South and South-East Asian coastal fisheries: their status and directions for improved management: conference synopsis and recommendations

As a step to address the problems of coastal fisheries in Asia, the WorldFish Center joined forces with fisheries agencies from eight developing Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) and the Asian Development Bank, to implement a project entitled “Sustainable Management of Coastal Fish Stocks in Asia��� (also known as the “TrawlBase” project). The project was implemented between 1998 and 2001. The main achievements of this partnership were: (a) Development of a database called “Fisheries Resource Information System and Tools” (FiRST), which contains trawl research survey data and socioeconomic information for selected fisheries, and facilitates its analysis; (b) Evaluation of the extent of resource decline and over-fishing, both biological and economic, in the region; (c) Identification of the measures needed to manage coastal fisheries in the participating countries, resulting in draft strategies and action plans; and (d) Strengthening of national capacity in coastal fisheries assessment, planning and management.

Coral Disease and Health Workshop: Coral Histopathology II

The health and continued existence of coral reef ecosystems are threatened by an increasing array of environmental and anthropogenic impacts. Coral disease is one of the prominent causes of increased mortality among reefs globally, particularly in the Caribbean. Although over 40 different coral diseases and syndromes have been reported worldwide, only a few etiological agents have been confirmed; most pathogens remain unknown and the dynamics of disease transmission, pathogenicity and mortality are not understood. Causal relationships have been documented for only a few of the coral diseases, while new syndromes continue to emerge. Extensive field observations by coral biologists have provided substantial documentation of a plethora of new pathologies, but our understanding, however, has been limited to descriptions of gross lesions with names reflecting these observations (e.g., black band, white band, dark spot). To determine etiology, we must equip coral diseases scientists with basic biomedical knowledge and specialized training in areas such as histology, cell biology and pathology. Only through combining descriptive science with mechanistic science and employing the synthesis epizootiology provides will we be able to gain insight into causation and become equipped to handle the pending crisis. One of the critical challenges faced by coral disease researchers is to establish a framework to systematically study coral pathologies drawing from the field of diagnostic medicine and pathology and using generally accepted nomenclature. This process began in April 2004, with a workshop titled Coral Disease and Health Workshop: Developing Diagnostic Criteria co-convened by the Coral Disease and Health Consortium (CDHC), a working group organized under the auspices of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, and the International Registry for Coral Pathology (IRCP). The workshop was hosted by the U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) in Madison, Wisconsin and was focused on gross morphology and disease signs observed in the field. A resounding recommendation from the histopathologists participating in the workshop was the urgent need to develop diagnostic criteria that are suitable to move from gross observations to morphological diagnoses based on evaluation of microscopic anatomy. (PDF contains 92 pages)

The Bondo Stakeholders' Workshop, February 26th - 27th, 2001

This paper is a review of the workshop held at Bondo in Kenya to assess the role of local stakeholders in the of co-management of Lake Victoria's fisheries within the frame of the LVFRP.

Persistence of viable but non-culturable bacteria during the production and distribution of drinking water

The direct measurement of in situ respiring bacteria using 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride (CTC) shows that, especially for Gram-negative bacteria, large numbers of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria are present in finished water from a conventional water treatment plant, and the regrowth of bacteria along distribution networks can be seen rapidly by using this very sensitive technique. The level of bacterial inactivation with chlorine is much less important than has been previously supposed (based on experiments with non-injured laboratory strains of bacteria and classical culture techniques). Threshold values of VBNC bacteria leaving water treatment plants or regrowing along distribution systems have to be determined for better control of coliform regrowth and health- risks associated with the consumption of drinking water.

Macrophyte - mollusc relationship in Lake Kariba

Five species of submerged vegetation Lagarosiphon ilicifolius, Najas pectinata, Vallisneria aethiopica, Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton octandrus; 7 species of gastropods Melanoides tuberculata, Bellamya capillata, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bullinus tropicus, Cleopatra sp, and Lymnaea natalensis and 4 species of bivalves Corbicula africana, Caelatura mossambicensis, Mutela dubia and Aspatharia wahlbergii are correlated with environmental variables particularly slope and transparency, in Lake Kariba. A stepwise regression analysis further revealed interdependence between (Cleopatra sp., B. pfeifferi, L. natalensis, B. capillata, and V. aethiopica as well as between as between C. mossambicensis and L. ilicifolius and N. pectinata. The dependence of B. pfeifferi, L. natalensis, B. capillata, Cleopatra sp. on V. aethiopica and C. mossambicensis on L. ilicifolius and N. pectinata implies that a change in the biomass of the vegetation species may affect distribution and biomass of the faunal species.

A comparative study of consumption rates and preference for some species of aquatic plants by Tilapia rendalli

The daily consumption rates and preference of juvenile Tilapia rendalli for some macrophytes, Ceratophyllum demersum, Lagarosiphon major, Najas pectinatas and Valisneria aethiopica were determined. Fish were offered single macrophyte diets to determine daily consumption and a mixture of the 4 macrophytes in equal quantities to determine selection. Consumption rates were 821.50 mg, 829.05 mg, 940.00 mg and 2293.53 mg per fish per day, respectively. The differences in consumption rates were significant. Preference was shown for V.aethiopica, whilst C.demersum was least selected. Fish fed on single species lost weight whereas those fed on a variety of macrophytes gained in weight.

The climate and eastern ocean systems project

A brief description of the NMFS/ORSTOM/ILCARM climate and Eastern Ocean systems (CEOS) project is given. CEOS will study the four major eastern boundary current regions (Peru/Chile, California, Northwest and Southwest Africa) and attempt to separate local short term changes of their resources and/or dynamics from long-term, climatic global changes. Expected products range from a large, widely accessible oceanographic / atmospheric database to various documents that will present key results as well as improved contacts and stronger analytical capabilities in cooperating national institutions.

Promotion of substrate based microbial biofilm in ponds: a low cost technology to boost fish production

Microbial biofilms have been found to increase fish production in ponds by increasing heterotrophic production through periphyton proliferation on available substrates. In this paper, the role of substrate based microbial biofilm in the production of Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita grown in ponds is investigated, using an easily available and biodegradable agricultural waste product (sugarcane bagasse) as substrate.

Sediment flux at selected coastal sites: proposed time series measurment by particle traps

Particle flux in the ocean reflects ongoing biological and geological processes operating under the influence of the local environment. Estimation of this particle flux through sediment trap deployment is constrained by sampler accuracy, particle preservation, and swimmer distortion. Interpretation of specific particle flux is further constrained by indeterminate particle dispersion and the absence of a clear understanding of the sedimentary consequences of ecosystem activity. Nevertheless, the continuous and integrative properties of the particle trap measure, along with the logistic advantage of a long-term moored sampler, provide a set of strategic advantages that appear analogous to those underlying conventional oceanographic survey programs. Emboldened by this perception, several stations along the coast of Southern California and Mexico have been targeted as coastal ocean flux sites (COFS).

Diseases and parasites of penaeid prawns of India: a short review

The diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa and metazoa as well as by other biotic and abiotic agents reported in the penaeid prawns of India are reviewed.

Hydrobiological features of the Kerala backwaters during premonsoon and monsoon months

The hydrobiological features like temperature, salinity, phytoplankton, zooplankton and bottom fauna at twelve stations in the Vembanad lake during pre-monsoon and monsoon months were studied and the results communicated in this paper.