DOCSLIB.ORG

Federal Register/Vol. 69, No. 77/Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Federal Register/Vol. 69, No. 77/Wednesday, April 21, 2004 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 21, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 21425 the heading at the beginning of this (2) Reports and data relating to field for these species, have improved the document to find this action in the reports, including dealer reports and hard status of the species and will be Unified Agenda. copy reports; discussed later in this notice. We (3) Reports and data relating to consumer believe that additional conservation List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 512 complaints; and measures for sturgeon species that have (4) Lists of common green identifiers. Administrative practice and been adopted by the CITES Standing procedure, Confidential business * * * * * Committee will afford further benefits to (c) The Chief Counsel has determined that beluga sturgeon, and other sturgeon information, Freedom of information, the disclosure of the last six (6) characters, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and when disclosed along with the first eleven species, provided the measures are fully recordkeeping requirements. (11) characters, of vehicle identification implemented and continue to be I In consideration of the foregoing, the numbers reported in information on supported by the CITES community. National Highway Traffic Safety incidents involving death or injury pursuant This rule identifies the beluga sturgeon Administration amends 49 CFR Chapter to the reporting of early warning information as a species in need of conservation; V, Code of Federal Regulations, by requirements of 49 CFR part 579 will implements protective measures by constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of amending part 512 as set forth below. extending the full protection of the Act personal privacy within the meaning of 5 to the species throughout its range; and U.S.C. 552(b)(6). PART 512—CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS complements current and future INFORMATION Issued on: April 16, 2004. conservation measures to be undertaken Jeffrey W. Runge, by the species’ range countries, as I 1. The authority for Part 512 recommended by the CITES Standing Administrator. continues to read as follows: Committee. [FR Doc. 04–9005 Filed 4–20–04; 8:45 am] Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322; 5 U.S.C. 552; 49 DATES: BILLING CODE 4910–59–P This rule is effective October 21, U.S.C. 30166, 49 U.S.C. 30167; 49 U.S.C. 2004. 32307; 49 U.S.C. 32505; 49 U.S.C. 32708; 49 ADDRESSES: U.S.C. 32910; 49 U.S.C. 33116; delegation of The complete file for this authority at 49 CFR 1.50. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR rule is available for inspection, by appointment, during normal business I 2. Revise paragraph (c) of 49 CFR Fish and Wildlife Service hours in the office of the Division of 512.21 to read as follows: Scientific Authority; U.S. Fish and 50 CFR Part 17 Wildlife Service; 4401 North Fairfax § 512.21 How is information submitted Drive; Room 750; Arlington, Virginia pursuant to this part treated once a RIN 1018–AI11 confidentiality determination is made? 22203. Requests for copies of the regulations * * * * * Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Determination of regarding listed wildlife and inquiries (c) Should the Chief Counsel, after about prohibitions and permits may be considering a petition for Threatened Status for the Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso) addressed to: Division of Management reconsideration, decide that information Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife is not entitled to confidential treatment, AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Service, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room the agency may make the information Interior. 