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The High Book of the Grail, also known as Perlesvaus, after its main character, an analogon of Perceval who evolves in a universe of blood and violence, is a French Arthurian prose romance of the 13th century. The principle of imperfection on which this romance is set encompasses its narrative composition, the consistency of its allegorical meaning, and the poetics of character. Meliot de Logres can be called an énigme incarnée, as its representation does not tend towards unity, but towards destruction. He is an enigma because of its numerous narrative functions (alter Christus, a man in distress, knight ...), and its symbolical power (he is ‘de Logres’, which suggests a moral signification, he embodies spiritual greatness that the romance does not develop). The semiological analysis of this secondary but important character is a way to understand the many problems aroused by the scripture of the High Book of the Grail. Meliot is not only a double: through him, we can see the complexity and intricacy of the romance as a whole.

REPLYING TO H. Murua et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03396-4 (2021) Our previously published paper1 provided global fine-scale spatiotemporal estimates (1° × 1°; monthly) of overlap and fishing exposure risk (FEI) between satellite-tracked shark space use and automatic identification system (AIS) longline fishing effort. We did not assess shark mortality directly, but in addition to replying to the Comment by Murua et al.2, we confirm—using regression analysis of spatially matched data—that fishing-induced pelagic shark mortality (catch per unit effort (CPUE)) is greater where FEI is higher. We focused on assessing shark horizontal spatiotemporal overlap and exposure risk with fisheries because spatial overlap is a major driver of fishing capture susceptibility and previous shark ecological risk assessments (ERAs) assumed a homogenous shark density within species-range distributions3,4,5 or used coarse-scale modelled occurrence data, rather than more ecologically realistic risk estimates in heterogeneous habitats that were selected by sharks over time. Furthermore, our shark spatial exposure risk implicitly accounts for other susceptibility factors with equal or similar probabilities to those commonly used in shark ERAs3,5.

Bycatch in fisheries can have profound effects on the abundance of species with relatively low resilience to increased mortality, can alter the evolutionary characteristics and concomitant fitness of affected populations through heritable trait-based selective removals, and can alter ecosystem functions, structure and services through food web trophic links. We challenge current piecemeal bycatch management paradigms, which reduce the mortality of one taxon of conservation concern at the unintended expense of others. Bycatch mitigation measures may also reduce intraspecific genetic diversity. We drew examples of broadly prescribed ‘best practice’ methods to mitigate bycatch that result in unintended cross-taxa conflicts from pelagic longline, tuna purse seine, gillnet and trawl fisheries. We identified priority improvements in data quality and in understanding ecological effects of bycatch fishing mortality to support holistic ecological risk assessments of the effects of bycatch removals conducted through semi-quantitative and model-based approaches. A transition to integrated bycatch assessment and management that comprehensively consider biodiversity across its hierarchical manifestations is needed, where relative risks and conflicts from alternative bycatch management measures are evaluated and accounted for in fisheries decision-making processes. This would enable managers to select measures with intentional and acceptable tradeoffs to best meet objectives, when conflicts are unavoidable.

Marine megafauna typically include large pelagic sharks, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. These megafauna are mainly associated with pelagic ecosystems through which they undertake long-distance migration. The Alboran Sea connects the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea and is thus a relevant hotspot for marine megafauna. In this area, the overlap between various human activities—such as marine traffic or fisheries on the north and south coasts—and pollution entails the capture or mortality of marine megafauna. We review the main research and findings on marine megafauna in the Alboran Sea and discuss research approaches that could provide suggestions for the effective management of large marine ecosystems.

\ₑprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/faf.12631; For many years, tremendous effort has been dedicated to developing new industrial tuna fisheries, while their adverse impacts on threatened marine species have received relatively little attention. In tuna fisheries, bycatch is the major anthropogenic threat to marine megafauna in general, particularly sharks. Research on the development of gear technology for bycatch reduction and potential mitigation measures helped tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations adopt bycatch reduction management measures. After reviewing past research on the development of mitigation measures for pelagic longline and tropical purse seine fisheries based on pelagic species' behaviours, we describe promising new approaches integrating recent technological breakthroughs. New innovations include autonomous underwater vehicles carrying cameras along with miniaturized sensors, aerial drones, computer simulation of fishing gear geometry, environmental DNA assays, computer visualizations and deep learning. The successful application of such tools and methods promises to improve our understanding of factors that influence capture, escape and stress of caught species. Moreover, results emerging from recent ethological research explaining the power of social connection and learning in the “fish world” such as social learning from congeners, habituation to deterrents, and how past fishery interactions affect responses to fishing gear should be taken into account when developing technical mitigation measures.

REPLYING TO A. V. Harry & J. M. Braccini Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03463-w (2021) Our global analysis1 estimated the overlap and fishing exposure risk (FEI) using the space use of satellite-tracked sharks and longline fishing effort monitored by the automatic identification system (AIS). In the accompanying Comment, Harry and Braccini2 draw attention to two localized shark–longline vessel overlap hotspots in Australian waters, stating that 47 fishing vessels were misclassified as longline and purse seine vessels in the Global Fishing Watch (GFW)3 2012–2016 AIS fishing effort data product that we used. This, they propose2, results in misidentifications that highlight fishing exposure hotspots that are subject to an unexpected level of sensitivity in the analysis and they suggest that misidentifications could broadly affect the calculations of fishing exposure and the central conclusions of our study1. We acknowledged in our previously published paper1 that gear reclassifications were likely to occur for a small percentage of the more than 70,000 vessels studied, however, here we demonstrate that even using much larger numbers of vessel reclassifications than those proposed by Harry and Braccini2, the central results and conclusions of our paper1 do not change.

During the last decade, particular attention has been paid worldwide to the problem of by catch and discards in fisheries. Collaborative research between fishermen and scientists is important to fisheries management. Partnerships with commercial longline fishermen were developed to enable them to participate in two research projects in order to integrate their information, experience and expertise. These programmes, financed by the fishing industry and regional councils were designed to describe the activity of the fisheries, to assess the scale of fishery effects on the various taxa, to study ecology and explore spatial population genetic structure in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) and finally to propose mitigation measures to reduce impacts on elasmobranches, sea birds and sea turtles. Communication, education, post-implementation monitoring and long-standing collaboration are the key factors to success. This presentation shows the progress realized to date.

Place: Dordrecht Publisher: Springer WOS:000555361400001; International audience; Fisheries can profoundly affect bycatch species with 'slow' life history traits. Managing bait type offers one tool to control species selectivity. Different species and sizes of marine predators have different prey, and hence bait, preferences. This preference is a function of a bait's chemical, visual, acoustic and textural characteristics and size, and for seabirds the effect on hook sink rate is also important. We conducted a global meta-analysis of existing estimates of the relative risk of capture on different pelagic longline baits. We applied a Bayesian random effects meta-analytic regression modelling approach to estimate overall expected bait-specific catch rates. For blue shark and marine turtles, there were 34% (95% HDI: 4-59%) and 60% (95% HDI: 44-76%) significantly lower relative risks of capture on forage fish bait than squid bait, respectively. Overall estimates of bait-specific relative risk were not significantly different for seven other assessed taxa. The lack of a significant overall estimate of relative capture risk for pelagic shark species combined but significant effect for blue sharks suggests there is species-specific variability in bait-specific catch risk within this group. A qualitative literature review suggests that tunas and istiophorid billfishes may have higher catch rates on squid than fish bait, which conflicts with reducing marine turtle and blue shark catch rates. The findings from this synthesis of quantitative and qualitative evidence support identifying economically viable bycatch management measures with acceptable tradeoffs when multispecies conflicts are unavoidable, and highlight research priorities for global pelagic longline fisheries.

