Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus Leopardus)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus Leopardus) Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus leopardus) Regional Status and Catch Statistics Australia P. leopardus is the main fish in the commercial and recreational fisheries on the Great Barrier Reef, comprising 60% of the demersal reef fish catches landed by commercial fishers (Turnbull 1996), and contributing up to around 1,500 tonnes per annum (Mapstone et al. 1996). The increase in the demand for the fish in Australia since 1995 led to an increase in fishing effort of almost 30% in the Townsville Mid Shelf and Southern regions (Ayling et al. 2000): on Cairns Mid Shelf reefs, catch rates have dropped from 3.5 in 1992 to 0.85 kg/boat/day in 1997–1998 (76% decline) while fishing effort has increased from 150 boat days to 350 boat days over the same period. Similarly, on Cairns Outer Shelf reefs, catch rates have dropped from 2.02 in 1992 to 0.65 kg/boat/day in 1997 (68% decline). On Townsville Mid Shelf reefs, catch rates have dropped from 1.45 in 1992 to 0.40 kg/boat/day (72% decline) in 1997. With a 75% increase in fishing effort (boat days), the catch rates on Townsville Outer Shelf reefs declined from 6.82 in 1992 to 1.31 kg/boat/day (80% decline) in 1997. On Southern Mid Shelf reefs, catch rates decreased from 1.65 in 1992 to 0.68 in 1997 (59% decline). Considering Queensland fisheries production as a whole, the harvest of coral trout has been increasing since 1999 due to the increase in fishing effort: 1,643 tonnes (1999), 1,927 tonnes (2000) and 2,086 tonnes (2001)(ABARE 2003). The increase in effort is in part due to the export of live fish for the live reef food fish trade. According to a report on P. leopardus populations by Ayling et al. (2000), there are significant differences in trends in density of P. leopardus between time periods (Early: 1982 to 1990; Mid:1991 to 1994; Recent: 1995 to 1999) in two regions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), and the differences are consistent between reefs. The trends were stable through the 1980s, then they became positive in the early 1990s; however, they changed became negative in the 1995 to 1999 period. The same report indicates that the mean densities are significantly lower (p<0.001) in recent times compared with those in the 1980s and mid 1990s in one region of the GBR. It also shows a significant reduction in both mean length (p=0.007) and length range (p<0.001) between the early (1982 to 1990) and recent (1995 to 1999) time periods and between early and middle (1991 to 1994) periods. Mean length was 37.9 cm in the early time period, 35.8 cm in the middle time period and 34.7 cm in the recent time period; and the percentage of fish over 50 cm TL reduced from 7.2% to 2.3% over the period, suggesting growth overfishing of P. leopardus. The length range (measured by standard THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™ deviation) decreased from 10.3 cm in the early time period to 6.5 cm in the recent time period, implying a reduction of fish in the small and/or large size classes. It is shown by length frequency plots that this reduction can be attributed mainly to a decline in the number of large fish. The legal size restriction for P. leopardus fishery on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is set at 38 cm TL (QDMA, 1999), above the size at first maturity, which presumably allows females opportunity to spawn before being caught (Ferreira 1994). However, a decline in average size and age of females (Adams et al. 2000), apparently in response to fishing pressure caused by gear selectivity, has been observed. This implies that the overall fecundity in the population may be reduced, all else being equal, as fecundity is positively correlated with fish size (Roff 1992). The sex ratio is evidently affected as a result of earlier sex change from female to male. Female biased ratios have been recorded everywhere on the GBR (Samoilys 2000), whereas male biased sex ratios have been recorded in the southern Swains region of the GBR (Adams et al. 2000). The highest catch and effort of the coral trout fishery on the GBR occurs during the spawning season (September–November), probably due to favourable weather during this time. There is no evidence of increased fishing effort during the new moon periods when spawning aggregations form (Turnbull and Samoilys 1997). However, an increase in catchability of P. leopardus on mid-shelf reefs in the Cairns Section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park during September has been attributed to fish aggregating to spawn (Davies 2000). Further, within the period of 1990 to 1999, one of two main spawning