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In recent decades, the accumulation and fragmentation of plastics on the surface of the planet have caused several long-term climatic and health risks. Plastic materials, specifically microplastics (MPs;sizes < 5 mm), have gained significant interest in the global scientific fraternity due to their bioaccumulation, non-biodegradability, and ecotoxicological effects on living organisms. This study explains how microplastics are generated, transported, and disposed of in the environment based on their sources and physicochemical properties. Additionally, the study also examines the impact of COVID-19 on global plastic waste production. The physical and chemical techniques such as SEM-EDX, PLM, FTIR, Raman, TG-DSC, and GC-MS that are employed for the quantification and identification of MPs are discussed. This paper provides insight into conventional and advanced methods applied for microplastic removal from aquatic systems. The finding of this review helps to gain a deeper understanding of research on the toxicity of microplastics on humans, aquatic organisms, and soil ecosystems. Further, the efforts and measures that have been enforced globally to combat MP waste have been highlighted and need to be explored to reduce its potential risk in the future. © 2022 by the authors.
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The Bohai Bay as a typical semi-enclosed bay in northern China with poor water exchange capacity and significant coastal urbanization, is greatly influenced by land-based inputs and human activities. As a class of pseudo-persistent organic pollutants, the spatial and temporal distribution of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) is particularly important to the ecological environment, and it will be imperfect to assess the ecological risk of PPCPs for the lack of systematic investigation of their distribution in different season. 14 typical PPCPs were selected to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution in the Bohai Bay by combining online solid-phase extraction (SPE) and HPLC-MS/MS techniques in this study, and their ecological risks to aquatic organisms were assessed by risk quotients (RQs) and concentration addition (CA) model. It was found that PPCPs widely presented in the Bohai Bay with significant differences of spatial and seasonal distribution. The concentrations of ∑PPCPs were higher in autumn than in summer. The distribution of individual pollutants also showed significant seasonal differences. The high values were mainly distributed in estuaries and near-shore outfalls. Mariculture activities in the northern part of the Bohai Bay made a greater contribution to the input of PPCPs. Caffeine, florfenicol, enrofloxacin and norfloxacin were the main pollutants in the Bohai Bay, with detection frequencies exceeding 80 %. The ecological risk of PPCPs to algae was significantly higher than that to invertebrates and fish. CA model indicated that the potential mixture risk of total PPCPs was not negligible, with 34 % and 88 % of stations having mixture risk in summer and autumn, respectively. The temporary stagnation of productive life caused by Covid-19 weakened the input of PPCPs to the Bohai Bay, reducing the cumulative effects of the pollutants. This study was the first full-coverage investigation of PPCPs in the Bohai Bay for different seasons, providing an important basis for the ecological risk assessment and pollution prevention of PPCPs in the bay. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
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Efficiency in shrimp farming is due to the use of an extensive system that includes fewer larvae per pool, which increases productivity, improves financial results, and even the environmental impacts generated during these operations. The objective of this study was to identify the factors that affect supply in the Ecuadorian shrimp sector. To this end, some statistical techniques such as linear regression and hypothesis testing were used. A bibliographic study was carried out regarding shrimp production in Ecuador, taking as reference the data provided by the National Chamber of Aquaculture and public control entities and reviewing the unprecedented impact on the current COVID19 sanitary crisis and the reduction of shrimp demand affecting Ecuador's income. Finally, it was observed that the research variables considered directly impact crustacean production, and a mathematical model was established.
