A beta-galactose-specific lectin isolated from the marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus possesses anti-HIV-1 activity

A 30 kDa beta-galactose-specific lectin named CVL was isolated from the polychaete marine worm Chaetopterus variopedatus (Annelida) and its anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro was determined. Results showed that CVL inhibited cytopathic effect induced by HIV-1 a

Pesticide residues in marine fishes

Pesticide residues in four marine fishes, black pomfret (Parastromateus niger), mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta), marine vala (Chirocentrus sp.) and tuna (Euthynnus affinis) are reported. Highest concentration is found in black pomfret followed by tuna, vala and mackerel. The contents of various pesticides present in fish under study are well below the action level prepared by FDA to cause any health hazard.

Selection of materials for marine instruments

The paper describes the selection of materials for the reliable operation of oceanographic instruments. For selecting the material, raft immersion tests were carried out for one year. Results of the tests are presented. Comparisons between metals were discussed.

Trend and growth analysis of marine fish production in Bangladesh

The study based on time series marine fish production data during the period of 1983-1984 to 2007-2008 in Bangladesh. For this growth analysis six deterministic time series models are considered. The estimated best fitting models are the cubic, quadratic and quadratic model is appropriate for industrial marine fish production, artisanal marine fish production and total marine fish production in Bangladesh respectively. The study attempts to provide forecasts of marine fish production in Bangladesh for the year of 2008-09 to 2012-13. The magnitude of instability in marine fish production was attempted by computing the coefficient of variation (CV) and the percentage deviation from three years moving average values. The study revealed that the total marine fish production was observed to be relatively stable (CV being 31.85%) compared to the artisanal marine fish production (CV being 32.04%) and industrial marine fish (CV being 47.20%). For the three components of marine fish production the growth rates were different over different time points. The variation of the growth rates in industrial marine fish production was -21.6% to 13.12%, in artisanal marine fish production was 2.39% to 5.29% and in total marine fish production was 11.23% to 24.85% during the study period.

Marine Managed Areas Workshop report, Penang, Malaysia, 18-19 January, 2011

Establishment of a working group of regional experts in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs); inventory and status of existing MPAs; gap analysis;establishment of common data requirements and protocols;development of a regional action plan;training and capacity building; outreach activities; proposal f0r management of existing and creation of new MPAs.

Status of marine protected areas and fish refugia in the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem

The report reviews the status of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Fish Refugia in the Bay of Bengal. Baseline studies are presented and current and potential linkages between MPAs and fisheries management discussed. Feedback from a a workshop in Penang is also presented.

Fisheries catches for the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem since 1950

Marine fisheries catch data is presented on spatially allocated basis for the Exclusive Economic Zones of the member countries as well as the high seas for the period 1950-2008.

Performance in managing marine resources in the Bay of Bengal

The eight member countries were assessed as to their sustainable use of resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones(EEZs). Indicators included; investment in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), impact of trawling, mariculture sustainability, protection of seabirds and marine mammals,ecosystem impacts, economic health and levels of reporting and compliance.

Report of the Marine Protected Areas Working Group, Bangkok, Thailand, 1-2 February, 2012

The purpose of the meeting was to: discuss and reach consensus on the implications of the FAO Marine Protected Area(MPA) guidelines; provide further input for BOBLME brochure and policies; agree on actions on the BOBLME MPA review; produce concept proposals for MPA pilot sites and to formalise the establishment of the BOBLME MPA working group.

Fisheries, marine environment, and integrated coastal management policy processes, content and implementation in the BOBLME countries: regional synthesis and country questionnaires

This paper examines policy processes, policy trends and policy implementation with regards to capture fisheries, the marine environment and Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) in BOBLME countries. Individual country information was analyzed to generate a regional synthesis.

Antibacterial activity of a marine bacterium against pathogenic and environmental isolates of vibrio species

The marine environment covers three quarters of the surface of the planet is estimated to be home to more than 80% of life and yet it remains largely unexplored. The rich diversity of marine flora and fauna and its adaptation to the harsh marine environment coupled with new developments in biotechnology, has opened up a new exciting vista for extraction of bioactive products of use in medicine. In this study inhibitory activity of a marine bacterium isolated from gut of ribbonfish was studied against pathogenic and environmental isolates of Vibrio species. This strain was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri and it was found active against V. harveyi (luminescent bacteria), V. cholerae, V. alginolyticus, V. damseal, V. fluvialis. The antibacterial substance produced by Pseudomonas stutzeri was soluble in organic solvent and closely bound to external surface of bacterial cells. Reduction of the absorbance of the V. cholera cell suspension was observed when log phase cells of V. cholerae were treated with MIC and 4xMIC concentration of crude extract of Pseudomonas stutzeri.