Effective ocean management and the conservation of highly migratory species depend on resolving the overlap between animal movements and distributions, and fishing effort. However, this information is lacking at a global scale. Here we show, using a big-data approach that combines satellite-tracked movements of pelagic sharks and global fishing fleets, that 24% of the mean monthly space used by sharks falls under the footprint of pelagic longline fisheries. Space-use hotspots of commercially valuable sharks and of internationally protected species had the highest overlap with longlines (up to 76% and 64%, respectively), and were also associated with significant increases in fishing effort. We conclude that pelagic sharks have limited spatial refuge from current levels of fishing effort in marine areas beyond national jurisdictions (the high seas). Our results demonstrate an urgent need for conservation and management measures at high-seas hotspots of shark space use, and highlight the potential of simultaneous satellite surveillance of megafauna and fishers as a tool for near-real-time, dynamic management., Data analysis was funded in part by the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) (NE/R00997X/1) (to D.W.S.) with additional research support from the Save Our Seas Foundation and the NERC Oceans 2025 Strategic Research Programme, in which D.W.S. was a principal investigator. D.W.S. was supported by an MBA Senior Research Fellowship, N.Q. by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) via the Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (COMPETE), National Funds via Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under PTDC/MAR/100345/2008 and COMPETE FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-010580 (to N.Q. and D.W.S.), and Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020) under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in project MarInfo (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000031). Additional support was provided by an FCT Investigator Fellowship IF/01611/2013 (N.Q.), FCT Doctoral Fellowship PD/BD/52603/2014 (M.V.), PTDC/MAR-BIO/4458/2012, Xunta de Galicia - Isabel Barreto Program 2009-2012 (G.M.), Australian Research Council (ARC) grant DE170100841 and operational funds from the Australian Institute for Marine Science (AIMS) (both to A.M.M.S.).

During the last decade, particular attention has been paid worldwide to the problem of bycatch and discards in fisheries. Collaborative research between fishermen and scientists is important to fisheries management. Partnerships with commercial longline fishermen were developed to enable them to participate in two research projects in order to integrate their information, experience and expertise. These programmes, financed by the fishing industry and regional councils were designed to describe the activity of the fisheries, to assess the scale of fishery effects on the various taxa, to study the ecology and explore spatial population genetic structure in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and sting rays (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) and finally to propose mitigation measures to reduce impacts on elasmobranchs, sea birds and sea turtles. Communication, education, post-implementation monitoring and long-standing collaboration are the key factors to success. This presentation shows the progress realized to date.

There is a need to better understand the survivorship of discarded fishes, both for commercial stocks and species of conservation concern. Within European waters, the landing obligations that are currently being phased in as part of the European Union's reformed common fisheries policy means that an increasing number of fish stocks, with certain exceptions, should not be discarded unless it can be demonstrated that there is a high probability of survival. This study reviews the various approaches that have been used to examine the discard survival of elasmobranchs, both in terms of at-vessel mortality (AVM) and post-release mortality (PRM), with relevant findings summarized for both the main types of fishing gear used and by taxonomic group. Discard survival varies with a range of biological attributes (species, size, sex and mode of gill ventilation) as well as the range of factors associated with capture (e.g. gear type, soak time, catch mass and composition, handling practices and the degree of exposure to air and any associated change in ambient temperature). In general, demersal species with buccal-pump ventilation have a higher survival than obligate ram ventilators. Several studies have indicated that females may have a higher survival than males. Certain taxa (including hammerhead sharks Sphyrna spp. and thresher sharks Alopias spp.) may be particularly prone to higher rates of mortality when caught.

