Digital Commons Network^™

A Scientific Application For Remotely Operated Vehicles, Mark S. Gustafson

Theses and Major Papers

Although Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) have been employed in the underwater circuit since the mid-1990s, their impact upon the ocean community has not been felt until the past decade. The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) industry developed from the needs of the oil and gas community to find a cost efficient, and safe method of replacing man and manned submersibles underwater. However, marine scientists have been reluctant to accept this tool as part of their research inventory. The slowness of technological transfer stems from several issues: the lack of quantifiable results; the untried technology; and a lack of awareness. The objective …

A Histological Investigation Of The Larval Mandibular Organ In The Mud Crab Rhithropanopeus Harrisii (Gould) (Crustacea Decapoda Xanthidae), Lore Lynn Hantske

OES Theses and Dissertations

Mandibular organs of the mud crab, Rhithropanopeus harrisii (Gould) were histologically located and followed throughout the larval cycle to determine their role in metamorphosis. Specimens from each day of the four larval stages and the megalopa stage were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 8 μm, stained and observed under the microscope for the mandibular organs. The organs were located in the mandibular area of second, third and fourth stage larvae. The organs were probably present in the first stage zoeae and in the megalopa stage, although the

techniques of the study were not sensitive enough to observe them. The …

Fishermen's Personal Injuries: A New Look At The Fishing Industry's Insurance Crisis, Frederic M. Fairfield

Theses and Major Papers

Increasing cost and shrinking availability of marine insurance have resulted in serious problems for broad sectors of the nation's commercial fishing fleet. Sharp reductions in the availability of Protection and Indemnity coverage have idled vessels nationwide regardless of individual safety records. The causes of the current problem are varied and numerous, with significant roles played by the fishing industry, the regulatory framework, the insurance industry, and the legal remedies involved. Ultimately, the solution will require both a reduction in the frequency of fishermen's injuries and modifications to the present compensation system, reducing insurance costs while security equitable compensation for the …

As Assessment Of The Fisheries Research Program Of The National Marine Fisheries Service, Gary Page Bulmer

Theses and Major Papers

The nation's fishery management regime has three primary sets of players: the scientific advisors, the managers, and the fishermen. The advisors include federal agencies, state agencies, universities, regional and interstate bodies, and international bodies. The National Marie Fisheries Service (NMFS) has the lead role as scientific advisor. As used here "management" is defined broadly to include the instructions and funding that the researchers are given. "Fisheries research" is also defined broadly for the purposes of this paper. It means the collection of any biological, economic, or social information which is relevant to fisheries management.

Patterns Of Diurnal Vertical Distribution And Dispersal-Recruitment Mechanisms Of Decapod Crustacean Larvae And Postlarvae In The Chesapeake Bay, Virginia And Adjacent Offshore Waters, Robert Copeland Maris

OES Theses and Dissertations

Larval dispersal and subsequent postlarval recruitment are extremely significant processes affecting the maintenance of ecologically and economically important populations of decapod crustaceans. Vertical positioning in the water column plays a major role in the particular strategies of retention or expulsion with immigration.

The present study was undertaken to investigate variations in vertical distribution according to temporal (diurnal), spatial (estuarine, transition, oceanic), ontogenetic (larval stages, postlarvae) and various environmental factors (especially light, temperature, salinity and tides). Also, effects of vertical positioning on dispersal-recruitment were examined.

Three stations were established for the present study: York River mouth (estuarine) (37°12'N, 76°16'W); Chesapeake Bay …

Storm Surge Predictions At Sewell's Point With Local Wind, Pressure, And Previous Surge As Surge Predictors In Chesapeake Bay, Joy Elaine Moses

OES Theses and Dissertations

The statistical model used to predict storm surge. which is defined as the difference between observed water level and predicted astronomical tide. at Sewell's Point. Virginia. for the last ten years relies on forecast surface air pressures interpolated over a large portion of the Atlantic Ocean. A variation on this method is developed which adds previous station surge and local wind and pressure terms with time leads up to 18 hours to the Pore prediction for surge. and develops surge prediction equations for three substations eight to 65 miles (13 to 105 km) from Sewell's Point. The Sewell's Point surge …

Management Of Marine Fisheries Resources In Peninsular Malaysia, Abdul Jamal Mydin

Theses and Major Papers

The inshore fisheries of Peninsular Malaysia are intensively exploited on the east coast and over-exploited on the west coast. Fishing effort and investment need to be reduced, particularly on the west coast. This is important in order to make harvest more economically efficient in terms of manpower and capital and to conserve the resources. Since 1981 Malaysia has adopted a Fisheries Licensing Policy addressed to (1) the elimination of the competition and ensuing conflict between the traditional fishermen and minitrawler fishermen in inshore waters; (2) the prevention of over-exploitation of the fishery resources in the inshore waters; and (3) the …