700, Arlington, Virginia 22203, available after twenty (20) working days ACTION: Final rule. (telephone: (703) 358–2104; facsimile: after the submitter has received notice (703) 358–2281). of that decision from the Chief Counsel SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: unless the agency receives direction Wildlife Service (Service), determine Robert R. Gabel, Chief, Division of from a court not to release the threatened status for the beluga sturgeon Scientific Authority, at the above information. (Huso huso) under the authority of the address (phone: 703–358–1708). For I 3. Amend Appendix B to Part 512 by Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act; 16 permitting information, contact: Tim revising the first paragraph to read as U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The beluga Van Norman, Chief; Branch of Permits- follows: sturgeon is a large fish from which International; Division of Management highly valued beluga caviar is produced. Appendix B to part 512—General Class Authority; U.S. Fish and Wildlife The species’ range was reduced during Determinations Service; 4401 North Fairfax Drive; Room the 20th century, and is now limited to 700; Arlington, Virginia 22203 (phone: The Chief Counsel has determined that the the Caspian and Black Sea Basins. The 703–358–2104). following types of information would species is threatened through habitat SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: presumptively be likely to result in modification and degradation, over- substantial competitive harm if disclosed to exploitation for trade, limited natural Background the public: reproduction, and agricultural and The beluga sturgeon is the largest of industrial pollution. A number of all sturgeon species. Historic reports * * * * * positive conservation measures have indicate that individual fish can reach 6 I 4. Amend Appendix C to Part 512 by been taken for all sturgeon species since meters in length and more than one ton revising paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3), by all previously unlisted in weight. It is also considered the most adding a new paragraph (a)(4), and by Acipenseriformes species (sturgeons economically valuable fish in the world, adding a new paragraph (c) to read as and paddlefishes) were added to because the female beluga sturgeon is follows: Appendix II of the Convention on harvested to produce beluga caviar. Appendix C to Part 512—Early International Trade in Endangered Beluga sturgeon are highly vulnerable Warning Reporting Class Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to depletion, due to their unique life- Determinations (CITES) in 1998. The regulatory history characteristics, and because the mechanisms and consequent actions fishery for them targets the reproductive (a) * * * that have been implemented by CITES segment of the population. The species (1) * * * Parties, including the range countries is long-lived and slow to mature. VerDate mar<24>2004 16:07 Apr 20, 2004 Jkt 203001 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\21APR1.SGM 21APR1 21426 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 21, 2004 / Rules and Regulations Although estimates indicate that the decreasing (Hensel and Holcik 1997). and we also extended the period to oldest fish currently harvested are 50– Within one decade, annual Danube produce a final determination by 6 55 years of age, with an average age of River beluga sturgeon harvest declined months, to January 31, 2004 (68 FR less than 35 years, during the early 20th to12.7 tons, indicative of the dams’ 39507). This extension was made for the century 100-year-old beluga sturgeon effect on spawning sturgeon populations purpose of soliciting additional were commonly taken in the northern (Bacalbasa-Dobrovici 1997b). population data and comments Caspian Sea (Khodorevskaya et al. The eradication of centralized control regarding the stock-assessment survey, 2000). On average, beluga sturgeon of the fishery in the northern Caspian as specified under section 4(b)(6)(B)(i) mature between 10 and 16 years of age Sea after the dissolution of the Soviet of the Act. We also submitted the report for males, and between 14 and 20 years Union, and persistent high demand for for independent peer review. The public for females (Hochleithner and Gessner beluga caviar, led to expansion of illegal comment period closed on September 2, 1999). Male beluga sturgeon spawn only harvest of the species and the growth of 2003. All comments and information once every 4–7 years, whereas females an illicit worldwide trade network to received during this and the previous reproduce once every 4–8 years supply the demand. Enforcement has two comment periods were considered (Raspopov 1993). Fecundity in adult been difficult due to a lack of financial in our final listing determination and female beluga sturgeon increases with resources to supply adequate boats, are included in the administrative age; individual fish will produce a equipment, and salaries for conservation record. greater number of eggs during each officers. Summary of Comments and subsequent spawning run. On average, On December 18, 2000, we received a Recommendations adult female H. huso can produce up to petition to list the beluga sturgeon as 12 percent of their body weight in roe endangered under the Act. On June 20, On July 31, 2002, we announced a (DeMeulenaer and Raymakers 1996). 