A survey of the microbiological quality of commercial frozen prawn products

The paper presents the results of a bacteriological survey carried out on 2,917 samples of frozen prawn, 55 samples of raw material, 35 samples of water, 4 samples of ice and 42 samples of various equipment used for processing. The survey covered a period of three years (1960-63) and comprised of samples collected from five of the leading processing factories in Cochin. Frozen products tested consisted of headless (marine and fresh water), peeled and deveined and cooked frozen samples. Statistical analysis of the data shows that there is no significant variation between samples and between factories with respect to product quality. The standard plate count varied between 1.0x10(4 superscript) and 1.0x10(6 superscript) per gram for headless and between 1.0x10(4 superscript) and 1.0x10(7 superscript) for peeled and deveined and cooked frozen samples. Majority of the samples had bacterial load well within the limits prescribed for such products.

A survey of the quality of salt cured fish produced in the Kanyakumari Disrict [i.e. District], Madras State

A survey of the quality of salt cured fish in Kanyakumari District, Madras State was done during the years 1963 and 1964 to obtain necessary basic information to formulate quality standards for these products which are gaining importance in the export trade. 155 trade samples of sun-dried, dry-salted, wet-cured and pit-cured fishery products were examined for their chemical quality and organoleptic characteristics. 26.5% of the sun-dried products, 25% of the wet cured fish, 55.21% of the dried salted products and none of the pit cured samples were found to be good in quality. The sun dried products were generally found to have heavy admixture of sand and were inadequately dried. The chief defects in the salt cured fish products were found to be the use of spoiled fish, imperfect cleaning and washing, use of impure salt, inadequate salting, curing and drying, and unhygienic conditions in all stages. Quality standards must be formulated for each variety of salt cured fish product and adequate measures taken to rectify the defects and enforce the quality standards.

A survey of the plankton of Monterey Bay

The purpose of this paper is to add to the identification of planktonic forms found in Monterey Bay, and also to compare the composition and population fluctuation with findings of previous years.

Report of the Frame Survey of Lake Albert conducted in May 2012

Lake Albert and Albert Nile are a major source of fisheries resources sustaining the riparian communities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Like all shared bodies of Uganda Lake Albert and Albert Nile fisheries are faced with immense exploitation pressure one time described as the tragedy of the commons. In Uganda, the lake is shared by five riparian districts namely: Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Hoima, Kibaale and Nebbi. The lake covers a total estimated surface area of 5,270 square kilometers with approximately 60% within Ugandan waters. It is located in the western part of the great rift-valley at an altitude of 618 m above Sea level. The central parts of the lake are characterized by steep escarpments whereas the northern and southern parts lie in a plain of the rift valley. The plains are gently sloping, resulting in shallow swampy inshore waters in many places. The major inflowing rivers are the Semliki and Kafu in the south, and the Victoria Nile at the northern tip. The lake has a diverse fish fauna with a gradient of multi-species fisheries in different parts of the lake. The overall objective of the Frame Survey was to provide information on the facilities and services at landing sites and the composition, magnitude and distribution of fishing effort to guide development and management of the fisheries resources of Lake Albert and Albert Nile. The specific objectives were to provide information on: a) The number of fish landing sites; b) The facilities available at the fish landing sites to service the sector including accessibility; c) The service providers especially fisheries staff at fish landing sites; d) The number of fishers; e) The number and types of fishing crafts and their mode of propulsion; f) The number, types and sizes of fishing gears used on the lake and their mode of operation.

Report of Catch Assessment Survey of Lake Albert – Albert Nile conducted in July 2012

