Ontogenetic and temporal variability in the fat content and fatty acid composition of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) from the Bay of Fundy, Canada

Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is an ecologically and economically valuable species in many food webs, yet surprisingly little is known about the variation in the nutritional quality of these fish. Atlantic herring collected from 2005 through 2008 from the Bay of Fundy, Canada, were examined for variability in their nutritional quality by using total lipid content (n=889) and fatty acid composition (n=551) as proxies for nutritional value. A significant positive relationship was found between fish length and total lipid content. Atlantic herring also had significantly different fatty acid signatures by age. Fish from 2005 had significantly lower total lipid content than fish from 2006 through 2008, and all years had significantly different fatty acid signatures. Summer fish were significantly fatter than winter fish and had significantly different fatty acid signatures. For all comparisons (ontogenetic, annual, and seasonal) percent concentrations of omega-3, -6, and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids were the most important for distinguishing between the fatty acid signatures of fish. This study underscores the importance of quantifying variation in prey quality synoptically with prey quantity in food webs over ontogenetic and temporal scales when evaluating the effect of prey nutritional quality on predators and on modeling trophic dynamics.

Diel differences in catches of Western Baltic Spring Spawning Herring Larvae (Clupea harengus)

Comparative night and day catches of herring larvae were taken during the Rügen-Herring-Larval-Survey (RHLS) in 2007 and 2008 in the Greifswalder Bodden which is the main spawning area of the Western Baltic Spring Spawning Herring. The quantities and the size composition of larvae caught during night and day were examined. During night more larvae were caught compared to the samples taken at daytime, especially with larvae larger than 25 mm. This indicates avoidance reactions, which increase with the developmental stage of the larvae. The differences of the night and day catches are relatively constant until a length of about 25 mm, thus the night/day effect does not influence estimations concerning larvae smaller than 25 mm (e.g. N20 index). There might be an impact on estimations for larger larvae due to the night/day effect. For further research other aspects like cloud coverage at night, phase of the moon, underwater visibility and turbidity should be taken into account. These aspects might influence the avoidance reactions.

Ostseehering (Clupea harengus) - eine Rohwarenressource für die deutsche Fischwirtschaft?

Baltic Sea herring is a traditional raw material for the German fish processing industry and the fresh fish market. This applies also for the spring herring of the spawning population of the waters around the island of Rügen. Reduction of the fat content to about 5 % during the spawning cycle limits the processing possibilities of mature herring from this area. Failures in taste and odour (tainting), a common problem of the past have not been detected in the last 3 years. Infestation by nematodes are comparable to other herring stocks and contamination levels of organic and inorganic contaminants are well below allowable limits. The annual German fishing quota of about 85000 t of Baltic Sea herring is now utilised only to 10 %. For a stronger utilization of this stock as in the 70th and 80th , there are scarcely prerequisites. The project of a central processing plant on the island Rügen for about 50000 t of herring as raw material is not realistic. The answer to the question asked at the beginning of this article, whether Baltic Sea herring represents a raw material for the German fish processing industry, is YES, dispite some restrictions.

Zum Auftreten von Geruchs- und Geschmacksabweichungen ("Tainting") bei Frühjahrsheringen (Clupea harengus) aus der Ostsee

An account of the occurrenee of tainting in fish and seafood with special consideration of spring spawning herring from the Baltic Sea (estuary of the river Oder) is given. About 26 % of the herring samples examined by sensory methods showed tainting. In general the intensity of taint was weak or moderate and weaker as observed years ago. Also in fishery products (pickled herring, deep fried herring in marinade) processed from tainted herrings the same or a similar sensory intensity of taint as in the raw material was observed. The source of taint is not dear. A pollution with halogenphenols from the sea water could be possible. In further investigations we will monitor the further development and try to identify the tainting compounds.

