The present study aims to clarify the Seasonal bathymetric distributions of three coastal flatfishes (stone flounder, marbled flounder, and Japanese flounder) that are caught mainly by bottom trawls and gillnets off the coast of Fukushima, Japan, by using logbook data. All three species were found to have specific spawning depths, i.e., depths of 40–80 m, 20–40 m, and 10–60 m for stone, marbled, and

Tagging bluefin tuna (BFT) has become an essential tool for fishery science that has improved the identification of growth parameters and age validation, population abundance estimates, movement and migration patterns and spatial and temporal population dynamics. Although innovative technologies and methodologies have been introduced, some unresolved issues remained regarding the possible alteration

Delta-models (a.k.a. hurdle models) are widely used to fit biomass samples that include zeros and a skewed response for positive catches, and spatio-temporal extensions of these models are increasingly used to quantify trends in abundance (i.e., estimate abundance indices). Previous research has shown estimated indices are proportional to changes in abundance. However, little research has tested the

Age was estimated for the Pacific flatnose Antimora microlepis using the operculum, vertebrae, otoliths, scales and pectoral finrays. Otoliths and vertebrae were the only structures that produced recognizable marks considered to be annuli. Annuli counts from these two structures were similar producing ages ranging from 5 to 35 years. These two hard structures may be useful to estimate the age of other

Rebuilding of exploited fish stocks at low biomass requires accurate mortality estimates. Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis) abundance is at historical lows caused by an increasing instantaneous total mortality (Z) in recent years, but uncertainty exists regarding the relative importance of instantaneous fishing mortality (F) and natural mortality (M) to Z. Data from a tag-return study and catch-curve of

Surveys of recreational fishing are conducted in many jurisdictions to provide catch estimates, usually measured as number of individuals. Converting these catch estimates to weight is necessary for comparability with catch data from other sectors to support resource allocation and other management strategies. Weight data are rarely obtained during these surveys to minimise respondent burden and accommodate

In the southeastern Bering Sea, years with above-average sea ice extent have been associated with elevated abundances of large lipid-rich copepods in both net tows and age-0 walleye pollock (Gaduschalcogrammus) diets, followed by high overwinter pollock survival and stronger recruitment into the fishery three years later. In this study, we directly compare large copepod abundances of taxa important

The swimming crab Charybdis feriata fishery is important to the coastal fishing communities of Vietnam, particularly in the province of Quang Nam. Trapping is considered a low impact and fuel-efficient fisheries capture technique that is drawing increasing attention as concerns regarding the impact of fisheries on ecosystems and the environment grow. However, traps typically have low capture efficiency

A thrust toward fisheries co-management systems occurred globally throughout the 1990s. This was partially influenced by the collapse of groundfish stocks including the iconic northern cod and other fisheries resources in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). The management system for NL snow crab burgeoned during this period, largely in the absence of biological information for the resource. There is a

Growth is an important factor that regulates survival during early life stages, and growth rates and recruitment are often thought to be positively related. However, environmental conditions generally fluctuate over time, which could lead to temporal changes in growth–recruitment relationships. Here, we investigate whether growth–recruitment relationships are time-varying by applying dynamic linear

How the size of female yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) affects their spawning capability and fecundity is still an open and unresolved question due to the difficulties in investigating these complex effects in highly migratory pelagic marine fish species. However, this information is key to understanding the reproductive potential and resilience of the stock. We investigate how energetic resources

The high level of exploitation and slow population growth rates of many elasmobranch species are causing worldwide concern about their status. Genetic methods offer the potential to gather information on the stock structure and conservation status of species with implications in the delineation of appropriate management units. However, despite several calls from the scientific community, they are still

A predicted and communicated decline in the Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) resource, the basis of the world’s largest snow crab fishery for two decades, has come to fruition. Given considerable lead time, this scenario creates an interesting dynamic to investigate how crab harvesters may have formed anticipatory behavioural responses to mitigate against the decline. In this

Size-selective grids in the Barents Sea trawl fisheries have demonstrated large variation in sorting capacity. When combined with dynamic catch-control systems for regulating catch quantity, surplus fish are washed out at the surface. The objective of this study was to develop a codend concept that releases more undersized fish than the most commonly used size–selectivity device in the Barents Sea

