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The study, which aimed to determine some population parameters of picked dogfish (Squalus acanthias L. 1758) distributed in the Black Sea, was carried out in the five fishing seasons (between 2016 and 2023 years). The sharks draw attention as a bycatch for all fishing gear used in the Black Sea. In the study, total length (cm), weight (g) and sex (female/male) data were obtained from the sharks captured with all fishing gears (demersal trawl, midwater trawl, gillnets purse seine, turbot gillnets, trammel nets and bottom) used in commercial fishing activities in the Black Sea of Türkiye. A total of 576 specimens were collected all fishing gears during the sampling period. Length-weight relationship (LWR) was founded as W=0.0097L2.8521 (R² =0.9854) for all the picked dogfish. Also, mean total length 48.9±0.707 cm respectively. In addition, the first record of the angular roughshark (Oxynotus centrina, L. 1758) species was given for the Black Sea coasts, which originated in the western Atlantic, was seen in the Mediterranean, Aegean Sea and the Marmara Sea of Türkiye. The shark, which was accidentally caught with a purse seine net, measured as 33.5 cm in total length and weighed 585 g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gillnets, which are frequently used in small-scale fisheries (SSF), raise concerns regarding bycatch and conservation. This study evaluates the context of use and the potential advantages of gillnets alone compared to mixed (gillnet and other gear) and other gears in multi-species freshwater SSF, based in analyses of 36,869 fishing events in four rivers in the Brazilian Amazon (Tapajós, Negro, Madeira and Xingu) and considering five indicators: catch per unit of effort (CPUE), fish value (average income per kg), diversity and composition of fish caught, and variance of catches. Gillnets were used in most (~ 61%) of fish landings in three of the studied rivers, and the frequency of use matches the observed advantages from gillnets in each river. Overall, the probability of gillnet use was statistically (P < 0.05) lower inside protected areas and higher when fishing in group, being also influenced by season. The highest advantages of using gillnets were to reduce variance (hence unpredictability) on the biomass of fish caught in the Tapajós River (L.Ratio = 9.59, P = 0.008), to increase CPUE (t(15220) = − 2.94, P = 0.005 and t(15230) = − 4.73, P < 0.001, compared to mixed and other gears, respectively) and to reduce variance (L.Ratio = 29.26, P < 0.001) in the Madeira River, and to catch more valuable fishes in the Xingu River (t(13160) = − 3.68, P < 0.001 and t(13160) = − 3.67, P < 0.001, compared to mixed and other gears), whereas in the Negro River, both gillnets and mixed gears increased CPUE (t(1073) = − 2.89, P = 0.004). The gillnets could also allow fishers to harvest a higher diversity of fish. However, mixed gears provided similar or better outcomes when compared to gillnets alone. These results can inform policies aiming to manage use of gillnets while considering fishers' needs in the Brazilian Amazon and other multispecies SSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Suez Canal has three lakes including Timsah, and the Great and Little Bitter Lakes, which are important fishery resources in Egypt. These lakes produce highly economically important fish species, viz. grey mullet, shrimp, cuttlefish, striped piggy, crab, soles, gastropods and bivalves. The Timsah Lake is located nearly halfway along the Suez Canal between 30° 13' 00" to 32° 35' 18" N and 32° 16' 30" to 32° 18' 30" E. It is a shallowwater basin with an average depth of about 6m and a surface area of nearly 15km2. It is a brackish lake with significant variations in salinity. The Bitter Lakes (30°20' N, 32°23' E), the largest water bodies along the Suez Canal, are saline lakes with a surface area of about 250km². The total annual commercial landings from Suez Canal lakes varied between 6289 and 2260 tons during the last 20 years. In 2020, a total of 3428 tons landed corresponded to a value of almost 300 million LE. A number of fishing methods are used in the lakes including gill nets, crab nets, shrimp nets, beach seine, hattata and trammel nets. The present work investigated the fishing methods used in Suez Canal lakes, their characteristics, the catch composition, catch trend and the relative abundance of different commercial species measured by the catch per unit fishing effort CPUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Based on authors’ materials, to develop an original method of collecting and processing information to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of recreational fishing in water bodies of Ukraine. Methodology. The work is based on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of ichthyological material obtained from anglers’ catches in the Kakhovka, Dnipro (Zaporizhzhia), Kamianske, Pechenezhsky reservoirs and their tributaries in different seasons of 2003–2022. Data collection and processing were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The statistical material was processed using MS Excel. Findings. Based on the analysis of modern recreational fishing as a factor affecting the structural and functional characteristics of ichthyofauna, the main trends of studies for the development of measures for the regulation of this type of nature use have been determined. Methodological recommendations have been prepared for the collection of factual data on the parameters of recreational fishing in water bodies of Ukraine. An approach to determining the parameters characterizing the visitation of the reservoir by recreational fishermen, species composition and quantitative characteristics of catches has been proposed. Typical forms of information collection have been proposed. Originality. For the first time for Ukraine, an original method of collecting and processing information for the assessment of qualitative and quantitative parameters of recreational fishing has been developed. Practical value. The proposed methodological approaches will be used to record the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of recreational fishing in water bodies of Ukraine both by scientists and by bodies implementing the state policy in the field of protection and exploitation of aquatic biological resources.