A Catch Assessment Surveys (CAS) with the overall objective of generating information on the fish production and commercial value of the fisheries of Lake Albert and Albert Nile system was implemented by the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NAFIRRI) in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries Resources (DFR), Local Government staff (FOs) and BMU members at selected landing sites on Lake Albert (12 landing sites) and Albert Nile (26 landing sites) in July 2012. A total 622 and 313 boat days on Lake Albert and Albert Nile respectively were sampled for a period of 9 days. Results indicate an annual landing of 151,600 and 5,900 tonnes (t) of fish with an estimated beach value of 122.5 and 14 Billion (UShs) from Lake Albert and Albert Nile respectively. Over 80% of the catch from Lake Albert comprised the small pelagic species; Neobola bredoi (Muziri) and Brycinus nurse (Ragoogi) followed by Nile perch (6%). However, due to low market value of the small fishes and the high prices attached to Nile perch for industrial processing and export market, the contribution of the latter to beach value rose to 34% of the total. The contribution of the light fishery based on small pelagic species (B. nurse and N. bredoi) are insignificant on Albert Nile. Even if the small pelagic species may be present in the river system, a light fishery based on these two is yet to be developed. Proportionally, Albert Nile still remain a multispecies fishery with over 20 fish species harvested commercially. Interestingly, the Albert Nile fishery still remains primitive with simple crafts and gears (mainly dugout canoes, traps, and gillnets). This could suggest that the more developed the system becomes the higher the level of transformation in its fisheries leading to simplification, characterized by reduction in multispecies nature and dominance of few species. Illegal gears especially undersized gillnet of mesh size less than 4 inches were the most dominant in the Lake Albert and Albert Nile fisheries. They captured large quantities of immature fish particularly when used to target Nile perch, Bagrus, Nile tilapia, and large Barbus spp. Their impact when used to target the smaller species (Ragoogi, Angara & Ngasia) is yet to be evaluated. A specific study to analyze selectivity and impacts of these nets is a recommended. However, the dominance of 1.5” mesh sizes especially on Albert Nile to target Angara, Ngassia and Barbus, is definitely destructive to their fisheries and should be checked forthwith. In addition, there is an emerging fishing method locally referred to as “Salsio or Luzira” whereby fishers stay on the lake from 3 days up to 2 weeks without returning to the landing site. They carry with them food and salt for processing the catches on the lake, and in the case of Albert Nile on make shift shelters on islands and in the game park. They normally use gillnets of 3-3½ inch mesh size and caught mainly Nile perch & Bagrus (Pethi & Munama). On return they land several tons of fish. Most of these Catches are not captured in the estimates presented in our analyses since we target daily fishing boats. The possible impacts of this fishing method should be studied and appropriate action recommended.

Socio-economic survey of fisher families, 1958-59

Fisher families had been investigated by the Department of Commerce and Industries in earlier economic surveys conducted in 1935, 1938 and 1939 (Das Gupta, 1937 a & b; 1944 a & b). These surveys were directed at the general economic conditions of the urban and rural sectors of the population and therefore did not provide much information in particular on the life of the fisherman or his environment. The Department of Fisheries in 1954 conducted a rapid enquiry into the living conditions of fishermen to obtain some data on their income, indebtedness and general social conditions, at the request of the Canadian Co-operative Consultant for incorporation in his report on the "Status and Possibilities of Co-operative Development of the Fisheries of Ceylon” (MacDonald, 1954). The present survey was undertaken to provide more definite socio-economic information on the fishermen of Ceylon, covering such aspects as income, expenditure, indebtedness and living conditions. The survey was started in June, 1958, but was interrupted by the unsettled conditions of the Island at the time, taking therefore a little over a year for completion. Some of the data collected was used as a basis for a report on the living conditions of fishermen, incorporated in the “Guide to the Fisheries of Ceylon", a hand book published by the Department of Fisheries (Anon. 1958).

A Preliminary survey of 21 Ceylon lakes. 1. Fisheries of two lakes, Parakrama Samudra and Minneriya Wewa

Fourteen species of indigenous fish and three species of introduced fish commonly used for food are present in Parakrama Samudra and Minneriya Wewa. Commercial fishing is done throughout the year in these two lakes by gill nets, shore-seines ("Ma-del" nets) and cast nets. From records of fish landings maintained from 1957 it is seen that the production of fish at Parakrama Samudra has increased from 41 pounds per acre per annum in 1957 to 117 pounds per acre per annum in 1962 and at Minneriya Wewa from 11 pounds per acre per annum in 1957 to 118 pounds per acre per annum in 1962. Tilapia mossambica formed the chief constituent of the catch at both these lakes and it was due to this fish that the commercial fisheries at both these places were successful. It is recommended that fishing effort be further increased in both these lakes and records be kept to note any tendency towards over-exploitation.

A Preliminary survey of 21 Ceylon lakes. 2. Limnology and fish production potential

Some morphometric, physical and chemical conditions of 21 lakes in Ceylon are described. The values for the organic matter in the plankton and for the dry weight of bottom fauna in the lakes have been calculated. These values have been utilised to evaluate the potential fish production figures for the lakes. Fishing trials were made in each lake. Suggestions regarding mesh sizes and time of fishing are put forward.

