Application of pop-up satellite archival tag technology to estimate postrelease survival of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) caught on circle and straight-shank (“J”) hooks in the western North Atlantic recreational fis

Short-duration (5- or 10-day) deployments of pop-up satellite archival tags were used to estimate survival of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) released from the western North Atlantic recreational fishery. Forty-one tags, each recording temperature, pressure, and light level readings approximately every two minutes for 5-day tags (n= 5) or four minutes for 10-day tags (n= 36), were attached to white marlin caught with dead baits rigged on straight-shank (“J”) hooks (n =21) or circle hooks (n=20) in offshore waters of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Venezuela. Forty tags (97.8%) transmitted data to the satellites of the Argos system, and 33 tags (82.5%) transmitted data consistent with survival of tagged animals over the deployment duration. Approximately 61% (range: 19−95%) of all archived data were successfully recovered from each tag. Survival was significantly (P<0.01) higher for white marlin caught on circle hooks (100%) than for those caught on straight-shank (“J”) hooks (65%). Time-to-death ranged from 10 minutes to 64 hours following release for the seven documented mortalities, and five animals died within the first six hours after release. These results indicate that a simple change in hook type can significantly increase the survival of white marlin released from recreational fis

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.

Atlantic Blue Marlin, Makaira nigricans, and White Marlin, Tetrapterus albidus, Bycatch of the Japanese Pelagic Longline Fishery, 1960–2000

ABSTRACT—Since the late 1950’s, a multi-national longline fishery has operated throughout the Atlantic Ocean to supply the growing global demand for tunas (Scombridae) and swordfish, Xiphias gladius. Two species caught as bycatch include Atlantic blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, and white marlin, Tetrapterus albidus, referred to in this paper as “Atlantic marlin.” Pelagic longlining has consistently been the principal source of adult mortality for both species, which are currently depleted and have been so for more than two decades. In this paper, we examined aspects of the Atlantic marlin bycatch of the Japanese pelagic longline fishery from 1960 to 2000. Temporal and spatial patterns in effort, target catch (species combined), marlin bycatch, marlin catch-per-unit-effort (nominal CPUE), and ratios of marlin bycatch to target catch (B: T ratios) were analyzed. An objective was to reveal changes, if any, in marlin bycatch associated with the fishery’s target species “switch” (ca. 1980–87) from mostly surface-associated tunas to mostly the deeper-dwelling bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus. The highest values of all variables examined occurred during the 1960’s and then fell by the second half of that decade. Since 1970, mean levels of fishing effort, target fish catches, and blue marlin landings have increased significantly, while blue marlin CPUE and B:T ratios have remained relatively stable. Concurrently, white marlin landings, CPUE, and B:T ratios have all declined. While results suggest the fishery’s target species change may have been a factor in lowering white marlin bycatch, the same cannot be said for blue marlin. Relative increases in blue marlin B:T ratios off the northeastern coast of South America and in the wider eastern Atlantic are cause for concern, as are continuing trends of CPUE decline for white marlin in this data set as well as others.

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.

The U.S. Fish Commission Steamer Albatross: A History (Papers from a Symposium)

At her launch on 19 October 1882 in Wilmington, Del., the Albatross was the world’s first large deep-sea oceanographic and fisheries research vessel, and she would go on to have a distinguished 40-year career, ranging from the north Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, around Cape Horn in 1887–88, and into the North Pacific. By 1908, Deputy Fish Commissioner Hugh M. Smith reported that “The Albatross has contributed more to the knowledge of marine biology than has any other vessel.” And, of course, her career continued for another 13 years, being decommissioned in late 1921, serving later as a training vessel for nautical cadets, and disappearing from the records in Hamburg, Germany, in late 1928.

The Great Whales: History and Status of Six Species Listed as Endangered Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973

In the history of whaling from prehistoric to modern times, the large whales, sometimes called the “great whales,” were hunted most heavily owing in part to their corresponding value in oil, meat, and baleen. Regional populations of North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaena glacialis glacialis, were already decimated by 1700, and the North Atlantic gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, was hunted to extinction by the early 1700’s (Mitchell and Mead1).

Assessment of the Distribution and Abundance of Coastal Sharks in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Seaboard, 1995 and 1996

During 1995 and 1996, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), conducted pilot studies to develop survey methodology and a sampling strategy for assessment of coastal shark populations in the Gulf of Mexico and western North Atlantic. Longline gear similar to that used in the commercial shark fishery was deployed at randomly selected stations within three depth strata per 60 nautical mile gridf rom Brownsville, Tex. to Cape Ann, Mass. The survey methodology and gear design used in these surveys proved effective for capturing many of the small and large coastal sharks regulated under the auspices of the 1993 Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) for Sharks oft he Atlantic Ocean. Shark catch rates, species composition, and relative abundance documented in these pilot surveys were similar to those reported from observer programs monitoring commercial activities. During 78 survey days, 269 bottom longline sets were completed with 879 sharks captured.

