Systematics of the North American menhadens: molecular evolutionary reconstructions in the genus Brevoortia (Clupeiformes: Clupeidae)

Evolutionary associations among the four North American species of menhadens (Brevoortia spp.) have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study, classifications separating the four species into small-scaled and large-scaled groups were evaluated by using DNA data, and genetic associations within these groups were explored. Specifically, data from the nuclear genome (microsatellites) and the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA sequences) were used to elicit patterns of recent and historical evolutionary associations. Nuclear DNA data indicated limited contemporary gene flow among the species, and also indicated higher relatedness within the small-scaled and large-scaled menhadens than between these groups. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of the large-scaled menhadens indicated the presence of two ancestral lineages, one of which contained members of both species. This result may indicate genetic diver-gence (reproductive isolation) followed by secondary contact (hybridization) between these species. In contrast, a single ancestral lineage indicated incomplete genetic divergence between the small-scaled menhaden. These results are discussed in the context of the biology and demographics of each species.

PICES Press, Vol. 15, No. 1, January 2007

PICES science – 2006 (pdf, 0.1 Mb) 2006 Wooster Award (pdf, 0.1 Mb) Thank you note from the Past-Chairman of PICES (pdf, 0.1 Mb) A comparison of regional mechanisms for fish production: Ecosystem perspectives (pdf, 0.3 Mb) 2006 CREAMS/PICES international workshop and summer school (pdf, 0.2 Mb) PICES Calendar (pdf, 0.2 Mb) 2006 Harmful Algal Bloom Section annual workshop (pdf, 0.1 Mb) 2006 PICES Workshop on “Modeling iron biogeochemistry and ocean ecosystems” (pdf, 0.1 Mb) Strolling through the NEMURO ecosystem model (pdf, 0.1 Mb) Climate and marine birds and mammals in the North Pacific (pdf, 0.2 Mb) Photo highlights of the PICES Fifteenth Annual Meeting (pdf, 3.5 Mb) Recent trends in waters of the subarctic NE Pacific: Cooler and fresher in summer of 2006 (pdf, 0.2 Mb) The state of the western North Pacific in the first half of 2006 (pdf, 0.3 Mb) Latest and upcoming PICES publications (pdf, 0.3 Mb) A seven-year effort of the PICES CCCC MODEL Task Team culminates in a dedicated issue of Ecological Modelling (pdf, 0.1 Mb) Japan joins PICES Marine Metadata Federation (pdf, 0.3 Mb) Argo: A 2006 status report (pdf, 0.3 Mb) New Chairmen in PICES (pdf, 0.2 Mb) PICES Interns (pdf, 0.2 Mb)

Summary of Precipitation and Streamflow for Potrero and San Clemente Creeks in Water-Year 2007, Santa Lucia Preserve, Monterey County, California

In March 2007 CSU-Monterey Bay began hydrologic monitoring of Santa Lucia Preserve for the Santa Lucia Conservancy. This project is a continuation of monitoring begun by Balance Hydrologics as part of the permit requirements for land development. The purpose of this annual report is to present data summaries for the 2007 water year (October 1, 2006 to September 31, 2007). Rainfall in water year 2007 was very low, representing the 15 year drought rainfall. Streamflow was relatively low as well as indicated by baseflow conditions approaching the drought conditions of water-year 1991 (Croyle and Smith, 2007). Document contains 30 pages)

Carmel Lagoon Water Quality and Steelhead Soundings: Fall 2007

ESSP 660 Advanced Watershed Science and Policy is a graduate class taught in the Master of Science in Coastal and Watershed Science & Policy program at California State University Monterey Bay. In 2007, the class was taught in four 4-week modules, each focusing on making a small contribution to a local watershed issue. This report describes the results of one of those 4-week modules – on Carmel Lagoon Water Quality and Ecology. The module was lead instructed by Fred Watson (CSUMB) and Kevan Urquhart (MPWMD). (Document contains 54 pages)

The Carr Lake Project: Potential Biophysical Benefits of Conversion to a Multiple-Use Park

The Carr Lake Project aims to convert Carr Lake’s 450 acres of agriculture fields into a regional multi-use park that will benefit flood protection, water quality, and wildlife habitat, while also providing additional recreational areas for the local community. The Project is represented by an informal consortium of interested parties including the Watershed Institute of California State University Monterey Bay, The City of Salinas, 1000 Friends of Carr Lake, and the Big Sur Land Trust. (Document contains 54 pages)

2007 Annual Report: Hydrologic Conditions in Baseflow Reaches Pursuant to Conditions 14 and 15, Santa Lucia Preserve, Monterey County, California