International audience; The blue shark Prionace glauca, among the most common and widely studied pelagic sharks, is a top predator, exhibiting the widest distribution range. However, little is known about its population structure and spatial dynamics. With an estimated removal of 10-20million individuals per year by fisheries, the species is classified as Near Threatened by International Union for Conservation of Nature. We lack the knowledge to forecast the long-term consequences of such a huge removal on this top predator itself and on its trophic network. The genetic analysis of more than 200 samples collected at broad scale (from Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans) using mtDNA and nine microsatellite markers allowed to detect signatures of genetic bottlenecks but a nearly complete genetic homogeneity across the entire studied range. This apparent panmixia could be explained by a genetic lag-time effect illustrated by simulations of demographic changes that were not detectable through standard genetic analysis before a long transitional phase here introduced as the population grey zone. The results presented here can thus encompass distinct explanatory scenarios spanning from a single demographic population to several independent populations. This limitation prevents the genetic-based delineation of stocks and thus the ability to anticipate the consequences of severe depletions at all scales. More information is required for the conservation of population(s) and management of stocks, which may be provided by large-scale sampling not only of individuals worldwide, but also of loci genomewide.

© D. Guyomard Présentation La pêcherie palangrière réunionnaise s’est développée depuis 1991 à partir de la Réunion. Initialement ciblée sur les thonidés, la technique s’est progressivement adaptée à la capture des espadons (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) par l’adoption du calmar comme appât, de filages le soir au coucher du soleil pour laisser la ligne dériver de nuit en subsurface et des cyalumes (bâtonnets luminescents) attirant les proies de l’espadon en surface, calmars et petits poisso...

Scientists aboard French purse seine vessels recorded the number and condition of silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) caught during three fishing cruises in the Indian Ocean. A sample of 31 individuals that showed signs of life were tagged with satellite tags to investigate their postrelease mortality. The majority of individuals (95%) were brought on board using the brailer. Combining the proportion of sharks that were dead (72%) and the mortality rate of those released (48%), the overall mortality rate of brailed individuals was 85%. Few individuals (5%) were not brailed as they were entangled and landed during the hauling process. The survival rate of these individuals was high, with an overall mortality rate of meshed individuals of 18%. The combination of these two categories led to an overall mortality rate of 81%. This high value reflects the harsh conditions encountered by sharks during the purse seine fishing process. Consequently, methods that prevent sharks being brought on board are a priority for future investigations, but good handling practices should also be promoted as they could reduce mortality by at least 19%., Des scientifiques embarqués sur des thoniers senneurs français ont enregistré le nombre ainsi que la condition des requins soyeux (Carcharhinus falciformis) capturés pendant trois campagnes de pêche dans l’océan Indien. Un échantillon de 31 individus, présentant des signes apparents de vie, ont été marqués avec des marques satellites pour estimer leur mortalité après leur remise à l’eau. La majorité des individus (95 %) a été embarquée à bord à l’aide d‘une salabarde. En utilisant la proportion des requins morts (72 %) et le taux de mortalité des individus remis à l’eau (48 %), le taux de mortalité global d’individus a été estimé à 85 %. Quelques individus (5 %) n’ont pas été embarqués au moyen de la salabarde car emmaillés et remontés avec le filet lors du virage. Le taux de survie de ces individus était élevé, ainsi le taux de mortalité global n’était que de 18 %. Pour les deux catégories confondues, le taux de mortalité global s’élève à 81 %. Cette valeur élevée reflète la dureté des conditions rencontrées par les requins pendant le processus de pêche. Par conséquent, les méthodes empêchant la mise à bord des requins devraient constituées la priorité des recherches futures. Cependant la mise en œuvre de bonnes pratiques de manipulations devrait aussi être encouragée car elles permettraient de réduire la mortalité d’au moins 19 %.

