirse para capturar especies pelágicas de altura, tales como peces voladores. Cada arte se utiliza para dirigirse a un grupo de especies. Sin embargo, los datos recogidos actualmente en los puntos de desembarque no permiten asignar la captura a cada arte utilizado durante la marea

In the West Indies, artisanal vessels target pelagic fish off the coast using several fishing gears in the same trip, which complicates their codification based on ICCAT references. This paper describes the fishing techniques used in Martinique in exploiting offshore pelagic species. A distinction is made between two métiers, fishing for large pelagic species on free schools or around driftwood and fishing close to anchored fish aggregating devices. These two métiers can be used in the same trip. Fishers can also suspend their use to catch small offshore pelagic species such as flying fish. Each gear enables a species group to be targeted. However, data collection carried out at landing sites does not allow assignment of catches to each of the gears used in the trip., Dans les Antilles, les unités artisanales exploitant les poissons pélagiques du large utilisent, au cours de la même sortie, plusieurs engins de pêche, rendant complexe leur codification à l’aide du référentiel de l’ICCAT. Ce document décrit les techniques de pêche déployées en Martinique pour l’exploitation des pélagiques hauturiers. Une distinction est faite entre deux métiers, la pêche des grands pélagiques sur bancs libres ou autour de bois flottés et celle réalisées à proximité de dispositifs de concentration de poissons ancrés. Ces deux métiers peuvent être mis en oeuvre au cours de la même sortie. Ils peuvent également être interrompus pour capturer des petits pélagiques hauturiers comme les poissons volants. Chaque engin utilisé permet de cibler un groupe d’espèces. Cependant, les collectes de données réalisées sur les points de débarquement ne permettent pas d’attribuer les prises à chaque engin mis en oeuvre au cours de la sortie., En las Antillas, las unidades artesanales que explotan los peces pelágicos costeros utilizan, durante la misma marea, varios artes de pesca, lo que dificulta su codificación mediante las referencias de ICCAT. En este documento se describen las técnicas de pesca desplegadas en Martinica para la explotación de pelágicos de alta mar. Se establece una distinción entre dos "métiers" 1) la pesca de grandes pelágicos en bancos libres o en torno a maderas flotantes y la que se realiza cerca de dispositivos de concentración de peces fondeados. Estas dos técnicas pueden también utilizarse durante la misma marea. También pueden interrumpirse para capturar especies pelágicas de altura, tales como peces voladores. Cada arte se utiliza para dirigirse a un grupo de especies. Sin embargo, los datos recogidos actualmente en los puntos de desembarque no permiten asignar la captura a cada arte utilizado durante la marea

In the West Indies, artisanal vessels target pelagic fish off the coast using several fishing gears in the same trip, which complicates their codification based on ICCAT references. This paper describes the fishing techniques used in Martinique in exploiting offshore pelagic species. A distinction is made between two métiers, fishing for large pelagic species on free schools or around driftwood and fishing close to anchored fish aggregating devices. These two métiers can be used in the same trip. Fishers can also suspend their use to catch small offshore pelagic species such as flying fish. Each gear enables a species group to be targeted. However, data collection carried out at landing sites does not allow assignment of catches to each of the gears used in the trip., Dans les Antilles, les unités artisanales exploitant les poissons pélagiques du large utilisent, au cours de la même sortie, plusieurs engins de pêche, rendant complexe leur codification à l’aide du référentiel de l’ICCAT. Ce document décrit les techniques de pêche déployées en Martinique pour l’exploitation des pélagiques hauturiers. Une distinction est faite entre deux métiers, la pêche des grands pélagiques sur bancs libres ou autour de bois flottés et celle réalisées à proximité de dispositifs de concentration de poissons ancrés. Ces deux métiers peuvent être mis en oeuvre au cours de la même sortie. Ils peuvent également être interrompus pour capturer des petits pélagiques hauturiers comme les poissons volants. Chaque engin utilisé permet de cibler un groupe d’espèces. Cependant, les collectes de données réalisées sur les points de débarquement ne permettent pas d’attribuer les prises à chaque engin mis en oeuvre au cours de la sortie., En las Antillas, las unidades artesanales que explotan los peces pelágicos costeros utilizan, durante la misma marea, varios artes de pesca, lo que dificulta su codificación mediante las referencias de ICCAT. En este documento se describen las técnicas de pesca desplegadas en Martinica para la explotación de pelágicos de alta mar. Se establece una distinción entre dos "métiers" 1) la pesca de grandes pelágicos en bancos libres o en torno a maderas flotantes y la que se realiza cerca de dispositivos de concentración de peces fondeados. Estas dos técnicas pueden también utilizarse durante la misma marea. También pueden interrumpirse para capturar especies pelágicas de altura, tales como peces voladores. Cada arte se utiliza para dirigirse a un grupo de especies. Sin embargo, los datos recogidos actualmente en los puntos de desembarque no permiten asignar la captura a cada arte utilizado durante la marea

