Fisheries marketing systems and consumer preferences in Puttalam District Sri-Lanka

The aim of this study was to understand the current and historic market situation for inland fish and it’s substitutes in order to identify which of the various production opportunities presented by the seasonal tank resource might have greatest relevance for marginal communities in the Dry-zone. Regional and sub-regional market networks for fish and meat products were investigated, ranking and scoring exercises used to characterise consumer demand in rain-fed areas of North West Province and secondary data sources were used to assess historic patterns of demand and supply [PDF contains 57 pages]

The contrasting invertebrate fauna of freshwater habitats in the Swavesey fens of East Anglia

During July and August 1988, 21 ponds and 33 ditch sites were sampled at Swavesey fens in East Anglia. Water from each site was collected and analysed at monthly intervals in the year preceding faunal sampling. Temperature and oxygen were measured on site. The "quality" of the faunal community was assessed by three approaches: a modification of the BMWP scoring system (Biological Monitoring Working Party); faunal richness was calculated as the number of faunal "groups" at each site; and by using Simpson's index of diversity. Statistical analysis was carried out to explore the relationships between sites, environmental variables and faunal diversity. The survey clearly showed the detrimental effects of elevated nitrate and phosphate from agricultural sources and the localised impacts of treated sewage effluent on invertebrates in ditches.

The diagnostic morphological features of British Sigara striata, S. dorsalis and intermediate specimens (Corixidae), with a new key for identification of adult males

There are 34 species of the family Corixidae (Hemiptera Heteroptera) in Britain and Ireland of which Sigara striata and Sigara dorsalis are the only two British representatives. In this article the authors briefly consider a range of diagnostic features that may be used to separate British specimens of striata from dorsalis. Most of these morphological features have been used in keys to the British species of the subgenus Sigara sensu strictu. A scoring system has also been devised to facilitate the identification of individuals from the southeast of England, although it is applicable to the whole of the British Isles, and a new (short) key is presented.

Improving Shepherd's Length Composition Analysis (SLCA) method for growth parameter estimations

Shepherd's "weekly parametric" method for estimating the parameter L sub( infinity ) and K of the von Bertalanffy growth function from length-frequency data often fails to converge, and usually overestimates K. It is shown that this is due to overcounting of the frequencies associated with large, slow growing fish, and that both of these problems can be completely overcome by a simple change in the way the scoring function is formulated.

A report on the strategic stock assessment survey of the Colton Beck catchment 1994 with particular reference to salmonids

This is the report on the strategic stock assessment survey of the Colton Beck catchment in 1994 with particular reference to salmonids in Colton Beck, River Ea, River Gilpin and Rusland Pool. This report forms one part of the third year of a triennial survey programme for the South West Cumbria and South Cumbria catchments. It was produced by the National Rivers Authority in 1994. Colton Beck had excellent densities of sea trout (Salmo trutta) and a small population of salmon (Salmo salar) in its lowest reaches. The total productivity was very good throughout the catchment. Stocking of sea trout fry in 1993 has enhanced the population with survivors through to parr probably adding to the scoring of double class A at two sites in the survey in 1994. Stocking was not undertaken in 1994, but the population appears to be maintaining itself at a very high level.

Experiments in constituting a taste panel for canned and frozen prawn products

With a view to constituting a taste panel in the laboratory for detecting the flavor changes in canned and frozen prawn, three methods of panel selection (scalar scoring method, range and deviation method and triangular method) were tried. Out of the three, triangular method was found to be suitable for panel formation in canned and frozen prawn. Using this method a panel of six members was formed for detecting flavor changes in the two products.

Evaluation of quality of shark livers using bio-chemical properties and organoleptic score sheet

Shark livers are considered as an important raw material providing a quality fish oil. It has been reported to aid white — blood-cell production and act as an active ingredient in hemorrhoid treatments. It is also reported that liver oil as a good supplement of vitamin A and poly-unsaturated fatty acids which are important to the development of brain cells in human. Freshness of livers is very important to extract better quality oil. In Sri Lanka, the annual shark production amounts to 8000t, however the quality of livers collected from landing sites has not being measured yet. Present study was conducted to evaluate the quality of silky (Charcarninus fakiformis) shark livers available in Negombo and Beruwala landing sites in the West Coast of Sri Lanka and also to study the relationship between organoleptic and bio-chemical correlation on freshness of shark livers. Liver samples which were collected from landing sites in the West coast of Sri Lanka, were evaluated for external and internal colour, texture and odour. Total volatile nitrogen (TVN), pH value, free fatty acid (FFA%) and peroxide (PV) values of livers were also determined to assess quality. According to the organoleptic scoring system 4.3% of liver samples were categorized as best in quality while 30.4%, 56.5% and 8.7% rated as good, medium and poor in quality respectively at the Negombo and Beruwala landing sites. Bio-chemical analysis showed that the better quality livers had the highest score for sensory evaluation and low values for TVN, FFA and peroxide value while low quality livers gave low score for sensory evaluation and high TVN, FFA, peroxide values. Correlation coefficient of organoleptic scores against total volatile nitrogen value, pH value, free fatty acid % and peroxide value of shark livers were determined by statistical analysis. Organoleptic score of shark livers was found to be highly.

Nutritional evaluation of texturised meat from Nemipterus japonicus

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of texturised fish meat from threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) is reported. Proximate composition and amino acid analysis showed that its protein content is very high with all the essential amino acids present in higher levels than those prescribed for man in the 1973 FAO/WHO amino acid scoring pattern. Lysine amounted to 11.0 g per 16 g N of which 75 percent is biologically available. Studies on PER and NPU also corroborate the excellent nutritional quality of the texturised meat.

Effect of delayed icing on the quality of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fab.)

Effect of delayed icing on the quality of Penaeus monodon iced after three hours of harvest was studied in plastic and bamboo baskets. After harvest of three hours at ambient temperature (28°-32°C), ice was added to the shrimp at a ratio of 1:1 (shrimp:ice) and stored for 21 hours in both the baskets. Quality evaluation was carried out through visual assessment, biochemical analysis and microbial analysis for 24 hours. The organoleptic evaluation and scoring was done from the time of harvest treated as 0 hour and the average score was 10. At 9th hour after iced condition quality of shrimp was found reduced to the next stage (acceptable) with a score ranged from 8.4-6.5 in both baskets. This acceptable stage was observed throughout the experiment for bamboo basket whereas in the plastic basket the quality was reduced to a small extent with a score of 6.4 (moderately acceptable). Till the end point of the experiment the quality of shrimp was acceptable in respect to biochemical analysis. The microbial load was found log sub(10) 3.99±0.12 cfu/g to log sub(10) 4.33±0.21 cfu/g and log sub(10) 4.01 ±0.12 cfu/g to log sub(10) 4.83±0.19 cfu/g in the bamboo and plastic basket respectively. The importers or buyers suggests for immediate icing to maintain good quality but results of the present experiment suggest that the quality does not vary drastically for first three hours.

Assessments of the Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and the Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fisheries in the BOBLME countries

Assessment of the Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and the Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) fisheries in BOBLME countries.Each country was benchmarked against three principles; status of stocks, impact of fisheries on the environment and management frameworks in place. A wide range of indicators was used with a simple color-coded scoring system allowing easy identification of both strengths and weaknesses in those three areas. Individual country assessments are also included.