A review of bonga fisheries of the Cross River State, Nigeria

The Nigerian pelagic fishery contributes about two-thirds of the total marine fishery resources of the country. The main components of this fishery are the clupeid (Ethmalosa, and Sardinella spp) and the scombroid (jacks, barracuda and tuna) fisheries. In 1979 to 1983, fish production from the national inshore and brackishwater zones was 1,702,685 tonnes. Bonga (Ethmalosa fimbriata) which dominates the pelagic fishery in the Cross River State of Nigeria, contributed about 158,612 tonnes (i.e. 9.3%) of this national marine fish catch. Although bonga is caught along the entire Nigerian coast, a significant fishery exists mostly in the wider estuary of the Cross River State, which borders on the Cameroon Republic. In the Cross River State, and within the period, bonga contributed 24% to the marine fish landings. Bonga is supported by a single species (E. fimbriata). The species forms an important fishery all the year-round in the open sea off these estuaries, whenever the canoes venture to sea, but these open sea fisheries are affected by whether conditions. The best, and most suitable gear for bonga are the gill nets, cast nets, boat seines, and shore seines. Dried and smoked bonga are a common market commodity in the southern parts of the country generally, but particularly in the Cross State where it is a readily available and acceptable food item

An economic overview of the fish and shrimp production of the Nigeria fish trawling industry under the structural adjustment programme

Over the years, Nigeria have witnessed different government with different policy measures. Against the negative consequences of the past policies, the structural adjustment was initiated in 1986. Its aims is to effectively altar and restructure the consumption patterns of the economy as well as to eliminate price distortions and heavy dependence on the oil and the imports of consumer goods and services. Within the period of implementation, there has been a decreasing trend in yearly fish catch landings and sizes but the reverse in shrimping. There is also a gradual shift from fishing to shrimping, from the vessels purchased with 83.3% increase of shrimpers from 1985 to 1989. Decreasing fish catch sizes and quantity aggravated by the present high cost of fishing coupled with the favourable export market for Nigeria shrimp tend to influence the sift. This economic situation is the result of the supply measures of SAP through the devaluation of the Naira. There is also overconcentration of vessels on the inshore waters as majority of the vessels are old and low powers hence incapable of fishing on the deep sea. Rotterdam price being paid for automotive gas oil (AGO) by fishing industries is observed to be discriminating and unhealthy to the growth of the industry as it is exceedingly high and unstable thus affecting planning for fishing operation. Fuel alone takes 43% of the total cost of operation. The overall consequences is that fishing days are loss and therefore higher overhead cost. It was concluded that for a healthy growth and sustainable resources of our marine fishery under the structural adjustment programme licensing of new fishing vessels should be stopped immediately and the demand side of SAP should be employed by subsidizing high powered fishing vessels which can operate effectively on the deep sea

Welt-Fischereierträge 1995: 112,9 Mio. Tonnen

Total world fishery production 1995, including aquaculture, of fish, shellfish, frogs and turtles – reached a new record of 112.9 million tones live weight. Marine fishery had a share of 91,9 million tonnes (+ 0.4) and freshwater fishery 21.0 million tonnes (+ 2.0). Not included in these figures are seals, whales, crocodiles and algae. Marine mammals and crocodiles are listed by number of killed individuals, and not given by weight. Algae alone represent a biomass of 7.1 million tonnes, but are not included by the FAO in the nominal „total production of the world“ either. About two thirds of the marine fishery harvest was used for human consumption, one third for industrial purposes – mainly production of fish meal and fish oil.

The introduction of exotic fish in Sri Lanka with special reference to tilapia

Introductions of exotic finfish between 1948 and 1953 are reported in this paper, with a brief reference to earlier and later introductions. Exotic fish were introduced principally to develop the potential for aquaculture in fresh and brackish waters in order to increase the availability of fish for rural communities through the biological control of aquatic vegetation. The algal feeding tilapia (Sarotherodon mossambicus) has created a new food industry in inland and brackishwaters. It has supplemented marine fishery production in a community where animal protein intake consists mainly of fish. It is also being cultured in flooded rice fields and used in the control of malaria. This excellent table fish has not had any adverse environmental impact.

Coral reef resources of East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and the Seychelles

Coral reefs are widespread along the east African coast and Seychelle islands. Their roles in island building and coastal protection are often underestimated, they are also important fishery habitats and major tourist attractions. The east African marine fishery production, estimated at 1.4-4.9 tonnes per km super(2), is principally a result of artisanal fishing. Siltation, trampling, and destructive fishing methods are the main cause of coral reef degradation along the east African coast and associated islands. Legislation has been implemented to protect coral reefs by establishing marine parks and reserves. However, poaching and anchor damage are widespread on these protected reefs. Legislative provision to increase the benefit to fishing communities may reduce poaching. The establishment of exclusive nature reserves may be one way to ensure preservation of some coral reefs in the region.

