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Fishing communities globally continue to face poor health and safety outcomes, driving the expansion of fisheries occupational health and safety (OHS) interventions. However, narrowly focused OHS interventions that neglect the social and structural determinants of health may have unintended consequences. We illustrate this problem through a case study from the UK where a recent OHS intervention, the introduction of compulsory medical certificates to all commercial fishers, led to unforeseen negative impacts. Through analysis of data from interviews, focus groups and a participatory workshop in Cornwall, UK, we highlight three key findings. First, while seeking to improve safety at sea, the regulatory change actually had negative consequences for fishers' health, their access to healthcare and potentially even their safety. Second, a mismatch between the requirements of the regulation and fishers' lived experience undermined the efforts of health promotion and outreach activities. Third, a failure to account for the implications for different sectors of the fleet has contributed to mistrust that may have ramifications for future fisheries governance activity. Our research brings to the fore important implications for the design of OHS regimes in fisheries. These include the broadening of OHS approaches to consider fishers' wider health and well‐being; engagement of fishers in the development and implementation of OHS interventions to account for their lived experiences of health and safety at sea and better integrate their knowledge; support for bottom‐up fisher‐led initiatives aimed at managing health and safety at sea; and improved coordination between agencies responsible for different areas of fisheries governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of vateritic otoliths on hatchery-reared Coho Salmon, which are important for ecosystems, Indigenous communities, and the fishing industry. While hatcheries were once considered effective, research has shown that hatchery-reared salmon have lower survival rates in the wild compared to their wild counterparts. Vateritic otoliths, which affect hearing and balance, have been found to be common in hatchery-reared salmon. The Coho Otolith Project aims to investigate the causes and consequences of vateritic otolith development in Coho Salmon, conducting experiments to understand its influence on survival rates in both stream and marine environments. The research also aims to determine the prevalence of vateritic otoliths in hatchery-reared Coho Salmon across different facilities and stocks, providing valuable insights for hatchery managers and stakeholders to improve practices and conserve salmon stocks. [Extracted from the article]

Size‐ and species‐selective harvest inevitably alters the composition of targeted populations and communities. This can potentially harm fish stocks, ecosystem functionality, and related services, as evidenced in numerous commercial fisheries. The high popularity of rod‐and‐reel recreational fishing, practiced by hundreds of millions globally, raises concerns about similar deteriorating effects. Despite its prevalence, the species and size selectivity of recreational fisheries remain largely unquantified due to a lack of combined catch data and fisheries‐independent surveys. This study addresses this gap by using standardised monitoring data and over 60,000 digital angling catch reports from 62 distinct fisheries. The findings demonstrate a pronounced selectivity in recreational fisheries, targeting top predators and large individuals. Catch‐and‐release practices reduced the overall harvest by 60% but did not substantially alter this selectivity. The strong species‐ and size‐specific selectivity mirror patterns observed in other fisheries, emphasising the importance of managing the potential adverse effects of recreational fisheries selective mortality and overfishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bylye Gody is the property of Cherkas Global University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been identified as one of the most effective tools to halt marine biodiversity loss. However, conflicting evidence from disparate, small-scale studies obfuscate a cohesive global picture of the role that MPAs can play in enhancing local fisheries through spillover benefits. We conducted a global analysis of trophy-size fish catches as a proxy for spillover occurring outside of fully protected MPAs, focusing on time series of recreational angling catch records. We show that the accumulation of recreational fishing records accelerates close to MPAs (compared to reference areas) and that this effect grows stronger over time. Our results provide a standardized global assessment of one of the benefits MPAs provide to recreational anglers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newspapers and archives from Taiwan indicate a long history of Taiwan’s commercial fishing in the Pacific that has largely been overlooked. Using these resources, this article analyses the relationship between the Taiwan government and Taiwan fishermen in the Pacific from the 1940s to the 1980s, demonstrating how non-state actors such as fishermen dictated Taiwan’s official engagements in the region. I first outline the history of legal and illegal fishing by commercial Taiwan vessels in the Pacific from the 1940s to the 1980s. I then draw on two case studies: illegal fishing incidents in Tuvalu and Australia involving commercial Taiwan fishermen, and legal fishing operations in American Samoa. These case studies demonstrate how commercial fishermen impacted Taiwan-government engagements in the Pacific and were viewed by the government as a liability. The article concludes by connecting Taiwan’s commercial fishing history in the Pacific with the larger history of Taiwan in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine finfish landings in Cuba have decreased during the last 30 years. However, in Cuba's most productive fishing region, certain species, including rays, herrings, and snappers, have had increased landings over the past decade. Despite these anomalies, no comprehensive analysis of the interactions among multispecies landing dynamics, environmental factors, and fishing efforts has been carried out. This study estimates the dynamics of multispecies finfish landings between 1981 and 2017 on the southeastern coast of Cuba. A log-normal generalized additive model (GAM) was fit to evaluate the effects of various environmental and effort-related variables on the total landings. During the period analyzed, the finfish landings and fishing effort decreased by 46% and over 80%, respectively. Despite concerns about overfishing, landings per unit of effort (LPUE) increased by 2.8 times. The total fish landings were significantly related to changes in the fishing effort, coastal vegetation, rainfall, chlorophyll-a, and the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). This study highlights the changing relationship between the landings and fishing effort, suggesting that LPUE may not accurately reflect true stock abundance. The findings of this study will assist in integrating the dynamics of finfish species, ecosystem status, and management actions for Cuba's most productive fishing zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muslim religion has strict rules to determine what kinds of foodstuffs, and under what circumstances, are deemed appropriate for consumption. Fishes are not an exception to this rule and features such as body shape or the presence and conspicuousness of scales dictate whether certain species are acceptable or rejected. In this paper, an overview of the Iberian ichthyoarchaeological record from Muslim sites is presented to ascertain whether differences with Christian