Mass culture of marine diatom Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve collected from the Bay of Bengal

The growth of Skeletonema costatum in two artificial nutrient media was studied using various culture vessels. Skeletonema costatum was collected from the Cox's Bazar coast around the Bay of Bengal. Different growths stages i.e. lag phase, exponential phase, prestationary phase, stationary and death phase were observed during the culture period. The number of cells increased during the active division period and decreased after the beginning of the prestationary phase. The average densities of S. costatum in primary and secondary cultures were 0.55 x 10 super(6) cells mlˉ¹ and 0.93x10 super(6) cells mlˉ¹, respectively. In mass culture of S. costatum two, types of media were used. Highest cells densities of S. costatum cement tank culture were recorded 1.23x10 super(6) cell mlˉ¹ and 0.78x10 super(6) cells mlˉ¹ in their respective f/4 medium and commercial fertilizer medium. In the cement tanks culture fertilizer medium was found to be the best medium for mass culture of S. costatum in respect of production efficiency and culture stability.

Comparison the nutritional value of cultured Penaeus vanname with marine shrimps Penaeus merguiensis and Penaeus semisulcatus

The purpose for which this study was intended wasto compare nutritive value among the farmed Vannamei, sea Green Tiger and Banana shrimps native to the PersianGulf. To provide the samples of farmed shrimps at the end of the farming season (Oct. 23rd through Nov. 22nd of 2011), we chosen one farm of the Holleh Shrimp Farming, from which 100 shrimps were randomly selected. From among these 100 shrimps, 3 to 5 ones were taken to conduct an analysis upon. Further, to obtain the Banana and Green Tiger shrimps sampling was done at the fishing season (July 23rd through Aug. 22rd of 2011) at Halileh Fishing Wharf located in Bushehr Fishing Harbor and also Bandar Abbas Wharf. The samples obtained were immediately kept in the ice powder. After some biometric tasks done upon them, they were at the shortest possible time transferred to a laboratory where they went through various experiments to determine their content of raw protein, fat, ash, moisture, various fatty acids and their types, cholesterol, vitamins A and E, and such mineral elements as iron and calcium. All the experimentswere carried out three times to establish confidence in the results to be obtained. Findings of the comparison showed the content of raw protein, fat, moisture, and ash of, respectively, 23.233%, 600%, 73.077% and 2.500% for the Vannamei samples, of 22.717%, 427%, 74.133% and 1.826% for our Banana shrimps and of 17.377%, 430%, 79.866% and 1.313% for the Green Tiger samples. A total of 24 fatty acids for the Vannamei shrimps and 27 for the Banana and Green Tiger were detected. SFA of the Banana shrimps was 368.45 mg/100g (51.76%), while those of the Vannamei and Green Tiger samples were observed, respectively, 363.54 mg/100g (37.26%) and 296.06 mg/100g (49.12%).A similar measurement for MUFA content of the three types of our samples revealed 243.85mg/100g (24.9%) for the Vannamei, 203.177 mg/100g (33.76%) for the Green Tiger and 179.033 mg/100g (25.14%) for the Banana shrimps. The content of PUFA unsaturated fatty acids in the Vannamei, 131 Green Tiger and Banana samples were, respectively, 370.660 mg/100g (37.84%), 101.573 mg/100g (16.9%) and 163.733 mg/100g (23.1%). Further, the comparison found a omega-3-fatty-acids total of 151.747 mg/100g(15.51%) for the Vannamei, 57.123 mg/100g (9.54%) for the Green Tiger and 130.460 mg/100g (18.46%) for the Banana species under study.

Report of the Marine Protected Areas Working Group meeting, Penang, Malaysia, 11-12 February, 2014

The objectives of the workshop were to review and update Marine Protected Area (MPA) data, finalise policy briefs for each country and recommend future actions and policies for sustainable management of MPAs.