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To clarify the most suitable fish paste for preparing lion's head meatballs, this study investigated the effect of adding 6 different silver carp fish pastes: fresh unwashed (group 1-1), fresh washed (group 1-2), frozen unwashed without antifreeze agent (group 2-1), frozen washed without antifreeze agent (group 2-2), frozen unwashed with antifreeze agent (group 3-1), and frozen washed with antifreeze agent (group 3-2) on the basic nutrients, color, texture properties, waterholding capacity, sensory and flavor properties, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARs) value, and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content of pork/fish composite meatballs. The results showed that the contents of protein and fat in meatballs from groups 2-1 and 2-2 were lower than those in groups 3-1 and 3-2, and the contents of water, protein and fat were 61.68%, 11.32% and 19.41% for group 2-1, and 62.45%, 11.09% and 19.33% for group 2-2, respectively. The gel properties, hardness, elasticity, cohesion, and sensory quality of groups 3-1 and 3-2 were significantly higher than those of groups 2-1 and 2-2 (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with groups 1-1 and 1-2. The odor response value of groups 3 was lower than that of groups 1, and groups 3 had the highest sweetness value (3 039.66) and lowest bitterness value (534.59). The TBARs value and TVB-N content in groups 1-2, 2-2, and 3-2 (with washed fish paste) were significantly lower than those in groups 1-1, 2-1 and 3-1 (with unwashed fish paste) (P < 0.05). Since fresh fish paste is not easy to store and subject to spoilage, frozen washed fish paste with antifreeze agent can be used to produce composite meatballs.
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This article reports on the inclusion of wild-caught shrimp in the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) program to help Louisiana's shrimp industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of a quick Sea Grant mobilization, $50 million in cash from USDA was infused into the shrimping industry, and 7.6 million pounds of Louisiana shrimp were taken out of inventory and distributed nationwide.
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Objective: To investigate correlation between expression level and tumor proliferation and invasiveness of the serum miR-101, heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) and interleukin-1beta (Interleukin-1beta, IL-1beta) in patients with gastric cancer complicated by Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.
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Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first observed in September 2014 near Virginia Key, Florida. In roughly six years, the disease spread throughout Florida and into the greater Caribbean basin. The high prevalence of SCTLD and high resulting mortality in coral populations, and the large number of susceptible species affected, suggest that this outbreak is one of the most lethal ever recorded. The initial recognition and management response to this catastrophic disease in Florida was slow, which delayed the start of monitoring programs and prevented coordinated research programs by at least two years. The slow management response was a result of several factors that operated concurrently. First, the Port Miami dredging project was ongoing during the coral disease epidemic and dredging rather than SCTLD was blamed by some managers and local environmental groups for the extreme coral losses reported in the project's compliance monitoring program. Second, this blame was amplified in the media because dredging projects are intuitively assumed to be bad for coral reefs. Third, during this same time State of Florida policy prohibited government employees to acknowledge global warming in their work. This was problematic because ocean warming is a proximal cause of many coral diseases. As a result, the well-known links between warming and coral disease were ignored. A consequence of this policy was that the dredging project provided an easy target to blame for the coral mortality noted in the monitoring program, despite convincing data that suggested otherwise. Specifically, results from the intensive compliance monitoring program, conducted by trained scientific divers, were clear. SCTLD that was killing massive numbers of corals throughout Florida was also killing corals at the dredge site - and in the same proportions and among the same suite of species. While eradication of the disease was never a possibility, early control measures may have slowed its spread or allowed for the rescue of significant numbers of large colonies of iconic species. This coral disease outbreak has similarities to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and there are lessons learned from both that will improve disease response outcomes in the future, to the benefit of coral reefs and human populations.
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Many pandemic diseases have emerged in the history and millions of people affected from these diseases. Among the marked pandemics in history, the plague, known as the black death, was recorded to cause the death of 17-54% of the world population. Similar to previous pandemics, as the SARS CoV-2, which emerged in 2019 and belonged to the coronavirus family, caused an epidemic and turned into a pandemic infection, positive cases were detected in more than 483 million people, and more than 6.1 million people died. While this emerging epidemic is still continuing its effects, it has been determined that there are positive cases in pets such as dogs and cats, especially in mink (Neovison vison). Especially in Denmark, Netherlands and Finland, positive animals for COVID-19 were accepted. Unlike the pandemic until today, the COVID-19 has spread to broader geographies and affected many animal species. With the reports that the SARS-CoV-2 - was first transmitted from bats to humans, this viral agent has been accepted as zoonotic, but a complete transmission route has not been shown for its transmission from other animals to humans except bats. It is reported that there is no significant risk of transmission of the virus, which is transmitted primarily by the respiratory route, from both pets and edible foods to humans. Although there are many reports in terrestrial animals, studies on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 - in aquatic animals or aquatic environments and COVID-19 transmission in aquatic animals have doubts. Here we reviewed the viability of the SARS-CoV-2 - in the aquatic environment, transmission to the aquatic ecosystem and aquatic animals, and therefore the risks to humans through water or aquatic products.
