Population control in farmed tilapias

Under the majority of culture practices, the reduction or elimination of reproduction in culture ponds results in significantly improved yields of marketable fish. An examination is made of existing methods for the control of reproduction in tilapias (Oreochromis spp.). The generation of all-male tilapia by hormonal sex reversal and genetic manipulation is discussed in detail, indicating the various advantages and disadvantages of both techniques.

Population dynamics and exploitation of Metapenaeus affinis in Kuwaiti waters

Length-frequency data of Metapenaeus affinis collected from the trawl catches of R/V Bahith in Kuwaiti waters from 1985 to 1989 were combined with estimates of monthly total catch by the commercial and small-scale fleets operating in Kuwait, and analyzed using the Compleat ELEFAN software package. A major recruitment pulse of M. affinis occurs in spring and a minor one in autumn. Optimum relative yield per recruit (Y'/R) is obtained with the length-at-first capture (L sub(c)) of 24.4 cm CL for females and < 17.6 m CL for males. Virtual population analysis results indicated that the biomasses have decreased during the last three-year period for which data were available.

The Status of the United States Population of Night Shark, Carcharhinus signatus

Night sharks, Carcharhinus signatus, are an oceanic species generally occurring in outer continental shelf waters in the western North Atlantic Ocean including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Although not targeted, night sharks make up a segment of the shark bycatch in the pelagic longline fishery. Historically, night sharks comprised a significant proportion of the artisanal Cuban shark fishery but today they are rarely caught. Although information from some fisheries has shown a decline in catches of night sharks, it is unclear whether this decline is due to changes in fishing tactics, market, or species identification. Despite the uncertainty in the decline, the night shark is currently listed as a species of concern due to alleged declines in abundance resulting from fishing effort, i.e. overutilization. To assess their relevance to the species of concern list, we collated available information on the night shark to provide an analysis of its status. Night shark landings were likely both over- and under-reported and thus probably did not reflect all commercial and recreational catches, and overall they have limited relevance to the current status of the species. Average size information has not changed considerably since the 1980’s based on information from the pelagic longline fishery when corrected for gear bias. Analysis of biological information indicates night sharks have intrinsic rates of increase (r) about 10% yr–1 and have moderate rebound potential and an intermediate generation time compared to other sharks. An analysis of trends in relative abundance from four data sources gave conflicting results, with one series in decline, two series increasing, and one series relatively flat. Based on the analysis of all currently available information, we believe the night shark does not qualify as a species of concern but should be retained on the prohibited species list as a precautionary approach to management until a more comprehensive stock assessment can be conducted.

Population Biology and Life History of the North American Menhadens, Brevoortia spp.

Four recognized species of menhaden, Brevoortia spp., occur in North American marine waters: Atlantic menhaden, B. tyrannus; Gulf menhaden, B. patronus; yellowfin menhaden. B. smithi; and finescale menhaden, B. gunteri. Three of the menhaden species are known to form two hybrid types. Members of the genus range from coastal waters of Veracruz, Mex., to Nova Scotia, Can. Atlantic and Gulf menhaden are extremely abundant within their respective ranges and support extensive purse-seine reduction (to fish meal and oil) fisheries. All menhaden species are estuarine dependent through late larval and juvenile stages. Depending on species and location within the range, spawning may occur within bays and sounds to a substantial distance offshore. Menhaden are considered to be filter-feeding, planktivorous omnivores as juveniles and adults. Menhaden eggs, immature developmental stages, and adults are potential prey for a large and diverse number of predators. North American menhadens, including two hybrids, are hosts for the parasitic isopod, Olencira praegustator, and the parasitic copepod, Lemaeenicus radiatus. Although the data are quite variable, a dome-shaped Ricker function is frequently used to describe the spawner-recruitment relationship for Atlantic and Gulf menhaden. Each of these species is treated as a single stock with respect to exploitation by the purse-seine reduction fishery. Estimates of instantaneous natural (other) mortality rates are O.45 for Atlantic menhaden and 1.1 for Gulf menhaden.

A contribuição da geomática na geografia da saúde sob uma abordagem da Teoria Geral de Sistemas.

O conjunto de técnicas de Geomática tem sido um poderoso aliado no apoio à tomada de decisões e manipulação de dados espaciais. Nas últimas décadas tornou-se quase indispensável na gestão de recursos humanos e recursos naturais. Na área da Saúde, a Geomática tem viabilizado estudos sobre: análise da distribuição de pacientes; variações na ocorrência de epidemias; monitoramento de vetores; avaliação em tempo real de situações de emergência ou catastróficas, entre outros. A associação da Medicina com a Geografia é antiga. A associação entre a saúde e a espacialização das doenças deve considerar a estruturação física do espaço geográfico a partir da caracterização de cada parte componente do sistema como preconiza a perspectiva sistêmica na Teoria Geral de Sistema, pois a população é parte integrante do espaço geográfico no qual ocorrem determinados agravos à saúde. Nestes pontos recai a relevância da presente pesquisa. O estudo foi desenvolvido na área da Bacia Hidrográfica de Jacarepaguá no município do Rio de Janeiro. Com aproximadamente 295 km2 é composta por 19 bairros e tem uma população aproximada de 682000 habitantes. O estudo pretendeu estruturar uma metodologia para inserção das técnicas de Geomática na prática de análises de dados de saúde, apoiada na Teoria Geral de Sistemas, visando contribuir no processo de vigilância ambiental em saúde permitindo realizar um prognóstico de situações de risco de determinada população. A base cartográfica que apoiou o estudo foi construída através de cartas topográficas da DSG na escala 1:50000. Das cartas foram retiradas informações de planimetria relevantes ao estudo e as informações de altimetria que foram utilizadas na elaboração do modelo digital de terreno (MDT). Com o MDT foi gerado o mapa de declividade por grau que permitiu criar divisões em 5 classes para posterior geração de mapas temáticos com os dados de saúde. Os dados de saúde foram retirados do Sistema de Informações de Notificação de Agravos (SINAN) disponibilizado pelo Ministério da Saúde. A doença analisada foi a leptospirose. Os casos foram localizados pontualmente a partir dos endereços de residência. A hipótese aventada neste estudo era a existência de um alto grau de correlação entre as partes componentes representadas pela estruturação física do espaço e a ocorrência de leptospirose. Com os resultados comprovou-se a hipótese nula, pois somente ocorrem doenças em áreas associadas ao Fundo Chato da Baixada de Jacarepaguá e nos Declives Suaves dos Morros Isolados, também localizados no Subsistema Baixada. Isto demonstra que em termos desta doença existe uma ausência de população nesta componente espacial em áreas de maiores declividades.

River Fowey SAP Consultation

This is the River Fowey Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Fowey Salmon Action Plan (SAP). The River Fowey SAP follows the format of those completed for the Rivers Tamar, Lynher, Tavy and Camel. It is the 5th of 7 action plans that will be produced for salmon rivers managed by the Cornwall Area Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Team. This strategy represents an entirely new approach to salmon management within the UK and introduces the concept of river-specific salmon spawning targets as a salmon management tool. The River Fowey SAP contains a description of the river catchment and highlights particular features that are relevant to the salmon population and the associated fishery. Notably, there are historic workings for copper and china clay and two significant potable supply reservoirs (Siblyback and Colliford) which have been constructed within the catchment during the past 35 years. The whole of the Fowey catchment is set at the highest water quality grading of RE1 and this standard is met in all reaches of the River Fowey and its tributaries.