Control of insect infestation in smoked West African sardines Sardinella maderensis 'Sawa' using actellic 50 EC solution

Fish which has been cured or are in the process of being cured by traditional methods are usually infested by insects, posing a real problem to traders and processors, especially in Nigeria. The effects of 0.03% actellic 50 EC solution and vegetable oil on insect infestion were studied using West African sardines, Sardinella maderensis. Actellic solution was more effective in combating insect infestation than vegetable oil. Appearance and perceived smoked fish flavour of fish treated with Actellic and vegetable oil differed (P<0.05), while taste was unaffected by treatment. Actellic 50 EC solution though effective, could be subject to abuse

The EC Water Framework Directive and its implications for the Environment Agency

The bulk of the European Community's water policy legislation was developed between the mid 1970s and the early 1990s. These directives addressed specific substances, sources, uses or processes but caused problems with differing methods definitions and aims. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to resolve the piecemeal approach. The Environemnt Agency (EA) welcomes and supported the overall objective of establishing a coherent legislative framework. The EA has been discussing the implications of the WFD with European partners and has developed a timetable for the implementation and a special team will commission necessary research.

Preparation for implementing the proposed EC Water Framework Directive in Finland

Finland reorganised its environmental administration in 1995 when thirteen Regional Environmental Centres (RECs) and one national agency called the Finnish Environment Institute (FEI) were created. The REC's and the FEI have been entrusted with functions related to water resources management. RECs and FEI together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Foresty have appointed a steering group which will supervise the implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive in Finland

Monitoring fish populations in Lower Lough Erne, Northern Ireland: applicability of current methods and implications for future monitoring under the EC Water Framework Directive

The proposed EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) will require member states to monitor both biotic and abiotic components of lake environments. With adoption of the WFD some measurement of fish populations will also be required. This paper describes work carried out since 1971, and particularly since 1991, on the status of fish populations in Lower Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, with an emphasis on defining change over time due to human impacts on the lake. This offers a reasonable starting point from which to develop a monitoring programme suitable for the needs of the WFD in this lake. The implications for as yet unmonitored fish populations in lakes are also determined.

The EC Water Framework Directive and monitoring lakes in the Republic of Ireland

The authors of the article explore and discuss the effects of implementing the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the Republic of Ireland. They also summarise some of the findings from a survey of 31 lakes sampled regularly between March 1996 and December 1997. The lakes were sampled regularly for a range of physico-chemical and biotic variables that probably would be important for monitoring programmes implemented under the WFD. The authors discuss problems of monitoring lake types with varying seasonal patterns.

Modulation of the effectiveness of 17-alpha-hydroxy-20-beta-dihydroprogesterone or of a gonadotrophic extract on the in vitro intrafollicular maturation of oocytes of the rainbow trout Salmo gairdnerii by various non-maturing steroids [Translation from: Compte Rendu Hebdomadaire des Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, Paris, Series D 281, 811-814, 1975]

The effectiveness of 17 α-hydroxy-20 β-dihydroprogesterone (17 α-20 β Pg) or of a trout hypophyseal gonadotrophic extract on the in vitro intrafollicular maturation of trout oocytes can be modulated by steroids which do not have a direct maturing effect; the effectiveness of the gonadotrophic extract is lowered by oestradiol and oestrone and increased by testosterone. As these steroids have no significant effect on maturation induced by 17 α-20 β Pg, the site of their activity is probably in the follicular envelopes. Corticosteroids, and Cortisol and cortisone in particular increase the effectiveness of the gonadotrophic extract, but increase the effectiveness of 17 α-20 β Pg even more strongly, suggesting that this 'progestagen' has a direct effect on oocyte sensitivity.

Effect of diazinon 60 EC on Anabas testudineus, Channa punctatus and Barbodes gonionotus

Anabas testudineus, Channa punctatus and Barbodes gonionotus were exposed to 5.62, 6.25, 6.87, 7.50, 8.12 and 8.75 ppm; 1.13, 2.26, 3.39, 4.52, 5.65 and 6.78 ppm; and 2.00, 2.50, 3.00, 3.50, 4.00 and 4.50 ppm of Diazinon 60 EC, respectively. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values of Diazinon 60 EC on A. testudineus, C. punctatus and B. gonionotus were 6.55, 3.09 and 2.72 ppm for 96 hrs of exposure. The fish species showed several abnormal behaviors which included restlessness, arena movements, loss of equilibrium, increased opercular activities, strong spasm, paralysis and sudden quick movements during the exposure. For histopathological studies, A. testudineus, C. punctatus and B. gonionotus were exposed for 7 days to sublethal concentrations of 1.13 and 3.75 ppm; 1.13 and 2.26 ppm; and 1.13 and 2.26 ppm of Diazinon 60 EC, respectively. Hypertrophy, necrosis and pyknosis of hepatocytes, pyknosis and degenerative changes such as necrosis of tubular and haematopoietic cells of kidney were the major histopathological effects.

"They Come, They Fish, and They Go:” EC Fisheries Agreements with Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe

Fisheries agreements with the European Community (EC) are an important component of the fisheries sector in Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe, constituting today a key source of income for the respective fisheries administration. In spite of this, and of the fact that these agreements have been renewed several times over the past decades, challenges remain in domains such as control and communication of fishing activities, follow-up of financial counterparts, and integration of European fleets’ operations with the Cape Verdean and Santomean economies. This paper analyzes the EC fisheries agreements with Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe in terms of those domains, considering both the contents of the agreements and their practical implementation. The fisheries sector in each of these countries is reviewed, as are some of the fundamentals and criticisms of EC fisheries agreements. It is argued that the agreements with Cape Verde and São Tomé e Príncipe will not live up to the stated objectives of sustainability and responsibility in fisheries until improvements are made to the control of EC vessels, the follow-up of funds paid by the EC, and the size and diversity of benefits accruing to the fisheries and related sectors in the two countries

Decadal patterns in atmospheric carbon dioxide as indicators of changing growth and decay of terrestrial vegetation [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Large-scale changes in the growth and decay of land plants can be deduced from trends in the concentration of atmospherics [sic] carbon dioxide, after removing signals in the recorded data caused by oceanic and industrial disturbances to the concentration.