Impactos negativos en las pesquerías de lisas (Pisces, Mugilidae) en Cuba de 1971 a 1995 y recomendaciones para incrementar su producción

Se presenta la situación actual de las lisas (Pisces, Mugilidae en Cuba, espacialmente respecto a los daños sufridos en sus pesquerías de 1971 a 1995. Se revisan las especies marinas presentes en aguas cubanas y sus características generales, así como las principales zonas, artes y épocas de pesca. Se presentan las capturas por regiones y se analizan los desembarques por categorías, de acuerdo con su composición por espec1e. Se revisa la Situación del grupo en los últimos años, cuyas capturas han disminuído a sólo un 5% del nivel más alto alcanzado, debido a los perjuicios ambientales de las lagunas y áreas costeras aledañas causadas por acciones antrópicas, que se describen, así como por disminuciones en el esfuerzo pesquero. Se presentan las relaciones entre las capturas y la capacidad de agua embalsada acumulada en el país, así como entre la talla media de las hembras de Mugil liza y el año en el periodo de 1981 a 1989 en la localidad históricamente más importante. Se analizan propuestas para incrementar la producción de los mugílidos en Cuba relacionadas con las pesquerías y la aplicación de técnicas de "Vallicultura integrada" como única vía para rehabilitar el medio ambiente lagunar con un balance adecuado de costo-rentabilidad. ABSTRACT The present status of the mullets (P1sces, Muglhdae),Cuba is rev1ewed, spec1ally in relation to their físhery between 1971 end 1995. The manne spec1es, Cuban waters, the1r general characterst1cs, as well as the main zonas, gears and flshmg Matons are shown. The captures by reg1ons and the landings by category and by specíes compositton are anatysed . The 11tuat10n ol the group in recent years is rev1ewed , in which the captures decreased to only 5% of the h1ghest leve! attamed due to envuonmental damages to coastal lagoons and nearby areas causad by human actions and by a lower flsh1ng effort. The retau onsh1ps are shown between captures and the country's cumulatíve capacitv of water dams, as well as that of the average s11e of Mugilliza tamales m the years between 1981 and 1989 ín the most historically important locat1on •. Proposals to mcrease mullet production in Cuba m relat1on to fisheries and establishment of "i ntegrated Vallicultura• as the only wav of restonng the tagoon environment with a good cost-benefi t balance are analysed.

Diet changes of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) in Alaska between 1980 and 1995

The diet of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) in the area of Pavlof Bay, Alaska, was studied in the early 1980s by Albers and Anderson (1985). They found that the dominant prey species were forage species like pandalid shrimp, capelin (Mallotus villosus), and walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma). The shrimp fishery in Pavlof Bay began in 1968 and closed in 1980 because of low shrimp abundance (Ruccio and Worton1). Survey data indicate that, during the period between 1972 and 1997, the abundance of forage species such as pandalid shrimp and capelin declined and higher trophic-level groundfish such as Pacific cod increased. There is a general recognition that a long-term ocean climate shift in the Gulf of Alaska has been partially responsible for the observed reorganization of the community structure (Anderson and Piatt, 1999).

Offshore coho salmon populations near the Pacific Northwest and large-scale atmospheric events

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Catch of coho salmon off the coast of Washington and Oregon since 1925 appears to be related to large-scale events in the atmosphere, which in turn affect ocean currents and coastal upwelling intensities in the northeastern Pacific. At least two time scales of variations can be identified. The first is that of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation phenomenon giving rise to an irregular cycle of between 3 to 7 years. ... The second time scale of variation seems to have a periodicity of about 20 years, although this is based on a limited dataset. ... This paper endeavors to describe how, if real, these atmospheric/oceanic effects are integrated and might affect the salmon catch. The possibility must also be considered that the atmospheric events are symbiotically related to the oceanic events and, further, that both may be enmeshed in even longer-term variability of climate.