The reduction of by-catch mortality is an objective of the ecosystem approach to fisheries and a request made by consumers. Elasmobranchs, an important component of the French tropical tuna purse seine fishery by-catch, are currently thrown back into the sea. Fishers interact with various types of elasmobranchs that range widely in size, weight and shape, and could pose various degrees of danger to the crew. A diversity of discarding practices within the fleet were reported, some practices were considered suitable, others needed to be adapted and improved and others simply had to be banned. The majority of the crews were likely to improve their handling practices if they were presented with practical suggestions that were quick and easy. Combining scientific observations and empirical knowledge from skippers and crew, a manual, providing appropriate handling practices to ensure crew safety and increase the odds of survival for released animals has been developed and disseminated. Bringing these good practices onto the decks of fishing vessels should contribute to the reduction of the fishing mortality of some vulnerable species. It would be positively viewed by consumers as an act that reduces fishing's footprint on the environment and promoting animal welfare which would improve the image of fishing industry. Mitigation research is by definition an iterative process and different complementary methods must be carried out at different levels of the fishing process to significantly reduce the mortality of the by-catch.

The reproductive dynamics of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) was investigated from catches of the Reunion Island-based longline swordfish fishery between 19-25 degrees S and 48-54 degrees E. Thus, 1727 swordfish (size range 75-289 cm, lower jaw-to-fork length, LJFL) were sampled on board commercial fishing vessels during the period of May 1998 to January 2001. Reproductive activity was assessed using macroscopic gonad characteristics, trends of gonadal indexes for both sexes, oocyte size-frequency distributions and microscopic investigation of oocyte development stages. Size at first maturity (L-50) for female and male swordfish was estimated in Indian Ocean for the first time. L50 was estimated at 170 cm and 120 cm (LJFL) for females and males, respectively. Spawning occurred from October to April in the vicinity of Reunion Island where sex ratio of caught populations fluctuated seasonally. The seasonal changes in sex ratio and the incidence of larger individuals at the beginning of the spawning season provide some preliminary indications of synchronized movements of swordfish between spawning grounds and neighboring regions. Our results add significantly to knowledge about the reproductive biology of swordfish in the southwestern Indian Ocean. An overview of the available information on reproductive biology and dynamics of swordfish in Indian Ocean and eastern Pacific indicated that spawning activity is localized in discrete areas, and showed that there is incomplete information on spawning grounds in this extended area., La dynamique de la reproduction est étudiée chez des espadons (Xiphias gladius) capturés dans l'océan Indien, entre 19–25 °Sud et 48–54 °Est, par les palangriers de l'île de La Réunion. Ainsi, 1727 espadons de tailles comprises entre 75 et 289 cm (de l'extrémité de la mâchoire inférieure à la fourche caudale) ont été échantillonnés à bord de navires professionnels, de mai 1998 à janvier 2001. La reproduction est évaluée en analysant : les caractéristiques macroscopiques des gonades, l'évolution des indices gonadiques des deux sexes, les distributions de fréquence de taille des ovocytes et le développement des ovocytes au niveau microscopique. La taille à première maturité sexuelle (L50) des espadons de l'océan Indien est estimée pour la première fois ; elle atteint 170 cm pour les femelles et 120 cm pour les mâles. La saison de ponte s'étend d'octobre à avril aux abords de l'île tandis que le sexe-ratio fluctue de façon saisonnière. Les variations saisonnières du sexe-ratio et l'apparition de grands individus au début de la saison de ponte suggèrent des déplacements d'espadons entre cette zone de ponte et les régions voisines. Nos résultats apportent des informations fondamentales sur la biologie de la reproduction de l'espadon dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien. L'analyse de la bibliographie concernant biologie et la dynamique de la reproduction de l'espadon dans l'océan Indien et dans le Pacifique Est indique que l'activité de ponte est très localisée et que la connaissance des aires de pontes est encore incomplète dans cette région étendue.

