Fischereilich-ökonomische Überlegungen zu Chancen und Risiken in der Garnelenfischerei - am Beispiel des Schollendiscards (Ein Thesenpapier auf der Basis von EU-Studien und Langzeitreihen)

Though economic research is not one of the tasks of the German Federal Research Centre for Fisheries, basic in-formation for such work is available from biologic studies on fish biomass, discards and seasonal abundance of species. Results from EU-studies on brown shrimp fisheries show the effect of discarding juvenile fish, especially plaice, the possibly lost numbers and value of this fish as well as chances of reducing these losses by a timely effort reduction in summer and the use of selective nets throughout most parts of the year. However, it is also made clear, that these costly measures may have no effect on the stocks due to biological compensatory effects observed in strong year classes of plaice e. g. 1996, with high landings and collapsing prices. Therefore sound biological and economic data and methods are needed to assess the economic effects of management measures on fishermen’s situation and markets. Compensations for catch limitations may become inevitable.

On the climatology, oceanography and fisheries of the Panama Bight

ENGLISH: Seasonal changes in the climatology, oceanography and fisheries of the Panama Bight are determined mainly by the latitudinal movements of the ITCZ over the region. Evaporation is about 980 mm annually. Rainfall is probably much less than previous estimates because of a discontinuity in the ITCZ. Freshwater runoff from the northern watershed varies from 22 X 109 m3/mo in October-November to 11 X 109 m3/mo in February-March; from the southeastern watershed it varies from 16 X 109 m3/mo in April-June to 9 X 109 m3/mo in October-December. Total annual runoff is about 350 X 109m3. A marked salinity front is found at all seasons off the eastern shore. In the northern part of the Bight temperatures in the upper layers remained fairly constant from May to November; by February the mean temperature had decreased by 4°C and sharp gradients existed in the geographic distributions. Salinities in the upper layers decreased steadily from May to November; by February the mean salinity had increased by 2.5‰. The mean depth of the mixed layer increased from 27 m in May to 40 m in November; by February upwelling decreased it to 18 m. Between November and February upwelling had doubled the amount of P04-P and tripled that of NO3-N in the euphotic zone; surface phytoplankton production and standing crop, and zooplankton concentrations also doubled during this period. Upwelling was about 1.5 m/mo during May-November and about 9.0 m/mo during November-February, the annual total is about 48 m, Mean primary production is about 0.3 gC/m2day during May-December and about 0.6 gC/m2day during January-April; annual production is about 140 gC/m2. A thermal ridge occurred in February running from the northern to the southwestern part of the Bight. Within this ridge was a marked thermal dome coinciding with the center of the cyclonic circulation cell. Upwelling in the dome averaged 16 m/mo in November-February. The fisheries of the Panama Bight annually produce about 30,000 metric tons of food species and about 68,000 m.t. of species used for reduction. Most attempts to further the understanding of tuna ecology were unsuccessful. The apparent abundances of yellowfin and skipjack in the northern part of the Bight appear to be related to the seasonal cycle of upwelling and enrichment, as abundances are greatest in April and May when food appears to be plentiful. The life-cycle of the anchoveta in the Gulf of Panama also appears to be related to upwelling; the species mass varies from about 39,000 m.t. in December to about 169,000 m.t, in April. About 19.1 X 1012 anchoveta eggs are spawned annually. The life-cycles of shrimp in the Panama Bight appear to be related to upwelling as catches are greatest in May-July, about 3-5 months after peak upwelling, and annual catches are inversely correlated with sea level. SPANISH: Los cambios estacionales en la climatología, oceanografía y pesquerías del Panamá Bight están determinados principalmente por el movimiento latitudinal sobre la región de la Zona de Convergencia Intertropical (ZCIT). La evaporación es de unos 980 mm al año. La pluviosidad es probablemente muy inferior a las estimaciones previas a causa de la descontinuidad en la ZCIT. El drenaje de agua dulce, de la vertiente septentrional, varía de 22 x 109m3/mes en octubre-noviembre hasta 11 x 109m3/mes en febreromarzo; el de la vertiente sudeste varía de 16 x 109m3/mes en abril-junio a 9 x 109m3/mes en octubre-diciembre. El drenaje total, anual, es alrededor de 350 x 109m3. En todas las estaciones frente al litoral oriental se encuentra un frente de salinidad marcada. En la parte septentrional del Bight las temperaturas en las capas superiores permanecieron más bien constantes de mayo a noviembre; en febrero la temperatura media había disminuido en unos 4°C y existieron gradientes agudos en las distribuciones geográficas. Las salinidades en las capas superiores disminuyeron constantemente de mayo a noviembre; en febrero la salinidad media había aumentado en 2.5‰. La profundidad media de la capa mixta aumentó de 27 m en mayo a 40 m en noviembre; en febrero el afloramiento disminuyó el espesor de la capa mixta hasta 18 m. Entre noviembre y febrero el afloramiento había duplicado la cantidad de PO4-P y triplicado la de NO3-N en la zona eufótica; la producción superficial de fitoplancton y la biomasa primaria y las concentraciones de zooplancton también se duplicaron durante este período. El afloramiento era cerca de 1.5 mimes durante mayo-noviembre y de unos 9.0 mimes durante noviembre-febrero, el total anual es de unos 48 m. La producción media primaria es aproximadamente de 0.3 gC/m2 al día durante mayo-diciembre y cerca de 0.6 gC/m2 al día durante enero-abril; la producción anual es de unos 140 gC/m2. En febrero apareció una convexidad termal que se extendió de la parte norte a la parte sudoeste del Bight. Dentro de esta convexidad se encontró un domo termal marcado el cual coincidió con el centro de la circulación ciclonal de la célula. El afloramiento en el domo tuvo un promedio de 16 mimes en noviembre-febrero. Las pesquerías del Panamá Bight producen anualmente de cerca 30,000 toneladas métricas de especies alimenticias y unas 68,000 t.m. de especies usadas para la reducción. La mayoría de los esfuerzos realizados con el fin de adquirir más conocimiento sobre la ecología del atún no tuvo éxito. La abundancia aparente del atún aleta amarilla y del barrilete en la parte septentrional del Bight parece estar relacionada con el ciclo estacional del afloramiento y del enriquecimiento, ya que la abundancia mayor en abril y mayo cuando parece que hay abundancia es de alimento. El ciclo de vida de la anchoveta en el Golfo de Panamá parece también que está relacionada al afloramiento. La masa de la especie varía de unas 39,000 t.m. en diciembre a cerca de 169,000 t.m. en abril. Aproximadamente 19.1 x 1012 huevos de anchoveta son desovados anualmente. Los ciclos de vida del camarón en el Panamá Bight parecen estar relacionados con el afloramiento ya que las capturas son superiores en mayo-julio, unos 3-5 meses después del ápice del afloramiento, y las capturas anuales se correlacionan inversamente con el nivel del mar. (PDF contains 340 pages.)

