Koumansetta hectori Smith, 1957

Many aquarists know this fish as Ambylgobius hectori but accepted name is actually Koumansetta hectori. K. hectori, Hector's goby, is a species of goby native to the Indian Ocean (including the Red Sea), first record from Persian Gulf (Kish Island, Iran) to the islands of Micronesia in the western Pacific Ocean. It can be found on sheltered coral reefs at depths of from 3 to 30 meters (though usually between 5 to 20 meters). This species reaches a length of 8.5 centimeters (3.3 in) SL. This attractive little fish measures only 2” at maturity and spends its time hovering over rocks and substrates out in the open water column. Known for their bold yellow stripes, peaceful disposition, the diminutive Hector’s Goby is a nano reef favorite. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Boloceroides spp.

Boloceroides spp. are looking like an untidy mop, this anemone is sometimes seen in sea grass areas on many of our shores. It is possibly seasonal. Sometimes, large numbers are seen (up to 10-20 animals in a trip) and then none at all.  Tiny swimming anemones may sometimes be confused with Sea grass anemones which have translucent tentacles with tiny spots. The swimming anemone harbors symbiotic single-celled algae (zooxanthellae). The algae undergo photosynthesis to produce food from sunlight. The food produced is shared with the sea anemone, which in return provides the algae with shelter and minerals. The oral disk and tentacle muscles are used to obtain, retain, and ingest prey; in Boloceroides spp. tentacles can autotomize if it is needed to evade a predator. Tentacles can control body form by use of their endodermal muscles. Retractors are longitudinal muscles that will aid in withdrawing tentacles and the oral disk if they are exposed to the open air.  This hypothesis is furthered because in comparison to other sea anemones, Boloceroides is loosely attached to its respective substrate, thus allowing the pedal disk to detach quickly resulting in a rapid swimming response. Boloceroides can reproduce both sexually and asexually. As Anthozoans, Boloceroides produce sexually by bypassing the medusa life cycle stage; this allows Boloceroides (and all Anthozoans) to release their egg and sperm creating planula a bilaterally symmetrical, flattened, ciliated, motile larva.

Pempheris vanicolensis (Cuvier, 1831)

Pempheris vanicolensis has reported for the first time from Persian Gulf (Kish Island). Various aspects of the biology of P. vanicolensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, a recent Lessepsian (Suez Canal) immigrant into the Mediterranean, are given. Red Sea and Mediterranean populations were compared, and the results indicate that the spawning season is shortened in the Mediterranean, continuing from April to September, as opposed to year-round in the Red Sea. Descriptions of a ripe ovary and post-larva from the Mediterranean are given. Individuals reach a mean size of 10.8 cm in their first year, and 14.4 cm in the second year. Little change has occurred in the diet of the immigrant population, and both populations feed nocturnally, chiefly on larval and adult stages of planktonic crustaceans. Direct underwater observations on the diurnal behavior of the species show that the fish leave their daytime cave shelter at sunset, congregate at a nearby site and then migrate inshore and disperse into small groups to feed. Before dawn, they reassemble at the cave's entrance, and finally enter it at sunrise, after the school has built up. Observations on Persian Gulf sweepers show that the fish are segregated into size groups, ranging 15–18 cm adults at depths of 3 m.

Stock assessment for fishery management - A framework guide to the stock assessment tools of the Fisheries Management Science Programme (FMSP)

This document provides guidelines for fish stock assessment and fishery management using the software tools and other outputs developed by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development's Fisheries Management Science Programme (FMSP) from 1992 to 2004. It explains some key elements of the precautionary approach to fisheries management and outlines a range of alternative stock assessment approaches that can provide the information needed for such precautionary management. Four FMSP software tools, LFDA (Length Frequency Data Analysis), CEDA (Catch Effort Data Analysis), YIELD and ParFish (Participatory Fisheries Stock Assessment), are described with which intermediary parameters, performance indicators and reference points may be estimated. The document also contains examples of the assessment and management of multispecies fisheries, the use of Bayesian methodologies, the use of empirical modelling approaches for estimating yields and in analysing fishery systems, and the assessment and management of inland fisheries. It also provides a comparison of length- and age-based stock assessment methods. A CD-ROM with the FMSP software packages CEDA, LFDA, YIELD and ParFish is included.

Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act : hearing before the Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, first session, July 29, 1999.

"Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation."

Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act : field hearing before the Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixth Congress, second session, January 18, 2000.

Shipping list no.: 2003-0028-P.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration authorization : hearings before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, Ninety-eighth Congress, first session, on NOAA ocean and coastal programs, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and atmospheric and satellite programs, February 28, March 10, and 14, 1983.

"Serial no. 98-18."

Oversight of marine fisheries management : hearings before the National Ocean Policy Study of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred First Congress, first session, on the oversight of the Marine Fisheries Management Act.

"July 6 and 7, 1989"--Pt. 2.

S. 39, the International Dolphin Conservation Program Act : hearing before the Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifth Congress, first session, May 14, 1997.

Shipping list no.: 98-0117-P.

Unexpectedly high catch-and-release rates in European marine recreational fisheries: implications for science and management

While catch-and-release (C&R) is a well-known practice in several European freshwater recreational fisheries, studies on the magnitude and impact of this practice in Europeanmarine recreational fisheries are limited. To provide an overview of the practice andmagnitude of C&R among marine recreational anglers in Europe, the existing knowledge of C&R and its potential associated release mortality was collected andsummarized. The present study revealed that in several European countries over half of the total recreational catch is released by marine anglers. High release proportions of > 60% were found for Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), pollack (Pollachius pollachius), and sea trout (Salmo trutta) in at least one of the studied European countries. In the case of the German recreational Baltic Sea cod fishery, release proportions varied considerably between years, presumably tracking a strong year class ofundersized fish. Reasons for release varied between countries and species, and included legal restrictions (e.g. minimumlanding sizes and daily bag limits) and voluntary C&R. Considering the magnitude of C&R practice among European marine recreational anglers, post-release mortalities of released fish may need to be accounted for in estimated fishingmortalities.However, as the survival rates of Europeanmarine species aremostly unknown, there is a need to conduct post-release survival studies and to identify factors affecting post-release survival. Such studies could also assist in developing species-specific, best-practice guidelines to minimize the impacts of C&R on released marine fish in Europe.