sites existed in terms of these characters and to what extent these allow one to take fish assemblages as cultural proxies of archaeological deposits. In the case of coastal (production) sites, we also consider whether the peculiarities a given fish assemblage exhibit reflect instead certain environmental features such as the biotopes where a given local fishery operated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computational target fishing plays an important role in target identification, particularly in drug discovery campaigns utilizing phenotypic screening. Numerous approaches exist to predict potential targets for a given ligand, but true targets may be inconsistently ranked. More advanced simulation methods may provide benefit in such cases by reranking these initial predictions. We evaluated the ability of binding pose metadynamics to improve the predicted rankings for three diverse ligands and their six true targets. Initial predictions using pharmacophore mapping showed no true targets ranked in the top 50 and two targets each ranked within the 50–100, 100–150, and 250–300 ranges respectively. Following binding pose metadynamics, ranking of true targets improved for four out of the six targets and included the highest ranked predictions overall, while rankings deteriorated for two targets. The revised rankings predicted two true targets ranked within the top 50, and one target each within the 50–100, 100–150, 150–200, and 200–250 ranges respectively. The findings of this study demonstrate that binding pose metadynamics may be of benefit in refining initial predictions from structure‐based target fishing algorithms, thereby improving the efficiency of the target identification process in drug discovery efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing is an essential economic activity and source of livelihood for millions of people worldwide. However, overfishing and unsustainable practices have led to a decline in fish populations and the degradation of marine ecosystems. Moreover, fishing activities can contribute to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) from fishing vessels and seafood transportation. To mitigate the environmental impacts of fishing activities, sustainable fishing practices must be implemented to minimize the negative impacts of fishing on the environment while maintaining the productivity and diversity of fish populations and ecosystems. These practices include using selective fishing gear, avoiding fishing in vulnerable habitats, implementing fishery management plans, and reducing the carbon footprint of the fishing industry. To this end, and as a first step in defining efficient and effective measures towards the sustainability of capture fishing activity, an analysis of the environmental sustainability of the Galician fishing sector, one of the main European regions in this field, is presented in this work. An ecosystem-based indicator (ecological footprint, calculated by adding the so-called fishing ground footprint and the carbon footprint) was employed to quantify the main impacts of capture fishing during extractive activity. The catch composition and fuel consumption of the fleet based on the vessels' power, and economic benefits, were the parameters used in this analysis. The results showed that ports with larger vessels and fleets seem to be more eco-efficient than those concentrating smaller vessels in targeting lower trophic level species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mound Key (8LL2), a 51 ha anthropogenic island in Estero Bay, Florida, is comprised of a complex arrangement of midden-mounds of various sizes, canals, watercourts, causeways, and other features. Occupied from approximately a.d. 450 through European contact, Mound Key served as the primary center and political capital of an extensive Calusa socioeconomic network whose economy was rooted in fishing, gathering, and hunting. Drawing on zooarchaeological analyses of ichthyological refuse dating to between a.d. 1000 and 1350, I argue that the Calusa actively managed and invested in a core fishery that ultimately contributed to a complex, robust socio-ecological systems (SES). I examine the nature, role, and signatures of these fisheries, as their management underwrote the success of Calusa social, political, and economic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world’s capacity for plundering the ocean for food grows, our ability to know what level of fishing is sustainable isn’t keeping pace. Officials in charge of preventing overfishing [...]

Introduction: The expansion of fishery development from offshore to deep-sea areas has become essential for countries to address environmental constraints and ensure food security. This study aims to establish a cooperative development model for deep-blue fishery involving the government, fishery enterprises, and consumers. Methods: We constructed an evolutionary game and simulation model to analyze the government's deep-blue fishery subsidy strategy. The model considers the interactions between the government, fishery enterprises, and consumers, evaluating how different subsidy strategies influence the development of deep-blue fishery. Results: Our results demonstrate that government subsidies can stimulate the growth of deep-blue fishery from both the demand and supply sides. Specifically, the likelihood of government subsidies positively affects fishery enterprises' engagement in deep-blue fishery development and consumers' willingness to purchase deep-blue fishery products. The evolutionary game system reaches different steady states based on the cost-benefit changes for the government, fishery enterprises, and consumers, leading to various optimal subsidy strategies. Discussion: The findings indicate that the amount of government subsidy should be optimized rather than maximized, as excessive subsidies may not yield proportionate benefits. Additionally, subsidizing fishery enterprises proves to be more effective in promoting the development of deep-blue fishery compared to subsidizing consumers. These insights can guide policymakers in designing efficient subsidy strategies to foster sustainable deep-sea fishery development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme weather events across coastal environments are expected to increase in frequency under predicted climate change scenarios. These events can impact coastal recreational fisheries and their supporting ecosystems by influencing the productivity of fish stocks or altering behaviours and decision-making among fishers. Using off-site telephone/diary survey data on estuarine and oceanic recreational fishing activity in eastern Australia, we analyse interannual and geographic variability in bream (Acanthopagrus spp) and snapper (Chrysophrys auratus) catch, total effort and total catch per unit effort (CPUE) through a period (2013/2014, 2017/2018 and 2019/2020) that encompassed severe drought, bushfires and flooding. Interacting spatial and temporal differences were detected for bream and may reflect spatial variation in the intensity and extent of some of the extreme weather events. The catch of snapper did not change temporally, providing little evidence that this species' catch may be influenced by the extreme weather events. Independent bioregional and temporal effects on effort were detected, while CPUE only showed significant bioregional differences. Although adverse conditions created by the extreme weather events may have dissuaded fisher participation and impacted effort, we propose that the observed temporal patterns in effort reflect the early influence of socio-economic changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic on coastal recreational fishing, over and above the impacts of extreme weather events. This study demonstrates how interrelated