Preliminary evidence of increased spawning aggregations of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) at Riley’s Hump two years after establishment of the Tortugas South Ecological Reserve

In this note we describe the re-formation of a spawning aggregation of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). A review of four consecutive years of survey data indicates that the aggregation may be increasing in size. Mutton snapper are distributed in the temperate and tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida to southeastern Brazil (Burton, 2002). Juveniles and subadults are found in a variety of habitats such as vegetated sand bottoms, bays, and mangrove estuaries (Allen, 1985). Adults are found offshore on coral reefs and other complex hardbottom habitat. They are solitary and wary fish, rarely found in groups or schools except during spawning aggregations (Domeier et al., 1996). Spawning occurs from May through July at Riley’s Hump (Domeier et al., 1996) and peaks in June, as indicated by gonadosomatic indices (M. Burton, unpubl. data). Mutton snapper are highly prized by Florida fishermen for their size and fighting ability, and the majority of landings occur from Cape Canaveral, through the Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas (Burton, 2002).

Life after Catch and Release

Since 1988 regulations have required U.S. longline fishermen to release all Atlantic white marlin, Tetrapturus albidus. By the late 1990’s, approximately 99% of Atlantic white marlin caught by U.S. recreational fishermen were released. Recent studies using PSAT technology indicate that not all released fish survive and that a minor change in hook type, 0–5° offset circle hooks rather than straight-shank “J” hooks, may have a profound effect on post release mortality. Beginning in 2004, sea turtle mitigation measures have required U.S. longline fishermen to use circle hooks. Estimates of total catch, releases, and post release mortality of Atlantic white marlin caught by U.S. recreational fishermen were made in order to evaluate the potential reduction in mortality that may be realized by requiring the use of circle hooks rather than straight-shank “J” hooks by U.S. recreational fishermen. These estimates were compared to estimates of Atlantic white marlin caught by the U.S. longline fishery

Lune, Wyre & Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee 5th May, 1975

This is the report from the Lune, Wyre and Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 5th May, 1975. It covers information on fishery byelaws, Eel trapping, and a report by the Unit Fisheries Officer on fisheries activities. This section includes work on stocking, fisheries management, fish mortalities, migratory fish runs for the Rivers Lune, Wyre and Furness during 1974. Catch returns and spawning information for 1974 are also covered aswell as biological work and the approval of River Leven work. Other areas looked at include licence duties and inportation of live freshwater fish. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee 5th April, 1978

This is the report from the South Lancashire Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 5th April, 1978. It covers information on fisheries income and expenditure, net licence duties and the concern over the growning population of the feral mink. It also includes the report by the area fisheries officer on river conditions and fishing, and migratory fish movements at Waddow Weir, Winckley Hall and Locks Weir. Included in this report is an update on Langcliffe hatchery, the stocking of brown trout and rainbow trout by the Water Authority and Angling Associations, and fish mortality and fish disease. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Lune, Wyre & Furness Fisheries Advisory Committee 5th July, 1976.

This is the report from the Lune, Wyre and Furness Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 5th July, 1976. The report contains sections on fisheries activities, Water Conditions Harmful to Fish Life, and fisheries improvement work on the River Leven. The section on fisheries activities includes fish counters; fish Trough Counters; Middleton hatchery; fish mortalities; and the Sonic Tagging Research Programme. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

Northern Area Fisheries Advisory Committee 5th January, 1981

This is the report from the Northern Area Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 5th January, 1981. It covers information on the review of fisheries byelaws, netting off Flimby Beach and the review of a net limitation order which was due to expire. It also includes the report by the area fisheries officer on fisheries activities which comments on river conditions and fishing for salmon, sea trout and brown trout, and the recorded numbers of fish which passed through Yearl Weir fish counter up to the 9th November. Also covered in the report is an update on Holmwrangle hatchery and the stocking numbers of salmon, sea trout and non migratory trout by the Water Authority. Finally the report adds about fish disease, biological work and the considerations of the River Caldew as a migratory fish river. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

River Exe Scale Reading Investigation. 5th Annual Report for the 1970 Season

This is the 5th Annual Report of the Rive Exe Scale Reading Investigation for the 1970 season by the Devon River Authority. The object of this investigation is to examine, by means of scale reading, the biology of age classes of the salmon population of the River Exe. It reviews the methods used for the collection of scales and examination of the materials. It shows the results of the survey and the number of scales studied from each of the various sea-age classes, time of running with distribution of the sea-age groups throughout the season, fish sizes and smolt ages at migration. All is summarized in tables, and figures are included showing weight distributions for each age classes and frequency distributions.