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The pandemic situation of COVID-19 has seriously influenced the whole chain of crayfish industry--aquaculture, logistic, processing, and service in Jingzhou. In the short term, each link of the industry was difficult to get well completely, the relevant enterprises and new types of agricultural businesses lack of confidence. After undergoing rapid development for many years, it presented some new changes under the epidemic influence: firstly, the cultivation area tend to be stable and rational, and a large scale of crayfish aquaculture was transformed to high quality aquaculture;secondly, the storage and deep processing industry would be developed rapidly;thirdly, the online consumption mode would become widely accepted. Based on our investigation, some suggestions were put forward for crayfish industry to resume production and to promote the sustainable-healthy development. The first, crayfish aquaculture in paddy field should be changed from high production to high quality;the second, processing and server-side should develop new products and new marketing models;the third, the industry management department should strengthen guidance and supervision, local governments at all levels should strongly support from policy, finance and publicity, so that jointly guide the industry upgrading and create regional brands.
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Edible vaccines are created from transgenic plants and animals and contain immunostimulant. Edible vaccines, to put it simply, are medications generated from plants or animals. In underdeveloped countries, oral vaccines are less expensive and more widely available. Researchers came up with the idea of edible vaccines, in which edible plant pieces are employed as a vaccine factory. To make edible vaccinations, scientists put desired genes into plants and then force the plants to generate the proteins expressed in the genes. Transgenic plants are the result of transformation, whereas transformation is the act of converting plants. The edible vaccination promotes mucosal immunity. Dendritic cells in the gut can assist native T cells activate and differentiate into follicular T-helpers (Tfh). T and B cells will respond precisely to a reliable, digestible immunization. Potato, tomato, banana, carrots, tobacco, papaya, algae, and a variety of other plants are utilised as alternative agents for standard vaccinations. Malaria, cholera, hepatitis, rabies, measles, rotavirus, diarrhoea cancer treatments and treatment of covid-19 are among the illnesses for which plant-based vaccines have been created. It takes time and dedication to develop and sell edible vaccinations. Many edible vaccines for animal and human ailments have been developed and have gone through various levels of clinical testing. The importance of plant-based vaccinations is emphasized in this article.
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This proceedings contains 96 papers on ocean biodiversity;breeding, reproduction, feeding and diseases of aquacultured fish and shellfish;water quality;fishery management, seafood preservation and quality;aquaculture and fishery economics and the impact of COVID-19 on aquaculture and fishery production.
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COVID-19 pandemic devastated the world with unprecedented economic crisis, leaving everyone confused and apprehended, including the livestock sector. As a resilience measure, shrimp farmers of Punjab were advised some remedial adaptations. Expecting good results, socio-economic evaluation of shrimp farmers from 3 south west districts (Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Mansa) of the state was carried out. With enthusiastic participation of young (56.7% 35 years of age) and educated (50% graduates) farmers, overall 86.6% of the farmers followed the advisories. The pandemic delayed stocking of ponds, however 66.7% of farmers harvested 6.5 to 8.75 t shrimp ha crop . -1 -1 Non-availability of water testing facility within approachable distance emerged as the major constraint (80%), while only 6.66% farmers each reported marketing and seed related problems. With culture period of 101-120 (40%) and >120 (36.7%) days, 66.7% farmers obtained feed conversion ratio <1.2. Further, 43.3 and 36.7% farmers harvested shrimp with an average body weight of 31-35g and 26-30g, respectively and 100% farmers marketed shrimp at the farm site @ Rs. 301-400 (53.3%) and >Rs. 400/- (40%) kg, corresponding to net profit of >12.5 lakh -1 (60%) and 7.6-12.5 lakh (26.7%) ha . The adopted resilience plan helped the farmers to realize optimal economic returns from shrimp farming -1 in Punjab.