ecological, social and economic factors can shape coastal recreational fisheries and facilitates development of management strategies to address future threats to the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine recreational fishing, a globally popular outdoor activity, has deep cultural roots and ecological implications. This study, conducted between 2021-2022, explores marine recreational fishing practices along the Turkish Black Sea coast. It analyzes fisher numbers and demographics, fishing effort, fishing methods, and species caught and released. Furthermore, the research sheds light on the economic dimensions, emphasizing the substantial contributions of recreational fishing to local economies. Notably, responsible practices, such as catch-and-release initiatives, demonstrate anglers' awareness of conservation efforts. Within the Turkish Black Sea region, an observed 18.5% participation rate among a population of 24.5 million implies the presence of approximately 4.5 million marine recreational fishers. Annually, this translates to nearly 30 million fishing days, accompanied by a total expenditure of 400 million Euros. However, it's imperative to handle these figures cautiously as the timing of the screening survey during the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the high participation rate, introducing a potential bias. A detailed examination of a Turkish marine recreational fisher engaged in Black Sea fishing reveals an average annual catch of 16.5 kg of retained fish and 1.2 kg of released fish biomass. When extrapolated to the larger population of 4.5 million fishers, this culminates in a noteworthy landing biomass approaching 74,000 tons. The study unveils that marine recreational fishers in the Turkish Black Sea predominantly target commercially important species, resulting in a retained biomass surpassing commercial landings in 2021. This prompts concerns about potential impacts on crucial commercial fish stocks, underscoring the imperative inclusion of recreational fisheries in stock assessments. The research, providing essential insights into the intricate dynamics of recreational fishing, lays a foundation for well-informed policies and practices that concurrently promote environmental conservation and the continuation of this valued leisure activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected areas (MPAs) can protect and restore marine biodiversity and fisheries, but there are concerns that they may also benefit invasive species. The spatial and temporal colonization of invasive lionfish (Pterois miles) in the eastern Mediterranean was compared across zones with varying fishing restrictions (no fishing, recreational and commercial fishing, and commercial fishing only), and stations where targeted removal events were conducted by volunteer SCUBA divers. Lionfish density in no fishing areas was nearly double that of areas with commercial fishing only, and over four times greater than in areas where both commercial and recreational fishing were allowed. Lionfish density increased with depth, possibly due to easier human exploitation in shallow waters (0–10 m) that are accessible to recreational spearfishers. Targeted removals by volunteer divers decreased lionfish densities by over 60%, while areas without removals had a 200%–400% increase. Along with management actions, natural and ecological processes might drive lionfish densities within MPAs, and the speed with which lionfish colonized fishery‐restricted zones, emphasized the need for a more sophisticated MPA management strategy that considers invasive species impacts and dynamics in an ecosystem‐based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recovery of many seal populations has intensified seal‐fishery conflicts. Acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs), designed to deter seals while minimising collateral harm, provide a potential solution. We investigated feasibility of ADDs to protect a European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) fishery in the River Iijoki, Finland, which enters the Baltic Sea. A sound barrier produced by a line of ADDs across the river efficiently prevented grey (Halichoerus grypus) and ringed (Pusa hispida) seals from passing the barrier line, thereby increasing catches, decreasing damage to fishing gear and catch and resulting in fewer seal sightings in the area safeguarded by ADDs. Hence, blocking access of seals to a river or its section by ADDs during a critical fishing period is a promising method for reducing seal‐induced catch losses. However, long‐term assessments of impacts of ADDs are still needed to verify the overall effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiji's iTaukei (Indigenous) women contribute significantly to small-scale coastal fisheries, and are therefore integral to successful fisheries (co-)management, yet their role still remains underestimated. This paper explores an original pathway to highlight iTaukei women's role in Fiji's small-scale coastal fisheries; a pathway that, through a 'dwelling perspective', emphasises the socialities that are inseparable from this role. It is based on data collected during two distinct fieldwork periods, 2003–2004 and 2016–2018, in a village located on Gau, Fiji's fifth biggest island, in Lomaiviti Province. An overview of the fishing practices of the iTaukei women living in this village shows that fishing can be seen as both a gender-differentiated and a more-than-human, dynamic field of sociality. Furthermore, we argue that fishing is these women's main mode of active engagement with their marine environment, conceived as inseparable from land, and all its sentient constituents. This mode of engagement reflects the relational ontology inherent in the iTaukei all-encompassing concept of vanua, which includes a sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship. This mode of engagement and its 'procurement' dimension are adjusted over time through 'friction' with conservation regulations and ideas that are both internal and external to the fishing community. These conservation regulations and ideas are related to community-based marine resource initiatives, as well as to national fisheries management concerns and measures (including species-specific fishing bans). They give a supplemental dimension to women's interactions and engagement with the sea and its sentient constituents, far from reducing those to a mere divide between 'nature' and society/sociality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out in the fishing grounds of small pelagic fish on Qeshm Island (namely Ramcha, Souza, Messen, and Salakh) from September 2022 to June 2023. Field sampling was performed by double-boat purse seiners and conducting 57 netting. The length, height, and mesh size of purse seines were 300 m, 50 m, and 10 mm (STR). Data of date, time of setting, location, and weight of target species and bycatch were recorded for each setting net. The mean CPUE (±95% CI) of small pelagic fish was overally obtained at 991.23 ± 157.14 kg per set. This was 1300 ± 364.01 for Salakh, 1246.88 ± 295 for Ramchah, 669.23 ± 214.20 for Messen, and 587.5 ± 155.71 for Souza, which there was a significant difference between Salakh and Ramcha compared to Souza and Messen (P<0.01). Also, the mean CPUE (±95% CI) of target catch for warm and temperate seasons were 1227.42 ± 224.11 and 709.62 ± 174.20 kg per setting net, which was significantly differ (P<0.01). The maximum and minimum of occurrence percentages were attributed to anchovy (with 100%) and Trichiurus lepturus (with 1.75%). The highest and lowest of mean CPUE (±95% CI) for bycatch species/groups, were related to the Trichiurus lepturus (1.75 ± 3.51) and Dasyatidae (0.07 ± 0.10) kg per setting. Given that fishing efforts have increased in recent years in the