Articles tagged with Fishing
Researchers found seven cases of surfers' ear in males and one in a female skull from sites near the Gulf of Panama. The bony growths are believed to be caused by cold water or stress in the ear canal, similar to bone spurs.
A new report reveals that only 41% of European MPAs are fished less intensely than non-protected waters, while trawling activity is 38% higher inside MPAs. The findings suggest that stronger regulations are needed for MPAs to effectively protect sensitive species and biodiversity.
A recent study has revealed that all seven species of sea turtles have ingested microplastics, with over 800 synthetic particles detected in just 102 turtles. The study's findings highlight the widespread presence of microplastics in marine ecosystems and raise concerns about their potential impact on turtle health.
A new study has discovered high levels of microplastic contamination in the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island, with some areas showing comparable levels to those around the UK. The research highlights the need for standardized monitoring methods to address this growing environmental concern.
A recent study of 89 fishing communities in East Africa reveals that neighborly agreements are uncommon, highlighting the challenges of sustainable use and the tragedy of the commons dilemma. The researchers found that predictable factors like activities proposed and historical context influence perceptions of costs and benefits.
Research from the Sea Around Us initiative reveals that fishing companies could have increased profits by $50 million and $3-9.1 million by adopting sustainable fishing practices for menhaden and anchoveta stocks, respectively.
Researchers have identified a shift in fishing behaviors on Indonesian islands Alor and Timor around 7,000 years ago, likely due to changes in sea levels and environmental conditions. The study used an analysis method traditionally used in biology to identify fish habitat in archaeological material.
Researchers found that preserving the lives of adult females in the North Atlantic right whale population is crucial for promoting population growth and recovery. Most deaths are attributed to entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with ships, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to protect these animals.
Researchers found spotted seatrout continued spawning in late August 2017 during Hurricane Harvey, with the storm only briefly disrupting their pattern. This finding suggests these fish are well-suited to handle changing conditions and may be key indicators of climate resilience.
A study published in Frontiers in Communication suggests that cephalopods, including squid, octopus, and cuttlefish, could be an important source of protein for the global community. With their growing population and high nutritional value, cephalopods offer a sustainable alternative to traditional protein sources.
A study by University of California - Riverside researchers found that mouth injuries caused by hook removal after catch-and-release fishing reduce feeding performance in suction-feeding fish, including bass, salmon, and trout. The study suggests that fishing-induced injuries impact a fish's ability to feed while the mouth is healing.
A new study using high-resolution data for 24 ocean regions found that 14 percent of the overall seafloor shallower than 1,000 meters is trawled, with significant variations across different continents and seas.
Researchers estimate bottom trawl footprints on continental shelves and slopes up to 1,000m in depth. Sustainable fisheries management may provide collateral environmental benefits by reducing trawling footprints in regions meeting international benchmarks for sustainable fishing rates.
New research reveals that EU fishing policies harm traditional artisanal fishing, driving fishermen out of the sea and leaving vulnerable fish stocks under intense pressure. The study calls for a shift towards more sustainable approaches to conserving fish stocks.
Researchers found that harvesting sustainable seafood globally can lead to higher food production and profits, even considering declining fish populations due to ocean warming. The study suggests that implementing adaptive management practices could offset the negative impacts of climate change on fisheries.
Researchers found a 130% increase in fishing activity in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area before a full ban took effect, setting back conservation efforts. The study suggests that people will adapt rationally to policy changes, leading to unintended consequences for conservation goals.
A new analysis shows that habitats of three shark species are relatively well protected from longline fishing, but some prime locations remain vulnerable. The study's findings have important implications for protecting at-risk species from bycatch in U.S. federal waters.
A new study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution exposes connections between tax havens, deforestation, and illegal fishing. On average, 68% of foreign capital to Amazon rainforest sectors was transferred through tax havens, while 70% of IUU fishing vessels were flagged under a tax haven jurisdiction.
A recent study found that high seas fisheries play a negligible role in addressing global food security, with only 60% of species caught being targeted for human consumption. The majority of high seas catch is sold to countries like the EU, US, and Asia.
Researchers developed models that predict the month-by-month movements of longline fishing fleets on the high seas. These predictions can help regulatory agencies pinpoint potential hotspots where by-catch risks are greatest and take proactive measures to reduce accidental kills.