Murky Waters: United States Port Capacity And Dredging Issues, Peter John Rochford

Theses and Major Papers

The events of this decade has brought public attention on the adequacy of United States ports to serve the nation's needs. Many experts involved in maritime transportation have noted that the United States would be able to enjoy economies of scale associated with large vessels only if the United States developed substantially deeper ports capable of handling these large vessels. Although the apparent advantages and trends to larger vessels in the world fleet were evident, recent history has seen little in the way of a response to these perceived needs for deeper United States ports. This study addresses important issues …

The Canadian And Soviet Claims To The Arctic Sea Routes: A Comparative Study, Raymond C. Bourgeois

Theses and Major Papers

The Arctic Polar Region is becoming increasingly important in terms of strategic operations. especially on the part of the superpowers. Surrounding the Arctic Ocean are two passages through which international navigation is possible. The Northwest Passage lies within Canada's coastline. and the Northeast Passage. within the Soviet Union's northern shores. Both countries have advanced claims to the effect that the waters of these passages are under their respective exclusive jurisdiction; thus. they are claiming these as their internal waters. The US disagrees and maintains that the waters of those northern Arctic sea routes are international waters. This paper discusses the …

A Review Of The Management And Current Status Of Northern Fur Seals Of The Pribilof Islands, Holly Hansell

Theses and Major Papers

The North pacific fur seals of Alaska's Pribilof Islands have been subjected to commercial harvest for nearly 200 years. The harvest has been regulated under international agreement almost continuously since 1911; first under the 1911 North Pacific Fur Seal Convention, and following that under the 1957 Interim Convention on Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals. Both Conventions banned pelagic sealing and divided the restricted land harvest among the four member states, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the Soviet Union. Management under the 1911 convention resulted in a steady increase in the severely depleted fur seal herd, restoring the population …

The Development Of The Shrimp Mariculture Industry In Ecuador And Its Impact On The U.S. Market, Richard A. Norton

Theses and Major Papers

The demand for tropical shrimp is increasing at a much higher rate than other fish and seafood commodities. With this increase in demand, there has been enormous interest to expand global shrimp production. Mariculture, the term used to describe the practice of farming animal and/or plant life from the sea, has created new opportunities and problems for the future of the global shrimp industry. Since shrimp is considered a high-value food commodity, the development has drawn interest from many United States and European investors. One country in particular, Ecuador, which will be the focus of this discussion, has exemplified many …

Acid Deposition: Legal And Political Controversies, Noelle F. Lewis

Theses and Major Papers

Acid rain is more accurately referred to as acid deposition since acidity is deposited in both the wet and dry form. Acid rain results from the conversion of sulfur and nitrogen gases to sulfates and nitrates, respectively. In the United States, sulfur compounds are responsible for about two-thirds of the acidity in precipitation; nitrogen compounds, one-third. In 1980, man-made sources in the United States emitted approximately 26 million tons of sulfur dioxide and 21 million tons nitrogen oxides. Within the United States, the major sources of sulfur dioxide emissions, approximately 90-95% of the total, are electric generating utilities, industrial boilers, …

American Coastwise Trade Law, Mark Dean Aspinwall

Theses and Major Papers

Federal involvement in the shipping industry dates back to 1789. Since then, governmental efforts to promote the American merchant marine have taken a variety of forms, including the prohibition of foreign shipping from the coastwise trade. To this end, laws have been enacted which deal with specific activities considered to be coastwise trade in nature and which ban the use of foreign-flag and, in some cases, foreign-built ships from those activities. However, the laws are narrowly worded and archaic, and have been unable to adequately address modern trends in coastal commerce. Maritime service industries have emerged in recent years which …

Investment Opportunities In The Nigerian Fishing Industry, Ayotunde M. Giwa

Theses and Major Papers

The major problem facing the Nigerian fishing industry is in its inability to satisfy the demand for tasty yet inexpensive animal protein. Nigeria's marine biological resources are limited and the Gulf of Guinea is among the poorest in the whole of West Africa. Nigeria's population is estimated to have reached about 100 million and is growing at 3.09 per cent per annum. Nigeria's fishing industry is multi-sectoral and composed of the riverine, lake, coastal, estuarine, and culture fisheries. Together they constituted about 1.5 per cent of the GDP in 1976. Up to the present moment, the National has relied on …

Analysis Of A Worst Case Oil Spill Eis, Galveston, Gail Elizabeth Meisner

Theses and Major Papers

On July 8, 1980, the Galveston district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued the permits required for the construction of an onshore deepwater port. The proposed port expansion project has been the subject of extensive controversy and litigation. The primary conflict has centered on the exclusion of a worst case oil spill analysis, as required by recent Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. A rational-deductive approach to this decision leads to the conclusion that the economically and environmentally favored choice would have been to include the worst case analysis in the initial Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Because …