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The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represents a major public health challenge and a serious threat to sustainable social development. A consideration of animal welfare is clearly justified, given the potential contribution of animals to the spread of the disease. The present study, therefore, sought to investigate the concern the Chinese people have for animal welfare (PCAW) and how their 'ethical ideology' (idealism and relativism) determines PCAW after COVID-19, through comparison with the same study, carried out in China in 2015. Our results demonstrated a significant improvement in Chinese PCAW after COVID-19. The adverse impact of COVID-19 may have resulted in a lowered idealism score and this decreased score served to neutralise significant correlations between idealism and PCAW, compared to the 2015 results. The global pandemic did not increase people's relativism score and a significant correlation was found between relativism and PCAW. Gender, age, educational level, public perception of animals after COVID-19, zoo and aquarium visiting were all shown to be predictor variables for PCAW. This study is one of the first to investigate Chinese PCAW after COVID-19 and can therefore provide knowledge that will potentially increase Chinese PCAW.
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Many migratory fish populations are declining, threatened by human-induced pressures such as habitat loss and fragmentation caused by dams, roads, land use change, climate change and pollution. However, public awareness of fish migration and associated human pressures remains limited. It is important to communicate about hard-to-see and complex environmental topics and issues, such as fish migration, with young people, who stand to be the most affected by ongoing global changes. Young people are also at a critical stage in their attitude formation and may be particularly receptive to learning enrichment and engagement for behaviour change about environmental issues. Arts-based methods can be particularly effective in fostering broad personal connections with nature, especially for complex topics like fish migration. The collaborative and creative processes involved in developing such media often lack critique, which limits learning from previous experiences. In this article, we reflect on the co-creation of the Shout Trout Workout (STW), a lyric poem, comic and music video for 8- to 14-year-olds, designed to entertain, engage and enrich learning about migratory fishes and aquatic environments. We chart the process of creation, including conception of ideas, writing the poem, fact-checking and developing the storyline with scientists and creating a comic and music video with visual artists and musicians. We explore some of the challenges and merits of collaborative working, consider the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the creative and initial engagement process and share what we learned about creative input, communication and respect. We also discuss how the experience shaped our thoughts about the nature of co-creation itself, and how in creating STW, collaborators contributed to the process in multiple, nuanced and unanticipated ways (e.g. artistic input, ideas, science, dissemination), representing a spectrum of co-creative practice. We hope that sharing our experiences and reflections is useful and inspiring for other cross-disciplinary collaborations, and for those who aim to create learning enrichment and engagement material about ecological processes and environmental issues for young people.
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This 4th edition covers issues associated with sustainable aquaculture development, culture systems, hatchery methods, nutrition and feeding of aquaculture species, reproductive strategies, harvesting, and many other topics. While its main focus is on the culture of fish, molluscs and crustaceans for food, the book also covers other forms of aquaculture, such as the production of seaweeds, recreational fish and ornamental species, as well as live foods, such as algae and rotifers that are used to feed larval shrimp and marine fish. Thoroughly updated and revised, this essential textbook now includes increased coverage of open-ocean cage culture and sea lice issues with salmon culture, coverage of the significant progress made in nutrition, including the move away from fishmeal as protein and fish oil as lipids in feed, information on biofloc technology uses, predictive impacts of climate change, probiotics, and the impact of COVID-19 on the aquaculture community, and updated aquaculture production statistics and lists of approved anaesthetics. Aquaculture remains one of the most rapidly growing agricultural disciplines, and this book remains an essential resource for all students of aquaculture and related disciplines.