2002, we published concurrent 90-day proposal to list beluga sturgeon (Huso The historic range of the beluga and 12-month findings on the petition huso) as endangered under the sturgeon formerly encompassed the (67 FR 41918). The 90-day finding Endangered Species Act (67 FR 49657). Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Adriatic Sea, stated that the petition presented All interested parties were requested to Sea of Azov, and all rivers within their substantial information indicating that submit factual reports or information by watersheds (Khodorevskaya et al. 2000). the requested action may be warranted. October 29, 2002, so we could consider Range countries currently include: The 12-month finding stated that the the information in the development of a Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech petitioned action is warranted. final rule. Beluga sturgeon range Republic, Georgia, Hungary, the Islamic Subsequently, on July 31, 2002, we countries, the CITES Secretariat, Federal Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, the announced a proposal to list the beluga and State agriculture and wildlife Republic of Moldova, Romania, the sturgeon (Huso huso) as endangered agencies, scientific organizations, the Russian Federation, Turkey, under the Act (67 FR 49657).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ichthyology! Ichthyology Is the Study of Fishes, Their Biology and Biodiversity
    Ichthyology Syllabus BIOL 632/EVSS 724 Welcome to Ichthyology! Ichthyology is the study of fishes, their biology and biodiversity Ichthyology BIOL 632-01/632L-01; EVSS 724-01/724L-01, Fall Semester 2020 Mon and Wed 8:30 - 11:30 AM Online lectures/meetings with labs online or Grice Marine Lab rm 101 Instructor Dr. Antony (Tony) S. Harold, Professor, Grice Marine Laboratory, Department of Biology, College of Charleston, 205 Fort Johnson, Charleston, SC 29412. Office phone (843) 953-9180; cell phone (843) 460- 2057; fax (843) 953-9199; email [email protected]. Office location: GML Annex Rm 125. Office hours: GML 125 or on Zoom, by appointment. Mail box in Grice Marine Laboratory room 102. Short Biography: I received my B.S., M.S. from the University of Toronto and PhD from Memorial University of Newfoundland, followed by postdoctoral research at the Smithsonian Insitution (Washington, DC) and the California Academy of Sciences (San Francisco). I joined the College of Charleston in the mid 1990s where I have mainly taught Evolution, Zoogeography, Biology of Fishes and Ichthyology. The focus of my research is the evolution, ecology and biogeography of marine fishes. Course Description A study of the biology of fishes, emphasizing diversity and evolution, morphology, ecology, physiology, life history, behavior, systematics and biogeography. Laboratory work focuses on groups important in the local fauna. Prerequisites: BIOL 600, 601, 610, and 611 or permission of the instructor. 1 Ichthyology Syllabus BIOL 632/EVSS 724 Student Learning Outcomes Students are expected to show mastery in the broad area of ichthyology (fish biology), with special reference to evolutionary relationships, adaptive morphological attributes, biogeography, ecology, and physiology.
    [Show full text]
  • Sturgeons of the Caspian Sea and Ural River
    Photo and image credits: Front Cover: Top left, beluga sturgeon (Huso huso); Top Right: Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii); Bottom: stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus); Todd Stailey, Tennessee Aquarium. Back Cover: “FISH IS OUR TREASURE”, Phaedra Doukakis, Ph. D. IOCS; Page 1: Shannon Crownover, The Nature Conservancy; Page 6, 9, 10, 11: Phaedra Doukakis, Ph. D., IOCS; Page 4, 5, 7 designed by Grace Lewis. Brochure content was developed by Alison Ormsby, Ph.D. and Phaedra Doukakis, Ph. D. with editorial review by Yael Wyner, Ph. D. Layout was designed by Grace Lewis. The brochure was developed under a generous grant from Agip KCO. Agip KCO Tel.: international line: 1, K. Smagulov Street +39 02 9138 3300 Atyrau, 06002 Tel: local lines: Republic of Kazakhstan (+7) 7122 92 3300 