Glossoma intermedium survey. Scotland, April 5th to April 10th 2012

The British Glossomatidae contains seven species, split between the genera Glossosoma, Agapetus and Synagapetus. One species, Glossosoma intermediumhas not been recorded in England since 2003. This was found in a side stream of Hayeswater gill in the Lake District. The main purpose of this survey was to try and locate and record Glossosoma intermedium and was a follow up to a similar survey we carried out in the Glennshee area of Scotland during April 2011. Additionally, as in the 2011 survey it also made sense that while looking for the larvae, pupae and adults of Glossosoma intermediumwe could also record other species of caddisfly (Trichoptera), mayfly (Ephemeroptera) and stonefly (Plecoptera).

Climatic factors associated with phytoplankton community succession during and after the 1977 drought for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary [abstract]

Principal coordinates analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to determine the environmental factors associated with the decline in phytoplankton production during and after the 1977 drought for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. Physical, chemical and biological data were collected semimonthly or monthly during the spring-summer between 1973 and 1982 from 15 sampling sites located throughout the Bay-Delta. A decline in phytoplankton community diversity and density during the 1977 drought and subsequent years (1978 through 1981) was described using principal coordinates analysis. The best multiple regression which described the changes in phytoplankton community succession contained the variables water temperature, wind velocity and ortho-phosphate concentration. Together these variables accounted for 61 percent of the variation in the phytoplankton community among years described by principal coordinates analysis. An increase in water temperature, wind velocity and ortho-phosphate concentration within the Bay-Delta, beginning in June 1976 and continuing through 1981, was demonstrated using weighted moving averages. From the strong association between phytoplankton community succession and climatic variables it was hypothesized that the decline in phytoplankton production during and after the 1977 drought was associated with climatic changes within the northeast Pacific.

Tropical forest history of the Ecuadorian Andes over the last 34,000 years: preliminary results from pollen and oxygen isotope analyses of Trident 163-13 from the eastern equatorial Pacific [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Pollen from the upper 2.75 m of a core taken 200 km west of the Golfo de Guayaquil, Ecuador (Trident 163-13, 3° S, 84° W, 3,000 m water depth) documents changes in Andean vegetation and climate of the Cordillera Occidental for ~17,000 years before and after the last glacial maximum.

Quantification and reduction of unobserved mortality rates for snow, southern Tanner, and red king crabs (Chionoecetes opilio, C. bairdi, and Paralithodes camtschaticus) after encounters with trawls on the seafloor

Unobserved mortalities of nontarget species are among the most troubling and difficult issues associated with fishing, especially when those species are targeted by other fisheries. Of such concern are mortalities of crab species of the Bering Sea, which are exposed to bottom trawling from groundfish fisheries. Uncertainty in the management of these fisheries has been exacerbated by unknown mortality rates for crabs struck by trawls. In this study, the mortality rates for 3 species of commercially important crabs—red king crab, (Paralithodes camtschaticus), snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and southern Tanner crab (C. bairdi)—that encounter different components of bottom trawls were estimated through capture of crabs behind the bottom trawl and by evaluation of immediate and delayed mortalities. We used a reflex action mortality predictor to predict delayed mortalities. Estimated mortality rates varied by species and by the part of the trawl gear encountered. Red king crab were more vulnerable than snow or southern Tanner crabs. Crabs were more likely to die after encountering the footrope than the sweeps of the trawl, and higher death rates were noted for the side sections of the footrope than for the center footrope section. Mortality rates were ≤16%, except for red king crab that passed under the trawl wings (32%). Herding devices (sweeps) can expand greatly the area of seafloor from which flatfishes are captured, and they subject crabs in that additional area to lower (4–9%) mortality rates. Raising sweep cables off of the seafloor reduced red king crab mortality rates from 10% to 4%.