This report presents the results of the 2007 baseflow condition surveys of the four major streams flowing through Santa Lucia Preserve- Las Garzas, Portrero, San Jose, and San Clemente Creeks. This report has been prepared for the Santa Lucia Conservancy and is primarily intended for the staff of Monterey County and California Department of Fish and Game, in accordance with the baseflow monitoring and reporting requirements outlined in County Conditions 14 and 15. The scope of this report is limited to the presentation and evaluation of existing baseflow conditions as required by Conditions 14 and 15, and is not intended as a comprehensive analysis. However, data presented here are an important part of the long term data set that will be used for future in depth watershed analyses. (Document contains 13 pages & 14 figs)

Carmel River Lagoon Enhancement Project: Water Quality and Aquatic Wildlife Monitoring, 2006-7

This is a report to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. It describes water quality and aquatic invertebrate monitoring after the construction of the Carmel River Lagoon Enhancement Project. Included are data that have been collected for two years and preliminary assessment of the enhanced ecosystem. This report marks the completion of 3-years of monitoring water quality and aquatic habitat. The report adopts the same format and certain background text from previous years’ reporting by the same research group (e.g. Larson et al., 2005). (Document contains 100 pages)

Strategic planning for long-term financing of Pacific leatherback conservation and recovery:Proceedings of the Bellagio Sea Turtle Conservation Initiative, Terengganu, Malaysia; July 2007

On 17-20 July 2007, 45 experts on sea turtles, fisheries, conservation and finance from 10 countries convened at the Bellagio Sea Turtle Conservation Initiative workshop in Terengganu to focus on methods to save the imperiled Pacific leatherback from extinction. The group developed a strategic plan to guide the prioritization and long term financing of Pacific leatherback turtle conservation and recovery objectives. Participants identified critical conservation actions and agreed that a business plan is urgently needed to reverse the trajectory towards extinction of the Pacific leatherback. The conservation actions prioritized by the participants encompassed protecting nesting beaches including eggs and nesting females; reducing direct and indirect turtle take in coastal fisheries; and strengthening regional and sub-regional cooperation. The group committed to work together on fundraising and implementation of these urgent conservation actions. This report presents outputs and the plan that was produced from the workshop.

California recreational fisheries survey 2007 annual review

(Document pdf contains 14 pages)

Soundings: the Newsletter of the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society. 2007

(PDF contains 88 pages.)

SAMUDRA Report, No. 48, November 2007

Misconceptions, Outright Prejudice - Fishing rights. The Dilemma of the Nile Perch - Africa: Ecolabelling. Fishing Safely - Analysis: Safety at Sea. Shoring Up - Labour: Shore-based Workers. A Sustainable, Equitable, Small-scale Fisheries - Document: Traditional Communities. Getting Their Act Together - India: Co-management. Certifying the Uncertifiable? - Report: Industrial Aquaculture. Shocking Reality - Cambodia: Electro-fishing. Be Consultative, Participatory - Document: Indigenous Peoples. Towing the Line - Peru: Artisanal Shark Fishery. Declaration of Charter. (56 pp.)

Yemaya, No. 26, November 2007

Asia/ India - Restricting Lives and Livelihoods. North America/ Mexico - Empowering Agenda?. Africa/ South Africa - Aren’t We Missing Something?. Africa/ Zanzibar - Winning Strategies. Latin America/ Chile - No Equity without Gender Equity. South America/ Ecuador - Banning the Beach Seine. North America/ United States - Walking in Both Sets of Shoes.

Yemaya, No. 25, July 2007

Battling against Wind and Tide - Latin America/ Uruguay. Women’s Changing Participation - Oceania/ Pacific Islands. From Challenge to Opportunity - Latin America/ Chile. AKTEA Meets Again - European Union. Why Are We in CONAPE? - Latin America/ Brazil. Women in Fisheries, Policy - Asia/ Philippines. A Disaster in the Making - Asia/ India. Texas Gold - Film.

ICSF guide book: understanding the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007

This guidebook attempts to provide a quick overview of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007, which was adopted in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2007 at the 96th International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). It does not purport to provide interpretation of any provisions of the Convention and should not in any way be treated as a substitute for the actual provisions it contains. This guidebook is intended mainly to help those unfamiliar with the Convention and the working of the ILO and the ILC, gain some understanding of the relevant issues. In particular, it is hoped that the guidebook will aid fish workers and their organizations understand the possible benefits and implications of the Convention for artisanal and small-scale fisheries in developing countries.