region, the estimated values of CPUE for target catch were smaller than in previous studies. Therefore, the fisheries managers must take immediate action to optimize the ongoing fishing effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Atlantic Tripletail Lobotes surinamensis is a globally distributed subtropical and tropical fish species that inhabits estuaries throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), particularly during warm months. Little is known about distribution and residency patterns within estuaries, as the species is rarely caught in the recreational fishery, and virtually no commercial fishery exists for the species in the GOM. Methods: We used data from a long‐term fishery‐independent gill‐net survey to model estuarine distribution throughout Texas and to relate environmental variables to the Atlantic Tripletail catch. Result: Although there were no observable temporal trends in catch over the time series (1990–2022), the most recent 6 years included record catch in six of the 10 major Texas estuaries, possibly indicating a recent pulse in abundance. Catch throughout the time series was spatially aggregated in a small number of "hot spots" observed coastwide. Latitude was the best predictor of catch, although wind fetch and wind aspect (wind direction in relation to shoreline direction) were important predictors, and catch was highest near GOM inlets. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department gill‐net sampling program caught a range of Atlantic Tripletail between 171 and 880 mm total length, indicating a potential gear bias against juveniles. Conclusion: Despite this gear bias, these data shed light on the factors that drive Atlantic Tripletail estuarine distribution and abundance in the northwestern GOM. Wind‐driven passive movements in the estuary, combined with active selection of polyhaline habitats near GOM inlets, might be primary drivers of Atlantic Tripletail catch, thus supporting findings from previous studies. Impact statementAtlantic Tripletail are a popular recreational fishing species throughout the Gulf of Mexico. In Texas estuaries, Atlantic Tripletail are clustered in hot spots, which are typified by windward shorelines, and present mainly during the high‐use fishing season. They are rarely observed at water temperatures below 20°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An early to mid-nineteenth century wreck off the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, discovered during deep-sea research in 2015 and subsequently documented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Okeanos Explorer, is likely a wet-well smack employed in Atlantic seaboard fisheries from New England to the southern coast of the United States. This article describes the site, the historical and archaeological context of early American fishing craft, and the African American context of fishing and the fisheries of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As taxonomic studies revise our understanding of biodiversity, both fisheries managers and the angling public must adapt to best conserve fisheries. Unfortunately, communication gaps between scientists and anglers may result in lags and inaccuracies in the taxonomic information available to anglers. We updated the International Game Fish Association (IGFA)'s black bass Micropterus spp. world records to current taxonomic consensus. Seven new species were acknowledged for all‐tackle world record availability, and four of seven existing species records were revised. Florida Bass M. salmoides (formerly M. floridanus), Neosho Bass M. velox, and four members of the Redeye Bass species complex (M. cahabae, M. chattahoochae, M. tallapoosae, and M. warriorensis) are now recognized. Additionally, Alabama Bass M. henshalli—an emerging invasive species—is now distinguished from the smaller, broadly distributed Spotted Bass M. punctulatus. A misidentified specimen resulted in vacant all‐tackle records for Shoal Bass M. cataractae and Redeye Bass M. coosae. Genetic verification is warranted in the future, but implementation may create accessibility barriers to record submissions. We hope these efforts will encourage anglers to learn more about black bass diversity, to pursue their own world record catches, and to gain awareness of the conservation challenges threatening this iconic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous policy and international frameworks consider that "destructive fishing" hampers efforts to reach sustainability goals. Though ubiquitous, "destructive fishing" is undefined and therefore currently immeasurable. Here we propose a definition developed through expert consultation: "Destructive fishing is any fishing practice that causes irrecoverable habitat degradation, or which causes significant adverse environmental impacts, results in long‐term declines in target or nontarget species beyond biologically safe limits and has negative livelihood impacts." We show strong stakeholder support for a definition, consensus on many biological and ecological dimensions, and no clustering of respondents from different sectors. Our consensus definition is a significant step toward defining sustainable fisheries goals and will help interpret and implement global political commitments which utilize the term "destructive fishing." Our definition and results will help reinforce the Food and Agricultural Organization's Code of Conduct and meaningfully support member countries to prohibit destructive fishing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish maw (teleost swim bladder) is a dried seafood product valued highly by Chinese cultures in East Asia, though global supply chains are poorly understood. Here, we describe the rapid development of a fish maw fishery in a low‐income nation to illustrate how globalization can affect sustainability. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), fish maw developed into a fishery valued at ∼$831,000 USD annually between 2014–2018. Its development has been driven by Asian expatriates, who provide market access and fishing gear to local communities. The highest valued local species, scaly croaker Nibea squamosa, has a maximum value of $15,615 USD kg−1 (dried) at first‐point‐of‐sale, potentially the highest first‐point‐of‐sale fish maw product globally. Its value has led to high incidental catch rates of threatened species in an area that is a globally significant conservation stronghold. International trade databases need to recognize fish maw as a high value and globally traded product and consider a specific fish maw commodity code to assist nations in identifying emerging fish maw fisheries. Additionally, the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) could assist in protecting vulnerable fish maw species and facilitate management practices for incidentally caught threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine greed and grievance mechanisms that connect illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and piracy. We use several cases (e.g. Somalia, Nigeria) to illustrate these mechanisms and empirically examine the relationship between IUU fishing and state-year piracy events from 1990 to 2015. We find that countries experiencing significant levels of IUU fishing face much greater risks for piracy. We also evaluate several mediating conditions of our theory with interaction terms (state capacity, state fragility, and legal fishing incentives) and find that the relationship between IUU fishing and piracy is strongest for moderately developed states with greater state fragility and higher fish catch values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waters around the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR) are important fishing grounds for authorized artisanal vessels fishing within the reserve