83 research outputs found
Populationsdemographie und Lebenszykluscharakteristika einer für den Aquarienhandel im Spermonde Archipel, Indonesien, gesammelten Pilzkorallenart: Heliofungia actiniformis (Fungiidae)
No full textA popular coral in the Indonesian live coral trade is the fungiid Heliofungia actiniformis. At non-harvested sites attached polyps aged 0-4 years were found to be most abundant, and growth rates decreased linearly with size. At harvested sites, total mortality rates were significantly higher for polyps sized 0-11 cm, and semi-structured interviews with local fishermen confirmed a size selective fishery towards small polyps. A utility per recruit calculation revealed maximum potential economic yield to occur at an age of 5 years, five years before reaching reproductive maturity. Subsequent Thompson and Bell calculations highlighted the need for a combination of size limits, quota reductions as well as the protection of spawning stocks. Genetic population connectivity patterns of H. actiniformis revealed significant genetic structuring, both among populations in South Sulawesi and throughout the Indo-Malay Archipelago. At both scales the degree of geographic separation and oceanographic features influenced the degree of larval exchange, with historical influences additionally shaping patterns on the large scale
Population Demographics and Life History Characteristics of Heliofungia actiniformis: a Fungiid Coral Species Exploited for the Live Coral Aquarium Trade in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia
No full textA popular coral in the Indonesian live coral trade is the fungiid Heliofungia actiniformis. At non-harvested sites attached polyps aged 0-4 years were found to be most abundant, and growth rates decreased linearly with size. At harvested sites, total mortality rates were significantly higher for polyps sized 0-11 cm, and semi-structured interviews with local fishermen confirmed a size selective fishery towards small polyps. A utility per recruit calculation revealed maximum potential economic yield to occur at an age of 5 years, five years before reaching reproductive maturity. Subsequent Thompson and Bell calculations highlighted the need for a combination of size limits, quota reductions as well as the protection of spawning stocks. Genetic population connectivity patterns of H. actiniformis revealed significant genetic structuring, both among populations in South Sulawesi and throughout the Indo-Malay Archipelago. At both scales the degree of geographic separation and oceanographic features influenced the degree of larval exchange, with historical influences additionally shaping patterns on the large scale
Live coral trade impacts on the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis in Indonesia: Potential future management approaches
No full textEconomic and labour market implications of climate change on the fisheries sector of the Maltese Islands
No full textClimate change has been predicted to have
large and rapid impacts on the Mediterranean Sea. Impacts
of increasing mean annual sea temperatures, more
extreme climatic events and changes in oceanographic
parameters will a ffect the distribution, productivity and
resilience of commercially targeted stocks. This study
uses data on the Maltese fi shing industry, collected
through the EU fi sheries data collection system by the
Government of Malta, to develop our understanding of
how climate change may impact the Maltese fi sheries
sector. The most important
fleet segment contributing
to the overall productivity of the Maltese fishing industry,
both in terms of total biomass landed and total
generated income, was comprised of vessels using hooks
in 2009-2011. These vessels mainly used drifting surface
longlines to target large pelagic species. In 2011, this
fleet segment accounted for the largest number of full
time employment positions, and was the most important
fleet segment in terms of total investment. Available
information on species targeted by this
fleet segment
suggests that the impact of climate change may in
fact be positive. However, limited information is available
on stock status as well as on the potential impacts
of climate change on several important target species
such as sword sh, dolphin sh and blue n tuna. In order
to ensure the continued competitiveness of the Maltese
fishing
fleet in light of this uncertain situation, it is suggested
that an emphasis is placed on ensuring that the
industry is
flexible and able to eff ectively market and
promote new products as and when they emerge. This
could be achieved by developing fi shers' skills accordingly,
and placing an emphasis on diversifying activities.peer-reviewe
Seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica) distribution and trajectories of change
No full textPosidonia oceanica meadows are declining at alarming rates due to climate change and human activities. Although P. oceanica is considered the most important and well-studied seagrass species of the Mediterranean Sea, to date there has been a limited effort to combine all the spatial information available and provide a complete distribution of meadows across the basin. The aim of this work is to provide a fine-scale assessment of (i) the current and historical known distribution of P. oceanica, (ii) the total area of meadows and (iii) the magnitude of regressive phenomena in the last decades. The outcomes showed the current spatial distribution of P. oceanica, covering a known area of 1,224,707 ha, and highlighted the lack of relevant data in part of the basin (21,471 linear km of coastline). The estimated regression of meadows amounted to 34% in the last 50 years, showing that this generalised phenomenon had to be mainly ascribed to cumulative effects of multiple local stressors. Our results highlighted the importance of enforcing surveys to assess the status and prioritize areas where cost-effective schemes for threats reduction, capable of reversing present patterns of change and ensuring P. oceanica persistence at Mediterranean scale, could be implemented
Governing bottom trawling in the Mediterranean Sea - a Maltese case study
No full textA case study approach was used to investigate the effectiveness of the current legislative framework, and the implementation of management measures which govern bottom trawling in the central Mediterranean Sea. The general perception amongst key stakeholders interviewed in the Maltese Islands was that the current legal framework is sufficient, but that improvements in regional enforcement and control are required if shared stocks are to be exploited sustainably.peer-reviewe
Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Assessment of balance indicators for key fleet segments and review of national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities (STECF-15-15).