Fax: (+7) 7122 92 3310 Designed and printed in Kazakhstan www.agipkco.com Sturgeons of the Caspian Sea and Ural River www.oceanconservationscience.org A Unique and Precious Resource What are Sturgeon? River, other rivers off the Caspian Sea are used by sturgeons for With bony plates called scutes on their bodies and ancestors that reproduction, including the Volga River in Russia and the Kura date to the time of dinosaurs, sturgeons are unusual fish. Unlike River in Azerbaijan. However, dams on the Volga and Kura have other types of fish, sturgeons have scutes instead of scales. blocked sturgeons from being able to migrate upriver, and have changed the quality of the rivers so they are no longer able to support sturgeon reproduction. Reproduction: For sturgeon, the process of mixing female eggs and male sperm to create a fertilized egg that hatches into a baby sturgeon.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 1. (Online Supplementary Material) Species, Gliding Strategies
    Appendix 1. (Online Supplementary Material) Species, gliding strategies, species distributions, geographic range sizes, habitat, and egg buoyancy characteristics used for concentrated changes tests. Species Gliding strategy Species distribution (reference #) Geographic range size Habitat (reference #) Egg buoyancy (reference #) Cheilopogon abei (Parin, 1996) 4 wings Indian, Indo-Pacific (1) 2 or more ocean basins meroepipelagic (1) Buoyant (2) Cheilopogon atrisignis (Jenkins, 1903) 4 wings Indian, Pacific (1) 2 or more ocean basins meroepipelgic (3) Buoyant (4) Cheilopogon cyanopterus (Valenciennes, 1847) 4 wings Atlantic, Indo-Pacific (2) 2 or more ocean basins meroepipelgic (3) Non-Buoyant (5) Cheilopogon dorsomacula (Fowler, 1944) 4 wings Pacific (1) within 1 ocean basin holoepipelagic (1) Buoyant (2) Cheilopogon exsiliens (Linnaeus, 1771) 4 wings Atlantic (2) within 1 ocean basin holoepipelagic (3) Buoyant (2,5) Cheilopogon furcatus (Mitchill, 1815) 4 wings Atlantic, Indian, Pacific (6) 2 or more ocean basins holoepipelagic (3) Non-Buoyant (5) Cheilopogon melanurus (Valenciennes, 1847) 4 wings Atlantic (7) within 1 ocean basin meroepipelagic (7) Non-Buoyant (5,8) Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus (californicus) (Cooper, 1863) 4 wings eastern tropical Pacific (9) within 1 ocean basin meroepipelgic (3) Non-Buoyant (10) Cheilopogon spilonotopterus (Bleeker, 1865) 4 wings Indian and Pacific (1) 2 or more ocean basins meroepipelgic (3) Buoyant (4) Cheilopogon xenopterus (Gilbert, 1890) 4 wings eastern tropical Pacific (11) within 1 ocean basin
    [Show full text]
  • Blenniiformes, Tripterygiidae) from Taiwan
    A peer-reviewed open-access journal ZooKeys 216: 57–72 (2012) A new species of the genus Helcogramma from Taiwan 57 doi: 10.3897/zookeys.216.3407 RESEARCH articLE www.zookeys.org Launched to accelerate biodiversity research A new species of the genus Helcogramma (Blenniiformes, Tripterygiidae) from Taiwan Min-Chia Chiang1,†, I-Shiung Chen1,2,‡ 1 Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan, ROC 2 Center for Mari- ne Bioenvironment and Biotechnology (CMBB), National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan, ROC † urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:D82C98B9-D9AA-46E1-83F7-D8BB74776122 ‡ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:6094BBA6-5EE6-420F-BAA5-F52D44F11F14 Corresponding author: I-Shiung Chen ([email protected]) Academic editor: Carole Baldwin | Received 19 May 2012 | Accepted 13 August 2012 | Published 21 August 2012 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2D3E6BCC-171E-4702-B759-E7D7FCEA88DB Citation: Chiang M-C, Chen I-S (2012) A new species of the genus Helcogramma (Blenniiformes, Tripterygiidae) from Taiwan. ZooKeys 216: 57–72. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.216.3407 Abstract A new species of triplefin fish (Blenniiformes: Tripterygiidae), Helcogramma williamsi, is described from six specimens collected from southern Taiwan. This species is well distinguished from its congeners by possess- ing 13 second dorsal-fin spines; third dorsal-fin rays modally 11; anal-fin rays modally 19; pored scales in lateral line 22-24; dentary pore pattern modally 5+1+5; lobate supraorbital cirrus; broad, serrated or pal- mate nasal cirrus; first dorsal fin lower in height than second; males with yellow mark extending from ante- rior tip of upper lip to anterior margin of eye and a whitish blue line extending from corner of mouth onto preopercle.