In the West Indies, artisanal vessels target pelagic fish off the coast using several fishing gears in the same trip, which complicates their codification based on ICCAT references. This paper describes the fishing techniques used in Martinique in exploiting offshore pelagic species. A distinction is made between two métiers, fishing for large pelagic species on free schools or around driftwood and fishing close to anchored fish aggregating devices. These two métiers can be used in the same trip. Fishers can also suspend their use to catch small offshore pelagic species such as flying fish. Each gear enables a species group to be targeted. However, data collection carried out at landing sites does not allow assignment of catches to each of the gears used in the trip., Dans les Antilles, les unités artisanales exploitant les poissons pélagiques du large utilisent, au cours de la même sortie, plusieurs engins de pêche, rendant complexe leur codification à l’aide du référentiel de l’ICCAT. Ce document décrit les techniques de pêche déployées en Martinique pour l’exploitation des pélagiques hauturiers. Une distinction est faite entre deux métiers, la pêche des grands pélagiques sur bancs libres ou autour de bois flottés et celle réalisées à proximité de dispositifs de concentration de poissons ancrés. Ces deux métiers peuvent être mis en oeuvre au cours de la même sortie. Ils peuvent également être interrompus pour capturer des petits pélagiques hauturiers comme les poissons volants. Chaque engin utilisé permet de cibler un groupe d’espèces. Cependant, les collectes de données réalisées sur les points de débarquement ne permettent pas d’attribuer les prises à chaque engin mis en oeuvre au cours de la sortie., En las Antillas, las unidades artesanales que explotan los peces pelágicos costeros utilizan, durante la misma marea, varios artes de pesca, lo que dificulta su codificación mediante las referencias de ICCAT. En este documento se describen las técnicas de pesca desplegadas en Martinica para la explotación de pelágicos de alta mar. Se establece una distinción entre dos "métiers" 1) la pesca de grandes pelágicos en bancos libres o en torno a maderas flotantes y la que se realiza cerca de dispositivos de concentración de peces fondeados. Estas dos técnicas pueden también utilizarse durante la misma marea. También pueden interrumpirse para capturar especies pelágicas de altura, tales como peces voladores. Cada arte se utiliza para dirigirse a un grupo de especies. Sin embargo, los datos recogidos actualmente en los puntos de desembarque no permiten asignar la captura a cada arte utilizado durante la marea

The WECAFC countries are underrepresented at small tunas species group meetings However, official FAO statistics show that of the 21 large pelagic species fished by these countries, 11 small tuna species account for 60% of landings. These offshore pelagic species are an important resource for the small islands, representing 23% of total landings; 10% small tunas alone. Landings of these species have decreased over the past decade. This has been observed in particular in developing countries. Dolphinfish and blackfin tuna are fished by numerous countries. The increase in landings of these 2 species over the past decade is probably the result of the development of fishing associated with anchored FADs. To assess these increasingly exploited resources, it is highly desirable that ICCAT support countries in the area with the collaboration of regional and sub-regional fisheries organisations (WECAFC, CRFM, OSPESCA)., Les pays de la COPACO sont peu représentés aux réunions du groupe d’espèces sur les thonidés mineurs. Pourtant, les statistiques officielles de la FAO montrent que sur les 21 espèces de grands pélagiques pêchées par ces pays il y a 11 thonidés mineurs représentant 60 % des débarquements. Ces pélagiques du large constituent une ressource importante pour les petites îles pour lesquelles ils représentent 23 % des débarquements totaux et 10 % pour les seuls thonidés mineurs. Les débarquements de ces espèces sont en déclin au cours de la dernière décennie. Celui-ci s’observe surtout dans les pays en voie de développement. La dorade coryphène et le thon noir sont exploités par un grand nombre de pays. L’augmentation des débarquements de ces deux espèces au cours de la dernière décennie est probablement le résultat du développement de la pêche associée aux DCP ancrés. Afin d’évaluer ces ressources de plus en plus exploitées, il parait hautement souhaitable que la CICTA apporte son soutien aux pays de la zone avec la collaboration des organisations régionales et sous-régionales des pêches (COPACO, CRFM, OSPESCA)., Los países de la WECAFC están poco representados en las reuniones del Grupo de especies ICCAT sobre pequeños túnidos (SMT). Sin embargo, una revisión de las estadísticas oficiales de la FAO muestra que, de las 21 grandes especies pelágicas capturadas por estos países, 11 de estas son especies de pequeños túnidos, lo que representa el 60% de los desembarques. Estos pelágicos de altura son un recurso importante sobre todo para las islas pequeñas donde responden del 23% del total de los desembarque, y el 10% en lo que concierne sólo a pequeños túnidos. Los desembarques de estas especies han descendido durante la última década, Esto se ha observado sobre todo en los países en desarrollo. Por otra parte, el dorado y el atún aleta negra son explotados por un gran número de países. El aumento en los desembarques de estas dos especies en la última década es probablemente el resultado del reciente desarrollo de la pesquería asociada con DCP fondeados. Para evaluar estos recursos que corren el riesgo de ser objeto de un incremento en su explotación, parece muy conveniente que ICCAT respalde a los países de la zona con la colaboración de las organizaciones regionales y subregionales de pesca (COPACO, CRFM, OSPESCA).

Standardized relative abundance indices of albacore (Thunnus alalunga Bonnaterre, 1788) caught by the Spanish surface longline, LLALB, in the western Mediterranean Sea were estimated for the period 2004-2015. Standardized CPUEs were estimated through a General Linear Modeling (GLM) approach under a negative binomial error distribution assumption. The main factors in the standardization analysis were fishing area and time of the year. Following a relatively stable trend for the period 2004-2008 and an increase between 2009 and 2010, the index seems to have declined since 2011 onwards.