Caribbean corals in crisis: record thermal stress, bleaching, and mortality in 2005

Background: The rising temperature of the world’s oceans has become a major threat to coral reefs globally as the severity and frequency of mass coral bleaching and mortality events increase. In 2005, high ocean temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean resulted in the most severe bleaching event ever recorded in the basin. Methodology/Principal Findings: Satellite-based tools provided warnings for coral reef managers and scientists, guiding both the timing and location of researchers’ field observations as anomalously warm conditions developed and spread across the greater Caribbean region from June to October 2005. Field surveys of bleaching and mortality exceeded prior efforts in detail and extent, and provided a new standard for documenting the effects of bleaching and for testing nowcast and forecast products. Collaborators from 22 countries undertook the most comprehensive documentation of basin-scale bleaching to date and found that over 80% of corals bleached and over 40% died at many sites. The most severe bleaching coincided with waters nearest a western Atlantic warm pool that was centered off the northern end of the Lesser Antilles. Conclusions/Significance: Thermal stress during the 2005 event exceeded any observed from the Caribbean in the prior 20 years, and regionally-averaged temperatures were the warmest in over 150 years. Comparison of satellite data against field surveys demonstrated a significant predictive relationship between accumulated heat stress (measured using NOAA Coral Reef Watch’s Degree Heating Weeks) and bleaching intensity. This severe, widespread bleaching and mortality will undoubtedly have long-term consequences for reef ecosystems and suggests a troubled future for tropical marine ecosystems under a warming climate

Determinants of small-scale fishermen's income on Oman's Batinah Coast

The small-scale fishing industry of Oman is responsible for almost 90 percent of the total marine fishery production. It is also the main supplier of fish for Omani households. This study analyzes the factors that determine small-scale fishermen’s income on Oman’s Batinah Coast, which has almost 30 percent of Oman’s population and more than one-third of the small-scale fishermen. We find that fishermen’s income here can be explained broadly under four major blocks of variables: geographical region, fishing inputs and catch, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and the nature of the relationship with fisheries extension services. In general, the Wilayat (local administrative units) failed to make any significant impact on fishermen’s income. The variable “Fishing inputs and catch,” such as increases in engine power, boat length, weekly catch, and number of weekly trips, positively impacted fishermen’s income while increases in weekly fishing costs, number of crew members, and difficulty in getting ice had a significantly negative effect on the income. Furthermore, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics also contributed significantly in determining the fishermen’s income level. The other important findings were related to extension services. The variables “Fishermen’s exchange of information and cooperation with the ministry” and “Fishermen’s involvement in the extension activities” were found to have positive effects on fishermen’s income levels. Capitalizing on these findings could improve fishermen’s incomes and their lives across the region, as well as nationally.

Pescaria de camarāo e gestāo: alguns exemplos de experiências de outras áreas

In volume 60 of the FAO Statistical Yearbook of Fisheries, we can see that the world shrimp catch in 1985 was 1.9 million tons. This represents an increase, since 1980, of 250 tons (15%). Catches of shrimp is about 2.5% of global marine fishery products. But as we know, its economic value in the global market is much higher, reaching a value of 30%.

Regional ocean-colour chlorophyll algorithms for the Red Sea

The Red Sea is a semi-enclosed tropical marine ecosystem that stretches from the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba in the north, to the Gulf of Aden in the south. Despite its ecological and economic importance, its biological environment is relatively unexplored. Satellite ocean-colour estimates of chlorophyll concentration (an index of phytoplankton biomass) offer an observational platform to monitor the health of the Red Sea. However, little is known about the optical properties of the region. In this paper, we investigate the optical properties of the Red Sea in the context of satellite ocean-colour estimates of chlorophyll concentration. Making use of a new merged ocean-colour product, from the European Space Agency (ESA) Climate Change Initiative, and in situ data in the region, we test the performance of a series of ocean-colour chlorophyll algorithms. We find that standard algorithms systematically overestimate chlorophyll when compared with the in situ data. To investigate this bias we develop an ocean-colour model for the Red Sea, parameterised to data collected during the Tara Oceans expedition, that estimates remote-sensing reflectance as a function of chlorophyll concentration. We used the Red Sea model to tune the standard chlorophyll algorithms and the overestimation in chlorophyll originally observed was corrected. Results suggest that the overestimation was likely due to an excess of CDOM absorption per unit chlorophyll in the Red Sea when compared with average global conditions. However, we recognise that additional information is required to test the influence of other potential sources of the overestimation, such as aeolian dust, and we discuss uncertainties in the datasets used. We present a series of regional chlorophyll algorithms for the Red Sea, designed for a suite of ocean-colour sensors, that may be used for further testing.