    [Show full text]
  • “A Strange Fish Indeed: the 'Discovery' of a Living Fossil”
    CASE TEACHING NOTES for “A Strange Fish Indeed: The ‘Discovery’ of a Living Fossil” by Robert H. Grant, School for Professional Studies, Saint Louis University INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND Th is case study was developed very soon after the death of Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer (–) in May of . My hope is that it serves, in part, as a tribute to the legacy of her contributions to science. Th e case study was developed for use in an introductory freshman biology course. In this setting, it could be used as a general introduction to the nature/methods of scientifi c inquiry at the very start of a semester or later in the semester as an introduction to the topic of evolution. Additionally, this case could be modifi ed for use in a number of upper-level biology courses such as ichthyology (as a springboard into a discussion of ancient fi sh lineages or fi sh evolution), evolutionary biology (as an introduction to evolutionary relationships between classes of animals), or conservation ecology (as an illustration of the issues involved in studying rare animal species). Th e case features photographs as well as fi ctitious diary entries interspersed with actual quotations from Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer’s writings to recreate the events surrounding Courtenay-Latimer’s ground breaking “discovery” of a living (non-fossil) coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae ) in . Th e case follows a progressive disclosure format with students receiving diary entries in two parts. Part I comprises a single diary entry that describes the day on which Courtenay-Latimer collected the fi rst coelacanth specimen as well as a handout (Handout I) with a picture of what the fi sh would have looked like when Courtenay-Latimer fi rst caught a glimpse of it in a pile of sharks, seaweed, starfi sh, sponges, and other fi sh on the deck of the Nerine.
    [Show full text]
  • ESS 345 Ichthyology
    ESS 345 Ichthyology Evolutionary history of fishes 12 Feb 2019 (Who’s birthday?) Quote of the Day: We must, however, acknowledge, as it seems to me, that man with all his noble qualities... still bears in his bodily frame the indelible stamp of his lowly origin._______, (1809-1882) Evolution/radiation of fishes over time Era Cenozoic Fig 13.1 Fishes are the most primitive vertebrate and last common ancestor to all vertebrates They start the branch from all other living things with vertebrae and a cranium Chordata Notochord Dorsal hollow nerve cord Pharyngeal gill slits Postanal tail Urochordata Cephalochordata Craniates (mostly Vertebrata) Phylum Chordata sister is… Echinodermata Synapomorphy – They are deuterostomes Fish Evolutionary Tree – evolutionary innovations in vertebrate history Sarcopterygii Chondrichthyes Actinopterygii (fish) For extant fishes Osteichthyes Gnathostomata Handout Vertebrata Craniata Figure only from Berkeley.edu Hypothesis of fish (vert) origins Background 570 MYA – first large radiation of multicellular life – Fossils of the Burgess Shale – Called the Cambrian explosion Garstang Hypothesis 1928 Neoteny of sessile invertebrates Mistake that was “good” Mudpuppy First Vertebrates Vertebrates appear shortly after Cambrian explosion, 530 MYA – Conodonts Notochord replaced by segmented or partially segmented vertebrate and brain is enclosed in cranium Phylogenetic tree Echinoderms, et al. Other “inverts” Vertebrate phyla X Protostomes Deuterostomes Nephrozoa – bilateral animals First fishes were jawless appearing
    [Show full text]
  • THE CASE AGAINST Marine Mammals in Captivity Authors: Naomi A
    s l a m m a y t T i M S N v I i A e G t A n i p E S r a A C a C E H n T M i THE CASE AGAINST Marine Mammals in Captivity The Humane Society of the United State s/ World Society for the Protection of Animals 2009 1 1 1 2 0 A M , n o t s o g B r o . 1 a 0 s 2 u - e a t i p s u S w , t e e r t S h t u o S 9 8 THE CASE AGAINST Marine Mammals in Captivity Authors: Naomi A. Rose, E.C.M. Parsons, and Richard Farinato, 4th edition Editors: Naomi A. Rose and Debra Firmani, 4th edition ©2009 The Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals. All rights reserved. ©2008 The HSUS. All rights reserved. Printed on recycled paper, acid free and elemental chlorine free, with soy-based ink. Cover: ©iStockphoto.com/Ying Ying Wong Overview n the debate over marine mammals in captivity, the of the natural environment. The truth is that marine mammals have evolved physically and behaviorally to survive these rigors. public display industry maintains that marine mammal For example, nearly every kind of marine mammal, from sea lion Iexhibits serve a valuable conservation function, people to dolphin, travels large distances daily in a search for food. In learn important information from seeing live animals, and captivity, natural feeding and foraging patterns are completely lost.