Temperature-depth recorders (TDRs) were attached to pelagic longline gear in the Hawaii-based commercial fishery to obtain actual fishing depths and to test the accuracy of catenary algorithms for predicting fishing depths. Swordfish gear was set shallow by typically deploying four hooks between successive floats. The observed depth of the settled deepest hook had a median value of 60 m for 333 swordfish sets. Tuna longline gear deployed more hooks between floats (mean = 26.8), and the observed median depth of the deepest hook was 248 m (n = 266 sets). Maximum gear depth was predicted from estimates of the longline sag ratio and catenary algorithms; however, depth was not predicted for all TDR-monitored sets because estimating sag ratios proved problematic. Swordfish sets had less slack in the main line and correspondingly smaller catenary angles (median = 54.2 ◦ ) than tuna sets (median = 63.7 ◦ ). Median values of the predicted catenary depth were 123 m for swordfish sets ( n = 203) and 307 m for tuna sets (n = 198). Shallow swordfish sets reached only ∼50% of their predicted depth, while deeper tuna sets reached about 70%. These values indicated that capture depths using traditional catenary equations may be biased without the benefit of TDRs affixed to longlines. Generalized linear models (GLMs) and generalized additive models (GAMs) were developed to explain the percentage of longline shoaling as a function of predicted catenary depth and environmental effects of wind stress, surface current velocity, and current shear. The GAM explained 67.2% of the deviance in shoaling for tuna sets and 41.3% for swordfish sets. Predicted catenary depth was always the initial variable included in the stepwise process, and the inclusion of environmental information in the GAM approach explained an additional 10–17% of the deviance compared to the GLMs. The explanatory ability of the environmental data may have been limited by the scale of the observations (1 ◦ in space; weekly or monthly in time) or the geometric (transverse versus in-line) forcing between the environment and longline set. Longline gear models with environmental forcing affecting shoaling may be improved in future studies by incorporating contemporaneous environmental information, although this may restrict analyses to fine-scale experimental longlines. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Background and aims: Trachoma is a sight-threatening process triggered by the infection of the conjunctiva with Chlamydiae. Blindness associated with trachoma was reported in Sahelian areas of Cameroon. However, data on the prevalence of this neglected infection in the Far North Region are not available. The aim of this study was a) to assess clinical trachoma and b) to detect Chlamydia in the conjunctiva of trachomatous populations living in the Far North Regions of Cameroon. Methods: A total of 2,423 randomly selected children (1–10 years) and 1,590 women over 14 from randomly selected villages from the Kolofata Health District (115,000 inhabitants) were included in a cross-sectional study in February 2009. Trained staff examined and obtained conjunctival swabs from trachomatous subjects. DNA was extracted and amplified to detect Chlamydia DNA by real-time PCR. The quality of sampling was assessed by quantifying the number of epithelial cells. Results: Children (2,397 or 98.9% of the predicted number) and women (1,543; 97.0%) were examined. The prevalence of follicular trachoma (TF) in children was 21% (95% CI 17.8–24.5) and of intense inflammatory trachoma (TI) 5.2% (95% CI 3.6–7.3). Among the women, trichiasis (TT) was observed in 3.4% (95% CI 2.4–4.7), corneal opacities (CO) in 1.4% (95% CI 0.8–2.3) and trachoma-related blindness in 0.9% (95% CI 0.4–1.8). Conditions related to income, illiteracy, latrines, water supply and animals wandering close to dwellings were similar in all the villages. PCR was positive in 35% of children with active trachoma and in 6% of adult females presenting TT and/or related corneal opacities. Conclusion: The prevalence of trachoma and the severe trachoma sequelae found during this survey underline the urgent need to implement efficient blindness prevention interventions to improve the visual future of the people in the Sahelian region.

Data from voluntary logbooks (5,884 longline sets) collected between 1997 and 2000 were analyzed to assess the potential impact of the Reunion-based longline swordfish fishery (South West Indian Ocean) on sharks and on sea turtle populations. Blue shark (Prionace glauca) represented between 75% and 88% of the total catches of sharks studied. Bycatch discarding varied with species, ranging from low discards (2.6%) for mako shark (Isurus sp.) to high discards for blue shark (86.5%). Estimation of the total catch of sharks (retained and discarded individuals) represented in weight between 7% and 9% of the total catch of the major species caught by the fishery. Of concern is the decline of blue shark CPUE (Catch Per Unit of Effort) from 2.2 to 1.03 sharks per 1,000 hooks between 1998 and 2000. Of the 22,974 hook-timers deployed during cruises onboard commercial, 49% of the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and 41.2% of the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) were retrieved alive. It was assumed that among the 15,250 blue sharks caught during this period, at least 7,099, released alive, could have survived.