California water conditions in 1995

From 1987 through 1992, California endured 6 consecutive years of drought for the second time this century. The drought was broken in most parts of the state by a wet year in 1993, in which runoff was 125 percent of average. But 1994 was again critically dry, with runoff only 40 percent of average statewide, raising fears that the drought had resumed. The "drought watch" of 1994 was finally washed out to sea by two large floods (January and March), which made 1995 one of the wettest years this century and refilled all but a couple of California's major reservoirs. This paper provides information on water conditions and flooding in 1995 and some comparisons with previous years.

Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual Pacific Climate (PACLIM) Workshop, Asilomar, California - May 2-5, 1995 [appendices]

The appendices include the workshop agenda, a list of poster presentations, and a list of attendees.

Avaliaçāo preliminar do estado da exploraçāo de Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon, Boulenger 1906), em cahora bassa com base em dados históricos de captura e esforço de 1995-2000

The fishing of kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon, Boulenger 1906) on the Cahora Bassa Dam started around 1992, when considerable stocks of this species were discovered in the lake. The species is believed to have successful established in the Dam following a natural introduction through a downstream movement from Kariba dam where it was introduced in 1967/68. Fisheries statistics on the kapenta fishery have been collected since 1993 by the Ministry of Fisheries through the Provincial Offices for Fisheries Administration of Tete (SPAP - Tete) but only data from 1995 onward are available on the database of the Ministry of Fisheries and these are the data that was used for compiling the present report on which trends of fishing effort, catch and CPUE are analyzed. Catch and effort have increased with time, from a minimum of the 4 thousand metric tons for an annual fishing effort of 36 fishing rigs in 1995 to a maximum of 12 tons for a fishing effort of 135 rigs while CPUE followed a decreasing trend during the same period. Correlation analysis between catch and effort suggests that probably environmental factors may have influence on catch variation than the increase on fishing effort. Two models were applied for calculating MSY and FMSY resulting in two pairs of roof leading to two scenario of fisheries management. 10137 tons and a FMSY of 177 fishing rigs were computed using Schaefer model while 11690 tons and a FMSY of 278 were obtained using Fox model. Considering the differences between the two results and considering the fact that the two models have no differences in terms of precision and the fact that their determination coefficient are not different it is suggested, using the precautionary principle that result from Schaefer model be a adopted for fisheries management purpose.

Status of the beach seine fishery in the Hambantota District during 1995-97

Beach seine fishery is one of the oldest fishing methods practiced in Sri Lanka. In the recent past several modifications were observed in the structure of the net and the material used in the construction of nets. beach seine nets made of nylon material were also reported at 4 operating sites out of 17-beach seine landing centers in the Hambantota District. However, traditional beach seine nets made of coir and kuralon were the common nets used in the area. Fishing season extends from September to April of the following year. However, beach seining at Mawella was carried out throughout the year. The estimated average annual effort for the entire study area was about 4250 operations. The mean annual catch rate at Mawella, Kalametiya and Welipatanwila were estimated as 81.8, 290.7, and 167.3 kg/operation respectively. The mean annual catch rate for the entire study area was estimated as 157.3 kg/operation. The beach seines recorded an estimated annual production of 662mt in the Hambantota district. Stoleophorous sp. has made the major contribution to the beach seine catches and it was about 31.7% of the total beach seine production. Leiognathus sp. Carangids and Trichuras sp. have produced 11.5%, 9.5% and 8.5% respectively while Amblygaster sirm and other Sardinella sp. have produced 5.5% and 4.9% respectively. A sirm was found during the months of November, February, March and July. The size range of A. sirm caught by beach seine during February –March period was in the range of 5-12cm (total length). Contribution by Rastrelliger sp. and Sphyreana sp. were 2.9% and 2.6% by each category. Average income of a beach seine operation at Mawella, Kalametiya and Welipatanwila were Rs. 3330/=, 10250/= and 6222/= per operation respectively.