aggregations of P. leopardus on reefs near Cairns n the northern part of the GBR disappeared from 1996 to 1998, very probably due to targeted fishing. There is evidence this aggregation has now recovered in the absence of fishing (Samoilys, Squire and Roelofs 2001, unpublished data). In Abrolhos Island of Western Australia (the only area coral trout occurs in WA), the harvest of the sp. has doubled over the period of 1990 to 1995 and 1996 to 2001: the total catch increased from 6.4 tonnes (1990) to 12.5 tonnes (1995); and the CPUE increased from 6.79 kg per day (1996) to 15.9 kg per day (J. St John pers. comm. 2001). The latter is an extremely high catch rate compared with the GBR and Philippines, suggesting the Abrolhos Island population may still be healthy. Japan In Japan, a large population of coral trout occurred around Ishigaki Island ten years ago (Akinobu Nakazono pers. comm. 2003); however, fishermen have changed the fishing sites from Ishigaki Island to Iriomote Island, implying that the population in Ishigaki Island has been decreasing due to overfishing. Hong Kong In Hong Kong, P. leopardus was once common; however, it is rare today, very probably because of overfishing (Sadovy and Cornish 2000). Malaysia Regarding the landings in Sabah of east Malaysia, 97.26% decline was observed over the period of 1998 to 2000 (TRACC 2000). Philippines Only juveniles are now moderately common in Calamianes Islands, which are located at Palawan waters – the biggest supplier of fish in Philippines (Werner and Allen 2000). In the past, adult sized fish were caught. Once the live reef food fish traders became active in the area, large numbers of fish 2 were purchased, fishers had to travel longer to maintain catches and now mainly juveniles are caught – these are often placed in floating net cages and grown-out until they meet market size for live export in the live fish trade. This practice is likely to be unsustainable because it represents a juvenile fishery and is likely to result in severe recruitment overfishing (SCRFA 2003, Padilla et al. 2003). Papua New Guinea In Papua New Guinea, Leopard Coral Trout is moderately abundant (Werner and Allen 1998), though occurs in notably lower densities than those seen on Australia’s GBR (Samoilys et al. 1995). Fiji, Solomon Islands and Western Samoa Plectropomus leopardus appears to be a moderately uncommon species in Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Western Samoa, even on reefs that are subjected to low levels of fishing pressure; it appears that P. maculatus is the more common coral trout in these islands (Samoilys et al. 1995, Samoilys and Carlos 2000). P. leopardus is therefore likely to be more vulnerable to increased fishing pressure (e.g., from the LRFFT) on these Pacific islands than the Australian populations (Samoilys and Donnelly 1998). Indonesia The species is popular with the live reef food fish trade and extensively sourced in many areas. Interviews of fishers in SW Sulawesi and in the Kei Islands (Moluka) strongly suggested that in areas where this species has been heavily targeted for a long period (i.e. introduction of the live reef food fish trade in the early to mid 1990s) catch rates have been declining (SCRFA 2004). Trade statistics of imports to Hong Kong As Hong Kong is one of the biggest importers of live food fish in the world (Sadovy and Lee 1998), its import data may reflect the harvest of the fish in other countries. Recently, the import of coral trout has increased greatly (58% increase): 1,420,582 kg (1999), 2,060,617 kg (2000), 1,991,353 kg (2001) and 2,237,650 kg (2002). P. leopardus is a very important and preferred species in the live reef food fish trade and fetches a high price (approx. USD70 at retail per kg. (Sadovy et al. 2003). Generally, the major suppliers are: Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Australia, with Australia becoming the major supplier. The import into Hong Kong (in kg) from the major suppliers is as follows: 1999 2000 2001 2002 Indonesia 342,872 488,974 262,508 274,327 Philippines 352,817 515,774 404,413 597,778 Malaysia 225,988 239,226 203,725 186,579 Thailand 13,240 792 37,393 5,614 Singapore 7,428 817 140 437 Vietnam 56,227 55,763 28,764 34,548 Taiwan 5,077 3,348 651 0 Cambodia 0 17,669 9,996 4,007 Fiji 200 14,056 9,214 0 Australia 406,960 721,021 1,025,435 1,132,597 (Data Source: International Maritime Alliance – from HK Govt. Census and Statistics data) 3 Apparent declining trends of imports (between 1999 and 2002) are observed in Indonesia (20% decline), Malaysia (15% decline), Vietnam (39% decline) and Cambodia (77% decline, using data from 2000 to 2002), whereas increasing trends are found in Philippines (69% increase) and Australia (178% increase).
