Untersuchungen zur Langleinenfischerei auf Dorsch und Aal in der Ostsee

With the aim to reduce bycatches and discards first investigations were carried out in longlining for cod and eel in the Baltic. In the case of eel fisheries they are compared with small mesh size trawling and in the case of cod fisheries with gillnetting, where during the winter season unwished bycatches of seabirds could be a problem. First results show that these investigations should be continued.

Neue Erkenntnisse zur Verteilung des Nordseeherings auf die Gebiete der EU und Norwegens

A study by K.R. Patterson of the Marine Lab, Aberdeen, Scottland, presented to the EU comission in June 1997, investigated the distribution of Herring in the North Sea, i. e. the zonal attachment of the stock to EU and Norwegian waters, respectively. Evaluation of data from the ICES International Bottom Trawl Surveys and Herring Acoustic Surveys conducted in the last 10 years showed a wide variation in biomass and zonal attachment, depending on the type of survey used and the season sampled. However, a mean share of 16 % was estimated to be attached to the Norwegian waters . In contrast to earlier analyses based on commercial catches there is little support that this proportion increases with increasing stock size. It is expected that this study will give rise to some discussion on the forthcoming EU-Norwegian consultations on North Sea herring.

Hinweise auf eine Überfischung grönländischer Grundfischbestände

At present, the severe decline of the fishery off Greenland is being discussed controversially. In contrast to overfishing, climate changes and emigration are itemized causal. Available German data on commercial catches and research cruises are presented for clarification. A few years after the beginning of heavy exploitation during the early sixties, the stocks of cod, golden and beaked redfish reflected a significant rejuvenescence based on catch analysis. Regular scientific surveys• for stock assessment purposes commenced in 1982 when the productivity of the stocks was already adversely affected due to low spawning stocks and extremely irregular recruitment. From this point of view, the results of the latest survey in 1995 showing stagnant fish biomass at record low level since 1991 are not surprising. The status of the cod stock is still considered severely depleted. Taking the high abundance of juvenile redfish into account, recovery of the groundfish stocks is unlikely in short term and depends on the non-predictable recruitment only.

Ausbau der Unterwasser-Beobachtungstechnik im Institut für Fischereitechnik der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Fischerei, Hamburg

Die Unterwasser-Beobachtungstechnik mit Hilfe von Videokameras wurde nach 1945 entwickelt und erzielte in den 50er Jahren ihre ersten aufsehenerregenden Erfolge auf dem Gebiet der Wracksuche. Versuche mit der neuen Technik in der Fischereiforschung ließen gleichzeitig die Grenzen bei der Beobachtung von fischereilichen Fanggeräten und -objekten erkennen: die geringe Lichtstärke der verfügbaren Kameras erforderte den Einsatz von Kunstlicht, d.h. eine Beobachtung des Fangprozesses unter "natürlichen" Bedingungen ohne Zusatzbeleuchtung war nicht möglich. Diese Einschränkung sowie die am Beginn jeder technischen Entwicklung unvermeidlichen Kinderkrankheiten verhinderten zu dieser Zeit die allgemeine Einführung der Unterwasser-Beobachtungstechnik mit Video-Kameras in der Fischereiforschung.

Analyse des Fluchtverhaltens von Fischen auf Schiffsgeräusche mit hydroakustischen Methoden

Investigations on the avoidance reactions of pelagic schooling fish (herring and sprat) released by an approaching fishery vessel were carried out during the 378th cruise of FRC "Solea" from 25 September to 3 October 1995 in the Arkona Sea, southern Baltic. An echosounder system EK 500/BI500 with a 38 kHz transducer mounted on a towed body as weIl as a 120 kHz hull mounted transducer were used. Fish densities were measured synchronously as well as under the ship as at a laterally distances from the ship by the transducer of the towed body. By these means the variation of fish densities up to a certain distance from the ship is possible. The advantage of using an echo integrating system for these measurements is, that it works also for not schooling fish and under conditions where schooling fish disperse (e.g. at night).

Internationaler Rotbarschsurvey auf den ozeanischen Sebastes mentella in der Irminger See unter isländischer, deutscher und russischer Beteiligung

A hydroacoustic survey on the oceanic redfish (oceanic Sebastes mentella) in the Irminger Sea and adjacent waters South and East of Greenland was carried out by Iceland, Germany and Russia. During this, about 250 000 nm2 were covered. The acoustic assessment yielded a stock size of approximately 1.6 x 10(6) tonnes or 2.6 x 10(9) individuals. This however, is considered to be an underestimation of the stock, as a result of partial mixing of the stock with the scattering layer. The oceanic redfish concentrations were densest at 200-300 m depth, mainly within temperatures of 3.5 °C to 5 °C. 61 % of the stock were males at an average length of 36 cm and an average weight of 582 g.