Copyright of Revista Catalana de Dret Ambiental is the property of Universitat Rovira I Virgili 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.)

Purpose. Determination of the main fishing gears used by recreational fishermen on the Kakhovka Reservoir and their place in the general system of fishing gears according to their functional and structural features. Methodology. The work is based on the materials obtained during 2003-2022 on the Kakhovka Reservoir. Collection and processing of information was carried out on the basis of unified and adapted existing methods of research of recreational fishing by direct creel survey, survey of recreational fishing, interviewing recreational fishermen at the place of fishing and observation. Analysis of ichthyological material was carried out according to generally accepted basic methods. Statistical data processing was carried out in MS Excel. Findings. The most popular fishing gears used by recreational fishermen on the Kakhovka Reservoir were identified: summer float rods, bottom rods, winter fishing rods and spinning rods. Their place in the general system of fishing gears as well as functional and structural components were defined. Peculiarities of the use of fishing rods of various types and the species composition of catches were given, an assessment of compliance with the requirements of the current Fishing Rules regarding equipment and fishing methods was provided. Originality. The study is a first assessment of recreational fishing gears and methods as well as the peculiarities of their use on the Kakhovka Reservoir. Practical value. Based on the systematization of current information on the classification and design features of gears used by recreational fishermen, unified approaches for their definition in scientific research and legislation were proposed.

In this study, technical, structural and operational characteristics of fishing gears used in small-scale fishery in Gökçeada and the current inventory was compared with that of previous years. Data were obtained by face-to-face interviews with fishermen of Gökçeada in August 2020. Except for a single trawler that started operating in Gökçeada during the 2019-2020 fishing season, all other 38 fishing boats were small-scale vessels. During these years, the total length of gillnets and entangling nets used decreased by 42% compared to a study conducted a decade ago. In recent years, the increase in costs in longline fishing has made the use of vertical lines, specific calamari hand lines, and different types of hand lines and fishing rods more widespread among commercial fishers. The decline in catches during the last decade and even the collapse of some species such as bluefish in recent years directly reflected on the variety and quantity of fishing gears preferred by fishermen. In recent years, lack of bluefish, sardine and chub mackerel was the main reason for the less frequent use of fishing gears in catching these 3 species. In conclusion, declining catch amounts and changing fishing gear preferences in Gökçeada fishing should be considered as indicators to be taken into consideration in terms of overfishing and sustainable fishing. For this reason, for the re-establishment of sustainable fisheries in Gökçeada, it is recommended to adopt the Ecosystem Approaches to Fisheries in Gökçeada fishery which takes into account not only Gökçeada but also its surroundings, evaluates the effects and interactions on a wide geographic scale, and includes all stakeholders in management efforts.