as well as for national and foreign industrial fleets operating in the wider Ecuadorian Insular Exclusive Economic Zone (IEEZ). Although it was not originally designed for fisheries management, Automatic Identification System (AIS) data provides useful, open access, near real-time and high-resolution information that allows for increased monitoring, particularly around Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. This study uses AIS data provided by Global Fishing Watch to assess the spatial distribution and seasonal dynamics of fishing effort by vessel flag within the GMR and the IEEZ from 2012 to 2021. Based on kernel density estimation analysis, we determinate the core-use areas (50%) and spatial extent (95%) of fishing activities by fleets (Ecuadorian and foreign), gear types and seasons (warm, from December to May; and cold, from June to November). Our results show that the Ecuadorian fleet recorded the most observed fishing hours in the study area, with 32,829 hours in the IEEZ and 20,816 hours within the GMR. The foreign flags with the most observed fishing hours in the IEEZ were Panama (3,245 hours) and Nicaragua (2,468.5 hours), while in the GMR were the 'Unknown flag' (4,991.4 hours) and Panama (133.7 hours). Vessels fished employing different fishing gears, but the waters of the GMR and IEEZ were mostly targeted by tuna purse-seiners and drifting longlines. The spatial distribution of the fishing effort exhibits marked seasonal variability, likely influenced by seasonal migrations of target species such as tunas (e.g., Thunnus albacares, T. obesus and Katsuwonus pelamis), marlins (e.g., Makaira nigricans) and sharks (e.g., Alopias pelagicus). The collection and use of this type of spatial and seasonal information is an essential step to understand the dynamics of fishing activities in national waters and improve fisheries management, particularly in less studied areas and fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to address the challenges facing the Dagho Beach Fishing Port Area in North Sulawesi, which plays a pivotal role in the region's fisheries sector but suffers from inefficiencies in development systems, markets, distribution, and infrastructure. This dependence on natural resources has eroded community independence, exacerbated by issues such as illegal fisheries transactions, price disparities, and the absence of processing industries. Additionally, limited accessibility for exports and regulatory hurdles impede the area's potential, with only a small fraction of the population engaged in fishing activities. To tackle these issues, the study employs a comprehensive four-stage analysis approach. Firstly, Descriptive Analysis delineates the economic, political, social, and environmental characteristics of the area. Secondly, Analytical Hierarchy Processes (AHP) identify the most influential indicators for focused development efforts. Thirdly, a combination of Scalogram and Weighted Sum methods determines suitable minapolitan zones. Finally, Descriptive Direction offers development guidelines based on previous analyses. The research yields actionable directions, including the establishment of a modern market, enhancing fishery product marketing through the "Marketing Mix" and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) implementation. It advocates for technology-based processing units and integrated infrastructure, alongside policy development to support the fisheries industry and promote sustainable practices. The study emphasizes the importance of infrastructure development, economic collaboration, and community empowerment initiatives to foster local fishery development, cultivation, and business capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The illegal introduction of fish species can disrupt ecosystems, collapse food webs, and undermine recreational fishing opportunities. Determining whether introduced fish are locally reproducing is important for resource managers. Here, we used the geochemical analysis of otoliths to investigate the potential illegal introduction of a Walleye Sander vitreus caught in 2022, in Lake Cascade, Idaho. Lake Cascade is known for its recreational Yellow Perch Perca flavescens fishery and has no documented resident population of Walleye. Methods: To determine if the Walleye was spawned in Lake Cascade or introduced from elsewhere, we analyzed otoliths for strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) and compared them to local water samples and three locally caught Yellow Perch. Result: The Walleye otolith revealed a shift from higher 87Sr/86Sr values (0.70878) in its early life to a period of intermediate value (0.70842) equal to Payette Lake water, then finally to a lower value (0.70807) comparable to the Lake Cascade water and resident Yellow Perch otoliths. Conclusion: These results suggest that the Walleye was initially transplanted to the Payette Lake area from a currently unknown source in 2020, 2 years before its capture. It resided there briefly before migrating south into Lake Cascade. This study further highlights the benefit of geochemical analyses to identify the illegal introduction of fish and to provide resource managers with a powerful tool for early detection and prevention of the establishment of illegally introduced fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding fisheries requires not only traditional modelling approaches but also the incorporation of local ecological knowledge (LEK) which can provide other types of essential contextualizing knowledge.Recreational anglers within the cobia fishery on the east coast of central and northern Florida target cobia by seeking out the manta rays cobia often follow and associate with, and casting at or near them. Results suggest this fishery poses a threat of entanglement, injury and disturbance to mantas in the region, especially associated with the practices and behaviours of inexperienced anglers.Expert angler responses in interviews described changes in manta and cobia habitat use and reductions in cobia abundanceExperienced anglers pointed to social media as a key driver of the expansion of this fishery and as an explanation for their perception of the growing presence of novice anglers engaged in these practices. Respondents proposed best practices and potential management interventions and generally supported conservation action, including through willingness to engage with researchers and support management and enforcement measures related to the fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nike fish are a postlarvae group of gobies found in the Gobiidae and Eleotridae families. These fish are a seasonal delicacy in Gorontalo, with significant economic value and popularity among the community. Data from 2020 to 2021 showed a downward trend in Nike fish production in Gorontalo City despite ongoing efforts to promote it as a consumable fish. Therefore, this study assessed the sustainability status of Nike fish in the waters of Tomini Bay Gorontalo. METHODS: This study was conducted across five Nike fishing locations in Tomini Bay, Gorontalo Province, namely the Bone-Bolango, Bilungala, Tombulilato, Taludaa, and Bilato estuaries, from April to September 2023. Data were collected through interviews with 109 Nike fishers and four experts from government agencies in Gorontalo Province. Meanwhile, other supporting data were obtained from various references that support the study objectives. The sustainability status analysis was conducted using rapid appraisal for fisheries, a software with an assessment method comprising five dimensions, ecological, economic, social, ethical, and technological, which are analyzed multidimensionally. FINDINGS: The results showed that of the five dimensions analyzed, only one, the technological dimension, exhibited