Recommended publications
  • Target Fish Carnivores
    TARGET FISH CARNIVORES WRASSES - LABRIDAE Thicklips Hemigymnus spp. Slingjaw Wrasse Epibulus insidiator Tripletail Wrasse Cheilinus trilobatus Redbreasted Wrasse Cheilinus fasciatus Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July 2016 1 Hogfish Bodianus spp. Tuskfish Choerodon spp. Moon Wrasse Thalassoma lunare Humphead Wrasse Cheilinus undulatus Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July 2016 2 GOATFISH - MULLIDAE Dash-dot Goatfish Parupeneus barberinus Doublebar Goatfish Parupeneus bifasciatus Manybar Goatfish Parupeneus multifasciatus SNAPPER - LUTJANIDAE Midnight Snapper Macolor macularis Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July 2016 3 Spanish Flag Snapper Lutjanus carponotatus Black-banded Snapper Lutjanus semicinctus Checkered Snapper Lutjanus decussatus Two-spot Snapper Lutjanus biguttatus Red Snapper Lutjanus bohar Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July 2016 4 GROUPER – SERRANIDAE Barramundi Cod Cromileptes altivelis Bluespotted Grouper Cephalopholis cyanostigma Peacock Grouper Cephalopholis argus Coral Grouper Cephalopholis miniata Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July 2016 5 Lyretails Variola albimarginata & Variola louti Honeycomb Grouper Epinephelus merra Highfin Grouper Epinephelus maculatus Flagtail Grouper Cephalopholis urodeta Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July 2016 6 Blacksaddle Coral Grouper Plectropomus laevis Large Groupers TRIGGERFISH - BALISTIDAE Titan Triggerfish Balistoides viridescens Barefoot Conservation | TARGET FISH CARNIVORES| July
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract for Submission to the 11Th International Coral Reef
    Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations in Aceh, Sumatra: Local Knowledge of Occurrence and Status Authors: Campbell S.J., Mukmunin, A., Prasetia, R The Wildlife Conservation Society, Indonesian Marine Program, Jalan Pangrango 8, Bogor 16141, Indonesia Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations (FSA) are critical in the life cycle of the fishes that use this reproductive strategy as sources of larvae, but are also highly vulnerable to over exploitation. With the exception of the Komodo (Pet et al. 2005) little if any research has been focused on FSAs in Indonesia. Interview surveys were conducted among fishing communities on the island of Weh in northern Aceh in order to determine the level of awareness of FSAs among fishers; which reef fish species form FSAs; sites of aggregation formation; seasonal patterns; and to assess fishing pressure on and status of FSAs. Results show that many fishers possess reliable knowledge of spawning areas, species and times. Possible FSAs were reported from a number of areas on Weh island inside and outside protected areas. Of the 47 species of fish mentioned by respondents, we conclude that six species are very likely to form spawning aggregations in marine waters of Weh island. All six species were mentioned by more than 10 fishers, and included Bolbometopoton muricatum (Scaridae: Bumpheaded parrotfish), Cepahpholis miniata (Serranidae: Coral grouper) Variola louti (Serranidae: Yellow Edged Lyretail), Cheilinus undulatas (Labridae: Napolean wrasse), Thunnus albacares (Yellow fin tuna) and Caranx lugubris (Carangidae: Black Jack Trevally). FSAs in Aceh were areas targeted by fishers, although many were inside existing marine protected areas where prohibitions on netting from boats are in place.