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This report provides a biennial assessment of the South Australian Spencer Gulf Prawn Fishery (SGPF) for the 2018/19 and 2019/20 fishing years. The aims of this report were to: (i) provide brief synopses of the management of the fishery and biology of the Western King Prawn (Penaeus (Melicertus) latisulcatus);(ii) review the performance of the fishery;(iii) determine the current status of the resource;and (iv) identify future research and monitoring needs. The total harvest by the SGPF reached 2,121 t in 2018/19 and 1,743 t in 2019/20. The fleet required 53 nights in 2018/19, but due to the COVID-affected markets during 2019/20, industry restricted the season to 40 nights. These annual harvests and effort totals translated into catches per unit effort (CPUEs) in 2018/19 and 2019/20 of 109.7 and 127.3 kg h-1, respectively;the latter being the second highest recorded, and both exceeding the reference point (RP, 80 kg h-1) for this economic performance indicator (PI). Size grade composition of the annual harvest and the mean 7-kg 'bucket count' indicate a downward trend in average prawn size over the past several years. While this may be partly due to the revised size criteria in the current harvest strategy (where there is a trade-off between higher minimum catches and smaller prawn size criteria to provide greater flexibility to industry), it is likely to reflect the continued influx of new recruits from consecutive high (and record) recruitment years causing a disproportionate effect on the size composition and bucket count. Both the mean survey CPUE of 'adult' prawns (size grades comprising fewer than 20 prawns per pound) and 'newly recruited' prawns (more than 20 prawns per pound, i.e. '20+' grade) throughout 2018/19 and 2019/20 remained above their respective lower RPs. This resulted in the development of standard fishing strategies, except for an increasing fishing strategy after the March 2019 survey due to the mean survey CPUEadults exceeding the upper RP. The estimated mean egg production of 490 M eggs trawl-h-1 in October 2019 fell below the RP (500 M eggs trawl-h-1) for the first time since 2006/07;however, the recruitment index of 8.36 lb min-1 in March 2020 - which provides a more reliable window into the outlook for the fishery - was the highest recorded and more than three times the RP (2.38 lb min-1). The weighted mean CPUEadults (+or- 95% CI) from the October/November, February/March and April surveys during 2018/19 and 2019/20 were 4.19 +or- 0.16 lb min-1 and 4.14 +or- 0.21 lb min-1, respectively, both of which are above the trigger reference point (TRP;2.50 lb min-1). Under the definition in the harvest strategy, the stock is classified as 'sustainable'. Future research needs will primarily be focused on establishing the components of an ecological monitoring program to assess the impact of the fishery on the benthic ecosystem, improving the standardisation of survey catches in these assessments, and development of theory-based RPs (from the prawn bio-economic model) for consideration in a future iteration of the harvest strategy.
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This report provides an assessment of the status of the South Australian Giant Crab Fishery (GCF) using data to the end of the 2019 fishing season that extends from 1 October 2019 to 31 May 2020. It analyses fishery-dependent data at a State-wide scale, collected from two management zones, the Northern Zone (NZ) and Southern Zone (SZ), and from three commercial fishing sectors: (1) Miscellaneous Fishery sector;(2) South Australian Rock Lobster Fishery (SARLF) quota sector (RL-quota);and (3) SARLF by-product sector (RL by-product). Catches of Giant Crab in the last seven seasons are among the lowest recorded in the fishery since the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC) was implemented in 1999. In 2019, the total catch in the GCF was 14.2 t. This was the lowest catch recorded since 1993, comprising 64.3% of the TACC of 22.1 t. The amount of targeted catch in the Miscellaneous Fishery sector and RL-quota sector in 2019 was also the lowest on record (13.7 t). The reductions in catch reported in 2019 likely reflect: (1) reduced effort in the 2019 season associated with COVID-19 impacts on market demand;and (2) reduced catches in the SZ since 2005. Estimates of CPUE of legal-size Giant Crab have declined in South Australia since 2008, and although relatively stable in the last five seasons, are now the lowest on record. In addition, pre-recruit abundance, which has declined since 2004, is now the lowest on record and is likely to impact future harvestable biomass. The biological susceptibility of Giant Crab populations to recruitment overfishing combined with recent declining trends in catch, CPUE and pre-recruit abundance signal uncertainty in relation to the GCF's future performance. Determination of stock status in 2019 was aided by the implementation of recommendations made in SARDI's 2017 assessment of data sources and performance indicators (Pis) for the GCF, as well the management policy for the GCF developed in consultation with industry (PIRSA 2018). Within the management policy for the GCF, the status of the Giant Crab stock is defined in relation to how the primary biological PI, five-year average commercial CPUE of legal-size Giant Crab, aligns against its Trigger Reference Point (RPtrig) (PIRSA 2018). In 2019, the estimate of five-year commercial CPUE of legal-size Giant Crab was 2.09 kg/potlift. This estimate is the lowest on record but 7.2% above the RPtrig of 1.95 kg/potlift. Under the decision rule within the management policy to categorise the Giant Crab stock status in South Australia, the stock is classified as 'sustainable' in 2019 (PIRSA 2018).
