An increment technique for estimating growth parameters of tropical tunas, as applied to yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares)

ENGLISH: The rate of growth of tropical tunas has been studied by various investigators using diverse methods. Hayashi (1957) examined methods to determine the age of tunas by interpreting growth patterns on the bony or hard parts, but the results proved unreliable. Moore (1951), Hennemuth (1961), and Davidoff (1963) studied the age and growth of yellowfin tuna by the analysis of size frequency distributions. Schaefer, Chatwin and Broadhead (1961), and Fink (ms.), estimated the rate of growth of yellowfin tuna from tagging data; their estimates gave a somewhat slower rate of growth than that obtained by the study of length-frequency distributions. For the yellowfin tuna, modal groups representing age groups can be identified and followed for relatively long periods of time in length-frequency graphs. This may not be possible, however, for other tropical tunas where the modal groups may not represent identifiable age groups; this appears to be the case for skipjack tuna (Schaefer, 1962). It is necessary, therefore, to devise a method of estimating the growth rates of such species without identifying the year classes. The technique described in this study, hereafter called the "increment technique", employs the measurement of the change in length per unit of time, with respect to mean body length, without the identification of year classes. This technique is applied here as a method of estimating the growth rate of yellowfin tuna from the entire Eastern Tropical Pacific, and from the Commission's northern statistical areas (Areas 01-04 and 08) as shown in Figure 1. The growth rates of yellowfin tuna from Area 02 (Hennemuth, 1961) and from the northern areas (Davidoff, 1963) have been described by the technique of tracing modal progressions of year classes, hereafter termed the "year class technique". The growth rate analyses performed by both techniques apply to the segment of the population which is captured by tuna fishing vessels. The results obtained by both methods are compared in this report. SPANISH: La tasa del crecimiento de los atunes tropicales ha sido estudiada por varios investigadores quienes usaron diversos métodos. Hayashi (1957) examinó los métodos para determinar la edad de los atunes interpretando las marcas del crecimiento de las partes óseas o duras, pero los resultados no han demostrado eficacia. Moore (1951), Hennemuth (1961) y Davidoff (1963) estudiaron la edad y el crecimiento del atún aleta amarilla por medio del análisis de las distribuciones de la frecuencia de tamaños. Schaefer, Chatwin y Broadhead (1961) y Fink (Ms.), estimaron la tasa del crecimiento del atún aleta amarilla valiéndose de los datos de la marcación de los peces; ambos estimaron una tasa del crecimiento algo más lenta que la que se obtiene mediante el estudio de las distribuciones de la frecuencia de longitudes. Para el atún aleta amarilla, los grupos modales que representan grupos de edad pueden ser identificados y seguidos durante períodos de tiempo relativamente largos en los gráficos de la frecuencia de longitudes. Sin embargo, ésto puede no ser posible para otros atunes tropicales para los cuales los grupos modales posiblemente no representan grupos de edad identificables; este parece ser el caso para el barrilete (Schaefer, 1962). Consecuentemente, es necesario idear un método para estimar las tasas del crecimiento de las mencionadas especies sin necesidad de identificar las clases anuales. La técnica descrita en este estudio, en adelante llamada la "técnica incremental", emplea la medida del cambio en la longitud por unidad de tiempo, con respecto al promedio de la longitud corporal, sin tener que identificar las clases anuales. Esta técnica se aplica aquí como un método para estimar la tasa del crecimiento del atún aleta amarilla de todo el Pacífico Oriental Tropical, y de las áreas estadísticas norteñas de la Comisión (Areas 01-04 y 08), como se muestra en la Figura 1. Las tasas del crecimiento del atún aleta amarilla del Area 02 (Hennemuth, 1961) y de las áreas del norte (Davidoff, 1963), han sido descritas por medio de una técnica que consiste en delinear las progresiones modales de las clases anuales, en adelante llamada la "técnica de la clase anual". Los análisis de la tasa del crecimiento llevados a cabo por ambas técnicas se refieren al segmento de la población capturada por embarcaciones pesqueras de atún. Los resultados obtenidos por ambos métodos se comparan en este informe.

A stationary visual census technique for quantitatively assessing community structure of coral reef fishes

A new method is described and evaluated for visually sampling reef fish community structure in environments with highly diverse and abundant reef fish populations. The method is based on censuses of reef fishes taken within a cylinder of 7.5 m radius by a diver at randomly selected, stationary points. The method provides quantitative data on frequency of occnrrence, fish length, abundance, and community composition, and is simple, fast, objective, and repeatable. Species are accumulated rapidly for listing purposes, and large numbers of samples are easily obtained for statistical treatment. The method provides an alternative to traditional visual sampling methods. Observations showed that there were no significant differences in total numbers of species or individuals censused when visibility ranged between 8 and 30 m. The reefs and habitats sampled were significant sources of variation in number of species and individuals censused, but the diver was not a significant influence. Community similarity indices were influenced significantly by the specific sampling site and the reef sampled, but were not significantly affected by the habitat or diver (PDF file contains 21 pages.)