Die europäischen Krabbenanlandungen der letzten Jahre: Deutschland Nr. 1

Fishery on brown shrimp has developed towards one of the most important fisheries in the North Sea area in economic terms. Statistical data on European wide landings have been gathered by a working group of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. They show relatively stable shares of approximately 50% for Germany, 38% for the Netherlands and 8% for Denmark. Further production originates from Great Britain, France and Belgium. The new log-book regulation of the EU will give similar data improved by better information on fishing areas and fishing effort.

Die Anteile von Sieb- und Futtergarnelen in deutschen Garnelenfängen im Jahre 2000

The German shrimp fisheries land different types of pro-duce. Besides cooked shrimp for human consumption small (undersized), raw shrimp (industrial shrimp) are landed regionally in the second half of each year for animal feedstuff purposes. They are dried in special plants and form sellable secession from sieving processes aboard shrimping vessels. Grading the cooked shrimp ashore gives the non-marketable fraction of too small shrimp, which is not meant for shelling. That fraction is produced all year alongside landings of shrimp and is used for feed-stuff as well. Both extra fractions are listed in the official statistics since 2000 for the first time. That year industrial shrimp made up 6 % of the total landings while the non-marketable, small cooked shrimp summed up to 7 %, respectively. Though being essential for specialised animal feeds they are commercially of very little value, making up to hardly 2 ‰ of the total turnover of the German shrimp fisheries.