    [Show full text]
  • If I Catch It, Can I Eat It? a Guide to Eating Fish Safely, 2017 Connecticut
    If I Catch It, This pamphlet will give you information that will help your family avoid chemicals in fish and eat fish safely. Fish from Connecticut’s waters are a healthy, low-cost source of protein. Conne<ti<ut Oep.trtment Unfortunately, some fish take up chemicals such as mercury and polychlorinated of Public Health Can I Eat It? biphenyls (PCBs). These chemicals can build up in your body and increase health risks. The developing fetus and young children are most sensitive. Women who eat A Guide to Eating Fish Safely fish containing these chemicals before or during pregnancy or nursing may have 2017 Connecticut Fish Consumption Advisory children who are slow to develop and learn. Long term exposure to PCBs may increase cancer risk. What Does The Fish Consumption Advisory Say? The advisory tells you how often you can safely eat fish from Connecticut’s waters and from a store or restaurant. In many cases, separate advice is given for the High Risk and Low Risk Groups. You are in the High Risk Group if you are a pregnant woman, a woman who could become pregnant, a nursing mother, or a child under six. If you do not fit into the High Risk Group, you are in the Low Risk Group. Advice is given for three different types of fish consumption: 1. Statewide FRESHWATER Fish Advisory: Most freshwater fish in Connecticut contain enough mercury to cause some limit to consumption. The statewide freshwater advice is that: High Risk Group: eat no more than 1 meal per month Low Risk Group: eat no more than 1 meal per week 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Book (PDF)
    e · ~ e t · aI ' A Field Guide to Grouper and Snapper Fishes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Family: SERRANIDAE, Subfamily: EPINEPHELINAE and Family: LUTJANIDAE) P. T. RAJAN Andaman & Nicobar Regional Station Zoological Survey of India Haddo, Port Blair - 744102 Edited by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata Zoological Survey of India Kolkata CITATION Rajan, P. T. 2001. Afield guide to Grouper and Snapper Fishes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Published - Director, Z.5.1.) Published : December, 2001 ISBN 81-85874-40-9 Front cover: Roving Coral Grouper (Plectropomus pessuliferus) Back cover : A School of Blue banded Snapper (Lutjanus lcasmira) © Government of India, 2001 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. • This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of without the publisher'S consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published. • The correct price of this publication is the price printed on this page. Any revised price indicated by a rubber stamp or by a sticker or by any other means is incorrect and should be unacceptable. PRICE Indian Rs. 400.00 Foreign $ 25; £ 20 Published at the Publication Division by the Director, Zoological Survey of India, 234/4, AJe Bose Road, 2nd MSO Building, (13th Floor), Nizam Palace, Calcutta-700 020 after laser typesetting by Computech Graphics, Calcutta 700019 and printed at Power Printers, New Delhi - 110002.
    [Show full text]
  • Diet Composition of Juvenile Black Grouper (Mycteroperca Bonaci) from Coastal Nursery Areas of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
    BULLETIN OF MARINE SCIENCE, 77(3): 441–452, 2005 NOTE DIET COMPOSITION OF JUVENILE BLACK GROUPER (MYCTEROPERCA BONACI) FROM COASTAL NURSERY AREAS OF THE YUCATÁN PENINSULA, MEXICO Thierry Brulé, Enrique Puerto-Novelo, Esperanza Pérez-Díaz, and Ximena Renán-Galindo Groupers (Epinephelinae, Epinephelini) are top-level predators that influence the trophic web of coral reef ecosystems (Parrish, 1987; Heemstra and Randall, 1993; Sluka et al., 2001). They are demersal mesocarnivores and stalk and ambush preda- tors that sit and wait for larger moving prey such as fish and mobile invertebrates (Cailliet et al., 1986). Groupers contribute to the ecological balance of complex tropi- cal hard-bottom communities (Sluka et al., 1994), and thus large changes in their populations may significantly alter other community components (Parrish, 1987). The black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci Poey, 1860) is an important commercial and recreational fin fish resource in the western Atlantic region (Bullock and Smith, 1991; Heemstra and Randall, 1993). The southern Gulf of Mexico grouper fishery is currently considered to be deteriorated and M. bonaci, along with red grouper (Epinephelus morio Valenciennes, 1828) and gag (Mycteroperca microlepis Goode and Bean, 1880), is one of the most heavily exploited fish species in this region (Co- lás-Marrufo et al., 1998; SEMARNAP, 2000). Currently, M. bonaci is considered a threatened species (Morris et al., 2000; IUCN, 2003) and has been classified as vul- nerable in U.S. waters because male biomass in the Atlantic dropped from 20% in 1982 to 6% in 1995 (Musick et al., 2000). The black grouper is usually found on irregular bottoms such as coral reefs, drop- off walls, and rocky ledges, at depths from 10 to 100 m (Roe, 1977; Manooch and Mason, 1987; Bullock and Smith, 1991; Heemstra and Randall, 1993).