Poverty, Inequality and Natural Resources Degradation

The present study is an attempt to understand the link between natural resource degradation and poverty among people dependent on these resources. This is done by examining the impact of depletion of marine resources on the livelihood and socio-economic condition of the small-scale marine fishery community in South Kerala. In Kerala, nearly ten lakh fisherfolk depend on the marine fishery resources for their livelihood. The overall level of education of the small-scale fishing community is lower than that of the State’s rural population. Almost all the households surveyed, is one way or other, depend on fishery resources for livelihood. Low levels percapita income and high levels of inequality imply the existence of a large proportion of poor people in the community who are vulnerable to external shocks. The study reveals that poverty was comparatively higher among households with no fishing assets, with only one earner, with more than two children, and depending entirely on pensions/remittances. The study has not provided any evidence to show that poverty in the community is the result of depletion of marine resources.

Biochemical & Pharmacological evaluation of liver oils of selected deep sea sharks and chimaeras of the Indian EEZ

With a seacoast of 8,1 18 km, an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2 million square km, and with an area of about 30,000 square km under aquaculture, lndia produces close to six million tonnes of fish, over 4 per cent of the world fish production. While the marine waters upto 50m depth have been fully exploited, those beyond, remain unexplored. There is an ever increasing demand for fishery resources as food. The coastal fishery resources of the country are dwindling at a rapid pace and it becomes highly imperative that we search for alternate fishery resources for food. The option we have is to hunt for marine fishery resources. Studies pertaining to proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid composition are essential to understand the nutraceutical values of these deep sea fishery resources. The present study was aimed to carry out proximate composition of deep sea fishery resources obtained during cruises onboard the FORV Sarise Sampada, to identify fishery resources which have appreciable lipid content and thereby analyse the bioactive potentials of marine lipids, to study the amino acid profile of these fishery resources, to understand the contents of SPA, MUFA and PUFA and to calculate the n3/n6 fatty acid contents. Though the presence of nutraceuticals was identified in the marine fishery resources their use as potential food resources deserve further investigation. So the study were carried out to calculate the hepatosomatic indices of sharks & chimaeras and conduct biochemical characterisation of liver oils of Apristurus indicus, Cenlrophorus scalprams, Centroselachus crepidater, Neoharriotta raleighana, and Harriotta pinnata obtained during cruises onboard the FORV Sugar Sampada.Therapeutic use of shark liver oil is evident from its use for centuries as a remedy to heal wounds and fight flu (Neil er al. 2006). Japanese seamen called it 'samedava' or "cure all". Shark liver oil is being promoted worldwide as a dietary supplement to boost the immune system, fight infections, to treat cancer and to lessen the side effects of conventional cancer treatment. These days more emphasis is laid on the nutritive benefits of shark liver oils especially on the omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs) (Anandan er al. 2007) and alkylglycerols (AKGs) (Pugliese er al. I998) contained in them due to the high rise of inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, asthma and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia. So the present study also evaluate the pharmacological properties with respect to analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti pyretic and anti-ulcer effects of four different liver oils of sharks belonging to the Indian EEZ and to identify the components of oil responsible for these activities.The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of liver oils from Neoharriotra raleighana (NR), Centrosymnus crepidater (CC), Apristurus indicus (AI), and Centrophorus sculpratus (CS) sharks caught from the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean were compared. The main objectives also include determination of the cholesterol lowering effects of liver oils of Neoharriotra raleighana (NR) and Centrophorus sculpratus (CS) on the high fat diet induced dyslipidemia and to compare the impact of four isolipidemic diets, on levels of serum diagnostic marker enzymes, on lipid profile of blood and liver and antioxidant status of heart in male Albino rats. And also to study the efficacy of Centrophorus sculpratus (CS) liver oil against Complete Freund’s Adjuvant-induced arthritis and to compare the anti-inflammatory activity of this oil with a traditionally used anti-inflammatory substance gingerol (oleoresin extracted from ginger.). The results of the present study indicated that both (Centrophorus sculpratus liver oils as well as gingerol extracts proved to be effective natural remedies against CFA-induced arthritis in Albino rats.