Winterfischerei auf Garnelen. Die Anteile der europäischen Garnelenflotten an den Anlandungen von Crangon crangon im Zeitraum Januar bis März der Jahre 1990 bis 1999

„Winter fishery“ on brown shrimp does not imply a special type of fishery. It merely means the continuation of the standard fishing procedure of parts of the fleet during wintertime, when the majority of the mostly smaller vessels stay in harbour due to generally unfavourable weather conditions for their activity. During 1990 to 1999 mean European wide landings in January and February summedup to 854 tonnes making up to only 4 % of the mean annual landings (21 805 t). While German vessels landed0.7 % (68.7 t) of their mean annual landings during that period, the other countries caught about 7 % of their individual, mean annual landings at the same time. The Netherlands and Denmark contributed highest tonnages of 580and 110 tonnes, respectively, to the total European landings, making up 81 % of them. As about 70 % of brown shrimp may carry eggs in January, the winter fishery took a mean total of about 2.15 x 1012brown shrimp eggs out of the stocks in that period annually. As there is no reliable assessment available concerning the brown shrimp stocks, it is despite of these high losses of eggs not possible to trace a negative effect of the winter fishery in scientific terms. However, precautional catch reductions in winter would be in favour of higher survival rates of eggs, which are the carrying source for the recruitment of brown shrimp stocks and catches in forthcoming summer and autumn seasons according to Dutch investigations.

Saisonale und regionale Unterschiede zwischen den 0-Gruppen-Schollen-Discards in der deutschen Garnelenfischerei

Shrimping in the waddensea is frequently considered to significantly reduce the numbers of juvenile plaice . This investigation aims to reveal the seasonal and regional differences regarding discards in the German waddensea and sets the results in relation to the bycatch projects with German participation. Furthermore, methodological aspects are evaluated to find possible effects on the estimation of the netted numbers. The bycatch problem exists predominantly throughout the summer season, but high catches of juvenile plaice can occur occasionally in autumn. The discard issue seems to be most important in the East Frisian region, while the Elbe and Schleswig-Holstein areas are of lesser importance. Considering the distribution of the fish in the environment is as indispensable as sampling of the shrimp fleet with optimum representativity. There are indices that the contribution of the Dutch shrimp fleet to the discard mortality of juvenile plaice was underestimated in the recent past. A combination of time and area closures as restrictions in combination with the extensive application of selective gears could possibly gain the best protection for the affected species.

Die Tiefseegarnele Pandalus borealis im Nordostatlantik. Biologie, Bestandssituation und fischereiliche Nutzung

One of the most common decapode in the North Atlantic is the “Northern” or “Pink shrimp” Pandalus borealis (Kröyeri). Due to decreasing fish stocks and catches the shrimp fishery was intensified during most recent years. In the North-East Atlantic, a profitable fishery on this species has been carried out by Norway and USSR/ Russia off Norway, in the Barents Sea and off Spitsbergen for about 30 years. For the first time, Germany started a shrimp fishery with FMV “Hannover” in this area in spring/summer 1999. This article gives information on the biology of Pandalus borealis. A brief description of the problems in stock analyses, stock assessment, and the TACs (Total Allowable Catches) for the entire North Atlantic are given.

Bearbeitung von Fangproben mit neuen elektronischen Messmethoden

For 10 years the Institute for Fishing Technology, Hamburg (IFH) has been carrying out experiments in the brown shrimp fishery with beam trawls aiming at a reduction of unwanted bycatches. When the tests were transferred to commercial fishery conditions the personnel effort and costs increased markedly. It became e.g. necessary to install a deep-freeze chain to make it possible to evaluate more samples in the laboratory. This again required to increase the number of technicians for measuring the fish and shrimp samples, but also made it necessary to perform this work in the most rational and time-saving way by applying modern electronic aids. Though all samples still have to be sorted by species and have to be weighed and measured the introduction of electronic aids, however, like electronic measuring board and computer-aided image processing system, all weight and length data are immediately and digitally recorded after processing. They are transferred via a network to a server PC which stores them into a purpose-designed database. This article describes the applicationof two electronic systems: the measuring board (FM 100, Fa. SCANTROL), iniated by a project in the Norwegian Institute for Fishing Technology, and a computer-aided image processing system, focussing on measuring shrimps in their naturally flexed shape, also developed in the Institute for Fishing Technology in close collaboration with the University of Duisburg. These electronic recording systems allow the consistent and reproducible record of data independent of the changing day-to-day personal form of the staff operating them. With the help of these systems the number of measurements the laboratory could be maximized to 250 000 per year. This made it possible to evaluate, in 1999, 525 catch samples from 75 commercial hauls taken during 15 days at sea. The time gain in measuring the samples is about one third of the time previously needed (i.e. one hour per sample). An additional advantage is the immediate availability of the digitally stored data which enables rapid analyses of all finished subexperiments. Both systems are applied today in several institutes of the Federal Research Centre. The image processing system is now the standard measuring method in an international research project.