    [Show full text]
  • V a Tion & Management of Reef Fish Sp a Wning Aggrega Tions
    handbook CONSERVATION & MANAGEMENT OF REEF FISH SPAWNING AGGREGATIONS A Handbook for the Conservation & Management of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations © Seapics.com Without the Land and the Sea, and their Bounties, the People and their Traditional Ways would be Poor and without Cultural Identity Fijian Proverb Why a Handbook? 1 What are Spawning Aggregations? 2 How to Identify Spawning Aggregations 2 Species that Aggregate to Spawn 2 Contents Places Where Aggregations Form 9 Concern for Spawning Aggregations 10 Importance for Fish and Fishermen 10 Trends in Exploited Aggregations 12 Managing & Conserving Spawning Aggregations 13 Research and Monitoring 13 Management Options 15 What is SCRFA? 16 How can SCRFA Help? 16 SCRFA Work to Date 17 Useful References 18 SCRFA Board of Directors 20 Since 2000, scientists, fishery managers, conservationists and politicians have become increasingly aware, not only that many commercially important coral reef fish species aggregate to spawn (reproduce) but also that these important reproductive gatherings are particularly susceptible to fishing. In extreme cases, when fishing pressure is high, aggregations can dwindle and even cease to form, sometimes within just a few years. Whether or not they will recover and what the long-term effects on the fish population(s) might be of such declines are not yet known. We do know, however, that healthy aggregations tend to be associated with healthy fisheries. It is, therefore, important to understand and better protect this critical part of the life cycle of aggregating species to ensure that they continue to yield food and support livelihoods. Why a Handbook? As fishing technology improved in the second half of the twentieth century, engines came to replace sails and oars, the cash economy developed rapidly, and human populations and demand for seafood grew, the pressures on reef fishes for food, and especially for money, increased enormously.
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Paper on “Restricting the Size of Groupers (Serranidae
    ACADEMIC PAPER ON “RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF GROUPERS (SERRANIDAE) EXPORTED FROM INDONESIA IN THE LIVE REEF FOOD FISH TRADE” Coastal and Marine Resources Management in the Coral Triangle-Southeast Asia (TA 7813-REG) Tehcnical Report ACADEMIC PAPER ON RESTRICTING THE SIZE OFLIVE GROUPERS FOR EXPORT ACADEMIC PAPER ON “RESTRICTING THE SIZE OF GROUPERS (SERRANIDAE) EXPORTED FROM INDONESIA IN THE LIVE REEF FOOD FISH TRADE” FINAL VERSION COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE CORAL TRIANGLE: SOUTHEAST ASIA, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES (TA 7813-REG) ACADEMIC PAPER ON RESTRICTING THE SIZE OFLIVE GROUPERS FOR EXPORT Page i FOREWORD Indonesia is the largest exporter of live groupers for the live reef fish food trade. This fisheries sub-sector plays an important role in the livelihoods of fishing communities, especially those living on small islands. As a member of the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under RETA [7813], Indonesia (represented by a team from Hasanuddin University) has compiled this academic paper as a contribution towards sustainable management of live reef fish resources in Indonesia. Challenges faced in managing the live grouper fishery and trade in Indonesia include the ongoing activities and practices which damage grouper habitat; the lack of protection for grouper spawning sites; overfishing of groupers which have not yet reached sexual maturity/not reproduced; and the prevalence of illegal and unreported fishing for live groupers. These factors have resulted in declining wild grouper stocks. The Aquaculture sector is, at least as yet, unable to replace or enable a balanced wild caught fishery, and thus there is still a heavy reliance on wild-caught groupers.