Commercial Snow Crab (Chionoecetes opilio) harvesters believe marine noise from seismic surveys reduces commercial Snow Crab catch rates. Depending on the type of seismic survey used, animals living in a particular area could be exposed to loud noise (e.g. daily Sound Exposure Level (SEL) >165 dB re 1 μPa2·s) for periods ranging from hours (typical 2D survey) to months (detailed 3D survey). This field

Discards is an important issue in fisheries around the world. The spatial management of discards has attracted interest as a potential tool for minimizing the unwanted catch. The aim of the present work was to identify areas with high quantities of bottom trawl discarded catch regarding species subjected to MCRS, in six areas of southern European waters (southern Portuguese waters, Catalan Sea, Ligurian

Populations of marine fishes are show relatively weak genetic differentiation due to the lack of geographical barriers and the potential for the strong diffusion ability favoring high levels of gene flow. The large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is a commercially important fish species with high gene flow, and its aquaculture production ranks first among all marine fishes cultured in China. To

Knowledge of dispersal and migration of juvenile fish is essential for understanding the underlying processes responsible for population structure and recruitment variation. We explored the dispersal patterns of juvenile cod in waters around Iceland from putative nursery grounds to provide insights into their population structure. About 6000 juvenile cod were tagged at five inshore locations in 1993

Angling in Minnesota’s North Shore faces unique threats from the impacts of climate change. These impacts, such as changes in the presence and/or abundance of specific species, present management challenges which might also influence the demand for recreational angling throughout the region. Anglers’ adaptations to climate change in the North Shore region could shift densities, timing, and spatial

The median disc width at maturity DW^50) of males (n=91, 32.2–92.0 cm) and females (n=157, 31.0–130.0 cm) of the bat ray (Myliobatis californica) was estimated through a multi-model inference in northwestern Mexico. Gompertz’s model and four common logistics models (Lysack, Bakhayokho, White, and Brouwer and Griffiths) were compared and all fit the data well (Akaike’s differences ≤2). Logistics models

Fish stocking is one of the most widespread and frequent management strategies in freshwater systems. However, the contribution of stocked fish to the population is seldom investigated, and hence the effectiveness of this strategy is virtually unknown for many populations. Understanding the contribution of stocked fish into the population is crucial because it allows the disentanglement of the confounding

The North Sea brown shrimp (Crangon crangon Linnaeus, 1758) fishery became Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified in 2017. As part of the certification, the fishermen proposed to incrementally increase the mesh size of the codend used from 22 mm to 26 mm. As this increase in mesh size could result in a substantial loss of marketable sized brown shrimp (shrimp with total length equal or higher than

Marine Recreational Fishing (MRF) in Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean) was evaluated using telephone surveys between 2016 and 2018. All three existing MRF types were included in the surveys, boat fishing, spearfishing and shore fishing. Results highlight the great magnitude of this sector in terms of catches, as well as its social and economic significance. Around 2.7 % of the population was involved

Intensive fishing that selects for large and old individuals can have pervasive effects on traits directly associated with the fecundity and survival of the target species. The observed reduction in fish body size can result in earlier sexual maturity at a smaller body size, leading to a lower individual reproductive output and population productivity in the long term. In addition, increased predation

The assessment of postovulatory follicles (POFs) is of considerable importance when applying the Daily Egg Production Method (DEPM) since it is used to estimate both spawning frequency (S) and batch fecundity (FB), provided that daily cohorts of POFs are discernible. Atlantic sardine (Sardina pilchardus) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), two commercially valuable pelagic species with different

Populations of sharks are declining globally, largely due to fishing pressure. There is a lack of fisheries-independent data on the demographics of many species, particularly those inhabiting deeper waters. The common sawshark (Pristiophorus cirratus) is a benthic-associated shark endemic to southeastern Australia that has been fished for over 90 years. Despite regular landings, little is known about

Gillnets are very common in small-scale fisheries. However, data obtained using gillnets are biased because of their size selectivity, making accurate estimation of mortality difficult. This study applied various methods to estimate total, natural, and fishing mortality, using data for Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) collected in Tela, Honduras. Total mortality was estimated using a catch-curve analysis

Arapaima are endemic to tropical South America and are among the largest freshwater fishes in the world. Although their populations have been harvested intensely for more than a century they are poorly studied. Here, we estimated for the first time, age, growth, and mortality rates for a Guyanese population of arapaima. Analyses were based on growth ring deposition on scales for 223 individuals (20208