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Interannual changes in size-at-maturity (Lm) of common sardine, Strangomera bentincki, were evaluated for the period 2007-2012 in the south-central area of Chile. Data consisted of microscopic maturity stages of female ovaries, which were collected during the reproductive peak each year. Immature females were identified from mature females and a logistic model was fitted to data through generalized linear model (GLM) and generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). The best model was characterized by having both variable slope and intercept, revealing significant interannual variations in size-at-maturity. Although the average length of the immature fraction showed a tendency to decline over time, interannual changes in size-at-maturity varied at random between 8.4 and 12.7 cm, and around Lm= 10.7 cm total length. It is concluded that GLMM technique was suited to representing interannual random changes in size-at-maturity of common sardine. There was no trend to diminish according to the hypothesis of truncation of size/age due to fishing intensity. Rather, the random expression in size-at-maturity could be a consequence of factors associated with sampling, growth or delayed response in maturity due to spatio-temporal asynchrony in the reproductive process., Se evaluaron cambios interanuales en la talla de madurez (Lm) de sardina común, Strangomera bentincki, para el periodo 2007-2012 en la zona centro-sur de Chile. Los datos consistieron en estados de madurez microscópicos de los ovarios de las hembras que fueron colectadas durante la época de máxima actividad reproductiva en cada año. Se identificaron las hembras maduras de las inmaduras, y se ajustó el modelo logístico de madurez utilizando modelos lineales generalizados (MLG) asumiendo independencia entre años, y modelos lineales generalizados de efectos mixtos (MLGM) asumiendo efectos aleatorios asociados a los años. El mejor modelo se caracterizó por tener intercepto y pendiente variable, revelando cambios interanuales significativos en la talla de madurez. Aunque en los años más recientes se observó una tendencia leve a disminuir en la talla media de la fracción inmadura, la talla de madurez fluctúo aleatoriamente entre 8,4 y 12,7 cm, y alrededor de Lm= 10,7 cm de longitud total. De esta manera, se concluye que el MLGM es más adecuado para representar cambios interanuales aleatorios en la talla de madurez de la sardina común, ya que no hubo una tendencia a la disminución que pudo ser atribuible a la intensidad de pesca bajo la hipótesis de truncamiento de la estructura de tallas/edad. Más bien, en la expresión de los cambios aleatorios en la talla de madurez pueden ser consecuencia de factores asociados ya sea al muestreo, al crecimiento o a los retrasos en la madurez debido a la asincronía espacio-temporal del proceso reproductivo.

An ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) seeks to manage fisheries sustainably, including all dimensions of fisheries: biological, social and economic aspects. The separate management of these aspectsmay lead to conflicting objectives. Coviability analysis helps us to rank a set of choices (alternative management measures) objectively, allows us to explore which policies will ensure strong sustainability, and formally recognizes the multi-objective nature of fisheries management. The coviability of the main Western Mediterranean Spanish fisheries was examined with a bioeconomic simulation model under alternative management strategies that implement strong fishing mortality reduction policies. Based on a joint (biological and economic) viability assessment, it has been shown that Western Mediterranean fisheries require the reduction of fishing effort to ∼ 10% of the 2010 levels. This strong conservation measure would need to be applied as soon as possible in order for European Mediterranean fisheries to be managed at MSY, as required by legally binding international agreements, which may be unrealistic. Large reductions in fishing mortality for stocks that have been subject to high exploitation rates for decades are difficult to achieve with the current paradigm of effort control in the Mediterranean. Instead, reorienting the exploitation of Mediterranean fish stocks with management measures that combine changes in exploitation patterns with seasonal or spatial area closures, should help meet the policy goals of fishing mortality levels compatible with MSY by 2020. © International Council for the Exploration of the Sea 2014. All rights reserved

The French part of the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay (northeast Atlantic) is the habitat of an anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) population of scientific interest because of its economic importance and the trend towards greater interannual fluctuations in its abundance, particularly as a consequence of variations in recruitment. Each year a 1-month survey of this population and its pelagic environment is undertaken. Among the descriptors of ecosystem function characterized, mesozooplankton aspartate transcarbamylase (ATC) activity is measured with the goal of defining overall productivity of the mesozooplankton communities. Diverse physical forcing factors are responsible for the enhancement of productivity in the Bay of Biscay, and their respective influences vary at interannual scales. We present the results of ATC activity measurements carried out within the anchovy habitat during six consecutive breeding seasons (from 2000 to 2005). A strong correlation was found between mean ATC activity and variations in interannual biomass for the anchovy population (R = 0.928; p < 0.01). During the study period the anchovy population collapsed, and a particularly low level of ATC activity in the mesozooplankton preceded this event 1 year earlier. Conversely, an increase in anchovy abundance in the year following the collapse was preceded by a return to substantially higher levels of ATC activity. We hypothesize that this relationship may be robust and generally applicable. We speculate on the environmental descriptors necessary to confirm this result, in view of its potential application to the monitoring of this valuable fish population in the Bay of Biscay.

The French part of the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay (northeast Atlantic) is the habitat of an anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) population of scientific interest because of its economic importance and the trend towards greater interannual fluctuations in its abundance, particularly as a consequence of variations in recruitment. Each year a 1-month survey of this population and its pelagic environment is undertaken. Among the descriptors of ecosystem function characterized, mesozooplankton aspartate transcarbamylase (ATC) activity is measured with the goal of defining overall productivity of the mesozooplankton communities. Diverse physical forcing factors are responsible for the enhancement of productivity in the Bay of Biscay, and their respective influences vary at interannual scales. We present the results of ATC activity measurements carried out within the anchovy habitat during six consecutive breeding seasons (from 2000 to 2005). A strong correlation was found between mean ATC activity and variations in interannual biomass for the anchovy population (R = 0.928; p < 0.01). During the study period the anchovy population collapsed, and a particularly low level of ATC activity in the mesozooplankton preceded this event 1 year earlier. Conversely, an increase in anchovy abundance in the year following the collapse was preceded by a return to substantially higher levels of ATC activity. We hypothesize that this relationship may be robust and generally applicable. We speculate on the environmental descriptors necessary to confirm this result, in view of its potential application to the monitoring of this valuable fish population in the Bay of Biscay.

