Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Assessing Landscape Constraints On Species Abundance: Does The Neighborhood Limit Species Response To Local Habitat Conservation Programs?, Christopher F. Jorgensen, Larkin A. Powell, Jeffrey J. Lusk, Andrew A. Bishop, Joseph J. Fontaine

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Landscapes in agricultural systems continue to undergo significant change, and the loss of biodiversity is an ever-increasing threat. Although habitat restoration is beneficial, management actions do not always result in the desired outcome. Managers must understand why management actions fail; yet, past studies have focused on assessing habitat attributes at a single spatial scale, and often fail to consider the importance of ecological mechanisms that act across spatial scales. We located survey sites across southern Nebraska, USA and conducted point counts to estimate Ring-necked Pheasant abundance, an economically important species to the region, while simultaneously quantifying landscape effects using a …

Using Otolith Elemental Composition To Track The Habitat Use, Movements, And Life History Patterns Of Common Snook (Centropomus Undecimalis) And Red Drum (Sciaenops Ocellatus) In The Tampa Bay Estuary, Holly Jacqueline Rolls

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge of fish habitat use and connectivity is critical for understanding the structure and dynamics of fish populations and, therefore, necessary for the implementation of successful fisheries management strategies. Tagging is an effective means of providing such information, and the elemental composition contained within fish otoliths is increasingly being used as a natural tag. The chemical composition of otoliths reflects the incorporation of elements from different water bodies and can thus be used to understand the habitat use, movements, and life history patterns of fishes. To assess the applicability of otolith elemental composition as a tagging technique within the Tampa …

Factors In Long-Term Algal Composition Of Cayman Reefs: Determining Effects Of Natural Disturbance And Grazer Pressures, Patrick J. Doughty

Lawrence University Honors Projects

Abstract. Current research shows a worldwide shift in the population dynamics of reefs attributed to increasing human disturbance. With increasing nutrient additions, competitive populations of turf and macroalgae bloom and dominate coral reefs leading to decreased health of the reef as a whole. Unfortunately, few studies have been done showing the long-term changes in algae composition on reefs. In order to find the significant factors in the long-term composition of algae on reefs, algae and fish abundance data were collected through the Lawrence University Marine Program and analyzed for this study. Algae were split into three functional groups: encrusting, turf …

West Coast Rock Lobster Harvest Strategy And Control Rules 2014 - 2019, Western Australian Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

The Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (the Act) provides the overarching legislative framework for management of the West Coast Rock Lobster Fishery (the Fishery). The objects of the Act are: (a) to develop and manage fisheries and aquaculture in a sustainable way; and (b) to share and conserve the State’s fish and other aquatic resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations.

West Coast Rock Lobster Harvest Strategy And Control Rules : 2014 – 2019, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Management Papers

No abstract provided.

Distribution And Dynamic Habitat Use Of Young Bull Sharks Carcharhinus Leucas In A Highly Stratified Northern Gulf Of Mexico Estuary, J. Marcus Drymon, Matthew J. Ajemian, Sean P. Powers

University Faculty and Staff Publications

Understanding how animals alter habitat use in response to changing abiotic conditions is important for effective conservation management. For bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), habitat use has been widely examined in the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico; however, knowledge of their movements and the factors influencing them is lacking for populations in the more temperate north-central Gulf of Mexico. To examine how changes in hydrographic conditions affected the presence of young bull sharks in Mobile Bay, Alabama, thirty-five sharks were fitted with internal acoustic transmitters and monitored with an acoustic monitoring array consisting of thirty-three receivers between June …

Detection Of Pahs In Commercial And Wild Caught Fish Oil Using Scanning Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Edwin Antonio Pena

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The DeepWater Horizon (DWH) oil spill contaminated a large area in the Gulf of Mexico in summer 2010. It is likely that many aquatic species in the Gulf were affected by the spill. Crude oil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Some PAHs are carcinogenic to fish and humans. The purpose of this project was to develop menhaden fish oil as a biomonitoring tool for crude oil contaminants such as PAHs using scanning fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS). Menhaden (Genus Brevoortia) is one of the most ecologically and economically important marine fish species along the Atlantic and Gulf coast; however, it is …

Harvest Incentives: A Tool For Managing Aquatic Invasive Species, Bob Wiltshire, Nathan Stone, Marshall Meyers, Bill Hyatt, Lori Williams, Jason Goldberg, Susan Pasko, Leah Elwell

National Invasive Species Council

Conclusion

The success of any harvest incentive program to address aquatic invasive species will depend upon numerous biological, socioeconomic, and legal considerations. Programs that encourage harvest may be a successful management tool in targeting small, distinct populations; in high priority areas within a larger invasion; or they may play a supplementary role within larger control programs. Their use, however, will require careful review, planning, and monitoring to ensure success and that they do not unintentionally lead to further spread of invasive species, cause additional harm to native species, or waste valuable resources.