Batch fecundity and relative fecundity of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the southwestern Indian Ocean were estimated from seven gravid swordfish females (size range 127-225 cm lower jaw-to-fork length, LJFL) with unovulated, hydrated oocytes collected onboard Reunion-based (France) longline swordfish fishing vessels between December 1999 to January 2001. To investigate the spawning pattern of swordfish, we used data collected through a combination of two at sea sampling regimes. A total of 17 007 geo-located size data of swordfish were recorded during 8 years (1993-2001) and a total of 1727 (size range 75-289 cm, LJFL) swordfish gonads (1107 females and 620 males) were sampled from May 1998 to January 2001. The estimated batch fecundity ranged from 995 000 hydrated oocytes for the smallest ripe female to 4.3 millions for the largest female sampled measuring respectively 127 to 225 cm in curved length (LJFL). The relative fecundity ranged from 25 to 72 hydrated oocytes per gram of body weight. We found that batch fecundity was positively correlated with fish length and that the older/larger females have earlier and longer spawning seasons than younger/smaller females. These findings suggested that older/larger females which are seasonally migrating in this spawning ground seem to play a major role in reproductive success of the species in producing significantly more offspring than younger females during an extended spawning season. Examination of the length-frequency date from the fishery indicated that the young fish are resident around Reunion and around the seamounts off Reunion Island. Our results highlight the important role of the older/larger females in the reproductive capacity of southwestern Indian Ocean stock. We discuss the potential implications of fishing the older/larger females for this stock in terms of reproduction and recruitment., La fécondité par acte de ponte et la fécondité relative chez l'espadon (Xiphias gladius) dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien sont estimées d'après sept femelles de taille comprise entre 127 et 225 cm (de l'extrémité de la mâchoire inférieure à la fourche caudale) ; celles-ci ayant atteint la maturité sexuelle, les ovaires contenant des ovocytes hydratés. Ces femelles ont été pêchées entre décembre 1999 et janvier 2001, par des palangriers ciblant l'espadon et basés à La Réunion. La stratégie de la reproduction chez l'espadon a été étudiée en utilisant des données collectées au cours de deux campagnes d'échantillonnages en mer : soit 17 007 mensurations géo-référencées d'espadons, de 75 à 289 cm, qui ont été enregistrées durant les 8 années d'étude (1993-2001) et 1727 gonades d'espadon (1107 femelles et 620 mâles) prélevées entre mai 1998 et juin 2001.La fécondité par acte de ponte estimée varie de 995 000 ovocytes hydratés, pour la plus petite femelle (127 cm), à 4,3 millions pour la plus grande femelle (225 cm). La fécondité par acte de ponte est corrélée positivement à la taille du poisson. La fécondité relative s'étend de 25 à 72 ovocytes hydratés par gramme de poids de corps. Les femelles les plus âgées/grandes pondent plus tôt et sur une période plus grande que les plus jeunes/petites femelles. Ainsi, les femelles plus âgées/grandes qui migrent de façon saisonnière vers cette aire de ponte, contribueraient plus largement au renouvellement de l'espèce en produisant de façon significative davantage de recrues que les femelles plus jeunes et ceci pendant une saison de ponte plus étendue. Par ailleurs, les jeunes individus semblent séjourner aux abords de l'île de La Réunion et des monts sous-marins situés au large. Nos résultats soulignent l'importance du rôle des femelles âgées/grandes dans la capacité reproductrice du stock d'espadon du sud-ouest de l'océan Indien. Les implications potentielles de la pêche : des femelles âgées et de grandes tailles sont discutées pour ce stock, du point de vue de la reproduction et du recrutement.