The French part of the continental shelf of the Bay of Biscay (northeast Atlantic) is the habitat of an anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) population of scientific interest because of its economic importance and the trend towards greater interannual fluctuations in its abundance, particularly as a consequence of variations in recruitment. Each year a 1-month survey of this population and its pelagic environment is undertaken. Among the descriptors of ecosystem function characterized, mesozooplankton aspartate transcarbamylase (ATC) activity is measured with the goal of defining overall productivity of the mesozooplankton communities. Diverse physical forcing factors are responsible for the enhancement of productivity in the Bay of Biscay, and their respective influences vary at interannual scales. We present the results of ATC activity measurements carried out within the anchovy habitat during six consecutive breeding seasons (from 2000 to 2005). A strong correlation was found between mean ATC activity and variations in interannual biomass for the anchovy population (R = 0.928; p < 0.01). During the study period the anchovy population collapsed, and a particularly low level of ATC activity in the mesozooplankton preceded this event 1 year earlier. Conversely, an increase in anchovy abundance in the year following the collapse was preceded by a return to substantially higher levels of ATC activity. We hypothesize that this relationship may be robust and generally applicable. We speculate on the environmental descriptors necessary to confirm this result, in view of its potential application to the monitoring of this valuable fish population in the Bay of Biscay.

This article serves to introduce the broad range of fishery-related topics covered in this online encyclopedia. The individual contributions within this theme area encompass overviews of global fisheries issues and trends, fishing practices and technology, fisheries for major taxonomic groups of fish and shellfish, exploitation of special habitats and ecosystems including coral reefs, deep-water environments and polar seas, dynamics of exploited marine systems at the population, community and ecosystem levels, the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems, fishery management practices, and the human dimension in fisheries including consideration of resource economics and social dynamics. We provide a context for interpreting developments in these areas and point to critical issues and emerging concerns in the development of more holistic ecosystem-based strategies for sustainable resource use. © 2009 Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This summary tackles the development of fisheries in the Caribbean using fads. It highlights the principal causes which explain why, in spite of more than thirty years of experimenting, fishing on fads has not developed as much as had been hoped. Whereas the deep-sea production of pelagic fish by the continental countries of the region has considerably increased since the early eighties, that of the Lesser Antilles has grown more slowly. Anchored fads have given the boats of the small-scale fisheries from three islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Curacao) access to these pelagic resources. The various modes of development and management of the fads observed in each island are described. The first available data are used to provide some indications of the effects of the various strategies implemented and the changes induced by this new fishing technique.Original Abstract: Cette synthese concerne la region Atlantique Centre-Ouest (FAO 31) mais elle aborde principalement le developpement des DCP ancres de la zone Caraibe. Trois sites principaux font l'objet d'un developpement particulier ; il s'agit des iles pour lesquelles l'activite de peche professionnelle est actuellement effective autour des DCP : la Guadeloupe, la Martinique et Curacao. L'introduction de DCP dans l'Atlantique Centre-Ouest est signalee pour la premiere fois en 1969, a Panama City (Floride). Il s'agit alors de dispositifs cotiers. Les especes ciblees sont des petits poissons pelagiques. Au debut des annees quatre-vingt, l'implantation de DCP ancres autour des petits etats insulaires de la Caraibe pour la peche des grands poissons pelagiques est consideree comme une priorite par les scientifiques reunis lors du 36e congres du Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). Beaucoup d'experiences DCP conduites dans la region ont permis de conclure a une bonne efficacite agregative quels que soient les choix technologiques operes (DCP lourds ou legers). Malgre cela, tres peu d'iles tirent actuellement

No abstract.

Since 1980 a programme of Fish Aggregation Device (fad) deployment has been carried out in the Cook Islands. Government has deployed all fads between 1 to 3 nautical miles from shore at depths ranging from 800 to 1,600 metres. The fads have undergone various designs with varying degrees of success. The average fad lifespan during the early 1980s was nine months; however, it increased to 18 months, with some fads in operation in excess of 30 months. Each fad cost between nz$ 7,000 and nz$ 9,000 to build and deploy. Since their introduction, fad have been widely accepted as a very effective apparatus in coastal small-scale fishing activities, specifically for pelagic species. Judging by the progressive behaviour of local fishing communities, there is sufficient reason to believe that fads have created productive fishing zones for Cook Islands fishermen to enable them to supply the ever-increasing local market for fresh fish. fads are an integral part of local fishing communities and provide a reasonable form of income to the increasing fishing community.

In recent years, the use of fads in Martinique has evolved from an experimental stage to a productive one. This transformation results in the pitching up of operational device park by the regional fishery committee. Nevertheless, this technical change in fishing practices is not implemented in a homogeneous way all around the island; some differences exist especially between the Atlantic and the Caribbean coasts. From surveys carried out during an annual cycle on two main landing sites, this study describes the pelagic fishing activity around fads and in the open sea. A comparison of fishing strategies adopted in different places as well as an analysis of the results obtained by the fishing units in terms of species (size of catches and daily yields) allow to describe the progress made in the implementation adoption of this new fishing practice. For several fishermen, fishing around fads has become an exclusive job, practised all year round. For others, fads is used in addition to traditional fishing activity on flotsam, "Miquelon" fishing and keeps a seasonal character.Original Abstract: Au cours des recentes annees, l'utilisation des DCP en Martinique est passee du stade experimental au stade operationnel. Cette mutation se traduit par la prise en charge du parc de dispositifs operationnels par le comite regional des peches. Toutefois, l'adoption de cette nouvelle technique d'exploitation ne s'effectue pas de facon homogene dans toutes les communes de l'ile, des differences existent notamment entre les cotes Atlantique et Caraibe. A partir d'enquetes effectuees pendant un cycle annuel, sur deux principaux points de debarquement, cette etude decrit l'activite de peche des poissons pelagiques avec ou sans DCP. Une comparaison des strategies de peche developpees dans les differents sites ainsi qu'une analyse des resultats obtenus par les unites de peche en termes d'especes, de taille des captures, de rendement journalier permettent de decrire la progression differenc

