Hypoxia and Sturgeons: report to the Chesapeake Bay Program Dissolved Oxygen Criteria Team

In this essay, three lines of evidence are developed that sturgeons in the Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere are unusually sensitive to hypoxic conditions: 1. In comparison to other fishes, sturgeons have a limited behavioral and physiological capacity to respond to hypoxia. Basal metabolism, growth, and consumption are quite sensitive to changes in oxygen level, which may indicate a relatively poor ability by sturgeons to oxyregulate. 2. During summertime, temperatures >20 C amplify the effect of hypoxia on sturgeons and other fishes due to a temperature*oxygen "squeeze" (Coutant 1987)- In bottom waters, this interaction results in substantial reduction of habitat; in dry years, nursery habitats in the Chesapeake Bay may be particularly reduced or even eliminated. 3. While evidence for population level effects by hypoxia are circumstantial, there are corresponding trends between the absence of Atlantic sturgeon reproduction in estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay where summertime hypoxia predominates on a system-wide scale. Also, the recent and dramatic recovery of shortnose sturgeon in the Hudson River (4-fold increase in abundance from 1980 to 1995) may have been stimulated by improvement of a large portion of the nursery habitat that was restored from hypoxia to normoxia during the period 1973-1978. (PDF contains 26 pages)

Die Anwendung molekulargenetischer Verfahren in der fischereiwissenschaftlichen Forschung - Trennung von Fischpopulationen

The discrimination of stocks and separate reproductive units within fish species to facilitate fisheries management based on biological data has always been a challenge to fisheries biologists. We describe the use of three different molecular genetic techniques to detect genetic differences between stocks and closely related species. Direct sequencing of the mitochondrial ND3 gene describes the relationship between different aquaculture strains and natural populations of rainbow trout and revealed genetic homogeneity within the hatchery strains. Microsatellite analyses were used to explore the differences between redfish species from the genus Sebastes and to verify populations structure within S. mentella and S. marinus. This lead to an un equivocal discrimination of the species and an indication of populations structure within those species in the North Atlantic. The Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisum (AFLP) methodology revealed genetic differences between Baltic and North Sea dap (Limanda limanda)and a possible population structure within the North Sea.

Untersuchungen zur Aufzucht von Barramundi

Lates calcarifer (Barramundi) ist ein naher Verwandter des bei uns inzwischen seit Jahren bekannten und auf vielen Wochenmärkten zu findenden Viktoriabarsches(Lates niloticus), dem er auch im Aussehen ähnelt. Das Verbreitungsgebiet dieses euryhalinen Fisches sind die Küstenregionen mitsamt ihren Flußgebietssystemen des nördlichen Indischen und des westlichen tropischen Pazifischen Ozeans. Bei einer derartigen weiten Verbreitung ist es nicht verwunderlich, daß sich viele Bestände ausgebildet haben, die durchaus unterschiedliche Leistungen z. B. in Hinblick auf die Reproduktionsbiologie zeigen.

Zum Stellenwert von Fischmehl in der Aquakultur

The worldwide aquaculture production amounts to about one third of the world fishery catch. While the world fishery catch in the last years is stagnating and an increase is not to be expected, the aquaculture rose by about 10 % annually. This rate of growth is also predicted for the next years. Fish meal and oil forms a key position for the further development of aquaculture, specially for carnivorous fish species, of which the salmonids will gain an increasing economic importance, not only on the European, but also on the Japanese and American markets. Without an adequate supply of fish meal and oil for the production of these fish species, the expected product quality cannot be realized under economic conditions. Fish meal and oil are commonly produced from small pelagic fish species, which, at present and in the near future, have no importance for direct human consumption. Since December2000 the use of fish meal and oil in Germany is only allowed for use in aquaculture and petfood. However, conclusive arguments for a ban on the utilization for other animal feeds do not exist so far. The European Union continues to allows feeding of other animals – except ruminants – with fish meal under certain control measures.

Vergleichende Eislagerung von ausgenommenen und unausgenommenen Schleien

New regulations of the German “Fisch-Hygiene-Verordnung” lay down that all fish except pelagic species have to be gutted immediately after catch or killing, especially fresh water fish from aquaculture. Only gutted fish should be sold to the consumer. At the present time, however, it is not unusual to sell ungutted fish like tropical or mediterranean species from foreign countries, even the EC area. In this investigation the influence of gutting on the fish quality during storage on ice was tested in tench (Tinca tinca) as a model. Quality changes were controlled by sensory, chemical, physical and microbiological assessment. It was shown that for tench there were no differences between gutted and ungutted fish during 12 days of storage on ice.

Nährstoff-Einträge aus der deutschen Aquakultur in die Ostsee

Es gibt vier bzw. fünf große Gewässereinzugsgebiete mit Bedeutung für die Fischzucht. Dies sind die Donau mit ihrem Abfluß in das Schwarze Meer, Rhein, Weser und Elbe, die in die Nordsee entwässern sowie die Oder, die in die Ostsee mündet. Daneben gibt es noch einige weitere kleinere Flüsse von Nordwesten bis Nordosten Deutschlands, die in Nordsee (z. B. Eider, Stör) oder Ostsee (z. B. Stebnitz) fließen und das Ablaufwasser von Fischzuchten transportieren können.