The Aegean Sea features an important archipelago in the Eastern Mediterranean, consisting of 60 inhabited islands, more than 1400 uninhabited islands, about 60-70 commercial marine taxa, along many vulnerable species. Fisheries are mainly coastal and are exploited by Greek and Turkish fishers. The multi-species and multi-gear fisheries operate within each country's 6-nautical mile territorial sea and in the international waters of the Aegean Sea. As the fisheries resources are currently declining in this region, it is clear that current management initiatives are ineffective and would benefit from a new regime aiming to improve the state of the commercial marine resources. This study offers a comparative analysis of certain fishing gear technical measures applied by Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea. Identified differences can provide clear and helpful insights for decision-makers for the development of a new and productive management approach in Aegean waters. The fishery regulations were shown to be highly variable, sharing few similarities and stressing many more differences, thus rendering the current management of the shared fish stocks unsustainable. The resources of both states would greatly benefit from the harmonization of management measures focusing on an ecosystem approach to fisheries, and incorporating fishers as stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to furnish the detailed features of the fish trapping devices and methods employed by the fish-farmers of Bankura district, West Bengal, India. It also determines small indigenous freshwater fish diversity. The study was carried out in randomly selected water bodies, ponds, rivers, streams; along with fisherfolk dominated thorps covering twenty-two community development blocks of Bankura district. The study revealed that the fishers of this area are accustomed to old and traditional fishing techniques. They also apply indigenous knowledge to develop some unique fish catching techniques like Gābāna, bamboo piece immersion and bowl trap. However, destructive fishing technique applying harmful chemicals had also been noticed in certain regions. A total of twenty-two traditional fishing gears have been recorded from the study area of which 7 gears were traps, 5 encircling gears, 2 entangling gears, 3 hooks and line, 4 scooping gears and 1 impaling gear. The study has revealed three unique indigenous fishing techniques of fish-farmers. A total of 34 small indigenous freshwater fish species (Least Concern, 29; Near Threatened, 3; Vulnerable, 1; Endangered, 1) were also identified. This study suggests that fishers of the study area still depend on traditional fishing gears and techniques to earn their livelihood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Ürünleri Dergisi is the property of Ege Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences (EgeJFAS) / Su Urunleri Dergisi 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.)

The present study was undertaken to furnish the detailed features of the fish trapping devices and methods employed by the fish-farmers of Bankura district, West Bengal, India. It also determines small indigenous freshwater fish diversity. The study was carried out in randomly selected water bodies, ponds, rivers, streams; along with fisherfolk dominated thorps covering twenty-two community development blocks of Bankura district. The study revealed that the fishers of this area are accustomed to old and traditional fishing techniques. They also apply indigenous knowledge to develop some unique fish catching techniques like Gābāna, bamboo piece immersion and bowl trap. However, destructive fishing technique applying harmful chemicals had also been noticed in certain regions. A total of twenty-two traditional fishing gears have been recorded from the study area of which 7 gears were traps, 5 encircling gears, 2 entangling gears, 3 hooks and line, 4 scooping gears and 1 impaling gear. The study has revealed three unique indigenous fishing techniques of fish-farmers. A total of 34 small indigenous freshwater fish species (Least Concern, 29; Near Threatened, 3; Vulnerable, 1; Endangered, 1) were also identified. This study suggests that fishers of the study area still depend on traditional fishing gears and techniques to earn their livelihood.

The study was aimed to investigate the current status and threats of fisheries resources in the Kura River, Bangladesh. Monthly fish catch surveys were carried out from December 2015 to November 2016 in four catchment areas at Hasinarghat, Kandir-dor, Pulertol, and Barartok. In addition, questionnaire interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) were done to clarify perceptions about the Kura River fishery status. A total of 59 fish species from 22 families were documented and of which 27% were threatened. The values of diversity (H), richness (D), and evenness (J') were calculated at 3.599, 4.345, and 0.921 respectively. The highest catch volume was recorded 19800±7722.71 kg in November 2016 at the Kandirdor and the lowest 225±110.65 kg in March 2016 at the Barartok (p<0.05). The upstream blockage (man-made dam) in the Kura River was identified as the main cause of fish habitat change, decrease fish biodiversity, and production of this River. Therefore, the findings of this study exposed that the conservation of fish has become urgent. In this regard, the baseline scenario of the Kura River biodiversity and threats will help to make awareness to take necessary conservation strategy as well as the need for further in-depth study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three anadromous lamprey species support important commercial fisheries in the northern hemisphere, sea lamprey in the Iberian Peninsula and France, European river lamprey in the Baltic Sea countries and Russia, and Arctic lamprey in Russia. Pacific lamprey, Caspian lamprey, Korean lamprey and pouched lamprey are harvested for subsistence and local commerce on the Pacific coast of North America, and in Russia, China and Oceania, respectively. Habitat loss caused by human activities in rivers