No full textThe Expert Working Group meetings of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG-15-17 on Assessment of balance indicators for key fleet segments and review of national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities was held on 7th – 11th September 2015 in Larnaca, Cyprus. The report was reviewed by the STECF by written procedure in October 2015.JRC.G.3 - Maritime affair
New and interesting records of marine fishes (Actinopterygii) from the Maltese Islands (central Mediterranean)
No full textThe occurrence of three bony ray-finned fishes, Thorogobius ephippiatus (Lowe, 1839), Chlopsis bicolor Rafinesque, 1810, and Grammonus ater (Risso, 1810) is reported for the first time in the scientific literature from Maltese coastal waters. The leopard-spotted goby, T. ephippiatus, was mostly recorded within the 8–32 m depth range on soft sediment and rocky bottoms within caves, but one individual was recorded on a rocky bottom with a thin layer of silt at a depth of 117 m where no cave was present. The bicolour eel, C. bicolor, was recorded within the 318–518 m depth range on rocky bottoms covered with a thin layer of muddy-detritic sediment; and the cusk-eel G. ater was recorded at a depth of 10 m within a cave. Notes on these three species as well as on another bony fish, the Azores rockling, Gaidropsarus granti (Regan, 1903), including new information on their bathymetric range and habitat association, are presented.peer-reviewe
Reports of Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) - Assessment of balance indicators for key fleet segments and review of national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities (STECF-16-18)
No full textCommission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines. The Expert Working Group on Assessment of balance indicators for key fleet segments and review of national reports on Member States efforts to achieve balance between fleet capacity and fishing opportunities was held on 5th – 9th September 2015 in Barza, Italy. The report was reviewed by the STECF during its plenary meeting held on 24th – 28th October 2016.JRC.D.2 - Water and Marine Resource
Genetic characterization of central Mediterranean stocks of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers, and conservation implications
No full text1. In migratory species female- and male-mediated gene flow are important for defining relevant Management
Units, and for evaluating connectivity between these and their respective foraging grounds.
2. The stock composition at five Mediterranean foraging areas was investigated by analysing variation in the
mitochondrial D-loop and six microsatellite loci in a sample of 268 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded
or accidentally caught by fisheries. This involved a comprehensive Mixed Stock Analysis which considers also
recent data from major rookeries in Libya and Turkey, and the generation of a standardized nomenclature of
allele sizes at the microsatellite loci.
3. The results indicate:
that the north Adriatic, the Tunisian continental shelf, the waters around Malta and the Italian Ionian Sea
represent important areas for the conservation of rookeries in Greece, Libya and Turkey, respectively;
that waters off the Italian peninsula and the islands of Lampedusa and Malta are mainly inhabited by
individuals of Mediterranean origin, with a major contribution from the nearest and largest colonies, while
Atlantic turtles are restricted to the western areas;
that specific migratory routes exist from rookeries to foraging grounds;
a poor bi-parental genetic structuring, which suggests a high male-mediated gene flow in the Mediterranean;
mixing of small turtles in waters distant from natal rookeries, and recovery of structuring for large-sized
individuals; andthat uncommon mtDNA haplotypes are more powerful markers than microsatellite alleles in assessing an
individual’s origin, owing to their higher geographic specificity
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