Satellite Remote Sensing And Fisheries Applications, Holly M. Turton

Theses and Major Papers

Satellite remote sensing has the capacity to aid the three major components of a fishery: research, management, and the fishing industry. An evaluation of the potential of satellite-derived data to the fishery is based upon six case studies which are presented as evidence of the capabilities of satellite-borne sensors. Peripheral applications pertaining to the marine environment and possible applications for the future are reviewed. Three basic categories of remote sensing programs related to the fishery are defined: one to test the applicability of the technology to the field of fisheries; another to employ the technology to fisheries research; and a …

Containerized Cargo Flow Analysis Between The United States And The Far East, Bi-Chou Wei

Theses and Major Papers

Within less than a decade, containerization has revolutionized maritime general cargo transportation throughout major world trade routes, especially the trade routes between the Far East and the United States. Few commodity flow studies have focused on this latest innovation in maritime transport. To most of the rapidly developing state-owned Far East shipping industries, an understanding of container flow variation and port calling preference with U.S. seaports has become essential in order to maximize investments and to rationalize services. By applying 1974, 1977, and 1980 Far East/U.S. container flow data, this study intends to explore the non-physical and economic elements which …

The Role Of Picoplankton In Phytoplankton Dynamics Of A Temperate Coastal Plain Estuary, Robert Triau Ray

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Reproductive Ecology, Population Dynamics And Seasonal Movements Of The Hogchoker (Trinectes Maculatus), In The Elizabeth River, Virginia, Stephen M. Smith

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Crab Meal As A Supplemental Food For Juvenile Hard Clams (Mercenaria Mercenaria), Patricia Lynn Duncan

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Lateral Variability In A Coastal Plain Estuary (Fronts, Density, Lateral Circulation), Linda Mary Huzzey

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

A series of observations of the density distribution across the York River estuary documents distinct lateral differences in density and degree of vertical mixing. The magnitude of the density differences varies throughout the tidal cycle; maximum lateral gradients occur at times of minimum current. When the density distribution is sufficiently inhomogeneous, longitudinal estuarine fronts are generated. These fronts are axially aligned, up to several miles in length, and are apparent for less than 2 hours at any given location. Although the density difference across the frontal boundary is often small, horizontal pressure gradients acting over a broad frontal region generate …

Parasite Community Structure In Summer Flounder: Paralichthys Dentatus (Linnaeus), Of The Chesapeake Bay, Maura E. Jansen

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Lobster Trap Escape Gaps On Capture And Behavior Of The Spiny Lobster, Panulirus Argus (Latreille), Denis William Frazel

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Interest in the potential usefulness of lobster trap escape gaps in the Florida spiny lobster fishery prompted an independent examination of their influence on capture and behavior of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus. A trapping study was conducted off Southeastern Florida during 1984/1985 using control traps, and traps with escape gap openings of 51, 54, and 57 mm. The 51 mm escape gap caught significantly more legal lobsters than any other trap, while the 54 and 57 mm escape gap caught significantly fewer sublegal lobsters. Carapace lengths of lobsters increased as escape gap width increased.

The impact of escape …

Morphometric And Meristic Stock Identification Of Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus), Glenn Roger Delaney

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Estuary Water Movement, John Dickerson Mitchell

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Fluctuations In The Catchability Coefficient Of Atlantic Menhaden, 1968-1982, Steven M. Atran

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Biological Review And Commercial Whelk Fisheries Analysis Of Busycon Carica With Comments On B Canaliculatum And B Contrarium In Virginia, Jane Dicosimo

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Formation Of Longitudinal Dispersion Coefficient In Partially Mixed Estuaries And Application In A One-Dimensional Real-Time Model, Anne Catherine Wilber

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

A Morphological Study Of The Pharyngeal Sac Of Two Species Of Stromateid Fishes: Perrilus Triacanthus And P Paru, Thomas R. Sminkey

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

No abstract provided.

Contribution To The Hydrobiology Of The York River: Predicting Surface Mixed Layer Depth (Destratification, Tidal, Semilunar, Virginia), Donald Max Hayward

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

Destratification in the York River, USA, during high spring tides is the result of the interruption of normal two-layer estuarine flow by advection of relatively fresh water in to the River mouth from the Chesapeake Bay. This is due to the presence of a longitudinal salinity gradient in the Bay and a difference of tidal current phase between the River and the Bay. Similar behavior is seen in other subestuaries of the Chesapeake Bay and may be common in subestuary-estuary interactions. Correlation and regression analysis are used to examine relationships between stratification variation in the lower York River and a …