Recent Trends in the Catch of Undersized Swordfish by the U.S. Pelagic Longline Fishery

U.S. commercial vessels fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico have been subject to regulations limiting the landing of swordfish less than 25 kg whole weight since June 1991. The intent of those regulations was to reduce the mortality of immature swordfihs. Plots of fishing effort from 1990 to 1994 indicate that the regulations were effective in some areas. Fishing effort decreased after 1991 in the Venezuelan Basin, a swordfish nursery area. However, in areas close to the U.S. coastline, effort did not appear to shift away from areas where immature swordfish were discarded. To identify areas with high rates of discarding, plots were made showing areas where the number of discarded swordfish was equal to or greater than the number of fish landed.

The U.S. Gulf of Mexico Party Boat Industry: Activity Centers, Species Targeted, and Fisheries Management Opinions

In addition to providing an overview of the party boat fishery in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, a management-oriented methodology is presented that can be used elsewhere to assess regulatory impacts. Party boat operators were interviewed to determine species targeted, percent time committed to targeting each species, and opinions on current catch restrictions. Over two-thirds of the fieet was located on the west coast of Florida. Overall, most boats targeted <5 species. Four species accounted for 90 percent of the estimated effort by party boats in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico: Snapper; Lutjanus sp.; grouper, Epinephelus sp. and Mycteroperca sp.; amberjack, Seriola dumerili; and king mackerel, Scomberomorus cavalla. Party boat effort in Texas was devoted primarily to snapper, whereas in Florida most effort was devoted to snapper and grouper collectively. Party boat operators were diverse in their opinions of management regulations in force when interviewed. Results revealed why major opposition would he expected from Texas party boat operators for red snapper bag limits and other restrictions proposed by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

Geocronologia U-Pb SHRIMP no Complexo Mantiqueira na região entre Juiz de Fora e Santos Dumont, sudeste de Minas Gerais

O Orógeno Ribeira representa um cinturão de dobramentos e empurrões, gerado no Neoproterozóico/Cambriano, durante a Orogênese Brasiliana, na borda sul/sudeste do Cráton do São Francisco e compreende quatro terrenos tectono-estratigráficos: 1) o Terreno Ocidental, interpretado como resultado do retrabalhamento do paleocontinente São Francisco, é constituído de duas escamas de empurrão de escala crustal (Domínios Andrelândia e Juiz de Fora); 2) o Terreno Oriental representa uma outra microplaca e abriga o Arco Magmático Rio Negro; 3) o Terreno Paraíba do Sul, que constitui-se na escama superior deste segmento da faixa; e 4) o Terreno Cabo Frio, cuja docagem foi tardia, ocupa pequena área no litoral norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Em todos os diferentes compartimentos do segmento central da Faixa Ribeira podem ser identificadas três unidades tectono-estratigráficas: 1) unidades pré-1,8 Ga. (ortognaisses e ortogranulitos do embasamento); 2) rochas metassedimentares pós-1,8 Ga; e 3) granitóides/charnockitóides brasilianos. O Complexo Mantiqueira é composto por ortognaisses migmatíticos, tonalíticos a graníticos, e anfibolitos associados, constitui o embasamento pré-1,8 Ga das rochas da Megasseqüência Andrelândia no domínio homônimo do Terreno Ocidental. Foram integrados 68 dados litogeoquímicos dentre ortognaisses e metabasitos do Complexo Mantiqueira. As rochas dessa unidade pertencem a duas séries distintas: série calcioalcalina (rochas intermediárias a ácidas); e série transicional (rochas básicas, ora de afinidade toleítica, ora alcalina). Com base em critérios petrológicos, análise quantitativa e em valores [La/Yb]N, verificou-se que o Complexo Mantiqueira é bastante heterogêneo, incluindo diversos grupos petrogeneticamente distintos. Dentre as rochas da série transicional, foram identificados 2 conjuntos: 1) rochas basálticas toleiíticas, com [La/Yb]N entre 2,13 e 4,72 (fontes do tipo E-MORB e/ou intraplaca);e 2) rochas basálticas de afinidade alcalina, com [La/Yb]N entre 11,79 e 22,78. As rochas da série calciolacalina foram agrupadas em cinco diferentes conjuntos: 1) ortognaisses migmatíticos quartzo dioríticos a tonalíticos, com [La/Yb]N entre 11,37 e 38,26; 2) ortognaisses bandados de composição quarzto diorítica a granodiorítica, com [La/Yb]N entre 4,35 e 9,28; 3) ortognaisses homogênos de composição tonalítica a granítica, com [La/Yb]N entre 16,57 e 38,59; 4) leucognaisses brancos de composição tonalítica/trondhjemítica a granítica, com [La/Yb]N entre 46,69 e 65,06; e 5) ortognaisse róseo porfiroclástico de composição tonalítica a granítica, com [La/Yb]N entre 82,70 e 171,36. As análises geocronológicas U-Pb SHRIMP foram realizadas no Research School of Earth Science (ANU/Canberra/Austrália). Foram obtidas idades paleoproterozóicas para as rochas das duas séries identificadas, interpretadas como a idade de cristalização dos protólitos magmáticos desses gnaisses e metabasitos. Os resultados obtidos mostram uma variação de idades de cristalização de 2139 35 a 2143,4 9,4, para as rochas da série transicional, e de 2126,4 8 a 2204,5 6,7, para aquelas da série calcioalcalina. Dentre todas as amostras estudadas, apenas a amostra JF-CM-516IV forneceu dados discordantes de idades arqueanas (292916 Ma), interpretados como dados de herança. Contudo, evidências dessa herança semelhantes a esta são observadas em outras amostras. Ambas as séries também apresentaram idades de metamorfismo neoproterozóico, no intervalo de 548 17 Ma a 590,5 7,7 Ma que é consistente com o metamorfismo M1 (entre 550 e 590 Ma), contemporâneo à colisão entre os Terrenos Ocidental e Oriental do setor central da Faixa Ribeira (Heilbron, 1993 e Heilbron et al., 1995).