For most fisheries, increasing the local production of pelagic fish is the main objective of Fish Aggregating Devices (fads). This does not rule out the existence of a larger-scale impact, especially on the migratory behaviour of fish. The analysis of data collected during 25 experimental fishing surveys around Martinique between 1995 and 1997 has led to the hypothesis that fads influence the migratory behaviour of young dolphinfish. Unlike recent studies of dolphinfish migration in the Caribbean, which tend to show an annual migration pattern with a seasonal passage through the French West Indies, the experimental fishing surveys done over more than a year on a monthly basis on a single cohort, show that the migratory pattern of part of the regional stock could be disrupted. This analysis has made it possible to estimate an average growth rate for this species during the first year of life.

Approximately 4,000 petroleum (oil and gas) platforms exist in the northern Gulf of Mexico and form one of the world's most extensive de facto artificial reef systems. Collectively, these structures may comprise one of the largest fad (Fish Aggregating Device) arrays in the world, attracting surface and midwater pelagic fishes. The diverse composition of pelagic fish fauna at ngom platforms is described and includes valued species such as Thunnus albacares, Thunnus atlanticus, Coryphaena hippurus, Acanthocybium solandri, Rachycentron canadum, Seriola dumerili, Scomberomorus cavalla, and Decapterus punctatus. Petroleum platforms influence pelagic fishery resources and are an important component of the Gulf's commercial and recreational fishing industries. Reviewed literature revealed a sparsity of fundamental knowledge of densities, temporal and spatial occurrence, and fishing effort/catch rates of pelagic fishes at platforms. The role of Gulf petroleum platforms "as fads" is examined, possible mechanisms for aggregation are reviewed, and a synopsis of the author's preliminary findings on life history aspects of A. solandri and R. canadum from platforms is presented. It is proposed that platforms provide opportunities for the study of pelagic species to better understand the life history, ecology, behaviour, and habitat requirements of pelagic fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico.

No abstract.

Since 1980 a programme of Fish Aggregation Device (fad) deployment has been carried out in the Cook Islands. Government has deployed all fads between 1 to 3 nautical miles from shore at depths ranging from 800 to 1,600 metres. The fads have undergone various designs with varying degrees of success. The average fad lifespan during the early 1980s was nine months; however, it increased to 18 months, with some fads in operation in excess of 30 months. Each fad cost between nz$ 7,000 and nz$ 9,000 to build and deploy. Since their introduction, fad have been widely accepted as a very effective apparatus in coastal small-scale fishing activities, specifically for pelagic species. Judging by the progressive behaviour of local fishing communities, there is sufficient reason to believe that fads have created productive fishing zones for Cook Islands fishermen to enable them to supply the ever-increasing local market for fresh fish. fads are an integral part of local fishing communities and provide a reasonable form of income to the increasing fishing community.

In recent years, the use of fads in Martinique has evolved from an experimental stage to a productive one. This transformation results in the pitching up of operational device park by the regional fishery committee. Nevertheless, this technical change in fishing practices is not implemented in a homogeneous way all around the island; some differences exist especially between the Atlantic and the Caribbean coasts. From surveys carried out during an annual cycle on two main landing sites, this study describes the pelagic fishing activity around fads and in the open sea. A comparison of fishing strategies adopted in different places as well as an analysis of the results obtained by the fishing units in terms of species (size of catches and daily yields) allow to describe the progress made in the implementation adoption of this new fishing practice. For several fishermen, fishing around fads has become an exclusive job, practised all year round. For others, fads is used in addition to traditional fishing activity on flotsam, "Miquelon" fishing and keeps a seasonal character.Original Abstract: Au cours des recentes annees, l'utilisation des DCP en Martinique est passee du stade experimental au stade operationnel. Cette mutation se traduit par la prise en charge du parc de dispositifs operationnels par le comite regional des peches. Toutefois, l'adoption de cette nouvelle technique d'exploitation ne s'effectue pas de facon homogene dans toutes les communes de l'ile, des differences existent notamment entre les cotes Atlantique et Caraibe. A partir d'enquetes effectuees pendant un cycle annuel, sur deux principaux points de debarquement, cette etude decrit l'activite de peche des poissons pelagiques avec ou sans DCP. Une comparaison des strategies de peche developpees dans les differents sites ainsi qu'une analyse des resultats obtenus par les unites de peche en termes d'especes, de taille des captures, de rendement journalier permettent de decrire la progression differenc

Approximately 4,000 petroleum (oil and gas) platforms exist in the northern Gulf of Mexico and form one of the world's most extensive de facto artificial reef systems. Collectively, these structures may comprise one of the largest fad (Fish Aggregating Device) arrays in the world, attracting surface and midwater pelagic fishes. The diverse composition of pelagic fish fauna at ngom platforms is described and includes valued species such as Thunnus albacares, Thunnus atlanticus, Coryphaena hippurus, Acanthocybium solandri, Rachycentron canadum, Seriola dumerili, Scomberomorus cavalla, and Decapterus punctatus. Petroleum platforms influence pelagic fishery resources and are an important component of the Gulf's commercial and recreational fishing industries. Reviewed literature revealed a sparsity of fundamental knowledge of densities, temporal and spatial occurrence, and fishing effort/catch rates of pelagic fishes at platforms. The role of Gulf petroleum platforms "as fads" is examined, possible mechanisms for aggregation are reviewed, and a synopsis of the author's preliminary findings on life history aspects of A. solandri and R. canadum from platforms is presented. It is proposed that platforms provide opportunities for the study of pelagic species to better understand the life history, ecology, behaviour, and habitat requirements of pelagic fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico.