Fangmengenbegrenzungen in der Garnelenfischerei - eine Chance fur weitere Biefangreduzierungen

Aiming for price stabilisation Danish, German and Dutch brown shrimp fisheries agreed on weekly catch limitations for the years 1998 and 1999. This resulted in fishing effort reduction of 18 % of the total number of fishing trips in 1998 and up to 24 % in summer. In that period highest abundance of young plaice occurs in the Wadden Sea which is the fishing area of the brown shrimp fleets of Germany and the Netherlands. Consequently as a side effect a reduction of the total annual by-catch especially of young plaice must have occurred. According to formerly conducted EU-studies and investigations the by-catch reduction due to the agreed catch limitations should have led to survival of millions of young plaice. They give a potential of some extra catch in coming years which is 2,5 % of the total TAC of plaice in the North Sea. Compared to the German TAC in year 2000 the gain equals 44 %. The catch limitations effect on by-catch reduction in 1998 was in the same order of magnitude of the one achievable by technical measures in net selection applied in that fishery and research. A combination of both could substantially reduce traditional by-catch levels in brown shrimp fisheries.Aiming for price stabilisation Danish, German and Dutch brown shrimp fisheries agreed on weekly catch limitations for the years 1998 and 1999. This resulted in fishing effort reduction of 18 % of the total number of fishing trips in 1998 and up to 24 % in summer. In that period highest abundance of young plaice occurs in the Wadden Sea which is the fishing area of the brown shrimp fleets of Germany and the Netherlands. Consequently as a side effect a reduction of the total annual by-catch especially of young plaice must have occurred. According to formerly conducted EU-studies and investigations the by-catch reduction due to the agreed catch limitations should have led to survival of millions of young plaice. They give a potential of some extra catch in coming years which is 2,5 % of the total TAC of plaice in the North Sea. Compared to the German TAC in year 2000 the gain equals 44 %. The catch limitations effect on by-catch reduction in 1998 was in the same order of magnitude of the one achievable by technical measures in net selection applied in that fishery and research. A combination of both could substantially reduce traditional by-catch levels in brown shrimp fisheries.

Indol als moglicher Indikator fur nicht einwandfreie hygiensiche Be- bzw. Verbarbeitung tropischer Garnelen

Indole concentrations of 114 samples of tropical shrimp, 3 samples of crayfish, and 3 samples of cold water crustaceans were determined. Cold water crustaceans contained less than 15 μg/kg indole, whereas crayfish contained between 62 and 123 μg indole/kg. In 81 samples (70 %) of tropical shrimp indole content was less than 50 μg/kg, but in 12 samples (11 %) indole content exceeded 250 μg/kg. Different batches of some products with high indole levels as well as of some products with low indole levels were analysed. Except for one sample high as well as low indole levels could be confirmed. Highest indole concentrations were determined in samples which origin was specified as South Pacific, Indo-Pacific, Malaysia, India and India/Vietnam

Analyse der Beifangreduktion durch Gitternetze in der kommerziellen Garnelenfischerei

