Search

Pacific Halibut Hippoglossus stenolepiscaptured in directed commercial longline fisheries in Canada and the USA that are below the legal minimum size for retention must be returned to the sea without incurring additional injury. Estimates of mortality caused by discarding sublegal‐sized fish are included in annual estimates of total mortality from all sources and affect the results of stock assessment and the yield available to fisheries. Currently, an average discard mortality rate (DMR) of 16% is applied to all sublegal‐sized longline discards. These discards consist of fish that suffer injuries ranging from minor to severe. The 16% DMR that is currently applied was derived by averaging injury‐specific DMRs that in turn assume 3.5% mortality of Pacific Halibut that are released to the sea with only minor injuries. The latter has been derived experimentally but only in captivity. Here, we used acceleration‐logging pop‐up archival transmitting tags to infer individual survival outcomes for Pacific Halibut that were released in situ following capture on longline gear. Postrelease behavioral data were evaluated for 75 fish that were at liberty for 2–96 d. Three fish were confidently inferred to have died after periods at liberty of 41–80 d, and another three fish may have died 96 d after release, resulting in minimum and maximum estimated 96‐d postrelease DMRs of 4.2% (range = 0.0–8.7%) and 8.4% (range = 1.7–14.6%), respectively. These ranges are consistent with the currently applied value of 3.5%. However, the observation that no mortalities occurred until after 40 d postrelease departs from the findings of captive studies, in which the majority of capture‐induced mortality occurred within 20 d of release.

Inequalities in health-care access exist for people with dementia (PWD), as reflected in regional, national and international variations in diagnostic rates. This article considers three overlapping themes that emerged from a literature search on the subject: GP competencies, confidence and belief systems; lack of awareness of dementia and different belief systems among carers; and the context of primary health care. These three themes support policy drivers on perceived barriers to achieving a diagnosis of dementia. The context of primary health care, with GPs often regarded as the first point of contact for PWD and their carers, further inhibits inclusive and equitable access to health care for all. Nurses work at the interface between the community and PWD, and are well placed to identify subtle changes during the early stage of dementia. Due to a rising ageing population, the context of primary care needs to change, utilising nurses' roles within public health and secondary prevention.

The independent sector has always provided a proportion of the care needed for a variety of client groups in the UK. Although the vast majority of the recipients of care are older people, groups such as those with mental health problems and those suffering from various disabilities are also cared for. The sector is currently facing the need for major changes in the way it provides care. Legislation and a number of reports and strategy documents mean that these changes are necessary for the sector to survive. To drive and to respond to the new situation, education and training has a part to play. This article will examine how the new situation following the sector will impact on the education needs for nurses.