Atlantic-Mediterranean and within-Mediterranean molecular variation in Coris julis (L. 1758) (Teleostei, Labridae)

Sequence variation in the mitochondrial control region was studied in the Mediterranean rainbow wrasse (Coris julis), a species with pronounced pelagic larval phase inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the adjacent coastal eastern Atlantic Ocean. A total of 309 specimens from 19 sampling sites were analysed with the aim of elucidating patterns of molecular variation between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean as well as within the Mediterranean Sea. Phylogeographic analyses revealed a pronounced structuring into a Mediterranean and an Atlantic group. Samples from a site at the Moroccan Mediterranean coast in the Alboran Sea showed intermediate frequencies of “Mediterranean” and “Atlantic” haplotypes. We recognised a departure from molecular neutrality and a star-like genealogy for samples from the Mediterranean Sea, which we propose to have happened due to a recent demographic expansion. The results are discussed in the light of previous studies on molecular variation in fish species between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and within the Mediterranean.

Microanálise e geoquímica em testemunhos de corais como elementos de interpretação dos impactos das forçantes naturais e antrópicas sobre a costa do Brasil

Corais pétreos são formadores de recifes. Por secretarem carbonato de cálcio pela base de seus pólipos, esses corais zooxantelados formam um exoesqueleto, composto geralmente por cristais de aragonita. Os padrões de crescimento coralinos variam desde a escala sazonal a centenária e podem ser caracterizados pela medida da taxa de crescimento, a variabilidade dos isótopos estáveis de oxigênio e carbono e pelas razões elementares Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca, U/Ca, Cd/Ca, Ra/Ca (entre outras) em seu esqueleto. Em um contexto global, os recifes cumprem importante papel como sumidouros de carbono atmosférico. Diante das evidências de um oceano mais quente na era moderna, a temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM) tem sido considerada um importante fator de controle da calcificação e crescimento coralino. Geralmente, a calcificação tende a aumentar com a elevação da TSM dentro de uma estreita faixa aceitável para o funcionamento pleno do metabolismo coralino. Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se uma re-análise das taxas de crescimento de testemunhos de corais amostrados na costa brasileira (Salvador-Ba - Baía de Todos os Santos, Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos-Ba e Armação dos Búzios-RJ) empregando-se uma combinação de bandas de crescimento (alta e baixa densidades) auxiliado pelo método de luminescência e datação por radioisótopos de U e Th. As diferenças nas cronologias para os dois métodos variou de 1 ano para o caso de Abrolhos até 7,4 anos para Búzios (em seções específicas do testemunho). Foram analisadas variações de calcificação no esqueleto coralino e interpretadas à luz das razões Sr/Ca e U/Ca (ambos próxies da TSM), séries climáticas de AMO e PDO, e pH pelágico oceânico. Identificamos uma diminuição na taxa de calcificação do exoesqueleto no tempo estudado na amostra de Salvador de 0,4 g/cm2, e um aumento em Abrolhos de 0,4 g/cm2 e Búzios 0,3 g/cm2, exceto nos anos de 1950 ao final de 1980 e de 1910 ao final de 1930, respectivamente. Uma microtomografia de raio-X foi empregada para determinar micro-estruturas coralinas, sendo os parâmetros mais relevantes a microporosidade e a anisotropia. Para Abrolhos e Búzios, foi identificado um aumento na porosidade total do exoesqueleto, principalmente no começo de 1940 até o fim da década de 1980 e entre 1890 a 1930 respectivamente. Notou-se forte associação entre a redução do padrão de calcificação com o aumento da porosidade. Os testemunhos da espécie Siderastrea stellata coletados em Abrolhos e Búzios mostraram alta associação das razoes Sr/Ca e U/Ca com a taxa de calcificação, caracterizando uma resposta similar a de outros autores para a Grande Barreira na Austrália (DE'ATH et al., 2009) e para a região central do Mar Vermelho (CANTIN et al., 2010). Em relação as razões Ba/Ca, Salvador e Abrolhos evidenciaram variáveis que contribuíram para este aumento como a forçante de produção de petróleo e aumento populacional (economia), e TSM (oceano). Para Búzios, a TSM (oceano), produção de petróleo, aumento populacional e NDVI (economia). Após os anos de 1990, o impacto dos fatores econômicos, além das variáveis oceânicas respondem mais significativamente o aumento da razão Ba/Ca em todos os sítios quase que concomitantemente na costa brasileira.