    [Show full text]
  • Clean &Unclean Meats
    Clean & Unclean Meats God expects all who desire to have a relationship with Him to live holy lives (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 1:15). The Bible says following God’s instructions regarding the meat we eat is one aspect of living a holy life (Leviticus 11:44-47). Modern research indicates that there are health benets to eating only the meat of animals approved by God and avoiding those He labels as unclean. Here is a summation of the clean (acceptable to eat) and unclean (not acceptable to eat) animals found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. For further explanation, see the LifeHopeandTruth.com article “Clean and Unclean Animals.” BIRDS CLEAN (Eggs of these birds are also clean) Chicken Prairie chicken Dove Ptarmigan Duck Quail Goose Sage grouse (sagehen) Grouse Sparrow (and all other Guinea fowl songbirds; but not those of Partridge the corvid family) Peafowl (peacock) Swan (the KJV translation of “swan” is a mistranslation) Pheasant Teal Pigeon Turkey BIRDS UNCLEAN Leviticus 11:13-19 (Eggs of these birds are also unclean) All birds of prey Cormorant (raptors) including: Crane Buzzard Crow (and all Condor other corvids) Eagle Cuckoo Ostrich Falcon Egret Parrot Kite Flamingo Pelican Hawk Glede Penguin Osprey Grosbeak Plover Owl Gull Raven Vulture Heron Roadrunner Lapwing Stork Other birds including: Loon Swallow Albatross Magpie Swi Bat Martin Water hen Bittern Ossifrage Woodpecker ANIMALS CLEAN Leviticus 11:3; Deuteronomy 14:4-6 (Milk from these animals is also clean) Addax Hart Antelope Hartebeest Beef (meat of domestic cattle) Hirola chews
    [Show full text]
  • Demography of a Large Grouper, Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus, from Australia’S Great Barrier Reef: Implications for Fishery Management
    MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 307: 259–272, 2006 Published January 24 Mar Ecol Prog Ser Demography of a large grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, from Australia’s Great Barrier Reef: implications for fishery management Rachel J. Pears1, 2,*, J. Howard Choat1, Bruce D. Mapstone2, 3, Gavin A. Begg2 1School of Marine Biology, and 2CRC Reef Research Centre, James Cook University, Queensland 4811, Australia 3Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 80, Tasmania 7001, Australia ABSTRACT: Epinephelus fuscoguttatus is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific and features strongly in regional fisheries, including the live reef fish trade. We investigated age-specific demo- graphic and reproductive characteristics of E. fuscoguttatus from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, and examined implications for resource management. Age, growth, longevity, and the relationships between size or age and female sexual maturity and the recruitment of males into the study popula- tion were examined. Age validation using both oxytetracycline marking and edge-type analysis demonstrated that a single annulus formed each year. This grouper is long-lived (>40 yr) and relatively slow-growing. The size and age distributions of the sexes strongly suggested protogynous hermaphroditism. Histological data suggested infrequent spawning in small mature females. Females contribute very little to reproductive output until about 566 mm fork length and 9 yr of age. Larger females make important reproductive contributions during their 30+ yr reproductive lifespan. Their relatively long lifespan, restriction of males to large size groups, and the disproportionate contribution of large females to reproduction have important implications for the harvest of E. fuscoguttatus. For example, current Queensland size regulations are poorly matched to the spe- cies’ biology because they do not protect the reproductive elements of populations.
    [Show full text]
  • Provision of Information on Place of Product Origin to Consumers
    Fishery Provision of Information on Place of Product Origin to Products Consumers ○Since October 2011, it has been recommended to display places of origin of fresh fishery products, mainly those caught on the Pacific side of eastern Japan, by dividing the sea areas into 7 zones and clarifying these zone names. Zones for migratory fish Display example [Migratory fish species] Salmon shark, blue shark, shortfin mako shark, sardines, salmon and trout, Pacific saury, Japanese amberjack, Japanese Indicate the water zone jack mackerel, marlins, mackerels, bonito and tunas, Japanese of catch on a label flying squid, spear squid, and neon flying squid Line of 200 nautical miles off the coast of Honshu (i) Pacific Ocean off the coast of Due east line extending from Hokkaido and Aomori the border between Aomori and Iwate Prefectures (ii) Off the coast of Sanriku Due east line extending from (northern part) the border between Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures (iii) Off the coast of Sanriku Due east line extending from (southern part) the border between Miyagi and Indicate the water zone (iv) Off the coast of Fukushima Prefectures of catch on a label Fukushima Due east line extending from Fishery Products 8.6 (v) Off the coast of the border between Fukushima Hitachi and Kashima and Ibaraki Prefectures (vi) Off the coast of Boso Due east line extending from the border between Ibaraki and Due east line Chiba Prefectures extending to the east from Nojimazaki, Chiba Prepared based on the "Responses at Farmland" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) MAFF Since October 2011, the national government has been encouraging producers to display places of origin of fresh fishery products, mainly those caught on the Pacific side of eastern Japan so that consumers can easily understand where the relevant fishery product was caught.