Phenotypic Variation In The Model Organism, Danio Rerio, Rachel D. Champaigne, Kim H. Brown

Student Research Symposium

Model organisms are used to study evolutionary conserved traits. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are used a model organism because of their highly fecundity, external fertilization, and robust nature, making them highly adaptable to environmental and genetic variation. In an effort to limit data variation that lies outside of topic interest, phenotypic measures of variation must be performed, understood, and taken into consideration for future studies. A common measurement of phenotypic variation in fish is in the maximum (Ucrit) swimming speeds. Inter and intra-strain variation in zebrafish Ucrit swimming speeds will be observed in a swim tunnel. Baseline values will …

Transcriptome Analysis Of Sea Lamprey Embryogenesis, Zakary Ilya Yermolenko

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) has survived throughout evolution for hundreds of millions of years. It is considered an invasive species to the Great Lakes that has caused dramatic changes in the ecosystem for fish communities resulting in the collapse of a fishing industry that was previously valued at billions of dollars. Successful management of the sea lamprey is essential to a sustainable fishing industry and biodiversity. Therefore sea lamprey embryos were studied at various stages of development by growing them in a simulated habitat. RNAs from adult female ovaries and embryos at different time points during embryogenesis …

A Likelihood Analysis Of The Introduction Of Marine Pests To Western Australian Ports Via Commercial Vessels, Samantha D. Bridgwood, Justin I. Mcdonald

Fisheries Research Reports

The following document is an analysis of the likelihood of an introduced marine pest (IMP) being translocated by commercial vessels into Western Australian (WA) state waters. This analysis is presented at the bioregional level (North Coast, Gascoyne Coast, West Coast and South Coast bioregions) and at the port level. The ports include: Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Dampier, Esperance, Fremantle, Geraldton, Port Hedland, Useless Loop and Wyndham. The analyses are based on vessel data supplied by the ports for the period of 2011. As such, all outputs and assumptions are based on data from that period and while the likelihood may change …

Status Of Demersal Finfish Stocks On The West Coast Of Australia, David V. Fairclough, Brett W. Molony, Brett M. Crisafulli, Ian S. Keay, Sybrand Alexander Hesp, Ross J. Marriott

Fisheries Research Reports

Assessments of the key indicator species for the West Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (WCDSR; West Australian dhufish Glaucosoma hebraicum, Snapper Pagrus auratus and Baldchin groper Choerodon rubescens) in 2007 and 2009 demonstrated that the stocks were experiencing overfishing. Thus, between late 2007 and early 2010, substantial changes were made to the management of the commercial and recreational fisheries that exploit the WCDSR. These were designed to reduce catches of the entire suite of demersal scalefish species (and of each indicator species) by both the commercial and recreational sectors in the West Coast Bioregion (WCB) by at least 50 % of …

Production Of A Soybean Meal With High-Protein And Low Anti-Nutritional Factors For Fish Feed, Maria De Las Mercedes Castro

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing areas of the food production system. According to the FAO, its rise is expected to continue through the year 2030 in order to maintain per-capita consumption levels required for the increasing population. Fishmeal--obtained from wild-harvested fish--has been the source of protein for fish feed. However, data indicates that these fish harvests are in decline, which could restrain that growth. The possibility of a shortage of fishmeal prompted the industry to look into possible alternatives. Soybean meal appears as a promising substitute since it is an affordable high quality source of protein. However, the …

Response Of Large River Fishes To A Prolonged High Water Event In The Missouri River, Nebraska, Nicholas Paul Hogberg