have reduced lamprey populations and collapsed most commercial fisheries worldwide. Overfishing is a concern because traditional fishing gears (e.g., pots, fyke nets) target lampreys during their upstream migration, usually in physical bottlenecks, which can result in exceedingly high fishing mortality. The reduction in catches has inflated lamprey prices and encouraged illegal fishing in certain countries (e.g., Portugal, Russia). The success of management actions for lamprey fisheries could be at risk due to knowledge gaps that still exist regarding stock structure, estimates of stage-specific mortality, distribution at sea, preferred hosts, and climate change impacts to the distribution and availability of adequate hosts. There is an urgent need for good-quality data from reported commercial landings and also from monitoring studies regarding the efficacy of mitigation and restoration efforts (e.g., habitat restoration, fishing regulations, artificial rearing and stocking). Involving the general public and stakeholders in the management and conservation of lampreys through outreach actions is crucial to promote the protection of the ecological and cultural values of lampreys and the understanding of their vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in the marine part of the projected protected area «Jabal Moussa », overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. It aimed to clarify the characteristics of the artisanal fishery, with the ecological significance and to provide baseline information to help in developing suitable management measures. Data were collected from April 2018 to May 2019, through detailed surveys and structured interviews to analyze fleet features, species and landing composition, fishing gears, and socio-economic data such as age, experience, capital invested, gross product, etc... where 293 fishermen were interviewed. For skippers, the average age was 51.4 ±11.2 years and 32.5 ±9.6 years for seamen. The crew was small (2-4 people/boat). It was noted that, 84% of fishermen did not want their children to become fishermen, while 46% of fishermen declared their desire to change their job. A total of 14267 fishing trips were recorded and 160.529 Kg of biomass composed of 31 species belonging to 9 orders were landed by 99 fishing boats, using 8 different gears; mainly, the blackspot seabream longline. The capital invested was 4.680.800 MAD and the gross product was 22.185.246 MAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poaching is still a great problem in Poland. Officers of the fisheries guard from three regions in northeast Poland rich in natural inland waters were surveyed. The most frequent type of poaching encountered by the officers was that practised by recreational fishers using rods (ranking of 4.4 points on a scale of 0-5) followed by poaching stemming from poverty or unemployment (3.4 points), and poaching by professional fishermen was ranked the lowest (1.5 points). Organized poaching was identified as the most dangerous for ichthyofauna (42% of responses), followed by poaching by recreational fishers (28%) and poaching stemming from poverty or unemployment (23%). According to the officers surveyed, the species that were targeted by poachers most frequently were the predators: pike, Esox lucius (98% of responses), European eel, Anguilla anguilla, pikeperch, Sander lucioperca and perch, Perca fluviatilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out on the design and technical characteristics of fishing craft and gear in Wular Lake, Kashmir. A plank built craft was used, locally called as Naav which could be categorized into three length classes; 2 to 5m, 5 to 8m and 8 to 11m.. The commonest gear used in the lake was cast net followed by hook and line, spear, scoop net and lift net. The mesh size of the main webbing in cast net ranged from 40 to 50mm. The long line was made up of PA multifilament. In Pole and line, locally called as Bislai, the length of pole varied from 2 to 3.25m. Hook No. 5 and No. 6 were mostly used. Scoop net, a circular or semi-circular bag-like net, was operated in 1 to 1.5m depth of water with a mesh size of 10 to 15mm. Additionally, two types of Spears were used across the lake; Multiple Head Spear and Double Pronged Spear, locally called as Panzri and Narchoo, respectively. Semi-circular and hand braided lift nets made up of PA multifilament having a mesh size of 25 to 40mm, were also operated in the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxbow lakes are abundant in indigenous fishes, but they are subject to unsustainable fishing practices, potential overexploitation, and indiscriminate use of fine-meshed fishing gear. To quantify the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and impact of fishing gears on fish abundance, a survey was carried out in an oxbow lake in eastern India. Methods: The gear-wise CPUE for fish caught in per unit hour of operation was calculated by dividing the total sampling gear catch in biomass, which is the observed value of fish caught by a particular gear, by the total sampling effort hours. A value of P < 0.05 was accepted as statistical significance. Results: Average annual values of the CPUE of triangular push nets, gill nets, long lines, seine nets, drag nets, stationary dip nets, cone-framed cast nets, and line and hook were calculated as 328.34, 4.12, 36.71, 572.92, 3928.57, 237.78, 235.80, and 0.44 grams of fish per hour of operation, respectively. All the 8 different gears exhibited lower CPUE during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons than in the premonsoon season. The line and hook was dominant (>71%). Cone-framed cast net hauled the maximum catch in biomass (31.51%), and gill nets contributed the maximum number of fish (64.92%). The lower CPUE values of line and hook, gill net, cone-framed cast net and long lines identified them as the most harmful among all gears. Conclusion: Indiscriminate use of gear, particularly line and hook, gill nets, cone-framed cast nets, and long lines, demands regulations and preventions concerning such gear to obtain higher fish abundance.