A Preliminary survey of 21 Ceylon lakes. 3. Parasites and predators, food of fish, and marginal fauna

Three nematodes, two acanthocephalans and three cestodes were collected by dissecting 15 species of fish. Of these parasites only Hedruris sp. a larval nematode is responsible directly for the death of fish, since it is found in predatory species a reduction of these might prove of considerable consequence to fish, production. Bothriocephalus gowleonensis, a cestode probably introduced from China with Chinese carp, was recorded in an indigenous carp Puntius sarana. This parasite causes heavy mortality in grass carp in China and is a potential danger to local species. A single crustacean parasite was recorded. It is likely that they are widespread. No protozoa were recorded but there can be little doubt that they occur in local freshwater species and may be of considerable importance in fisheries. Several predators (insects, fish and other vertebrates) were recorded and are doubtless of considerable importance. However, the role of parasites and of predators (especially fishes) in relation to the productivity of fisheries can hardly be assessed at present and needs further study. A study of the fauna found at the shallow edges of 21 irrigation reservoirs showed an abundance of fauna in the low-country reservoirs whilst the up-country reservoirs had a poor fauna. The fauna showed insects, crustacea and mollusca in this order of abundance. The presence of insect and molluscs feeding fish in our fauna shows that these rich sources of food are being utilised.

Quantitative survey of Sargassum along the south-west coast of Ceylon

Sargassum is a brown seaweed from which alginic acid is extracted. A survey was carried out off the south-west coast of Ceylon in December 1963 and January 1964 with the view to determining the quantity of Sargassum available.

A brief report on a survey of the fish and fisheries of the Tana river, with special reference to the probable effects of the proposed barrages

The construction of several barrages in order to develop the hydroelectric and irrigation potential of the Tana river has been proposed and the probable effects of these developments upon the fish and fisheries of the area' has been investigated. Briefly in the highest reaches the sport fishery will be unaffected, in the middle reaches the sparse subsistence fisheries will be only slightly inconvenienced but in the terminal reaches of the river the subsistence and commercial fishing enterprises are expected to be seriously reduced by the progressive re-regulation of river-flow. However each new dam will support a new and productive reservoir fishery and with proper development the annual yield of fish from the Tana basin is expected to increase considerably.

A survey of research and scientific services in East Africa, 1947-56

This "Survey of Research and Scientific Services in East Arica 1947-1956" has been prepared by Dr. E. B. Worthington, who held the post of Scientific Secretary in the Office of the Chief Secretary to the East African Governor's Conference and subsequently in the Administrator's Office of the East Mrica High Commission during the period January, 1947-May, 1951. Dr. Worthington is now Secretary General of the Scientific Council for, Arica South of the Sahara

The history and fishery potential of Kisoro Minor Lakes part two: Preliminary survey of Lakes Mutanda and Mulehe fisheries 

The fisheries of Lakes Mutanda and Mulehe during 1998/9 were mainly at subsistence scale and only few fishers operated at irregular intervals. The commercial catch records between 1963 to 1999 showed that Lake Mulehe was landing more fish than Lake Mutanda despite the fact that Lake Mutanda (26.4 km2) was bigger than Lake Mulehe (4.11 cm2). The constant decline of catches was due to irregular restocking and applying low stocking densities of fry. However, restocking should consider using species that withstand low temperature (15-240C) in the district. These include Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia), Macropterus salmoides (Black bass), and Cyprinus carpio (Common carp). Most of these species have either disappeared or declined to very low levels. Due to lack of commercial fish species for harvest, the fishers by 1998/9 resorted to harvesting the haplochromines, Clarias carsoni and edible frogs (Xenopus kigesiensis) as alternative resources. Experimental studies have shown the need and techniques to enhance fish production on these two lakes.

Survey of the regional fish trade

Fish export trade,both regional and international, has significantly contributed to uganda's economic growth and to the livehoods of many Ugandans in terms of revenue and employment. while there is substantive information on local and international fish trade on which decsions could be based to appropriately develop the trade,informatrion on regional fish export trade is lacking and where avaliable,it has not been adequately documented. This report contains the findings of the survey on regional fish trade at the border district of West Nile,South/Western and Eastern regions key markets and selected fish supply beaches on Lake Victoria.

A survey of process hygiene in the Sri Lankan prawn industry. 1. Hygiene status of raw materials and products

A survey of processing hygiene in the Sri Lankan prawn industry has shown that the incoming raw material has extremely high bacterial loadings; about 50% of samples analysed had a total count in excess of 10,000,000/g. Although beheading reduces the count, ineffective temperature control during processing means that the final total count of raw, shell-on, P.U.D. and P.A.D. prawns, as well as cooked prawns, is in excess of 1,000,000/g. - the maximum level specified by many importing countries.