Export Development

The main aim of this study is to examine the deficiencies of the export development process and strategy in India and, to suggest, in the light of the findings of the above, measures for improvement. The marine products industry has been chosen as a case for a detailed investigation. The researcher conducts an evaluative study on the export potential for India’s marine products and trends in the international market for marine products. The thesis tries to identify the major hurdles in increasing exports of marine products from India. The evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the measures taken to promote marine products exports is also undertaken

Evaluation of a Lagrangian box model using field measurements from EASE (Eastern Atlantic Summer Experiment) 1996

The Cambridge Tropospheric Trajectory model of Chemistry and Transport (CiTTyCAT), a Lagrangian chemistry model, has been evaluated using atmospheric chemical measurements collected during the East Atlantic Summer Experiment 1996 (EASE '96). This field campaign was part of the UK Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) Atmospheric Chemistry Studies in the Oceanic Environment (ACSOE) programme, conducted at Mace Head, Republic of Ireland, during July and August 1996. The model includes a description of gas-phase tropospheric chemistry, and simple parameterisations for surface deposition, mixing from the free troposphere and emissions. The model generally compares well with the measurements and is used to study the production and loss of O3 under a variety of conditions. The mean difference between the hourly O3 concentrations calculated by the model and those measured is 0.6 ppbv with a standard deviation of 8.7 ppbv. Three specific air-flow regimes were identified during the campaign – westerly, anticyclonic (easterly) and south westerly. The westerly flow is typical of background conditions for Mace Head. However, on some occasions there was evidence of long-range transport of pollutants from North America. In periods of anticyclonic flow, air parcels had collected emissions of NOx and VOCs immediately before arriving at Mace Head, leading to O3 production. The level of calculated O3 depends critically on the precise details of the trajectory, and hence on the emissions into the air parcel. In several periods of south westerly flow, low concentrations of O3 were measured which were consistent with deposition and photochemical destruction inside the tropical marine boundary layer.

Combining satellite data and models to estimate cloud radiative effect at the surface and in the atmosphere

Satellite measurements and numerical forecast model reanalysis data are used to compute an updated estimate of the cloud radiative effect on the global multi-annual mean radiative energy budget of the atmosphere and surface. The cloud radiative cooling effect through reflection of shortwave radiation dominates over the longwave heating effect, resulting in a net cooling of the climate system of –21 Wm-2. The shortwave radiative effect of cloud is primarily manifest as a reduction in the solar radiation absorbed at the surface of -53 Wm-2. Clouds impact longwave radiation by heating the moist tropical atmosphere (up to around 40 Wm-2 for global annual means) while enhancing the radiative cooling of the atmosphere over other regions, in particular higher latitudes and sub-tropical marine stratocumulus regimes. While clouds act to cool the climate system during the daytime, the cloud greenhouse effect heats the climate system at night. The influence of cloud radiative effect on determining cloud feedbacks and changes in the water cycle are discussed.

Análise da estrutura genética populacional da piraúna (cephalopholis fulva: serranidae) ao longo da costa e ilhas oceânicas brasileiras

Brazil has about 8,500 km of coastline and on this scale, fishing is a historically important source of animal protein for human consumption. The national fishing background shows a growth of marine fishery production until 1985 and within this period it was recorded a steady decline. From the year 2003 fishing statistics aim to some "recovery" of the total fisheries production, which probably is related to a change in industry practice. The target of commercial fishing became smaller species with low commercial value, but very abundants. The coney, Cephalopholis fulva (Serranidae), is one of these species that have been suffering a greater fishing pressure in recent years. In order to provide data about the current situation of the genetic diversity of these populations, several molecular markers have been being used for this purpose. The prior knowledge of genetic variability is crucial for management and biodiversity conservation. To this end, the control region sequences (dloop) of mtDNA from Cephalopholis fulva (Serranidae) from five geographical points of the coast of Brazil (Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia and Espírito Santo) and the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (FN) were sequenced and their genetic diversity analyzed. The FST values were very low (0.0246 to 0.000), indicating high gene flow between the sampled spots. The indices h and indicate a secondary contact between previously allopatric lineages differentiated or large and stable populations with long evolutionary history. Tests of Tajima and Fu showed expansion for all populations. In contrast, the mismatch distribution and SSD indicated expansion just for coastal populations. Unlike other species of the Atlantic which have been deeply affected by events on later Pleistocene, the population-genetic patterns of C. fulva may be related to recent events occurred approximately 130,000 years ago. Moreover, the data presented by geographical samples of the specie C. fulva showed high genetic diversity, also indicating the absence of deleterious effects of over-exploitation on this specie, as well as evidence of complete panmixia between all sampled populations