Effectively managing freshwater recreational fisheries and sustaining participation requires understanding the demographic characteristics of anglers and the relationships between angler motivations and stated behaviors. We surveyed freshwater anglers in Florida, USA to assess demographic characteristics, stated fishing behaviors, choice of target species, motivations, and communication modes. Generalized

This study investigated the size selectivity and catch efficiency in the North-east Atlantic demersal trawl fishery targeting cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). The use of a sorting grid followed by a size selective codend is compulsory in this fishery. Experimental fishing was conducted with a commercially rigged trawl, flexigrid section, and diamond-mesh codend. The flexigrid

The age and growth of southern boarfish (Pentaceros richardsoni) was determined from samples collected by deep-sea trawlers over the Lord Howe Rise region in the Tasman Sea and Walters Shoal region in the south-west Indian Ocean. The number of growth (opaque) zones counted in whole otoliths and in thick sections (450 μm) of otoliths were lower than the counts of opaque zones in thin-sections (300 μm)

Connectivity is a vital component of metapopulation and fishery ecology, influencing fundamental processes such as population dynamics, evolution, and community responses to climate change. The Japanese Spanish mackerel, Scomberomorus niphonius, is an economically important species in the temperate and subtropical waters of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, especially in the China seas. As a highly migratory

We document that Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) began making a comeback from 2012 onwards into Norwegian waters, after several decades of absence, in parallel with an overall increased abundance recorded for eastern BFT. This study explores the distribution, biology and ecology of BFT reestablishing in Norwegian waters. We analyzed commercial catch and bycatch data including biological data on weight

Hypoxic conditions in both freshwater and marine habitats have a significant effect on the distribution of fish in the water column, resulting in some fishes aggregating near the edges of the hypoxic zone. These aggregations may increase fish susceptibility to fishing gears, with attendant effects on stock assessment inferences. We investigated how hypoxic conditions influenced catch rates of yellow

Shoal bass Micropterus cataractae are endemic to the Apalachicola River system in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, USA. Despite maintaining popular fisheries, little is known about their biology and ecology. Fecundity of this species was estimated from the lower Flint River, Georgia, to better understand egg production of this species and relation with length and weight. Further, these data were used

Pacific Island nations and territories must build their capacity to harvest pelagic fishes to ensure domestic food security into the future. The Republic of Palau recently created the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, a Marine Managed Area that was intended to conserve marine resources and enhance local pelagic fisheries. However, the capacity of the nation’s domestic fishery to exploit pelagic species

Under the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) and Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), management organisations are directed to evaluate measures for reducing the footprint of fishing on the seafloor. We applied a spatial modelling platform to evaluate the effects of spatial fishery management measures on the Baltic Sea. The evaluation includes restricting areas for fishing with the

To prevent unwanted fish bycatch from entering the trawl, we modified a counter-herding device, FLEXSELECT, developed for a Northeast Atlantic Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) trawl fishery. FLEXSELECT, which was designed to direct fish away from the trawl by means of sweeping ropes in the herding area, has been shown to be highly effective on both roundfish and flatfish species. However, by adding sweeping

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) replaced northern cod (Gadus morhua) as the primary social and employment fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) during the 1990s. For nearly three decades snow crab has supported thousands of fishing enterprises and enabled the NL fishery to prosper to unprecedented economic status. Following a growth phase in the early 1990s, and despite gradually declining for

Luminescent netting increases the catch rate of snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) over short soak times (1 d), however the commercial fishery often requires longer soak periods, up to1 week. Building on previous research, this study investigated the catch efficiency and size selectivity of pots with luminescent netting over long soak times (144–336 h) in the inshore snow crab fishery of Newfoundland

The pattern of the climatic conditions in the fisheries sub-sector is currently alarming and has interfered with many productive fishing activities. In response to this, fishers have resorted to using some climate change adaptation strategies(CCAS). This study assessed whether or not climate change adaptation strategies used by inland artisanal fishers improve fish catchability along the Volta Lake

Mediterranean is one of the world’s most heavily exploited seas, where more than 90 % of the assessed fish stocks are overfished. In this basin small scale fisheries (SSFs) play a major socioeconomic role in terms of fleet size, number of jobs and amount and value of landings. Passive nets (chiefly gillnets (GNs) and trammel nets (TNs)) are the most common fishing gears employed by SSFs. Since they