This summary tackles the development of fisheries in the Caribbean using fads. It highlights the principal causes which explain why, in spite of more than thirty years of experimenting, fishing on fads has not developed as much as had been hoped. Whereas the deep-sea production of pelagic fish by the continental countries of the region has considerably increased since the early eighties, that of the Lesser Antilles has grown more slowly. Anchored fads have given the boats of the small-scale fisheries from three islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Curacao) access to these pelagic resources. The various modes of development and management of the fads observed in each island are described. The first available data are used to provide some indications of the effects of the various strategies implemented and the changes induced by this new fishing technique.Original Abstract: Cette synthese concerne la region Atlantique Centre-Ouest (FAO 31) mais elle aborde principalement le developpement des DCP ancres de la zone Caraibe. Trois sites principaux font l'objet d'un developpement particulier ; il s'agit des iles pour lesquelles l'activite de peche professionnelle est actuellement effective autour des DCP : la Guadeloupe, la Martinique et Curacao. L'introduction de DCP dans l'Atlantique Centre-Ouest est signalee pour la premiere fois en 1969, a Panama City (Floride). Il s'agit alors de dispositifs cotiers. Les especes ciblees sont des petits poissons pelagiques. Au debut des annees quatre-vingt, l'implantation de DCP ancres autour des petits etats insulaires de la Caraibe pour la peche des grands poissons pelagiques est consideree comme une priorite par les scientifiques reunis lors du 36e congres du Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). Beaucoup d'experiences DCP conduites dans la region ont permis de conclure a une bonne efficacite agregative quels que soient les choix technologiques operes (DCP lourds ou legers). Malgre cela, tres peu d'iles tirent actuellement

For most fisheries, increasing the local production of pelagic fish is the main objective of Fish Aggregating Devices (fads). This does not rule out the existence of a larger-scale impact, especially on the migratory behaviour of fish. The analysis of data collected during 25 experimental fishing surveys around Martinique between 1995 and 1997 has led to the hypothesis that fads influence the migratory behaviour of young dolphinfish. Unlike recent studies of dolphinfish migration in the Caribbean, which tend to show an annual migration pattern with a seasonal passage through the French West Indies, the experimental fishing surveys done over more than a year on a monthly basis on a single cohort, show that the migratory pattern of part of the regional stock could be disrupted. This analysis has made it possible to estimate an average growth rate for this species during the first year of life.

This summary tackles the development of fisheries in the Caribbean using fads. It highlights the principal causes which explain why, in spite of more than thirty years of experimenting, fishing on fads has not developed as much as had been hoped. Whereas the deep-sea production of pelagic fish by the continental countries of the region has considerably increased since the early eighties, that of the Lesser Antilles has grown more slowly. Anchored fads have given the boats of the small-scale fisheries from three islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Curacao) access to these pelagic resources. The various modes of development and management of the fads observed in each island are described. The first available data are used to provide some indications of the effects of the various strategies implemented and the changes induced by this new fishing technique.Original Abstract: Cette synthese concerne la region Atlantique Centre-Ouest (FAO 31) mais elle aborde principalement le developpement des DCP ancres de la zone Caraibe. Trois sites principaux font l'objet d'un developpement particulier ; il s'agit des iles pour lesquelles l'activite de peche professionnelle est actuellement effective autour des DCP : la Guadeloupe, la Martinique et Curacao. L'introduction de DCP dans l'Atlantique Centre-Ouest est signalee pour la premiere fois en 1969, a Panama City (Floride). Il s'agit alors de dispositifs cotiers. Les especes ciblees sont des petits poissons pelagiques. Au debut des annees quatre-vingt, l'implantation de DCP ancres autour des petits etats insulaires de la Caraibe pour la peche des grands poissons pelagiques est consideree comme une priorite par les scientifiques reunis lors du 36e congres du Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). Beaucoup d'experiences DCP conduites dans la region ont permis de conclure a une bonne efficacite agregative quels que soient les choix technologiques operes (DCP lourds ou legers). Malgre cela, tres peu d'iles tirent actuellement

This summary tackles the development of fisheries in the Caribbean using fads. It highlights the principal causes which explain why, in spite of more than thirty years of experimenting, fishing on fads has not developed as much as had been hoped. Whereas the deep-sea production of pelagic fish by the continental countries of the region has considerably increased since the early eighties, that of the Lesser Antilles has grown more slowly. Anchored fads have given the boats of the small-scale fisheries from three islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Curacao) access to these pelagic resources. The various modes of development and management of the fads observed in each island are described. The first available data are used to provide some indications of the effects of the various strategies implemented and the changes induced by this new fishing technique.Original Abstract: Cette synthese concerne la region Atlantique Centre-Ouest (FAO 31) mais elle aborde principalement le developpement des DCP ancres de la zone Caraibe. Trois sites principaux font l'objet d'un developpement particulier ; il s'agit des iles pour lesquelles l'activite de peche professionnelle est actuellement effective autour des DCP : la Guadeloupe, la Martinique et Curacao. L'introduction de DCP dans l'Atlantique Centre-Ouest est signalee pour la premiere fois en 1969, a Panama City (Floride). Il s'agit alors de dispositifs cotiers. Les especes ciblees sont des petits poissons pelagiques. Au debut des annees quatre-vingt, l'implantation de DCP ancres autour des petits etats insulaires de la Caraibe pour la peche des grands poissons pelagiques est consideree comme une priorite par les scientifiques reunis lors du 36e congres du Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). Beaucoup d'experiences DCP conduites dans la region ont permis de conclure a une bonne efficacite agregative quels que soient les choix technologiques operes (DCP lourds ou legers). Malgre cela, tres peu d'iles tirent actuellement