Fishing pressure is often expressed in terms of a vessels physical attributes, like tonnage and engine power, while a common definition of fishing capacity identifies vessel size as a convenient proxy for the size of the gear used. Nevertheless, these definitions remain arguable, and the refinement of these fishing descriptors is increasingly being considered. A stronger understanding of the relationship between the standard measures of effort and capacity and fishing mortality remains a primary objective, followed by the need to overcome a traditional approach that simply describes effort, capacity and mortality as linearly related, conferring a greater fishing power to larger vessels. In this perspective, the analysis of trawlers’ technical features in relation to the size and power of the vessel might constitute an essential step. This study specifically investigated a collection of trawling gears’ technical specifications collected by CNR-IRBIM, Ancona. The dataset used includes records from several Mediterranean fisheries, and involves three trawling techniques, including single trawling, twin trawling and pair trawling, and diverse trawling gear categories, comprising demersal/bottom 2-panel trawls (OTB2), demersal/bottom 4-panel trawls (OTB4), pelagic 4-panel trawls (PTM4), semi-pelagic 2-panel trawls (OTM2), semi-pelagic 4-panel trawls (OTM4), and a Mediterranean bottom beam trawl (TBB). We analyzed and described the relationships between vessels’ technical features (LOA, towing force, and engine power), some among the main trawl-metrics (headline length, footrope length, trawl length, square width; fishing circle) and the otterboard’s technical features (height, width, and projected area) in an attempt to enhance fishing capacity definition through the inclusion of the fishing gear deployed. Self-organizing maps (SOM) were used to explore the empirical relationships among different parts of the fishing trawl gears, as well as between some of these parts, the otterboard size and the engine power of the vessel.

Chilika is the largest brackish water wetland of Asia and well known for its fish and fisheries. Traditional fishing methods in Chilika were of specific characters and endemic in nature and quite different from the fishing practices found in other parts of the country. With change in time and advancement of technology, the materials being used have been changed though methods of fishing are almost similar. The traditional fishing methods were (1) Bahani (net fishing), (2) Jano fishing (enclosure fishery), (3) Dian fishery (peripheral fishery near Jano), (4) Uthapani fishery (catching of landward moving fishes during early monsoon) and Prawn khati (trap fishery). Modern fishing gears like Khanda (filament twine net box), Gill net, Drag net, Almi net (boat seine), Hooks and line, Cast net, Bag net and various traps are in operation in the lagoon, replacing the traditional fishing gear. Out of the new fishing gears few are detrimental to the fisheries of the Chilika. Suitable policy guidelines may be implemented for regulating the mesh size and the operational area for improving the fisheries resources of Chilika. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to find out varieties and amounts of fishing gears used in the north-eastern Mediterranean, and compare them with those used ten years ago. The work was conducted in 20 fishing harbours in Mersin, Adana and Hatay provinces of Turkey in 2008 and 2018. Numbers of vessels using each specific gear and average amounts of each gear in a vessel were obtained by interviews with either head of the relevant fishery cooperatives or with at least ten years experienced fishermen in each harbour. Technical specifications of each gear as well as fisher's problems regarding structure and operation of them were also recorded. Results show that in total 35 different gear types have been used in the area. The most commonly used fishing gears are trammel nets, gill nets, thick and thin long lines, hand lines, pots, demersal trawls and purse seines. Despite used by small scale fishers, cumulative amount of some of these gears are rather significant. Among them total lengths of sole trammel nets for example reaches up to 1697 km which is 2.6 times longer than the length of the coast lines of these three provinces. Amounts of the gears used in 2008 and 2018 have shown significant changes. Reasons for the changes and role of applied regulations in sustainability of the commercial fishing activity in the north-eastern Mediterranean are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted on Beel Kumari beel (wetland) in Rajshahi, Bangladesh from October 2013 to September 2014. A total of 52 species of fish were recorded and the dominant species was Mystus tengara (Tanagra (9.75%). Exotic species like bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis), silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were also commonly found. Of the indigenous species, Ompok bimaculatus, Puntius sarana, Pseudeutropius atherinoides, Botia dario, Mystus aor and Chitala chitala were abundant, though these species were rare before the establishment of the fish sanctuary. Four groups of fishing gears i.e. net, trap, spear and harpoons and line fishing were found to use, among them 8 types of net, 7 types of trap, 4 types of spear and harpoon and 4 types of line fishing were recorded. Among these gill net contributed to the highest catch (32%) and push net was the lowest (6%). Most of the respondents (80%) were found to believe that their fish catch had increased considerably due to impact of fish sanctuary establishment and effective community based fisheries management approach employed in this beel.