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 effects of brood stock size on the economy of catfish (Clarias anguillaris) fry production using the hormone induced natural breeding technique

89 ripe female brooders of the catfish, Clarias anguillaris (Body wt. Range 150g-1, 200g) were induced to spawn by hormone (Ovaprim) induced natural spawning technique over a period of 10 weeks. Matching ripe males were used for pairing the females at the ratio of two males to a female. Six ranges of brood stock body weights were considered as follows; <200g; 200g-399g; 400g-599g; 600-799g; 800g-999g; > 1000g and the number of fry produced by each female brooder was scored/recorded against the corresponding body weight range. The number of fry per unit quantity of hormone and the cost of production a fry based on the current price of Ovaprim (hormon) were determined so as to ascertain most economic size range. The best and most economic size range was between 400g-599g body weight with about 20,000 fry per ml of hormone and N0.028 per fry, while the females above 1000g gave the poorest results of 9,519 fry per ml of hormone and N0.059 per fry. For optimum production of Clarias anguillaris fry and maximum return on investment female brooders of body weights ranging between 400g-599g are recommended for hormone induced natural breeding exercises

The effects of brood stock size on the economy of catfish (Clarias anguillaris) fry production using the hormone induced natural breeding technique

89 ripe female brooders of the catfish, Clarias anguillaris (Body wt. Range 150g-1, 200g) were induced to spawn by hormone (Ovaprim) induced natural spawning technique over a period of 10 weeks. Matching ripe males were used for pairing the females at the ratio of two males to a female. Six ranges of brood stock body weights were considered as follows; <200g; 200g-399g; 400g-599g; 600-799g; 800g-999g; > 1000g and the number of fry produced by each female brooder was scored/recorded against the corresponding body weight range. The number of fry per unit quantity of hormone and the cost of production a fry based on the current price of Ovaprim (hormon) were determined so as to ascertain most economic size range. The best and most economic size range was between 400g-599g body weight with about 20,000 fry per ml of hormone and N0.028 per fry, while the females above 1000g gave the poorest results of 9,519 fry per ml of hormone and N0.059 per fry. For optimum production of Clarias anguillaris fry and maximum return on investment female brooders of body weights ranging between 400g-599g are recommended for hormone induced natural breeding exercises

Modified sorting technique to mitigate the collateral mortality of trawled school prawns (Metapenaeus macleayi)

The potential for changes to onboard handling practices in order to improve the fate of juvenile school prawns (Metapenaeus macleayi) discarded during trawling were investigated in two Australian rivers (Clarence and Hunter) by comparing a purpose-built, water-filled sorting tray against a conventional dry tray across various conditions, including the range of typical delays before the start of sorting the catch (2 min vs. 15 min). Juvenile school prawns (n= 5760), caught during 32 and 16 deployments in each river, were caged and sacrificed at four times: immediately (T0), and at 24 (T24), 72 (T72), and 120 (T12 0) hours after having been discarded. In both rivers, most mortalities occurred between T0 and T24 and, after adjusting for control deaths (<12%), were greatest for the 15-min conventional treatment (up to 41% at T120). Mixed-effects logistic models revealed that in addition to the sampling time, method of sorting, and delay in sorting, the weight of the catch, salinity, and percentage cloud cover were significant predictors of mortality. Although trawling caused some mortalities and comparable stress (measured as L -lactate) in all school prawns, use of the water tray lessened the negative impacts of some of the above factors across both the 2-min and 15-min delays in sorting so that the overall discard mortality was reduced by more than a third. When used in conjunction with selective trawls, widespread application of the water tray should help to improve the sustainability of trawling for school prawns.

Low cost murrel seed production technique for fish farmers

A simple and low-cost breeding technology for breeding the striped murrel, Channa striatus in hapas in ponds was developed in India.

Effect of type of otolith and preparation technique on age estimation of larval and juvenile spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)

Otoliths of larval and juvenile fish provide a record of age, size, growth, and development (Campana and Neilson, 1985; Thorrold and Hare, 2002). However, determining the time of first increment formation in otoliths (Campana, 2001) and assessing the accuracy (deviation from real age) and precision (repeatability of increment counts from the same otolith) of increment counts are prerequisites for using otoliths to study the life history of fish (Campana and Moksness, 1991). For most fish species, first increment deposition occurs either at hatching, a day after hatching, or after first feeding and yolksac absorption (Jones, 1986; Thorrold and Hare, 2002). Increment deposition before hatching also occurs (Barkmann and Beck, 1976; Radtke and Dean, 1982). If first increment deposition does not occur at hatching, the standard procedure is to add a predetermined number to increment counts to estimate fish age (Campana and Neilson, 1985).

A simple technique of controlled breeding of carps in semi-arid environment

A semi-arid environment is a major constraint for production of carp seed through hypophysation. At a water temperature above 31 degree C fishes often fail to respond to induced breeding or produce partial or full eggs with fairly less fertilization, leading to their mortality during embryonic development. Field trials with Labee rohita and Cyprinus carpio communis prove that hypophysation followed by stripping and hatching in a water medium with reduced temperature (below 31 degree C) through controlled use of ice-water and water showers can result in 50-60% fertilization of eggs and 50-72% hatching for L. rohita, and 40-90% fertilization and 49-77% hatching for C. carpio communis. Simultaneous breeding experiments of the species in normal water temperature (>31 degree C) showed negative results.

Trends in development in the prawn fishing technique in India: a review

The paper provides some background information about the developments in the prawn fishing technique. The important indigenous gear for prawns are the filtering type nets like the stake nets, boat seines and beach seines with bag. The only indigenous net, which can be compared in design with the modern bottom trawling gear, is the "Thuri Valai" of the Madras Coast. Prawns have also been reported from the catches of gill nets and cast nets. Dredges and beam trawls are simplest among the dragged gear. Even though several earlier attempts were made with the beam trawl, in 1959 season a detailed experiment was made to study the fishing features of this gear. The subsequent experiments conducted were for comparison with otter trawl, towing of 2 beam trawls one behind the other and the use of tickler chain. The initial experiments with otter trawls were mainly directed towards operational aspects. The experiments were to evaluate the effectiveness of fully mechanised and partially mechanised operation, the effect of extra buoyancy of floats and the use of tickler chain. Subsequent developments had been on the structure and design of prawn trawling gear. Effect of long wings and sweeps were tested. Catches of nylon and cotton nets were compared. The sizes of meshes of the cod-end have also been increased.