Effects of selected post harvest processes on brown crab (Cancerpagurus L.) and European lobster (Homarus gammarus L.) from Irish Crustacean Fisheries

The crustacean fishery is important to the socio economics of rural and island communities around Ireland; with brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and European lobster (.Homarus gammarus) being the most valuable shellfish species. Brown crab and lobster are marketed live with the majority being exported from Ireland to southern Europe. Post capture processes used in Ireland are very subjective but promote fresh, live products. Common practices used in the crustacean fishery include nicking of brown crab and long term storage of lobster. This study showed that nicking resulted in elevated mean lactate levels of 17.90% (StDev ± 1.74) and elevated mean glucose levels of 120.55 % (StDev ± 0.26) with mean circulating bacteria levels 9 times greater in nicked crab. Nicking resulted in 96.3% increase in tissue necrosis and a subsequent reduction in product quality. These factors possibly compromise the host’s defense system, which may ultimately reduce the animal’s ability to cope with additional stressors caused by post-harvest processes. Long term storage allows lobster to be stored until the market is less saturated and prices are higher. This investigation found that some lobsters contracted bacterial biofilms as a result of long term storage. Bacteria isolated from biofilms were identified as Arcobacter and Campylobacterales with identity and alignment scores of 80% andd 88% respectively.

Can fisheries-induced evolution shift reference points for fisheries management?

Biological reference points are important tools for fisheries management. Reference points are not static, but may change when a population's environment or the population itself changes. Fisheries-induced evolution is one mechanism that can alter population characteristics, leading to "shifting" reference points by modifying the underlying biological processes or by changing the perception of a fishery system. The former causes changes in "true" reference points, whereas the latter is caused by changes in the yardsticks used to quantify a system's status. Unaccounted shifts of either kind imply that reference points gradually lose their intended meaning. This can lead to increased precaution, which is safe, but potentially costly. Shifts can also occur in more perilous directions, such that actual risks are greater than anticipated. Our qualitative analysis suggests that all commonly used reference points are susceptible to shifting through fisheries-induced evolution, including the limit and "precautionary" reference points for spawning-stock biomass, Blim and Bpa, and the target reference point for fishing mortality, F0.1. Our findings call for increased awareness of fisheries-induced changes and highlight the value of always basing reference points on adequately updated information, to capture all changes in the biological processes that drive fish population dynamics.

Natural Science in the Bothnian Sea During 1975-2008: A Review

The Baltic Sea is one of the most studied areas in the world. However, parts of its northernmost reach, the Bothnian Sea, seem to be under represented in the natural scientific literature compared to other parts of the Baltic. The Bothnian Sea represents a unique inland sea environment for the scientific community to study due to its shallowness and low salinity. The natural sciences research carried out on the Bothnian Sea has been reviewed between 1975 and 2008. This time period was chosen to continue on from an earlier review paper ending in 1974. Along with the number of papers published the goal was also to review the content of the papers, indentifying dominating themes to evaluate gaps in the current knowledge on the Bothnian Sea and provide recommendations for topics of future research focus. In a classification into specific research topics biodiversity was the leading research focus followed by chemical and physical oceanography, pollution and toxins, and fish biology and fisheries. The current good condition of the Bothnian Sea is highly valued with its historically less eutrophic and clearer waters when compared to the Baltic. However, today the Bothnian Sea is facing eutrophication resulting from nutrient-rich water transported by the many rivers draining into it from Sweden and Finland making it an area in need of protection and preservation. More human activity will also concentrate on the Bothnian Sea in the future. Therefore the use of the sea and its coastal areas must be planned carefully to minimize the harmful effects of this increasing human activity. To achieve this more information is needed for the basis of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and maritime spatial planning (MSP). For example, for the Bothnian Sea the information on the underwater nature which is essential for ICZM is so far missing to a large extent. Specific biological, chemical and physical oceanographic information is needed to combine with economic analyses and environmental policies regarding this region. More research of a multidisciplinary nature is required on the unique Bothnian Sea environment and this we feel is best achieved through a joint Finnish-Swedish research strategy.

Multichannel Remote Data Acquisition and Analysing Systems For Fisheries / Environmental Investigations

Remote Data acquisition and analysing systems developed for fisheries and related environmental studies have been reported. It consists of three units. The first one namely multichannel remote data acquisition system is installed at the remote place powered by a rechargeable battery. It acquires and stores the 16 channel environmental data on a battery backed up RAM. The second unit called the Field data analyser is used for insitue display and analysis of the data stored in the backed up RAM. The third unit namely Laboratory data analyser is an IBM compatible PC based unit for detailed analysis and interpretation of the data after bringing the RAM unit to the laboratory. The data collected using the system has been analysed and presented in the form of a graph. The system timer operated at negligibly low current, switches on the power to the entire remote operated system at prefixed time interval of 2 hours.Data storage at remote site on low power battery backedupRAM and retrieval and analysis of data using PC are the special i ty of the system. The remote operated system takes about 7 seconds including the 5 second stabilization time to acquire and store data and is very ideal for remote operation on rechargeable bat tery. The system can store 16 channel data scanned at 2 hour interval for 10 days on 2K backed up RAM with memory expansion facility for 8K RAM.