Present study on fishing gears and methods in the Chalan Beel was conducted during the period of July 2011 to June 2014. The Chalan Beel is the large network of fluvial waters body that harbors rich ichthyofaunal diversity. Most of the fishing methods of the Chalan Beel are primitive, based on indigenous traditional knowledge and well suited to turbulent nature of the streams. In this study thirty fishing methods and gears have been documented and classified into five categories- fishing nets, traps, wounding gears, hooks and lines, and others. Many of these were harmful to fishes as well as aquatic biodiversity. Effective measurements are required to make proper use of the Chalan Beel.

Purpose: To determine species and weight composition of anglers’ catches and their part in the total fish catch on the Kakhovka reservoir. Methodology. The work is based on the ichthyological material obtained from the catches of anglers and commercial gill nets with mesh size of 36-120 mm during 2011-2013 in the upper and middle parts of the Kakhovka reservoir. Data collection and processing were carried out according to conventional methods. In total, during the study period, 7775 fish from 455 day anglers’ catches as well as 18165 fish from commercial catches for 6435 net-days have been analyzed. Statistical processing of the obtained data was performed in MS Excel. Findings. Twenty seven fish species (64% of reservoir fish fauna) belonging to 7 families were observed in anglers’ catches (excluding fish caught by spearing) on the Kakhovka reservoir. The estimated catch per one finished fishing trip in the study zone of the Kakhovka reservoir was 27.7 fish or 2.4 kg. Species diversity and amounts of anglers’ day catches varied depending on the fishing techniques used (from the boat or shore) and fishing season (ice fishing or open water). Averaged day catch on the Kakhovka reservoir was within the range set by valid Fishing regulations excluding fishing from the boat, where some insignificant excess was observed (3 kg), however, 20.4% among the analyzed catches exceeded the daily allowable catch. The total anglers’ catch on the Kakhovka reservoir was 747 tons (3.5 kg/ha) or 33% of the commercial one. Commercial and recreational fishing on the Kakhovka reservoir are based on the same the most abundant fish species: gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), roach (Rutilus rutilus), bream (Abramis brama), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). However, a significant part in anglers’ catches consists of species, which are exploited by commercial fishing in lower degree or are not exploited at all, including coarse and low value fish. This fact confirms the amelioration role of recreational fishing, which has been mentioned by researches for other water bodies. Originality. For the first time in modern time, an assessment of qualitative and quantitative parameters of anglers’ catches on the Kakhovka reservoir has been provided. Practical values. For the first time, fish yield of the Kakhovka reservoir has been determined taking into account anglers’ catch. The paper contains propositions on the accounting for anglers’ catches in the assessment of limits and allowable harvest amounts of aquatic living resources.

Purpose. To substantiate theoretically the optimum safety factors of fishing materials used for the construction of fishing gears that allow reducing the material consumption of these gears and keep them for a long time operation. To select the optimum color of polyamide materials with the lowest loss of strength. Methods. The choice of the materials for the tests was based on the selection of the materials, which are most often used for active and passive fishing gears. Acid dyes were used to dye the materials. Dying was carried out in accordance with the technological instructions. The experiments were conducted at the Department of "Industrial Fishery" of the Kerch Sea Institute. The obtained results of all tests were processed using statistical method of random variables according to Sturges method. Findings. The dying reduces the initial strength of the material by 10% and increases its service life. A relationship was established between the loss of nylon material strength and color as well as insolation time. The lowest loss of strength was observed in materials dyed in brown color. We developed the equations of relationships allowing adjusting the norms of the rate of the wearing of fishing gears. The safety factor of 4.62 was obtained experimentally and this value ensures the uninterrupted usability of a fishing gear during the exploitation period. Originality. Based on the system integrated experimental and theoretical studies of the loss of strength of thread and netting materials, for the first time we developed the mathematical relationship for the loss of strength of kapron fishing materials depending on the time of insolation that allows predicting the degree of their wearing during the exploitation of various types of fishing gears. Practical value. The obtained equations of the relationship between the loss of strength of fish netting materials and the time of exposure to sunlight are used in the calculation of wearing rates for beach seines, hoop nets, and fish net cages. The use of the recommended materials with the estimated safety factor will allow increasing the service life of fishing gears.

