A collection of empirical relations for use in ecological modelling

This study summarizes previously published and updated empirical relations for the estimation of production/biomass ratios in benthic invertebrates; of natural mortality in benthic invertebrates and finfish; and of respiration from production and vice versa in animal populations. AMS-EXCEL spreadsheet containing these equations is available from the author via Email. They are also included in the Ecopath with Ecosim software.

Seasonality, labor and integration of aquaculture into southern African smallhold farming systems

Fish production on Malawian smallholdings is generally limited by the quantity and quality of inputs to the pond (Brummett and Noble 1995). The timing of labor availability and other farm activities limit the amount farmers put into their ponds resulting in lower growth rates and yields. There is potential for improving production and yields through modifications of production schedules to accommodate other farming activities. Limited material and labor inputs among farming system enterprises can be better allocated by considering seasonal availability of inputs and adapting the pond and fish farming technology to the farming system. This case from Malawi demonstrates that aquaculture technology that neglects the annual cycle of events and constraints on the farm will not be easily integrated into the farming system. Focusing on technology that maximizes fish production rather than facilitation of adoption and integration has been a feature of the majority of African smallholder agriculture/aquaculture projects. Farming Systems Research (FSR) must identify niches and opportunities for system improvement for it to be worth supporting as a development intervention.

Potential for the development of aquaculture in Africa

Aquaculture production in Africa has remained low despite the huge potential that exists on the continent. In order for this potential to be realized, it is necessary to refocus the direction of aquaculture development. This paper concludes that for further growth to occur it is necessary to: (i) widen the range of production systems; (ii) increase production intensities and efficiencies; (iii) develop management technologies for indigenous species that target local niche markets; (iv) put more emphasis on marketing and processing of high value products; (v) promote policy research on how aquaculture production can respond to changing macroeconomic policies; and (vi) accelerate the disengagement of government from activities that can best be done by the private sector.

O empreendedorismo urbano na cidade do Rio de Janeiro: o Porto Maravilha e a consolidação de gestão estratégica

Ao longo das últimas décadas as cidades emergiram e se consolidaram no cenário mundial como protagonistas de nosso tempo num processo que envolve a reestruturação produtiva do capitalismo e o paradigma da globalização. As cidades passaram a ser cada vez mais o lócus da modernização do capital, o espaço necessário de sua produção e reprodução. Para legitimar este papel das cidades como novos atores políticos, o empreendedorismo urbano foi elencado enquanto um novo modelo de gestão que tem se difundido por diversas cidades sob o argumento de que apenas uma gestão urbana baseada na eficiência, na flexibilidade e nas parcerias público-privadas seriam capazes de superar a crise urbana e recolocar de forma competitiva as cidades no circuito dos fluxos globais. Entre as cidades que adotaram esta forma de governança urbana está o Rio de Janeiro, que desde os anos 90 através da confecção de um planejamento estratégico, tem buscado sua inserção no processo de modernização capitalista. Para isso tem se utilizado da imagem de cidade olímpica, amistosa e receptiva para os negócios e para o turismo, mas acima de tudo, tem renovado seu espaço urbano por meio de diversos projetos e intervenções pontuais, como o projeto Porto Maravilha, por exemplo. Tendo em vista esta realidade, este trabalho objetiva compreender o empreendedorismo urbano na cidade do Rio de Janeiro enquanto uma estratégia de ação que busca legitimar a parceria do setor público com o setor privado e concretizar um conjunto de políticas voltado para a renovação e valorização urbana pontual e fragmentada. Em vista dos diferentes projetos urbanos que estão sendo desenvolvidos atualmente na cidade, especialmente devido à realização da Copa do Mundo em 2014 e dos Jogos Olímpicos em 2016, o projeto Porto Maravilha foi escolhido como exemplo concreto dessa nova governança urbana por estar baseado nos pressupostos do empresariamento urbano. Para alcançar o objetivo da dissertação, estão sendo utilizadas fontes primárias e secundárias, autores basilares para os conceitos aqui utilizados, publicações recentes sobre a temática e idas à campo na Zona Portuária para acompanhamento do andamento do projeto. Os resultados da análise contida nesta dissertação caminham para a confirmação de que o modelo de empreendedorismo urbano foi adotado pela coalização gestora da cidade para legitimar a reestruturação capitalista do espaço através de um projeto de cidade centrado na parceria público-privada e em políticas públicas que favorecem determinados setores econômicos promovendo uma urbanização fragmentada e seletiva, corroborado pelo exemplo do Porto Maravilha.

Evaluation of the carcass and commercial characteristics of carps

The role of carcass evaluation techniques in aquaculture research programs, especially in genetics, breeding, production management, feeding and nutrition, cannot be overemphasized. Knowledge of production efficiencies and growth potentials in relation to desired carcass attributes has provided an impetus to improvements in genetic selection techniques and management of aquatic food animals. Accurate, standard and uniform methods of carcass evaluation are critically important. A standard format developed for collection of data on carps is presented in this paper.

A report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the minor catchments in South West Cumbria 1996 with particular reference to salmonids

This is the report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the minor catchments in South West Cumbria 1996 with particular reference to salmonids, produced by North West Water in 1994. The 1996 Minor Catchment survey indicates variations in salmonid production within these catchments. Survey results indicate that production may be reaching its limit in certain areas whilst others are underachieving and others are unsuitable for salmonid production. Trout production within the catchments is higher and more widespread than that of salmon. Water quality levels vary considerably between catchments and intra-annually within individual catchments. The need for selective habitat surveys, with a view to habitat improvement schemes (H.I.S) is discussed. This report formed a basis for subsequent reports, thus, allowing data comparisons and analysis of production level fluctuations. It was the most extensive assessment of these catchments to date, taking into account comparisons with the new National Database on salmonid production in England and Wales.

Genetic improvement of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) in India. Phase two: annual report for period January to December 2012

Macrobrachiurn rosenbergii is one of the widely cultured freshwater prawn species globally. India was the third largest producer of this species in 2007 and its aquaculture production rose to 43,000 metric tons (t) in 2005 froin less than 500 t in 1995. However, since then production has been declining and in 2008-09 it was 12,856 t, a reduction of more than 70% compared to 2005. There are several contributing factors to this decline, such as slow growth rate, poor survival, disease outbreaks, increase in cost of production, and availability of low risk alternative fish species. However, there is a consensus that poor seed quality leading to unsatisfactory growth and survival rates in ponds is one of the major reasons. Hence, the development of a systematic selective breeding program aimed at improving growth rate and ensuring high survival rate of this species was deemed a high priority. The Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, India in collaboration with the WorldFish Center, Malaysia initiated a selective breeding program for this species in 2007.