Articles tagged with Fisheries
The WorldFish Center has been awarded the Accenture Economic Development Award for its genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) technology. This innovation has increased growth rates and productivity of Nile Tilapia in poor water conditions, helping to reduce poverty and hunger in developing countries.
Researchers from Virginia Tech's Freshwater Mussel Conservation Center have released several thousand cultivated mussels into the Clinch River as part of a replenishing project. The release aims to restore water quality and support aquatic life after a toxic spill in 1998 killed most aquatic life on that stretch of the river.
A new generation of smart gear has been developed to minimize the accidental deaths of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and juvenile fish. The innovations include weighted, deep-set lines that reduce encounters with sea turtles while increasing tuna catch, as well as avoidable, detectable gear for marine mammals.
Scientists at British Antarctic Survey tracked albatross migration patterns using tiny logging devices, revealing that over half of birds made round-the-world journeys in just 46 days. The study provides crucial information for governments and fisheries commissions to implement measures reducing bird deaths by up to 95%.
The center, established at Virginia Tech, aims to study and propagate endangered mussels. Researchers produce nearly 50,000 juvenile mussels annually and work on projects like surveying bivalves for stress indicators and studying pearl production.
Researchers have identified three new Geophagus fish species in South America, shedding light on the region's biodiversity and ecosystem importance. The discoveries add to ongoing efforts to catalog the approximately 4,475 freshwater fish species found in the region.
A global assessment of sea turtle bycatch in longline fisheries revealed four primary hotspots in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic, and Mediterranean Sea. The study estimates that 1.4 billion hooks were set globally in 2000, catching at least 200,000 loggerheads and 50,000 leatherbacks.
A study quantifying incidental catch of loggerheads and leatherbacks in the global pelagic longline fishery reveals alarming bycatch rates. The authors estimate that thousands of hooked turtles die from longline takes each year, posing a significant threat to Pacific turtle populations.
The study found that oil's negative effects last far longer than expected, with some species suffering long-term losses due to chronic exposure. The findings highlight the importance of controlling stormwater runoff and revising water quality standards to mitigate pollution.
A team from Stanford University is retracing the 1940s journey of John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts to document changes in the Sea of Cortez. The expedition aims to raise awareness about the impact of tourism on the region, with a focus on conservation and sustainability.
The study finds that salmon farms have increased by fivefold since the late 1980s, while wild-caught salmon production has declined, threatening native communities' economic livelihoods. The report highlights ecological risks from farm escapees contaminating wild stocks and releasing untreated pollutants into the marine ecosystem.
The Egyptian Mediterranean Sea fishery has recovered due to increased phosphorus and nitrogen in urban waste water, changing the ecosystem's productive engine. This shift has important consequences for lower food web structure and larval fish.
Indonesia aims to create 5 million hectares of new marine protected areas, with the help of $1 million investment from Conservation International's Global Conservation Fund. The move is part of efforts to reverse ocean decline and promote sustainable development.
Scientists warn that leatherback sea turtles are on the brink of extinction due to declining populations in Pacific Ocean rookeries. Conservation efforts are needed to reverse this trend, with potential solutions including gear fixes, spatial closures, and changes in consumer demand for swordfish.
The Pacific Ocean's sardine and anchovy regimes alternate every 25 years, affecting the marine food web and climate. These cycles are similar to El Niño events but take place over longer time periods.
Research suggests hatchery steelhead do not harm wild steelhead, but may jeopardize wild chinook survival rates. Studies reveal a strong negative association between hatchery steelhead and wild chinook smolt-to-adult survival.
Researchers created a DNA fin test that accurately identifies six shark species commonly caught in North Atlantic waters. The test uses polymerase chain reaction and has implications for shark fisheries and trade monitoring, facilitating better recordkeeping and conservation efforts.
Researchers have developed a new genetic shark-identification test that is quick, accurate and relatively cheap. The test has been evaluated on 33 closely-related known species and found to be nearly 100% accurate, with an average accuracy of over 99%, according to Shivji and his colleagues.
A recent review article reveals that horseshoe crabs have an impressive survival rate of 7.5% after undergoing biomedical bleeding, suggesting their 350 million-year-long survival is remarkable. The research also provides new information on the habitat, migration patterns, and nursery grounds of horseshoe crabs.
Researchers have discovered a new method to isolate and understand the chemicals released by male sea lampreys to lure females. The study reveals that males release pheromones, not females, to initiate mating, offering potential new strategies for controlling sea lamprey populations.
A recent study by Tsou and Collie found that predation is a dominant source of mortality in the Georges Bank fish community. The most important predators are cod, silver hake, sharks, and rays, which have replaced groundfish as the dominant fish eaters in more recent years.
Researchers at PNNL and the US Army Corps of Engineers used an acoustic camera to study fish behavior near a dam, capturing images of individual fish at distances of up to 30 feet. The camera provided detailed information on fish size and shape estimates, expanding understanding of how fish react to structures added to dams.
Scientists from over 20 nations will gather to discuss the processes and interactions that determine fish population production. The symposium explores topics such as overfishing, environmental factors, and recruitment dynamics to better understand the global fisheries crisis.
A new net design reduces bycatch of juvenile pollock in the US fishery by up to 75%. Researchers have found that modifying mid-water trawls to use single top-panels of mesh allows small pollock to escape, while retaining market-sized fish. This simple and effective technique could greatly enhance the survival and health of the resource.