Experimente über die Wirkung von UV-B auf pelagische Fischembryonen in einem Sonnenscheinsimulator

One of the supposed effects of the observed ozone depletion is the increase of solar UV-B irradiation at the seasurface. This will cause an impact on certain compartments of marine ecosystems. Especially, sensitive developmental stages of pelagic fish embryos might be affected. Embryos of dab (Limanda limanda) and plaice (Pleuronectes plalessa) were experimentally exposed 10 different amounts of UVB irradiation in a sunshine simulator. This programmable device allows the dosage of realistic solar irradiation in quality and guantity. Experiments were carried out in March 1995 and February 1996. Either artificially inserninated and reared emhryos of dab and plaice or embryos caught in the German Bight were exposed to simulated solar irradiation. The 1995 experiments served to identify the effective irradiation dosages. For the 1996 experiments irradiation applied was much lower, being dose to realistic valucs expected over the North Sea as a consequence of ozone depletion. The following end points were studied: 1. Mortality, 2. sublethal morphological effects (malformations), 3. DNA damage, 4. changes in buoyancy of embryos measured as changes in osmolarity of the perivitelline fluid. Conditions for the simulation of daylight were a c1oudless sky with a solar zenith distance of 34 % (air mass 1.2). The adopted ozone depletion was 40 % corresponding to 180 DU (Dobson Units) instead of 300 DU. In the 1995 experiments time and dosage dependent influenccs on mortality and buoyancy of embryos of dab and plaice were found. Even in those embryos which were protected from the UV-B spectral range a loss of buoyancy was registered after 12 hours in the simulator. No diffcrences in DNA integrity as determined by DNA unwinding of exposed and control embryos were found. Also with lower amounts of irradiation in the 1996 experiments dosage dependent acute mortality, malformations, and impact on the buoyancy of the emhryos was registered. Sublethal effects occurred as well in embryos protected against UV-B in the exposure chambers, but were not found in the dark controls. The impact of low dosages of UV-B on the buoyancy of pelagic fish embryos might indicate an important ecological threat and deserves further studies.

Einfluß der Holtechnologie auf die Selektion von Grundschleppnetzen

A widespread belief among fishermen that sidetrawlers show a better selectivity than sterntrawlers was investigated in a comparative fishing exercise in the Baltic. In contrary to earlier observations during this experiment in May no essential differences with regard to the selectivity of the trawls used could be found for both types of fishing vessels. Possible explanations for the result are discussed.

Einfluß von Anlagen der Offshore-Industrie auf die Fischerei in der Nordsee

From the beginning of the oil and gas exploration in the North Sea the impact of offshore installations, especially pipelines, on the fishery has been thoroughly discussed and investigated. Since fishing activities in the vicinity of pipelines are not prohibited, special precautions have to be taken to prevent towed fishing gear from being fouled by a pipeline. Until now all recommendations for the installation of pipelines are based on the results of tests with trawls crossing one pipeline. New problems will arise if parallel pipelines are installed as planned in the near future.

Auswirkungen der Salzeinströme 1993/1994 auf die ozeanographischen Bedingungen in der zentralen Ostsee

The effects of both the major Baltic inflow in January 1993 and two smaller inflows in December 1993 and March 1994 on the environnmental conditions in the Bornholm, Gdansk and eastern Gotland Basins are described. These inflows terminated the 16-year stagnation of the central Baltic deepwater and led to a moderate increase in salinity, but to the highest oxygen concentrations in the Gotland Deep since the 30ies.

Keine Hoffnung auf ertragreiche Fischerei vor Westgrönland

Nach dem Zusammenbruch der Kabeljaufischerei vor Westgrönland im Jahre 1990 erreichte der Bestand im Herbst 1991 seine geringste Bestandsgröße seit 1982. Im Vergleich zum Vorjahr verringerte sich der Bestand bis zum Dezember 1992 nochmals deutlich. Das regelmäßige aber geringe Vorkommen von Jungfischen deutet auf eine nur mäßige Rekrutierung. Einige ökologisch wichtige aber fischereilich nicht interessante Fischarten weisen auf niedrigem Niveau stagnierende oder schwach zunehmende Bestandszahlen auf. Die Einrichtung umfassender Schonmaßnahmen für den Kabeljau erscheint dringend geboten.