A new study found that global fishing fleets have doubled their distance traveled to catch only a third of what they did 65 years ago. The top 20 fishing countries are responsible for 60% of the world's industrial fishing catch, with declines in catch rates and increased fuel consumption.
A study by UCSB researchers reveals that wealthy countries' industrial fishing fleets dominate the global oceans, with China, Taiwan, and Japan leading the list. This dominance has significant implications for food security and access to healthy food sources, particularly in less-wealthy countries.
A study by the University of York suggests that small-scale fishing vessels are underutilized and need support to ensure sustainable fisheries in England. The researchers argue that a length-based definition of scale is flawed, as it doesn't account for fishing capacity.
Researchers developed a simple body-shape analysis method to identify the geographic origins of yellowtail snapper, outperforming more costly techniques. The method detected subtle differences in fish shape between locations, allowing accurate identification of 80% of the test sample.
New studies track transshipment of fish catch worldwide, revealing key findings on vessel types, fisheries involved and seafood supply chains. The research provides a complete, global view of transshipment and demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to address critical challenges.
A new screening tool developed at the University of British Columbia can pinpoint the highest risks of forced labor in seafood supply chains. The tool was tested with 18 companies and identified areas where working conditions met minimum principles, were unknown, or were inadequate.
A large-scale analysis of vessel interactions exposes potential for illegal activities like drug smuggling and human trafficking. Transshipment, a common practice in fisheries, lacks regulation and transparency, hindering sustainable management.
A three-year study by researchers at BioArCh, the University of York, suggests that ceramic vessels were used by early hunter-gatherer ancestors to store and process fish, with an association remaining stable even after climate warming. The study reveals new insights into prehistoric food processing habits during the post-glacial period.
International researchers found that illuminating gillnets with green LED lights reduced guanay cormorant deaths by 85%. This technology also reduced sea turtle catches by 64%, offering a cheap and effective way to reduce bird and turtle mortality in fishing.
Research by the University of Exeter warns that increased storm frequency and intensity could disrupt fish populations, destroy habitats, and affect the livelihood of fishermen. The study highlights the need for urgent research to predict where storms are likely to hit and support fishing communities' adaptation to climate change.
Scientists have developed a new mapping technique to identify areas where ocean fronts and eddies bring together masses of fish, fishermen, and predators, increasing the risk of entangling non-target species. This insight can help inform dynamic ocean management and reduce bycatch of protected species.
A new biomass-yield model developed by WCS captures factors for accuracy and predicts actual catches with confidence. The study suggests that fish biomass should be increased to 50 metric tons per square kilometer to achieve the maximum sustainable yield of six metric tons.
Researchers developed a novel hormone analysis technique to measure the effects of fishing gear entanglement on North Atlantic right whales. The study found that entanglement can cause severe stress responses, starvation, and changes in migration patterns.
A new study by National Geographic Society researchers found that 54% of high seas fishing industry is unprofitable at current scale without large government subsidies. The global cost of fishing in high seas ranged between $6.2 billion and $8 billion USD, with profits ranging from a loss of $364 million to a profit of $1.4 billion USD.
Researchers used population dynamics modeling to assess the effects of size-specific and age-specific harvesting of Atlantic cod on the eastern Scotian Shelf, Canada. Fishing practices were found to drive a significant increase in cod habitat deepening, with depths of up to 120m accounting for nearly 100% of observed changes.
A new online tool, EcoCast, provides fishermen with computer-generated maps to target productive fishing spots while avoiding protected species. By predicting where different marine species are likely to be found under various ocean conditions, EcoCast aims to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of fisheries.
A new tool called EcoCast uses satellite data, maps, and observations to help fishers locate the most productive fishing spots while avoiding protected species. The study shows that this approach can be up to 10 times more efficient in protecting species than previous management styles.
New research by the University of British Columbia reveals that industrial fisheries using bottom trawling methods waste 437 million tonnes of fish and miss out on $560 billion in revenue. Small-scale fisheries, on the other hand, generate significantly more value due to their targeted fishing practices.
A new report in Science shows that larger females invest disproportionately more in the number of eggs and size of individual eggs. This finding is critical for fisheries management, suggesting a focus on reducing fishing pressure on large fish rather than small ones.
Researchers used data from electronic tags to study white shark survival rates, revealing that unintentional capture in fishing gear is the main cause of death for young sharks. The study also found that protection efforts, such as California's gillnet regulations, have reduced juvenile white shark mortality.