sustainability. Meanwhile, the other four dimensions, including ecology, economic, social, and ethical, showed a less sustainable status. Some attributes that significantly affected the sustainability of Nike fish resource use in the waters of Tomini Bay, Gorontalo, include fishing location, Nike diversity, by-products, profit distribution, contribution to regional revenue, dependence on subsidies, level of conflict, the role of fishermen in terms of sustainability, fish landing sites, handling on board, externalities (waste disposal), and the level of violations. The results of the multi-dimensional scaling analysis showed that the average index values of the ecological, economic, social, and ethical dimensions are 33.53, 40.33, 30.86, and 25.19, respectively, demonstrating a less sustainable status. Meanwhile, only one of the five dimensions studied has an index value of more than 50--the technological dimension. The multi-dimensional scaling index value of the technology dimension is 84.09, demonstrating its sustainable status. The stress value (0.14 to 0.15) and the coefficient of determination (0.91 to 0.94) in the multi-dimensional scaling calculation showed that the analysis carried out was appropriate. CONCLUSION: The sustainability status of Nike fish in the waters of Tomini Bay, Gorontalo, is less sustainable and highly dependent on the environmental factors that support their life as amphidromous fish. The involvement of all stakeholder elements in implementing sustainable practices is also essential in terms of supporting sustainability. Therefore, this study provided important contributions that can be used by local governments and stakeholders to form appropriate management policies to ensure sustainability in the future. This study can provide information or insights for countries that have fishery potential similar to the waters of Tomini Bay, Gorontalo, to carry out better fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution range of the jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) has increased over the past few decades; it is now found in the entire Eastern Pacific Ocean and is considered an important species in the small and large fisheries of Chile, Perú, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Mexico but not in the Pacific region of Colombia. Three night-fishing campaigns were conducted over a year in the coastal Baudó-San Juan environmental unit, adjacent to the Bajo Baudó Encanto de Manglares Regional Integrated Management District in Chocó, at three locations 20 km, 35 km, and 45 km from the coastline to establish the availability and viability of jumbo squid as an alternative to the target species of artisanal fisheries in the Colombian Pacific. Night fishing sets were conducted at 60 m and 200 m depth at each sampling station to assess some of the biological parameters of the jumbo squid population (mantle length-ML, weight, growth and size at sexual maturity). Most catches were obtained in February and March. Growth was isometric, the average catch size was 24.3 cm ML, size at sexual maturity (L50) was 23.25 cm ML, estimated maximum size (L∞) was 39.9 cm ML, the growth constant (K) was 0.83, and mortality due to experimental fishing was 26 cm ML. According to our results, the jumbo squid fishery in the Colombian Pacific artisanal fishery would be viable during the first months of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a serious environmental crime with severe economic, social, and security implications. Efforts to monitor IUU fishing could be enhanced by using patterns of at-sea transshipment of fish to detect illicit subgroups. Methods: Using data from Global Fishing Watch, this study investigates repeat transshipment events among vessels observed to operate in the U.N. FAO Area 81 during 2015-2021. Ship-to-ship transfer networks mapping potential encounters among 30 refrigerated cargo vessels (carriers) and 613 fishing vessels exhibit distinct communities that extend beyond this region. Results: Highly central, carriers associated with open registries (flags of convenience) and exhibiting high operational deficiencies form networks that shadow the activities of national fleets. Discussion: Observed between group linkages among vessels draw attention to these parallel trade currents embedding regional activity into the larger fishing industry, providing a focus for monitoring and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of hunting on predator-avoidance behaviour are increasingly being recognised on land but have received less attention in marine systems. We examined whether predator-avoidance behaviour of temperate reef fishes differed between areas protected and not protected from recreational fishing by examining the flight-initiation distance (FID; the distance a predator can approach before the prey animal flees) of six common species in southeastern Australia. By testing species that ranged in desirability to recreational fishers, we could determine if behavioural differences were specific to target species or extended more broadly throughout the assemblage. After accounting for potential variability among sites within protection levels, we found that the FID of all species was higher in fished areas than protected areas, with FID up to 2.4 times higher in fished areas. The two commonly targeted species had the greatest FID response to fishing. FID also increased with body size for all but one species. Our findings indicate the potential for assemblage-wide effects of fishing on predator-avoidance behaviour and are consistent with an indirect mechanism of behavioural modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large-scale production and economy of French freshwater fisheries is not documented in the scientific literature. This article fills this knowledge gap by synthesizing the data collected since the post-war period, including a large part of the grey literature. France presents a wide variety of surface waters, benefiting from a reduction in pollution and a growing population with an emphasis on leisure activities and on locally sourced food products. Despite this favorable geographical, ecological and human situation, French freshwater fisheries have been in decline since the mid-1970s with a chronically negative trade balance for aquatic products. During this period, numbers of commercial fishers have decreased three-fold due to their affiliation to an agricultural status, and to their dependence on migratory species such as eel, shad and lamprey, which are all in decline. Simultaneously, numbers of anglers have also seen a slow but continuous decline, cushioned somewhat in the last 10 years thanks to the creation of sub-annual fishing cards and the expansion of the total to include the younger classes. Vestiges of a non-commercial fishery, similar to recreational subsistence fishing and employing gear such as dip nets, traps, long lines or even gillnets, have been maintained in a much reduced state around large rivers as well as in the marshes and estuaries of the Atlantic coast. In this detailed study of these different categories of fishing practices in the mid-2010s, we estimate numbers of fishers at 2 million active anglers, 4000 subsistence fishers, and 400 commercial fishers. Their catches are roughly 7600, 200 and 1200 tonnes/year, respectively, for a total of 9000 tonnes/year. The major part of the overall economic worth, estimated at 980,000 K€, is attributable to recreational fishers (anglers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2020 and 2022, Thailand instituted a series of policies to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many of the regulations were rooted in structural discrimination against the migrant population. This paper reveals how the discriminatory nature of the government's policies heightened the