    [Show full text]
  • Muscle Strain in Swimming Milkfish
    The Journal of Experimental Biology 202, 529–541 (1999) 529 Printed in Great Britain © The Company of Biologists Limited 1999 JEB1633 MUSCLE STRAIN HISTORIES IN SWIMMING MILKFISH IN STEADY AND SPRINTING GAITS STEPHEN L. KATZ*, ROBERT E. SHADWICK AND H. SCOTT RAPOPORT Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine and Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA 92093-0204, USA *Present address and address for correspondence: Zoology Department, Duke University, PO Box 90325, Durham, NC 27708-0325, USA (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted 10 December 1998; published on WWW 3 February 1999 Summary Adult milkfish (Chanos chanos) swam in a water-tunnel over that speed range, while tail-beat frequency increased flume over a wide range of speeds. Fish were instrumented by 140 %. While using a sprinting gait, muscle strains with sonomicrometers to measure shortening of red and became bimodal, with strains within bursts being white myotomal muscle. Muscle strain was also calculated approximately double those between bursts. Muscle strain from simultaneous overhead views of the swimming fish. calculated from local body bending for a range of locations This allowed us to test the hypothesis that the muscle on the body indicated that muscle strain increases rostrally shortens in phase with local body bending. The fish swam to caudally, but only by less than 4 %. These results suggest at slow speeds [U<2.6 fork lengths s−1 (=FL s−1)] where only that swimming muscle, which forms a large fraction of the peripheral red muscle was powering body movements, and body volume in a fish, undergoes a history of strain that is also at higher speeds (2.6>U>4.6 FL s−1) where they similar to that expected for a homogeneous, continuous adopted a sprinting gait in which the white muscle is beam.
    [Show full text]
  • Lake Superior Food Web MENT of C
    ATMOSPH ND ER A I C C I A N D A M E I C N O I S L T A R N A T O I I O T N A N U E .S C .D R E E PA M RT OM Lake Superior Food Web MENT OF C Sea Lamprey Walleye Burbot Lake Trout Chinook Salmon Brook Trout Rainbow Trout Lake Whitefish Bloater Yellow Perch Lake herring Rainbow Smelt Deepwater Sculpin Kiyi Ruffe Lake Sturgeon Mayfly nymphs Opossum Shrimp Raptorial waterflea Mollusks Amphipods Invasive waterflea Chironomids Zebra/Quagga mussels Native waterflea Calanoids Cyclopoids Diatoms Green algae Blue-green algae Flagellates Rotifers Foodweb based on “Impact of exotic invertebrate invaders on food web structure and function in the Great Lakes: NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, 4840 S. State Road, Ann Arbor, MI A network analysis approach” by Mason, Krause, and Ulanowicz, 2002 - Modifications for Lake Superior, 2009. 734-741-2235 - www.glerl.noaa.gov Lake Superior Food Web Sea Lamprey Macroinvertebrates Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). An aggressive, non-native parasite that Chironomids/Oligochaetes. Larval insects and worms that live on the lake fastens onto its prey and rasps out a hole with its rough tongue. bottom. Feed on detritus. Species present are a good indicator of water quality. Piscivores (Fish Eaters) Amphipods (Diporeia). The most common species of amphipod found in fish diets that began declining in the late 1990’s. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Pacific salmon species stocked as a trophy fish and to control alewife. Opossum shrimp (Mysis relicta). An omnivore that feeds on algae and small cladocerans.
    [Show full text]