BACKGROUND. The aim of the current study was to establish the predictive accuracy of the Kattan postoperative nomogram for nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by comparing predictions with actual disease recurrence in patients who underwent surgery in a single center in France. METHODS. Between 1985 and 2000, 844 patients were treated for RCC. The following data were collated: age, symptoms, histology, tumor size, grade, TNM 1997 stage, recurrence, and progression. For each patient a prognostic score (predicted probability) for recurrence-free survival (RFS) at 5 years was calculated using the Kattan nomogram. The discriminating ability of the model was assessed by Harrell's concordance index (c-index). Bootstrapping was used to assess confidence intervals. Furthermore, survival was then estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS. In all, 565 patients (median age, 62 years) were included. At the time of the last follow-up, 81 patients had died and 101 had experienced RCC recurrence. The c-index for RFS (Kattan nomogram) was only 0.607 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.576–0.635). The 5-year RFS rate and cancer-specific survival rate were 81.5% and 84.7%, respectively. Of the 4 variables included in the nomogram, only TNM stage was associated with recurrence in a multivariate analysis (Cox analysis) (P = .022). CONCLUSIONS. There was a discrepancy between predicted RFS as estimated by the Kattan nomogram and the likelihood of being recurrence-free at 5 years according to the Cox analysis in the current population of patients. However, until new dynamic models become available clinicians may still improve their predictive ability by using the current nomogram. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.

We describe a technical artifice facilitating nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma without clamping the renal pedicle.Selective renal parenchymal clamping was performed using a large curved DeBakey aortic clamp placed around and sufficiently far from the tumor. The lesion was resected with a surrounding margin of normal renal parenchyma. The intrarenal vessels were suture ligated and the collecting system was closed as necessary. Time was not limited since the artery was not clamped.Ten patients with renal cell carcinoma in whom nephron sparing surgery was indicated underwent selective renal parenchymal clamping. The indication was elective in 8 patients and urgent in 2. The tumor was at the renal pole in 3 cases and peripheral in 7. Mean tumor size was 32 mm. (range 19 to 52). Blood loss was insignificant. Operative time was 81 minutes (range 61 to 125) and there were no perioperative or postoperative complications.Selective renal parenchymal clamping is a simple and efficient technical maneuver for facilitating nephron sparing surgery without pedicle dissection and clamping for renal peripheral or pole tumors. Neoplasm location and size are the limiting factors of this technique.

Tuna fisheries have been identified as one of the major threats to populations of other marine vertebrates, including sea turtles, sharks, seabirds and marine mammals. The development of technical mitigation measures (MM) in fisheries is part of the code of conduct for responsible fisheries. An in-depth analysis of the available literature regarding bycatch mitigation in tuna fisheries with special reference to elasmobranchs was undertaken. Studies highlighting promising MMs were reviewed for four tuna fisheries (longline, purse seine, driftnets and gillnet, and rod and line – including recreational fisheries). The advantages and disadvantages of different MMs are discussed and assessed based on current scientific knowledge. Current management measures for sharks and rays in tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations (t-RFMOs) are presented. A review of relevant studies examining at-vessel and postrelease mortality of elasmobranch bycatch is provided. This review aims to help fisheries managers identify pragmatic solutions to reduce mortality on pelagic elasmobranchs (and other higher vertebrates) whilst minimizing impacts on catches of target tuna species. Recent research efforts have identified several effective MMs that, if endorsed by t-RFMOs, could reduce elasmobranchs mortality rate in international tropical purse seine tuna fisheries. In the case of longline fisheries, the number of operational effective MMs is very limited. Fisheries deploying driftnets in pelagic ecosystems are suspected to have a high elasmobranchs bycatch and their discard survival is uncertain, but no effective MMs have been field validated for these fisheries. The precautionary bans of such gear by the EU and by some t-RFMOs seem therefore appropriate. Recreational tuna fisheries should be accompanied by science-based support to reduce potential negative impacts on shark populations. Priorities for research and management are identified and discussed., SI