vulnerability of migrant workers in Thailand's commercial fishing and seafood processing industries. COVID-19 containment measures and immigration policies, coupled with the exclusion of migrant workers from social protection programs, inadvertently subjected migrant workers in Thailand's seafood industry to increased risk of forced labor. At the same time, further restrictions on freedom of association rights and the weakening of labor inspections during the pandemic hampered workers' ability to report labor abuses and the government's ability to identify and remedy cases of forced labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this project is to assess the state of marine biodiversity in the Natura 2000 marine network in Spain and analyze the impact of fishing policies on it. The study focuses on three marine demarcations in Spain: North Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Strait of Gibraltar and Alborán Sea. The research uses the DPSIR (Drivers of Change-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework, a multi-criteria analysis approach to understand the relationships between biodiversity loss, fishing, marine ecosystem integrity, and the provision of ecosystem services. Our results revealed a significant decline in biodiversity since 1985 in the four marine areas studied; this loss was more pronounced in the Gulf of Cadiz (in Andalusia) and less intense in the northern regions of Spain (Galicia and Asturias). This trend aligns with the global degradation of marine ecosystems and loss of biodiversity caused by human activities. The main drivers behind this decline are economic factors promoting industrial fishing and overexploitation. However, there has been a reduction in the industrial fishing fleet since the 2000s, supported by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for transitioning toward sustainable fishing methods. Despite the increase in regulations and the establishment of marine protected areas, these measures have not been effective enough to stop the loss of marine biodiversity. The results highlight the importance of combining administrative measures such as creating marine protected areas and implementing fisheries management regulations with the preservation of cultural services provided by these ecosystems. Successful governance models that involve collaboration between fishermen and decision-makers have been observed in northern Galicia and the Gulf of Cádiz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses women's role in Kerala's small-scale marine fishing industry and changes that took place during COVID-19. Pandemic conditions enabled and accelerated the restructuring of Kerala's fishing industry practices, leaving marginal groups even more marginal. Small-scale producers and sellers were edged out by larger players in a new wholesale market. Meanwhile, female vendors who utilised public transport and face-to-face sales methods found themselves locked out from new retail methods introduced during the pandemic, which made use of smartphone apps, online platforms, and private light vehicles. Underemployed workers with access to digital technology and mobility moved in to fill the lockdown retail gap. The Gulf states' continuing squeeze on jobs and resultant migration slow-down contributed to these trends. Female fish-vending activity has also been affected by Kerala's acceleration of bourgeois respectability norms. The state government's modernisation and centralisation policies also led to the shrinking of women's spaces in fish auction markets. Recent inequalities in digital and mobility access sit on top of longstanding entrenched class and status inequities and conservative gender norms, while the enduring chronic 'wicked problem' of Kerala's unemployment levels demands urgent attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rantau Baru Village is a fishermen's traditional village located on the banks of the Kampar River. Because of the fish season and declining fish population, the fishermen's economy is currently unstable. In addition, the natural disasters caused by massive floods in the last 10 years, specifically also affected the fisherman's welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the ecological, social, and economic aspects of Rantau Baru Village before formulating an ecosocio-educational model in environmental management for the local fishing community. The research was performed through field observation and interviews. Eco-socio-education sustainability in environmental management was analyzed based on the Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) approach using the Rapid Assessment Technique for Fisheries (RAPFISH) program. An eco-socio-educational model was based on important variables in the Leverage of Attributes analysis. The eco-socio-educational model applied to environmental aspects, namely forest reforestation counseling, landscape rehabilitation, and environmentally friendly fishing gear; to social aspects, namely healthy living behavior, education on types of diseases, improvement of health facilities such as the provision of clean water, drinking water, and adequate public sanitation; to economic aspects, training and mentoring to business actors or micro small and medium enterprises, starting to introduce the development of ecotourism and fisheries tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of maximum sustainable yield (MSY), and the underlying Schaefer model, remain relevant in fisheries management today in spite of past difficulties. However, this model is often applied without the consideration of the spatial structure or dynamics of fishing activities. We expand the Schaefer model to account for multiple fishing sites and fishing activities (effort) that follow an ideal free distribution (IFD, a form of Nash equilibrium) driven by exploitation. We explore this conceptual model using both analytical and numerical solutions. MSY across the fishery is unaffected by the spatial structure when fishing is allocated independently within sites. However, in other cases IFD effort dynamics depress MSY and modify the values of associated reference points. The game theoretic aspect of fleet dynamics should be considered in the use of MSY as a management reference point or during the application of the Schaefer model to data‐limited fisheries. Recommendations for Resource Managers: Fisheries where fishing activities move among spatially distinct stocks should be examined for the presence of ideal free effort dynamics.When fishing activities follow an ideal free distribution the maximum sustainable yield (MSY reference point may be less than that estimated without considering effort dynamics, but this depends upon the spatial scale of both effort and fish dynamics.Fishery models used to provide quantitative estimates of MSY should consider spatial effort dynamics when there is empirical evidence for equalization of profitability among sites fished (IFD dynamics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years there has been a growing focus on filling critical knowledge gaps on the challenge of abandoned, lost, and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in the global ocean. While not the biggest contributor to the world's marine debris problem, ALDFG has been shown to be a particularly deadly form of marine litter due to its ability to entangle, entrap, and ensnare marine wildlife, damage coastal habitats, and result in negative economic impacts to the fishing sector. In the Eastern Caribbean region, fisheries play a crucial role in ensuring livelihood and food security for vulnerable coastal communities. Therefore effective management interventions that are geared towards eliminating anthropogenic threats to the marine environment, including ALDFG are considered of paramount importance. This