Since 1980 a programme of Fish Aggregation Device (fad) deployment has been carried out in the Cook Islands. Government has deployed all fads between 1 to 3 nautical miles from shore at depths ranging from 800 to 1,600 metres. The fads have undergone various designs with varying degrees of success. The average fad lifespan during the early 1980s was nine months; however, it increased to 18 months, with some fads in operation in excess of 30 months. Each fad cost between nz$ 7,000 and nz$ 9,000 to build and deploy. Since their introduction, fad have been widely accepted as a very effective apparatus in coastal small-scale fishing activities, specifically for pelagic species. Judging by the progressive behaviour of local fishing communities, there is sufficient reason to believe that fads have created productive fishing zones for Cook Islands fishermen to enable them to supply the ever-increasing local market for fresh fish. fads are an integral part of local fishing communities and provide a reasonable form of income to the increasing fishing community.

In recent years, the use of fads in Martinique has evolved from an experimental stage to a productive one. This transformation results in the pitching up of operational device park by the regional fishery committee. Nevertheless, this technical change in fishing practices is not implemented in a homogeneous way all around the island; some differences exist especially between the Atlantic and the Caribbean coasts. From surveys carried out during an annual cycle on two main landing sites, this study describes the pelagic fishing activity around fads and in the open sea. A comparison of fishing strategies adopted in different places as well as an analysis of the results obtained by the fishing units in terms of species (size of catches and daily yields) allow to describe the progress made in the implementation adoption of this new fishing practice. For several fishermen, fishing around fads has become an exclusive job, practised all year round. For others, fads is used in addition to traditional fishing activity on flotsam, "Miquelon" fishing and keeps a seasonal character.Original Abstract: Au cours des recentes annees, l'utilisation des DCP en Martinique est passee du stade experimental au stade operationnel. Cette mutation se traduit par la prise en charge du parc de dispositifs operationnels par le comite regional des peches. Toutefois, l'adoption de cette nouvelle technique d'exploitation ne s'effectue pas de facon homogene dans toutes les communes de l'ile, des differences existent notamment entre les cotes Atlantique et Caraibe. A partir d'enquetes effectuees pendant un cycle annuel, sur deux principaux points de debarquement, cette etude decrit l'activite de peche des poissons pelagiques avec ou sans DCP. Une comparaison des strategies de peche developpees dans les differents sites ainsi qu'une analyse des resultats obtenus par les unites de peche en termes d'especes, de taille des captures, de rendement journalier permettent de decrire la progression differenc

For most fisheries, increasing the local production of pelagic fish is the main objective of Fish Aggregating Devices (fads). This does not rule out the existence of a larger-scale impact, especially on the migratory behaviour of fish. The analysis of data collected during 25 experimental fishing surveys around Martinique between 1995 and 1997 has led to the hypothesis that fads influence the migratory behaviour of young dolphinfish. Unlike recent studies of dolphinfish migration in the Caribbean, which tend to show an annual migration pattern with a seasonal passage through the French West Indies, the experimental fishing surveys done over more than a year on a monthly basis on a single cohort, show that the migratory pattern of part of the regional stock could be disrupted. This analysis has made it possible to estimate an average growth rate for this species during the first year of life.

No abstract.

Approximately 4,000 petroleum (oil and gas) platforms exist in the northern Gulf of Mexico and form one of the world's most extensive de facto artificial reef systems. Collectively, these structures may comprise one of the largest fad (Fish Aggregating Device) arrays in the world, attracting surface and midwater pelagic fishes. The diverse composition of pelagic fish fauna at ngom platforms is described and includes valued species such as Thunnus albacares, Thunnus atlanticus, Coryphaena hippurus, Acanthocybium solandri, Rachycentron canadum, Seriola dumerili, Scomberomorus cavalla, and Decapterus punctatus. Petroleum platforms influence pelagic fishery resources and are an important component of the Gulf's commercial and recreational fishing industries. Reviewed literature revealed a sparsity of fundamental knowledge of densities, temporal and spatial occurrence, and fishing effort/catch rates of pelagic fishes at platforms. The role of Gulf petroleum platforms "as fads" is examined, possible mechanisms for aggregation are reviewed, and a synopsis of the author's preliminary findings on life history aspects of A. solandri and R. canadum from platforms is presented. It is proposed that platforms provide opportunities for the study of pelagic species to better understand the life history, ecology, behaviour, and habitat requirements of pelagic fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico.

No abstract.