    [Show full text]
  • Leo Semenovich Berg and the Biology of Acipenseriformes: a Dedication
    Environmental Biology of Fishes 48: 15–22, 1997. 1997 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands. Leo Semenovich Berg and the biology of Acipenseriformes: a dedication Vadim J. Birstein1 & William E. Bemis2 1 The Sturgeon Society, 331 West 57th Street, Suite 159, New York, NY 10019, U.S.A. 2 Department of Biology and Graduate Program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, U.S.A. Received 5.3.1996 Accepted 23.5.1996 Key words: T. Dobzhansky, A. Sewertzoff, T. Lysenko, Paleonisciformes, biogeography This volume is dedicated to the memory of Leo Semenovich Berg (1876–1950), a Russian ichthyologist and geographer. In the foreword to the English translation of Berg’s remarkable treatise, ‘Nomogenesis or evolu- tion according to law’, Theodosius Dobzhansky wrote: ‘Berg was one of the outstanding intellects among Russian scientists. The breadth of his interests and the depth as well as the amplitude of his scholarship were remarkable. He had the reputation of being a ‘walking library’, because of the amount of information he could produce from his memory’ (Dobzhansky 1969, p. xi). Berg was prolific, publishing 217 papers and monographs on ichthyology, 30 papers on general zoology and biology, 20 papers on paleontology, 32 papers on zoogeo- graphy, 320 papers and monographs on geography, geology, and ethnography, as well as 290 biographies, obituaries, and popular articles (Berg 1955, Sokolov 1955). Berg was born 120 years ago, on 14 March 1876, in Sciences. Berg was never formally recognized by the town of Bendery. According to laws of the Rus- the Soviet Academy for his accomplishments in sian Empire, Berg could not enter the university as biology, and only later (1946) was he elected a mem- a Jew, so he was baptized and became a Lutheran, ber of the Geography Branch of the Soviet Acade- which allowed him to study and receive his diploma my of Sciences (Figure 1).
    [Show full text]
  • The Beluga in Alaska, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
    STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME JUNEAU, ALASKA STATE OF ALASKA William A. Egan, Governor DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME Walter Kirkness, Commissioner DIVISION OF GAME James W, Brooks, Director Don H, Strode, Federal Aid Coordinator THE BELUGA WHALE IN ALASKA by Edward G. Klinkhart Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Project Report covering investigations completed by December 31, 1965. Volume VII: Projects W-6-R and W-14-R. Scientists or other members of the public are free to use information in these reports. Because most reports treat only part of continuing studies, persons intending to use this material extensively in other publications are urged to contact the Department of Fish and Game for more recent data. Tentative conclusions should be identified as such in quota- tions. Credit would be appreciated. Cover by: R. T. Wallen November, 1966 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page General Description ...... 1 Range and Movements ...... 2 Abundance ........... 3 Population Dynamics ...... 3 Food Habits .......... 4 Parasites and Predators .... 4 Underwater Sound ....... 5 Utilization .......... 6 Control ............ 7 Future Research and Management 7 Bibliography ......... 9 THE BELUGA WINE IN ALASKA The beluga, or white whale, Del hina terus leucas, is a common inhabitant in the waters of Alaska from Cook-+--"%r- In et to t e Arctic. There is, however, a dearth of factual biological data available on the animals. elu ups have. been studied since 1954, but these investigations have dealt primarily with food habits and with methods of controlling depredations on commercially valuable salmon. Knowledge of life history aid ecology in Alaska is there- fore incomplete.