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), specifically red tide, can cause coastal economic activity to slow in Southwest Florida. Popular as a vacation destination, the area thrives on revenue generated by its beach access and proximity to fresh seafood. When blooms persist for multiple months in a row, fishery and seafood related businesses feel the negative effects. We examine taxable sales receipts for the

Shifting temporal or non-linear relationships between angler behavior and fish population characteristics can mask population declines or produce unexpected regulation outcomes. We tested for hyperstability in seasonal and interannual trends in angler effort, catch, and harvest rates in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) across

Small-scale fishery monitoring programs can provide valuable information about ex-vessel prices, which are essential for economic analyses and fisheries management. Ex-vessel prices obtained without adequate statistical support can generate inconsistent data and imprecise estimates that do not comply with quality standards that guarantee their usefulness in decision-making. We propose methodological

Shifts in size structure have been documented for many commercially exploited marine fish stocks, thought to be attributed to size-selective harvesting practices coupled with changing oceanic conditions. Northwest Atlantic monkfish (Lophius americanus) is a commercially valued species in the United States that is commonly caught as bycatch in Canadian scallop and groundfish fisheries. This uniquely

Sound is an environmental feature that is used by a variety of marine taxa for feeding, reproduction, navigation and predator avoidance. Consequently, alterations to the soundscape have the potential to alter an individual’s behaviour, physiology and ultimately fitness. Furthermore, such responses have the potential to negatively influence commercial fishing interests. In Atlantic Canada, snow crab

Choosing among recovery tactics for fish populations is challenged by high costs and uncertain outcomes. Depressed populations of salmonids are often supplemented using hatchery propagation; these strategies may involve releasing fish at different locations, densities, and life stages. We describe a unique decision context where supplementation is used to improve anadromous returns of a mixed anadromous-resident

Although the phenomenon of skipped spawning has been described in numerous fishes, time-series are scarce. We used the presence of post-ovulatory follicles in histological gonad slides from females not developing oocytes for Northeast Arctic (NEA) haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus from 2009 to 2012 to construct a length-based statistical model giving the probability that a non - developing female was

Tawi-Tawi, Southern Philippines, which has over 300 islands and huge reef systems, is geographically located at the heart of the Coral Triangle, the global center of coral reef biodiversity. In this study, we conducted an inventory survey of market fishes in Tawi-Tawi from October 2015 to December 2018. We considered 11 major commercially important coral reef fishes, namely, surgeonfish (family Acanthuridae)

Small-scale fisheries account for most of the worldwide landings and employment. However, they are difficult to manage scientifically because the program of research and management applied to the relatively few large-scale fisheries is too onerous to be expanded to the myriad small-scale fisheries. Does this mean that SSF have a higher risk of overfishing so it would be necessary to implement more

The landing obligation in the revised European Union Common Fisheries Policy allows for exemptions to obligatory landing of the entire catch for species for which “high survival” of discards can be demonstrated. Nephrops norvegicus is an important target species in many fisheries across Europe in the Mediterranean Sea, NE Atlantic Ocean and North Sea. Historically, Mediterranean fisheries have had

This study explores trade-offs between fish quality, fishing efficiency, costs and profitability across three different vessel groups in the Norwegian groundfish fishery, that is, vessels fishing with bottom trawls, longlines and Danish seines. The results of hedonic price analysis at the ex-vessel level of the value chain indicate substantial differences in fish quality as Atlantic cod caught with

Demographic and environmental factors can influence the spatial distribution of fish populations, potentially affecting the timing, location, and magnitude of harvest. Quantifying these relationships can be complicated, if their effects vary spatially over a population’s range or are non-additive (i.e., interactive), where one factor mediates the effect of another. Toward understanding the relative

The giant ruby snapper, Etelis sp., attains the largest size of any lutjanid in the Indo-Pacific and is one of the most valuable species harvested from deep-water fisheries along the continental and insular shelf margins throughout its broad geographic distribution. Despite this species supporting important commercial, artisanal and subsistence fisheries, quantitative assessments of the status of stocks

Pelagic false killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are killed or seriously injured in the Hawai‘i-based deep-set longline fishery more than any other cetacean, with bycatch regularly exceeding allowable levels. Telemetry data from five satellite-tagged whales (from three groups) and longline logbook entries (4182 sets) from the Hawai‘i-based longline fisheries are used to assess the range of the population