Purpose: To determine the size composition of anglers’ catches in major fishing gears in the Kakhovka reservoir. Methodology: The work is based on ichthyological material obtained from anglers’ catches and commercial catches in gill nets with mesh size 36–120 mm during 2011–2013 in the upper and middle parts of the Kakhovka reservoir. Data collection and processing have been carried out based on generally accepted methods. In total, 7775 fish from 455 day anglers’ catches as well as 18165 fish from commercial catches for 6435 net-days have been analyzed during the study period. Statistical data processing was carried out in MS Excel. Findings: In the Kahovka reservoir, 76.96% in the anglers’ catches is by-catch of juvenile fish and this exceeds the respective value in commercial fisheries (5.97%). Catches from boats are characterized by the largest mean size of fish – 19.27 cm as well as the maximum body length – 74 cm, however, the by-catch of juvenile fish is the highest among the examined angling techniques – 77.26%. The largest amounts of juvenile fish are caught during winter period. Among popular hook and line gears, leger rigs catch the lowest percentage of juvenile by-catch (58.61%) compared to float fishing (96.79%). The degree of the relationship between the fish caught and hook size is small and characterized by a correlation coefficient from 0.33 (for summer fishing) to 0.56 (for ice fishing). Originality: A complex assessment of size characteristics of major targets of recreational fishing with the most common techniques and fishing gears has been carried out for the first time for a Ukrainian water body. Practical value: It was found that the anglers’ catches consist mainly of fish, which did not reach the minimum legal sizes set by Fishing rules and allowed for angling. Measures for conservation of fish juveniles when practicing recreational fishing have been proposed.

Around the world, knowledge about ecological impacts of fishing, especially in the smallscale sector, is generally poor, impeding thus the implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF). The same condition exists in Thailand where fisheries sustainability is a major concern. As a first step towards EAF, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to assess current knowledge and gaps about ecological impacts of common fishing gears used in Thailand. Of the 134 documents found on the topic, about 70 % were technical reports produced by the Department of Fisheries of Thailand, focusing largely on trawl fisheries, particularly otter board trawls. Impacts from trawling are mostly reported in terms of amount of trash fish and undersized/juvenile economic fish. Impacts of fishing gears on marine mammals (such as dolphins and dugongs) and sea turtles are reported, but only qualitatively. Very little is known about discards. Information about habitat damage is generally limited although a few studies qualitatively describe impacts of seine nets, trawls, dredges, and push nets on seagrass beds, coral reefs and benthic community. Our study reveals that a major gap exists in the understanding of ecological impacts of fishing gears in Thailand, particularly in relation to discards and habitat damage, which needs to be addressed in order to implement EAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving real-time simulation of fast cable pay-out and reel-in manoeuvres with towed fishing gears is a challenging task. This work presents two new simulation methods based on simplified cable models for this kind of application. First, three numerical techniques are proposed to enhance a classical spring-based cable model, increasing its computational efficiency in manoeuvres that involve reeling the cable around a winch drum. Second, the development of an efficient multibody modelling approach based on natural coordinates is reported. The performance of these methods was assessed with two realistic examples. The numerical experiments involved different values of cable axial stiffness and spatial discretization levels, since these parameters were found to have a major impact on computational efficiency. The proposed methods achieved real-time performance in the simulation of systems modelled with up to a few thousand variables. Each modelling approach has advantages and limitations that must be considered when addressing a given application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable polymers are proposed as a potential solution to environmental problems related to plastic pollution. Potential benefits have been suggested in applications such as agricultural mulching and fishing gear, where there can be considerable difficulty recovering products from the environment at the end of their service life. Biodegradation is a complex process influenced by both the properties of the material and the receiving environment in which it needs to biodegrade. Assessing the degradation process necessitates the chemical composition (i.e. polymer and additives) of biodegradable products to be characterised by reliable analytical methods. Pyrolysis coupled to Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and Evolved Gas Analysis coupled to Mass Spectrometry (EGA-MS) are emerging techniques to characterise plastic