Human Dimensions of Marine Fisheries: Using GIS to Illustrate Land-Sea Connections in the Northeast U.S. Herring, Clupea harengus, Fishery

Geographic Information Systems can help improve ocean literacy and inform our understanding of the human dimensions of marine resource use. This paper describes a pilot project where GIS is used to illustrate the connections between fish stocks and the social, cultural, and economic components of the fishery on land. This method of presenting and merging qualitative and quantitative data represents a new approach to assist fishery managers, participants, policy-makers, and other stakeholders in visualizing an often confusing and poorly understood web of interactions. The Atlantic herring fishery serves as a case study and maps from this pilot project are presented and methods reviewed.

Comparison of Standard Length, Fork Length, and Total Length for Measuring West Coast Marine Fishes

Measurements of adult marine fishes on the U.S. west coast are usually made using one of three methods: standard length, fork length, or total length. Each method has advantages and disadvantages. In this paper we attempt to determine whether one method is faster and/or more reliable than the other methods. We found that all three methods were comparable. There was no appreciable difference in the time it took to measure fish using the different methods. Fork length had the most reproducible results; however, it had the highest level of bias between researchers. We therefore suggest that selection of measurement type be based on what other researchers have used for the species under study. The best improvement in measurement reliability probably occurs by adequate training of personnel and not type of measurement used.

Recovery of the Gulf of Maine--Georges Bank Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) complex: perspectives based on bottom trawl survey data

NMFS bottom trawl survey data were used to describe changes in distribution, abundance, and rates of population change occurring in the Gulf of Maine–Georges Bank herring (Clupea harengus) complex during 1963–98. Herring in the region have fully recovered following severe overfishing during the 1960s and 1970s. Three distinct, but seasonally intermingling components from the Gulf of Maine, Nantucket Shoals (Great South Channel area), and Georges Bank appear to compose the herring resource in the region. Distribution ranges contracted as herring biomass declined in the late 1970s and then the range expanded in the 1990s as herring increased. Analysis of research survey data suggest that herring are currently at high levels of abundance and biomass. All three components of the stock complex, including the Georges Bank component, have recovered to pre-1960s abundance. Survey data support the theory that herring recolonized the Georges Bank region in stages from adjacent components during the late 1980s, most likely from herring spawning in the Gulf of Maine.

Effect of salt on the level of histamine in preserved fish (Herring, Clupea harengus)

Histamine levels in batches of heavily salted (fish:salt ratio 4:1) herring (Clupea harengus) were monitored during ripening at 4°C and 25°C. The batches studied were prepared from both pre-spawning and post-spawning (spent) fish using new and used salt. Salt levels in the flesh, which reached 11 to 14% (wet weight basis) during the ripening period, were found to retard histamine formation. During normal spoilage of ice chilled fish, histamine levels had been reported to exceed 50mg/100g flesh as it approached the limit of edibility whilst, in the heavily salted fish, levels remained below 20mg/100g flesh throughout the ripening periods of 18 months for the 4°C batches and 3 months for the 25°C batches. This was the case when the samples were set up and the salt allowed penetrating the flesh at 4°C. When, however, the samples were set up and initially stored at ambient (10-15°C) temperature the histamine levels in the flesh rose above 20mg/100g before enough salt had penetrated to inhibit its generation. The gradual rise in levels which, nevertheless, occurred over the ripening periods followed significantly (5% level of significance) different trends, being greater in the batches prepared from pre-spawning than those from spent fish.

Comparative account of growth rate of body parts with total length in adult Puntius sarana (Ham.)

The present study on growth rate of different body parts in relation to total length, in the male and female Puntius sarana (Ham.) did not show any significant heterogeneity except in snout length (p.01). The growth rate of snout length was found to be higher in females (b=0.0377) than in males (b=0.0266). Since the growth rate of most of the body parts was found to be homogeneous in both the sexes, the common regression co-efficient "b" was calculated on pooled data to represent the growth rate of different body parts against total length, the linearity of regression lines indicated isometric growth.

Comparative account of growth rate of body parts with total length in Rita pavimentata (Gunther)

The paper deals with sex-wise growth rate of different body parts in relation to total length in Rita paviinentata (Gunther). Growth rates calculated on pooled data by using the common regression coefficient 'b' reveals isometric and homogeneous nature in sexes.