    [Show full text]
  • The Key Threats to Sturgeons and Measures for Their Protection in the Lower Danube Region
    THE KEY THREATS TO STURGEONS AND MEASURES FOR THEIR PROTECTION IN THE LOWER DANUBE REGION MIRJANA LENHARDT* Institute for Biological Research, Serbia IVAN JARIĆ, GORČIN CVIJANOVIĆ AND MARIJA SMEDEREVAC-LALIĆ Center for Multidisciplinary Studies, Serbia Abstract The six native sturgeon species have been commercially harvested in the Danube Basin for more than 2,000 years, with rapid decrease in catch by mid 19th century. Addi- tional negative effect on sturgeon populations in the Danube River was river regulation in Djerdap region, due to navigation in the late 19th century, as well as dam construction in the second half of 20th century that blocked sturgeon spawning migrations. Beside over- fishing and habitat loss, illegal trade, life history characteristics of sturgeon, lack of effective management (due to lack of transboundary cooperation and change in political situa- tion in Lower Danube Region countries) and pollution all pose serious threats on sturgeon populations in Lower Danube Region. International measures established by the Conven- tion on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in late 20th century, listing of beluga (Huso huso) as an endangered species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, as well as development of Action plan for conservation of sturgeons in the Danube River Basin, had significant impact on activities related to sturgeon protection at beginning of 21st century. These actions were aimed towards diminishment of pressure on natural sturgeon populations and aquaculture development in countries of Lower Danube Region. The main goal of the Action Plan was to raise public awareness and to create a common framework for implementation of urgent measures.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolutionary Steps in Ichthyology and New Challenges*
    ISSN: 0001-5113 ACTA ADRIAT., UDC: 597(091) AADRAY 49(3): 201 - 232, 2008 Evolutionary steps in ichthyology and new challenges* Walter NELLEN 1* and Jakov DULČIĆ 2 1 Institut for Hydrobiology and Fisheries, University of Hamburg, Olbersweg 24, 22767 Hamburg, Germany 2 Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, P.O. Box 500, 21 000 Split, Croatia * Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] One may postulate that man’s interest in fish emerged as soon as he was able to express his thoughts and notions as fish, among other animals, were subject of early communications. These were transmitted first by drawings, later by inscriptions and in writings. It was but much later that fishes began to occupy man’s interest as objects of science. Aristotle’s treatises on “History of Ani- mals” is the first known document dealing with fish as a zoological object. No earlier than in the 16th century fish regained the interest of learned men, among these Olaus Magnus (1490 –1557), Gregor Mangolt (1498–1576), Guillaume Rondelet (1507–1557), Pierre Belon (1512–1564), Hip- polyto (Ippolito) Salviani (1513–1572) and, above all, Conrad Gesner (1516–1565). The 17th and more so the 18th century is known as the period of Enlightenment. Respect must be paid to three pioneers in this field, i.e. Francis Willughby (1635–1672), Peter Artedi (1705–1735), and Marc Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) who became clearly aware that the class of fish consists of species which may be classified and typically described as such. After the species concept had been embodied in the scientific way of thinking by Linné, a tremendous expansion of activities emerged in the field of ichthyology.
    [Show full text]
  • I CHARACTERIZATION of the STRIPED MULLET (MUGIL CEPHALUS) in SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: INFLUENCE of FISHERS and ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
    i CHARACTERIZATION OF THE STRIPED MULLET (MUGIL CEPHALUS) IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA: INFLUENCE OF FISHERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ________________________________________________________________________ A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences Florida Gulf Coast University In Partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science ________________________________________________________________________ By Charlotte Marin 2018 ii APPROVAL SHEET This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science ________________________________________ Charlotte A. Marin Approved: 2018 ________________________________________ S. Gregory Tolley, Ph.D. Committee Chair ________________________________________ Richard Cody, Ph.D. ________________________________________ Edwin M. Everham III, Ph.D. The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to dedicate this project to Harvey and Kathryn Klinger, my loving grandparents, to whom I can attribute my love of fishing and passion for the environment. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my mom, Kathy, for providing a solid educational foundation that has prepared me to reach this milestone and inspired me to continuously learn. I would also like to thank my aunt, Deb, for always supporting my career aspirations and encouraging me to follow my dreams. I would like to thank my in-laws, Carlos and Dora, for their enthusiasm and generosity in babysitting hours and for always wishing the best for me. To my son, Leo, the light of my life, who inspires me every day to keep learning and growing, to set the best example for him.
    [Show full text]