materials, providing a greater sensitivity and resolution when compared to more widely used spectroscopic techniques (FTIR and Raman). In this work, we have applied a systematic approach combining EGA-MS and multi-shot Py-GC-MS for the thermoanalytical investigation of 5 biodegradable polymers and 5 biodegradable-labelled commercial products. We identified thermal degradation profiles, main m/z ions and pyrolysis markers for the polymers PBAT, PBS, PBHV and two types of PLA. We applied the obtained information to investigate the composition of 4 mulch films and 1 fishing net. EGA-MS was fundamental to optimise single or multi shot pyrolysis acquisition, allowing an optimal Py-GC-MS separation and identification of the pyrolysis products. PLA and PBAT were detected in three mulch films, with the addition of starch in a film labelled as Mater-Bi and in one of unknown composition. Online silylation was crucial for detecting polysaccharides in a composite film containing hemp fibres. The presence of butylene, succinate, adipate and terephthalate units was highlighted analysing a fishing net made of a newly developed PBSAT resin. Finally, Py-GC-MS was effective in identifying the presence of additives such as 1,6-diisocyanato-hexane (chain extender) and di(3-butenyl) ester of sebacic acid derived from the plasticizer dibutyl sebacate. • EGA-MS was applied to study the thermal behaviour of biodegradable polymers. • Py-GC-MS was applied to investigate the composition of biodegradable samples. • A database of PBAT, PBS, PHBV, and PLA reference polymers was developed. • The method was used to characterise biodegradable commercial products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine debris is an international environmental issue, and the growing amount of abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a particular concern. Despite Taiwan's substantial fishing industry, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of fishing gear. This work conducted a static material flow analysis to estimate the flows and the stocks of fishing gear in Taiwan in 2020, based on government statistics and interviews with fishing gears producing companies, fishermen, and recycling companies. Our findings reveal that the inflow, outflow, and stock of the fishing gears are 8,846 t/a, 4,271 t/a, and 4,575 t/a, respectively. Only 36 % of end-of-life fishing gear is recycled, while the rest is incinerated or landfilled. Additionally, the stock comprises 27 % in use, 23 % in ports, and 50 % entering the ocean. These results underscore the need to increase recycling capacity, prevent loss in oceans, and promote repairs to extend the lifespan of fishing gear. [Display omitted] • Fishing gear flow analysis in Taiwan shows low recycling and high ocean loss. • Only 17 % of end-of-life fishing gear is recycled, rest is incinerated in Taiwan. • Fishing gear stock in Taiwan: 27 % in use, 23 % in ports, 50 % enters ocean • Need to increase recycling, prevent loss, and extend fishing gear lifespan • Collaboration is crucial for sustainable fishing and reducing impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fishing of Mugilidae in Grand-lahou Lagoon (Ivory Coast): Analysis of Fishing Organisation, Captures and Fishing Effort. Sixteen sites, around the lagoon, have been investigated from April 2009 to March 2011. At the pass, fishing with sparrow hawks is mainly done by Ghanaians. On the other sites of lagoon, indigenous fishers are dominant and use gill-nets. Ocean area, with more than 50% of activities and 60% of captures, is the place where the highest production is realized. The site around the pass provides 25% of activities and 20% of capture. At the pass and in the continental area of the lagoon, captures remain inferior to 10%. There, the peak of captures is registered in July and the lowest ones from February to April. On the others sites of the lagoon, two peaks can be observed in December, May and July. From the end of July to the end September, captures from ocean and the pass remain very low. During this period, fishing is interrupted on the others sites for Mugilidae are rare and water is desalinated because of continental waterways pouring out in the lagoon. Fishing efforts peaks don't always coincide with capture peaks even if during high captures period, fishing effort values are very high.

This research aimed to describe the characteristic of fishing activities in Malabro Municipal, Teluk Segara District, Bengkulu city and to describe the pattern of patronclient relationship between wholesaler, vessel owner and fishermen. This researh conducted using qualitative method. Data collected using obsevation, interview, and documantes information related to this research. Thi result shows that fishermen are using three fishing tools, such as gillnets, payang and trammel nets. These fishing tools will be influence many things like type of vessel, amount of fishermen, and production sharing system. In patron-client relations between wholesaler and boat owner. Wholesaler has a role as patron and the boat owner has a role as client. Patron-client relation is mutual benefit. While, relation between wholesaler or vessel owner and fishermen hasn’t shown patron- client relationship but only shown relation of fishing activities.