Studies on fecundity of Puntius sarana (Ham.) in relation to total length, total weight and ovary weight

A total of 43 mature female of Puntius sarana (Ham.) ranging from 204 mm to 320 mm in length and 102 to 482 g in weight were used for present studies. The relationship between fecundity with respect to total length (TL), total weight (TW) and ovary weight (OW) was found to be linear. The coefficient of co-relation 'r' of the above relationships was found to be 0.5947, 0.5761 and 0.9837 respectively. All these values are highly significant (P=0.01) indicating a close relationship between these parameters. However, as indicated by value of 'r' (0.9837), the fecundity is more closely related to ovary weight and hence the ovary weight may be a better index of fecundity than the total length or weight.

Studies on fecundity of Rita pavimentata (Gunther) in relation to total length, total weight and ovary weight

A total of thirty eight ripe ovaries from the specimens of Rita pavimentata, measuring 230 to 355 mm in total length (TL) and 250 to 750 g in total weight (TW), were selected to study the fecundity. The relationship between fecundity 'and total length (TL), total weight (TW) and ovary weight (OW) was found to be linear. The coefficient of co-relation 'r' of the above relationship was found to be 0.92, 0.94 and 0.96 respectively. All these values are highly significant (P=0.01) indicating a close relationship between compared parameters. However, as indicated by value of 'r' (0.96), the fecundity is more closely related to ovary weight and hence the ovary weight may be a better index of fecundity than the total body length or weight.

Relationship between total length and mouth gap of some commercially important carp fry

The estimated regression equation for total length and mouth gape computed were Log TL = Log 0.23 + 0.663 log MG (vertically) (r = 0.960) and Log TL = Log 0.08 + 0.686 log MG (horizontally) (r = 0.949). In case of rohu average total length from 11350 mm to 23775 mm and mouth gape 805 um to 1225 um (vertically) and 700 um to 1110 um (horizontally) between the first day of mouth opening up to 15 days. The regression equation for total length and mouth gap were Log TL = Log 0.20 + 0.660 log MG (vertically) (r = 0.935) and Log TL = Log 0.02 + 0698 log MG (horizontally) ( r = 0.907). In case of silver carp average total length from 12800 ,urn to 33555 um and mouth gape 690 um to 1210 um (vertically) and 615 um to 1115 um (horizontally) between the first day of mouth opening up to 15 days. The regression equation for total length and mouth gape were Log TL = Log 0.36 + 0.596 log MG (vertically) (r = 0.936) and Log TL = Log 0.26 + 0.607 log MG (horizontally) (r = 0.891). The relationship between total length and mouth gape (vertically and horizontally) of the studied fry were found to be linear and highly significant.

Size frequency distribution and carapace length-total length relationship of Acetes chinensis in the Kutubdia channel of Bangladesh coast

The seasonal mean size distribution of A. chinensis were estimated as 29.229mm ±4.77, 25.125mm ±2.55, 25.165mm ±2.29 and 32.44mm ±3.63 for annual, monsoon, postmonsoon and pre-monsoon period, respectively. Seasonal mean carapace length distribution were estimated as 9.37mm ±1.457, 8.063mm ±0.63,8.258mm ±0.59 and 10.37mm ±l.ll3 for annual, monsoon, post-monsoon and the pre-monsoon season. The carapace length and total length relationships was found to be TL= - 1.39±3.23 CL. Linear relation was found in arithmetic and as well as logarithmic scale.

On the eye diameter-total length relationship of the Indian mackerel Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier)

Results of studies of chemical, bacteriological and organoleptic quality of cured fish collected from four major curing centres along the Tamil Nadu coast are reported. Only 32.43% of the samples had moisture level below 35%, 0.9% had salt 25% and above. None of the samples showed acid insoluble ash below 1.5%. The main defects were unhygienic processing, inadequate salting, use of poor quality salt and incomplete drying. Recommendations for improvement of quality are given.