Subsurface ocean temperature signals on west coast of North America [abstract]

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Data were extracted from the U.S. Navy Fleet Numerical Oceanographic Center Master Oceanographic Observation Data Set for a 200 km to 300 km wide coastal strip on the west coast of the United States. These data were averaged for the September through February (winter) and March through August (summer) intervals. The resulting winter temperature anomaly values show the El Nino signal in the CCC [Coastal California Current] as positive temperature anomalies from the surface to at least 300 m.

Mapping southern Florida's shallow-water coral ecosystems: an implementation plan

The Southern Florida Shallow-water Coral Ecosystem Mapping Implementation Plan (MIP) discusses the need to produce shallow-water (~0-40 m; 0-22 fm) benthic habitat and bathymetric maps of critical areas in southern Florida and moderate-depth (~40-200 m; 22 -109 fm) bathymetric maps for all of Florida. The ~0-40 m depth regime generally represents where most hermatypic coral species are found and where most direct impacts from pollution and coastal development occur. The plan was developed with extensive input from over 90 representatives of state regulatory and management agencies, federal agencies, universities, and non-governmental organizations involved in the conservation and management of Florida’s coral ecosystems. Southern Florida’s coral ecosystems are extensive. They extend from the Dry Tortugas in the Florida Keys as far north as St Lucie Inlet on the Atlantic Ocean coast and Tarpon Springs on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Using 10 fm (18 m) depth curves on nautical charts as a guide, southern Florida has as much as 84 percent (30,801 sq km) of 36,812 sq km of potential shallow-water (<10 fm; <18 m) coral ecosystems the tropical and subtropical U.S. Moreover, southern Florida’s coral ecosystems contribute greatly to the regional economy. Coral ecosystem-related expenditures generated $4.4 billion in sales, income, and employment and created over 70,000 full-time and part-time jobs in the region during the recent 12-month periods when surveys were conducted.

Prioritizing county-level well-being: Moving toward assessment of Gulf Coast counties impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Industrial Disaster

To develop a portfolio of indicators and measures that could best measure changes in the social, economic, environmental and health dimensions of well-being in coastal counties we convened a group of experts March 8-9, 2011 in Charleston, SC, U.S.A. The region of interest was of the northern Gulf of Mexico, specifically, those coastal counties most impacted during the explosion and subsequent oil spill from the Macondo Prospect wellhead during the summer of 2010. Over the course of the two-day workshop participants moved through presentations and facilitated sessions to identify and prioritize potential indicators and measures deemed most valuable for capturing changes in well-being related to changes in or disruption of ecosystem services. The experts reached consensus on a list of indicators that are now being operationalized by NOAA researchers. The ultimate goal of this research project is to determine whether a meaningful set of social and economic indicators can be developed to document changes in well-being that occur as a result of changes in ecosystem services. The outcomes and outputs from the workshop that is the subject of this report helped us to identify high-quality indicators useful for measuring well-being.