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Regulation and modification of large rivers to accommodate human uses have been a root cause of freshwater biodiversity declines. The Missouri River is among the most drastically-altered large river systems in North America, with a series of mainstem impoundments in the upper watershed altering flow characteristics downstream, and channelization throughout the lower river homogenizing instream habitat and reducing off-channel habitat. Precipitation events during the winter and spring 2010-2011 caused flooding of the greatest magnitude and duration since reservoir completion. The large magnitude and long duration of this flood made it unlike any flood in recent history and provided a unique …

Accuracy Or Precision: Implications Of Sample Design And Methodology On Abundance Estimation, Lucas K. Kowalewski

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Estimation of population size by spatially replicated counts (point-count method) has been used for many large-scale animal-monitoring programs, yet its application in aquatic environments has been limited. Multiple site-specific estimates of abundance can be averaged and combined with covariate data to predict total abundance across an area of interest. Covariate data also provide an understanding of the relationship between abundance and habitat use, which is a fundamental interest of many animal-population investigations. Design of sampling scenarios for point-count population-estimate surveys can influence the accuracy and precision of the population estimate. The first objective of this study was to examine how …

Influence Of Non-Native Trout On Native Non-Game Fish In Nebraska Headwater Streams, Kelly C. Turek

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Introduced, non-native trout may have detrimental competitive or predatory interactions with native fishes. However, few studies have experimentally examined interactions between introduced trout and native non-game species. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine 1) if non-native rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss influence survival, behavior, movement, or distribution of native longnose dace Rhinichthys cataractae under laboratory conditions, 2) if non-native rainbow trout influence survival of native longnose dace under in-situ conditions using in-stream enclosures, and 3) if native fish populations or communities differ in the presence and absence of non-native trout under natural conditions.

Rainbow trout preyed on longnose …

Diet Analysis Of Burbot From Eastern Lake Michigan: 1999-2012, Casey J. Hares

All NMU Master's Theses

The Lake Michigan fish community has undergone many changes due to introduction of non-native species, climate shifts, and management actions. Managers need to understand the time course of these alterations, including the time-frame of impact on the food web in the lake. I used a collection (1999-2012) of diet samples from burbot from eastern Lake Michigan to evaluate temporal alterations in burbot diet with particular attention to non-native vs. native forage. Catch per unit effort (burbot/net · day) decreased from a high of 5.82 burbot/net · day (± 2.19) in 2001 to a low of 0.750 burbot/net · day (± …

Developing An In-Season Predictor Of Commercial Landings For Quota Monitoring In The U.S. Virgin Islands, Mary Janine Vara

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The lack of timely reporting of commercial fisheries landings interferes with effective management of fisheries in United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Federal law requires that landings be limited to prevent annual catch limits (ACLs) from being exceeded. Previous attempts to predict total landings have used historic data from prior fishing seasons to predict future landings rather than leveraging available in-season data to provide a more real-time prediction of landings. This study presents an in-season model that predicts total landings using partial reports from the current fishing year. This estimate of total landings, including error bounds around that estimate, can then …

Estrogenic Effects On A Protandrous Hermaphroditic Species: Amphiprion Percula, Randall Burns, Katie Dose

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Estrogen concentrations are increased in aquatic environments due to the addition of pharmaceutical drugs (i.e. birth control) through runoff water. This manipulates maturation of sexes within many species that inhabit aquatic enviornments, including fresh and marine habitats. Amphiprion percula exhibit a hierarchal system behavioral pattern, which determines the social status of individuals within a group. Multiple clown anemonefish, A. percula were studied via a controlled environment and hierarchal succession was observed under estrogenic additions. From this study, data on sex change of a hermaphroditic protandrous species was observed under the influence of three concentrations of natural estrogen. Based on sex …

Port Of Gloucester, Ma: Groundfish Port Recovery And Revitalization Plan By The City Of Gloucester, Urban Harbors Institute, University Of Massachusetts Boston, City Of Gloucester, Massachusetts

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

This plan represents another step forward by the City of Gloucester to confront the challenge of declining groundfish stocks and subsequent management measures which have had a profound effect on the fishing industry, the community, and its economy. The plan’s strategies include both short-term recommendations to address the immediate direct impacts on harvesters, fresh fish processors, and associated support businesses, as well as longer-term proposals to bolster and support the industry as it recovers, and proposals to create new economic opportunities built upon Gloucester’s maritime assets, skills, and intellectual capital, and old and new partnerships. The Plan lays out the …