Researchers at UEA are part of a £5 million EU-funded project to revolutionize the fishing industry, focusing on AI and machine learning to improve efficiency and reduce ecological impact. The SMARTFISH-H2020 project aims to develop high-tech systems for sustainable fishing practices.
Researchers found that human-centered design approaches minimize costs by creating programs seen as desirable from the start. The approach considers both resource needs and participant needs during program design, increasing participation rates among fishers in Chile.
New research reveals that fish was a dominant source of protein in the Stone Age diet, with 50-60% of protein intake coming from marine sources. The study uses stable isotopes to analyze human bones and finds that fishing was surprisingly common, even in areas where land mammals were scarce.
Researchers found that sustainably managing fisheries can halt declines of seven to 13 bycatch populations, but not eliminate bycatch completely due to other factors. Maximizing fish stocks can increase global fishing yields by up to 15% and associated profits by as much as 80%.
Marine reserves have been shown to improve the growth rate, body size, and reproductive success of fish species. By providing a safe haven for fish to mature and reproduce, these protected areas help replenish depleted stocks and promote more sustainable fishing practices.
A University of Washington-led study found that Chinook salmon populations across the West Coast have declined in size, with Alaska and Washington showing the biggest reductions. Fishing pressure and marine mammal predation are believed to be contributing factors.
A team of scientists from UCSB and Global Fishing Watch analyzed satellite data to track the movements and activities of over 70,000 commercial fishing vessels worldwide. Their findings reveal that cultural patterns and politics play a significant role in shaping fishing practices, while natural cycles such as fish migrations are less ...
A new study reveals that industrial fishing activities cover more than 55% of the world's oceans, with global hot spots in the northeast Atlantic and northwest Pacific. The majority of observed fishing efforts come from five countries, including China, Spain, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
The study provides a high-resolution view of fishing activity, showing that industrial fishing covers over 55% of the ocean's surface and involves over 70,000 vessels. The dataset reveals cultural patterns and ties fishing to politics and culture rather than natural cycles.
Researchers found that nearly 97% of recreational fishers considered poaching personally unacceptable, while a small minority believed it was common. The study suggests that the 'false consensus effect' may be influencing poachers' perceptions, making them overestimate the prevalence of poaching.
North Pacific seabirds' prey preferences have shifted from fish to squid over the last 125 years, driven by commercial fishing and climate change. The findings suggest massive changes in ocean ecosystem structure, with species declining in trophic position and squid consumption increasing.
A new study found that Hookpod devices can effectively reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fishing. By reducing bird deaths, these devices may help save threatened albatross species from extinction.
Archaeologist Sue O'Connor discovered the world's oldest known fish-hooks placed in a burial ritual on Alor Island, Indonesia. The five hooks date back to the Pleistocene era and provide evidence that fishing equipment was viewed as essential for transition to the afterlife.
A global survey found that 91% of entangled marine turtles were dead, with serious wounds from entanglement and maiming. The study highlights the risk of plastic pollution to marine turtles, particularly young hatchlings and juveniles.
A new study published in Endangered Species Research found that chronically entangled North Atlantic right whales have high hormone levels indicating severe stress. The research used fecal samples from live, entangled, and dead whales to investigate stress levels and determine cause of death.
A new study found that albatross populations have halved over the last 35 years on Bird Island due to environmental change and deaths in longline and trawl fisheries. Climate change and bycatch were found to be major contributors to this decline, with grey-headed albatrosses being particularly affected.
Research highlights seagrass meadows' role as crucial fishing grounds worldwide, supporting daily food supply and livelihoods. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable management of these ecosystems to mitigate the 'tragedy of the seagrass commons',
A new University of Washington study reveals that human fishing seasons disproportionately target certain fish, altering life history patterns and reducing population diversity. This can have significant impacts on the ability of fish to adapt to climate change.
A new study estimates that seals and birds consume about 100,000 tons of fish per year, primarily herring and cod. While their consumption has a significant impact on some fish stocks, such as eel, it is estimated to be lower than human fishing activities.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that fish biomass is up to five times greater in protected zones compared to unprotected areas at northernmost reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. The researchers analyzed data from 31 reefs and found that even in lightly exploited areas, protected zones showed significant benefits for fish popul...