Approximately 4,000 petroleum (oil and gas) platforms exist in the northern Gulf of Mexico and form one of the world's most extensive de facto artificial reef systems. Collectively, these structures may comprise one of the largest fad (Fish Aggregating Device) arrays in the world, attracting surface and midwater pelagic fishes. The diverse composition of pelagic fish fauna at ngom platforms is described and includes valued species such as Thunnus albacares, Thunnus atlanticus, Coryphaena hippurus, Acanthocybium solandri, Rachycentron canadum, Seriola dumerili, Scomberomorus cavalla, and Decapterus punctatus. Petroleum platforms influence pelagic fishery resources and are an important component of the Gulf's commercial and recreational fishing industries. Reviewed literature revealed a sparsity of fundamental knowledge of densities, temporal and spatial occurrence, and fishing effort/catch rates of pelagic fishes at platforms. The role of Gulf petroleum platforms "as fads" is examined, possible mechanisms for aggregation are reviewed, and a synopsis of the author's preliminary findings on life history aspects of A. solandri and R. canadum from platforms is presented. It is proposed that platforms provide opportunities for the study of pelagic species to better understand the life history, ecology, behaviour, and habitat requirements of pelagic fishery resources in the Gulf of Mexico.

This summary tackles the development of fisheries in the Caribbean using fads. It highlights the principal causes which explain why, in spite of more than thirty years of experimenting, fishing on fads has not developed as much as had been hoped. Whereas the deep-sea production of pelagic fish by the continental countries of the region has considerably increased since the early eighties, that of the Lesser Antilles has grown more slowly. Anchored fads have given the boats of the small-scale fisheries from three islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique and Curacao) access to these pelagic resources. The various modes of development and management of the fads observed in each island are described. The first available data are used to provide some indications of the effects of the various strategies implemented and the changes induced by this new fishing technique.Original Abstract: Cette synthese concerne la region Atlantique Centre-Ouest (FAO 31) mais elle aborde principalement le developpement des DCP ancres de la zone Caraibe. Trois sites principaux font l'objet d'un developpement particulier ; il s'agit des iles pour lesquelles l'activite de peche professionnelle est actuellement effective autour des DCP : la Guadeloupe, la Martinique et Curacao. L'introduction de DCP dans l'Atlantique Centre-Ouest est signalee pour la premiere fois en 1969, a Panama City (Floride). Il s'agit alors de dispositifs cotiers. Les especes ciblees sont des petits poissons pelagiques. Au debut des annees quatre-vingt, l'implantation de DCP ancres autour des petits etats insulaires de la Caraibe pour la peche des grands poissons pelagiques est consideree comme une priorite par les scientifiques reunis lors du 36e congres du Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI). Beaucoup d'experiences DCP conduites dans la region ont permis de conclure a une bonne efficacite agregative quels que soient les choix technologiques operes (DCP lourds ou legers). Malgre cela, tres peu d'iles tirent actuellement

For most fisheries, increasing the local production of pelagic fish is the main objective of Fish Aggregating Devices (fads). This does not rule out the existence of a larger-scale impact, especially on the migratory behaviour of fish. The analysis of data collected during 25 experimental fishing surveys around Martinique between 1995 and 1997 has led to the hypothesis that fads influence the migratory behaviour of young dolphinfish. Unlike recent studies of dolphinfish migration in the Caribbean, which tend to show an annual migration pattern with a seasonal passage through the French West Indies, the experimental fishing surveys done over more than a year on a monthly basis on a single cohort, show that the migratory pattern of part of the regional stock could be disrupted. This analysis has made it possible to estimate an average growth rate for this species during the first year of life.

Since 1980 a programme of Fish Aggregation Device (fad) deployment has been carried out in the Cook Islands. Government has deployed all fads between 1 to 3 nautical miles from shore at depths ranging from 800 to 1,600 metres. The fads have undergone various designs with varying degrees of success. The average fad lifespan during the early 1980s was nine months; however, it increased to 18 months, with some fads in operation in excess of 30 months. Each fad cost between nz$ 7,000 and nz$ 9,000 to build and deploy. Since their introduction, fad have been widely accepted as a very effective apparatus in coastal small-scale fishing activities, specifically for pelagic species. Judging by the progressive behaviour of local fishing communities, there is sufficient reason to believe that fads have created productive fishing zones for Cook Islands fishermen to enable them to supply the ever-increasing local market for fresh fish. fads are an integral part of local fishing communities and provide a reasonable form of income to the increasing fishing community.

In recent years, the use of fads in Martinique has evolved from an experimental stage to a productive one. This transformation results in the pitching up of operational device park by the regional fishery committee. Nevertheless, this technical change in fishing practices is not implemented in a homogeneous way all around the island; some differences exist especially between the Atlantic and the Caribbean coasts. From surveys carried out during an annual cycle on two main landing sites, this study describes the pelagic fishing activity around fads and in the open sea. A comparison of fishing strategies adopted in different places as well as an analysis of the results obtained by the fishing units in terms of species (size of catches and daily yields) allow to describe the progress made in the implementation adoption of this new fishing practice. For several fishermen, fishing around fads has become an exclusive job, practised all year round. For others, fads is used in addition to traditional fishing activity on flotsam, "Miquelon" fishing and keeps a seasonal character.Original Abstract: Au cours des recentes annees, l'utilisation des DCP en Martinique est passee du stade experimental au stade operationnel. Cette mutation se traduit par la prise en charge du parc de dispositifs operationnels par le comite regional des peches. Toutefois, l'adoption de cette nouvelle technique d'exploitation ne s'effectue pas de facon homogene dans toutes les communes de l'ile, des differences existent notamment entre les cotes Atlantique et Caraibe. A partir d'enquetes effectuees pendant un cycle annuel, sur deux principaux points de debarquement, cette etude decrit l'activite de peche des poissons pelagiques avec ou sans DCP. Une comparaison des strategies de peche developpees dans les differents sites ainsi qu'une analyse des resultats obtenus par les unites de peche en termes d'especes, de taille des captures, de rendement journalier permettent de decrire la progression differenc