Developing a viable fish farming industry in Nigeria -- an alternative strategy to the strategy in the Green Revolution Programme

A study was embarked upon with the twin objectives of reviewing the Green Revolution Strategy for accelerating fish production in the country and proposing an alternative strategy, a private sector approach. Some of the programmes listed in the Green Revolution are very necessary for developing a viable - fish farming industry and that money spent under such programmes is money well spent. Programmes that are also desirable but need to be considerably expanded were identified. Other programmes have been criticised on the grounds that the method chosen to achieve the desired objectives is fraught with dangers if sufficiently long run view of fisheries development is taken

Polyculture: A boost to the Green Revolution Programme

Polyculture, as presently practiced in Nigeria, focuses interest mainly on finfish. This practice, apart from neglecting indigenous valuable species such as clams and water snails, does not make full use of existing biomass. This paper suggests possible deviations from normal practice. Inclusion of macroinvertebrates in a polyculture system and stocking, temporary bodies of water with seasonal species such as the fresh water crayfish are suggested. A final suggestion is to develop a polyculture of swamp rice and crayfish

Preliminary investigation on growth responses of Cyprinus carpio L. fed on locally formulated artificial diets

The growth rate and feed conversion ratios of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio were measured for five test diets in 14-day replicate laboratory studies. The young carp were fed with artificial test diets with crude protein contents ranging from 14.50 to 21.42 per cent. Within this range of feed characteristic optimum growth rates were obtained with diets containing 20.25 and 21.42 per cent crude protein. The study of the effect of varying ration levels showed that growth rates increased with increases of ration size, but the food conversion efficiency and protein efficiency ratios decreased markedly as ration size was increased

Studies on the nutrition of brackish water catfish - Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus . 1. Preliminary investigations on the probable use of vegetable oil in catfish feeds

Four groups of brackishwater catfish were fed four diets: N.F. (NIOMR formula 1 feed), A. B. and C. for seven weeks. Feeds N.F., A., B and C. contained 1.21% fish oil + 5.59% vegetable oil; 1.21% fish oil + 7.39% vegetable oil; 1.21% fish oil + 9.09% vegetable oil; 1.21% fish oil + 10.89% vegetable oil respectively. Results of feeding trial showed that growth was best in the group fed diets containing 10.89% vegetable oil and least in those containing 9.09% vegetable oil

Preliminary studies on hypophysation technique of induced breeding of Clarias lazera

Fry supply is still the most serious problem yet to be solved in the culture of Clarias lazera in ponds. The object of the experiment is to compare the effect of fresh pituitary extract with that of the synthetic hormone with a view to determining the dosage. Ten trial runs were made using either the fresh pituitary extract of the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at various concentrations. It was however, noted that the response of a particular set varies with the concentration. The actual result achieved from each set is highlighted under each experiment

The growth of Sarotherodon (Tilapia) niloticus L. in Opa Reservoir, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

The growth of Sarotherodon (Tilapia) niloticus in Opa reservoir, University of Ife was determined from the fish scales. Compared with the growth in other similar water bodies the growth was comparatively faster in this newly-impounded reservoir

Zerlegbare Netzkäfig-Pontonrahmen Technische Entwicklung des Instituts für Ostseefischerei

Im Institut für Ostseefischerei (IOR) werden zur Untersuchung der Überlebensfähigkeit von Discards und zur Zwischenhälterung von Laichdorschen mobile Fischhaltungsräume benötigt. In Pontonrahmen eingehängte Netzkäfige sind dafür erfahrungsgemäß eine einfache Lösung. Diese Hälterungseinrichtungen haben den Vorteil, daß sie bedarfsweise in ausgewählten Wasserreservoirs eingesetzt werden können. Sie sind als schwimmende Einheiten von Pegelschwankungen unabhängig und bei Aufrechterhaltung der Hälterungsfunktion flexibel im Standort. Aufgrund des häufigen Einsatzwechsels ergab sich im IOR die Notwendigkeit, eine leicht montierbare und transportable Netzkäfigeinheit zu konstruieren.

Improvement in the nutritive quality of soyabean meal by co-ensiling with under-utilized fish discards

Improvement in the nutritive value of soybean meal was investigated by Co-ensiling it with underutilized trash fish discards (gizzard shad)at different proportions. The following proportions of gizzard shad to soybean meal were used; (a) 100% gizzard shad + acid combination (b)80% gizzard shad +20% soybean meal & 10% WB (c) 60% gizzard shad + 40% soybean meal & 10% WB (d) 100% gizzard shad without acid combination. Co-ensiling was achieved by adding sufficient acid to produce a paste. Products were neutralized by addition of 2% (by weight) calcium hydroxide and drying was affected by freeze-drying.The dried silage products were stored at low temperatures. Products were analysed for proximate composition and amino acid composition.The amino acid composition and ration of essential amino acid. Non essential amino acid (EAA/NEAA) was used as index of nutritive quality. Also essential amino acid profile of the co-ensiled products were compared with essential amino acid requirement of some warmwater fish species to estimate their nutritive usefulness for these species

Utilization of agro-industrial wastes as fish feedstuffs in Nigeria

Fish feeding accounts for a substantial amount in the variable expenditure of a fish farming enterprises. There is a need to examine closely the potentials and advantages of locally available agro-industrial by-products, as possible substitutes for the conventional feedstuffs which are dwindling in supply, and escalating in their cost. A wide range of by products from plant, animal and industrial processes have been studied and posses nutrient composition which can be exploited as dietary ingredients for warm water species as the Tilapia and Clarias sp. Such useful by-products include poultry feathers, rice bran, soybean hulls and cocoa husks which are discarded as wastes. However, some processing treatments might be required to alleviate the toxic effects of possible anti-nutritional factors in the by-products, for the achievement of optimum benefit