Trials for the determination of the magnitude of bycatch reduction by sorting grids used in the commercial brown shrimp fishery were carried out from September to December 1997. Trawls with 9 m beam length were used on different fishing grounds in the estuary of the Elbe River near Cuxhaven. The sorting grids tested were made of stainless steel bars spaced at 18, 20, 22, 26 and 30 mm, built into a cylindrical stainless steel frame with a diameter of 65 cm at an angle of attack of 45 degrees. This frame was positioned between the forenet and codend. Simultaneous hauls were made with a trawl of equal construction but without a sorting grid, and the weighed catch components (fish, discard shrimps and commercial size shrimps) separated by means of a riddle were compared. The composition of the sorted out part of the catch of the sorting grid net could be calculated by comparise the corresponding catch components in both the standard trawl and the sorting grid trawl. According to this the total catch of the beam trawl with the sorting grid is reduced by 18 to 38 % depending on the space between the bars. 7 to 31 % of the sorted out part of the catch consists of fish. The use of the sorting grid, however, also leads to losses of 4 to 12 % in Oktober. Per hour of towing this means a loss of 10,3 % commerical size shrimps with a sorting grid of 18 mm space between the bars and of 12,4 % for a 26 mm grid.

Qualitätsvergleich zwischen maschinen- und handgeschälten Nordseegarnelen

After the evaluation of 48 samples consisting of hand and machine-peeled sand shrimps it can be stated that there was no significant difference in quality between both. The quality of the sand shrimps was evaluated by sensorially performed paired comparison as well as by estimating the microbial load and the volatile amines (MMA, DMA, TMA). Additionally, the colour characteristics were measured instrumentally. To characterise the influence of the technological regime measurements of pH and of the salt content were performed. The quality of sand shrimp is further influenced by technological steps as freezing, cooking procedure and preservatives used. From the hygienic point of view the machine-peeling was without any objections. The microbial load was small and below the limit set by EC. Measurement of volatile amines was not suited to make visible difference created be the various peeling methods.

Entwicklung des Aufwandes in der deutschen Garnelenfischerei

The German brown shrimp fishery experienced considerable changes during the recent four decades. Contrarily to the decline in number of vessels the technical standard and size of the shrimping vessels improved and the fishing power as well as the effort of the single boats have strongly increased. As fishing effort by the whole fleet may be calculated different ways, trends in total effort may differ according to the relevant author´s approach. The present study tries to estimate the total trawled area by the fleet in the mid fifties as well as in 1996. The result is that there seems to be no change in the order of magnitude of the total trawled area for the German shrimping fleet itself, though shifts in geographical areas as within seasons were reported. However, the development of the Danish and Dutch shrimping fleets have contributed to an increase in terms of annually trawled area. Therefore pooled fishing effort must have increased considerably.

Analyse der Beifangreduktion durch Trichternetze in der kommerziellen Garnelenfischerei

Trials for the determination of the magnitude of bycatch reduction by the sievenets used in the commercial brown shrimp fishery were carried out from September to December 1997. Trawls with 9 m beam length were the subjected to the investigation. They were used on different fishing grounds in the estuary of the Elbe near Cuxhaven. Sievenets with 50, 60 and 80 mm mesh opening were tested in 29 hauls and 31.6 h total duration. A trawl of equal construction without sievenets fished synchronously was used for comparison. The proportional catch composition in the codend was determined by weighing the catch components (fish, discard shrimps and commercial size shrimps) as separated by means of a riddle. The composition of the sorted out part of the catch could be calculated by comparison of the corresponding catch components both in standard trawl and sievenettrawl. According to this the total catch of a beam trawl with sievenet is diminished by 9 to 34 % depending on the mesh opening of the sievenet. 32 to 58 % of the sorted out part of the catch consists of fish. Use of a sievenet, however, also leads to a loss of 6 to 15 % of commercial size shrimps. Per hour of towing this means a loss of 8.7 kg commercial size shrimps with a sievenet of 60 mm mesh opening and of 1.8 kg for a mesh size of 80 mm.

Problems of industrial fisheries development in the Cross River State

The industrial fisheries as opposed to artisanal fisheries in Cross River State, Nigeria, is discussed, considering the prospect of industrial fisheries in the State and identifying the major fish and shrimp resources within the coastal waters. Industrial fishing was introduced in 1973 when the state government invited a Japaneese company to carry out a joint exploratory shrimp fishing venture. The contributions made by the Seastate Seafoods Company, the Eyib's Nutritional Food and the Arawak Fishing Companies towards the increase in the number of fishing fleet in the state are noted.