article aims to gain insight into challenges associated with the governance of ALDFG within the small-scale fisheries of the Eastern Caribbean with a view to outlining opportunities for improvement. A qualitative approach was utilized and interviews were conducted with fisheries and conservation experts from both national and regional-level institutions. The participants revealed that ALDFG was of significant concern for their country or the region and each advocated for the establishment of improved management infrastructure. Identified barriers that could impede this critical goal include limited human and financial capacity, lack of knowledge and understanding of ALDFG generally, lack of trust, and policy incoherence across sectors and between regional and national agencies. To overcome barriers, a multi-faceted approach is required, including regulatory and institutional improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing is an ancient activity with its involvement being traced back to the Stone Age; it is also an important economic activity in the nations of the world, supplying about 60% of the world’s protein as well as creating jobs and income revenue, especially in developing nations. Three sources of fishery exist in the world: inland, marine, and aquaculture. Global aquaculture being different from capture fisheries of marine and inland has experienced rapid growth in global fishery production since 2007, producing 85.5 million metric tons in 2021, with capture fishery producing 92.6 million metric tons. While different species of fish exist in the nation’s waters, only a few are of economic value, with most of the fish caught for food gotten from inland fishing, some are food for animals, also inland fishing of ancient times are for recreational purposes. This study focuses on drawing comparisons between inland fishing in Nigeria and Turkiye. Secondary quantitative method was used in the data collection process which was in the form of the scientific and common names of the fish species in the inland waters of the countries, their status/occurrence in the waters, their location(s), fishing practices of the countries and a ten- year rate of capture fishery production of the inland waters between the years 2011 and 2020. The inland fishing in both countries was compared based on these elements to conclude that just as the countries up for comparison are far apart based on their location (existing on two different continents), so is the inland fishing of both countries, having very few similarities. The inland fishing of both nations differs in great magnitude, having different kinds of species in their waters, as well as different fishing practices, and different rates of capture inland fishing production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the distribution of the fishing effort of trawlers is of great significance for describing marine fishery activities, quantifying fishing systems in terms of marine ecological pressure, and revising the regulations of fishing. The purpose of this paper is to develop an efficient learning algorithm to detect the fishing behavior of trawlers to analyze the distribution of fishing effort. The vessel-monitoring system data of more than 4600 trawlers from September 2019 to April 2023 were used for feature extraction. According to the spatiotemporal information provided by the vessel position data, 11-dimensional features were extracted to form the feature vectors. A Slime Mould Algorithm-optimized Light Gradient-Boosting Machine (SMA-LightGBM) algorithm was proposed to classify the feature vectors to recognize fishing behavior. The presented method showed a remarkable generalization ability and high accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and Matthews correlation coefficient in the test results, with scores of 98.23%, 98.75%, 97.75%, and 0.9646, respectively. Subsequently, the trained model was used to identify the fishing behavior of trawlers belonging to the coastal provinces of the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea in the sea area of 117 °   E ~ 132 °   E , 26 °   N ~ 41 °   N . The fishing effort was calculated and evaluated according to the fishing behavior recognition results. The mean absolute error was 0.3031 kW·h, and the coefficient of determination score was 0.9772. The thermal map of the fishing effort of the trawler was mapped, and the spatiotemporal characteristics were estimated in the region of interest from 2019 to 2023 with a spatial resolution of 1 8 degree × 1 8 degree. This method is an efficient way of analyzing the spatiotemporal characteristics of the fishing effort of trawlers. It provides a quantitative basis for the assessment of fishery resources and can inform fishing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brackish water ecosystems often have high primary production, intermediate salinities, and fluctuating physical conditions and therefore provide challenging environments for many of their inhabitants. This is especially true of the Baltic Sea, which is a large body of brackish water under strong anthropogenic influence. One freshwater species that is able to cope under these conditions in the northern Baltic Sea is the vendace (Coregonus albula), a small salmonid fish. Here, we review the current knowledge of its ecology and fishery in this brackish water environment. The literature shows that, by competing for resources with other planktivores and being an important prey for a range of larger species, C. albula plays a notable role in the northern Baltic Sea ecosystem. It also sustains significant fisheries in the coastal waters of Sweden and Finland. We identify the need to better understand these C. albula populations in terms of the predator–prey interactions, distributions of anadromous and sea spawning populations and other putative (eco)morphs, extent of gene exchange between the populations, and effects of climate change on their future. In this regard, we recommend strengthening C. albula‐related research and management efforts by improved collaboration and coordination between research institutions, other governmental agencies, and fishers, as well as by harmonization of fishery policies across national borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines the changing status of 10 estuary-dependent marine fish species in 10 South African estuarine systems, ranging from the Kosi Estuary in the northeast to the Berg Estuary in the southwest. In all of these systems, the selected fish species were found to be in population decline, but the causes of the declines varied from one system to another. Recreational and small-scale/subsistence fishing was a common pressure on fish stocks in most of the reviewed estuaries, but environmental degradation and pollution were the prime drivers for major population declines in the St Lucia and uMhlanga estuaries, respectively. Of six primary linefish species that have been well studied, two species are categorised as having an overexploited stock status and four species have reached a collapsed level where the spawner biomass per recruit (SBR) is now <25% of the original unimpacted level. Furthermore, two of those species (dusky kob Argyrosomus japonicus and white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus) are in the 4‒6% SBR range and have been officially categorised as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Unless definite steps are taken to reduce fishing pressure on the species discussed in this review, and successful policies put in place to promote healthy estuarine environments around the coast, estuarydependent fish stocks will continue to decline—to the detriment of the fish populations and the people who depend on fish for food, recreation and/or employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]