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This stock assessment determined the status of South Australia's Southern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (SZRLF) and provides the latest estimates of the biological performance indicators (Pis) information in context of the reference points (RPs) and stock status classification described in the Management Plan for the fishery (PIRSA 2020). Stock status was determined using the harvest strategy for the fishery that was developed in alignment with the National Fishery Status Reporting Framework (NFSRF) classification system that is used to determine the status of all South Australian fish stocks. Assessment of the SZRLF relies heavily on data from the commercial fishing sector through mandatory catch and effort logbook reporting. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) of legal and undersized (pre-recruit) lobsters are the main indicators of legal and pre-recruit abundance. Fishery-independent surveys and fishery model outputs also contribute to the assessment. During the 2019 fishing season (i.e. 1 October 2019 to 31 May 2020), the fishery was impacted by the COVID-19 market closure in late January of 2020. The primary impact was a considerable reduction in catch in February (6 t in 2020), where normally up to 100 t is landed. Consequently, the 2019 TACC (1,246 t) was not fully taken with a total commercial logbook catch of 1,202.4 t (96% of TACC). Effort required to take the catch was 758,029 potlifts, the lowest on record. Nominal legal-sized CPUE in 2019 was 1.59 kg/potlift, reflecting a 65% increase over the last three seasons and the highest catch rate since 2005. Current legal-sized catch rates are now above both the long-term average and the trigger reference point (TrRP) for the fishery. Recent increases in CPUE are also reflected in fishery-independent surveys. The pre-recruit index (PRI) shows a long-term decline since the late 1990s with the 2015 estimate the lowest on record Over the last four seasons, the PRI has increased by 138% to 1.76 undersized/pot, the highest since 2002. In the SZRLF, the time taken for pre-recruits to enter the fishable biomass is approximately one year. Fishery-independent surveys also support recent increases in PRI. Model outputs indicate considerable increases in legal-size biomass over the last three seasons. In 2019, the estimate was approximately 4,235 t, equating to an exploitation rate of 29%, the lowest on record Despite recent increases, egg production in the fishery remains low with 2019 estimates equating to 12% of unfished levels. In 2019, the CPUE of 1.59 kg/potlift was above the TrRP of 0.60 kg/potlift. Asa result, the SZRLF stock is classified as "sustainable". This means that the current fishing mortality is being adequately controlled to avoid the stock becoming recruitment impaired.
ABSTRACT
This stock assessment determined the status of South Australia's Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishery (NZRLF) through analysis of data from several long-term monitoring programs. The performance Indicators in the current harvest strategy are not linked to a definition of stock status. Consequently, this assessment used a weight-of-evidence method to determine stock status using me National Fishery Status Reporting Framework (NFSRF). Assessment of the NZRLF relies heavily on an from the commercial listing sector through mandatory catch and effort logbook reporting. Catch per wilt effort (CPUE) of legal and undersized (pre-recruit) lobsters are the main of legal and pre-recruit abundance. Fishery model out also contribute to the assessment. The total allowable commercial catch (TACC) in the NZRLF is 296 t reflecting recent reactions in both the inner and Outer sub-regions. In 2019 (I.e. 1 November 2019 to 31 October 2020), the Inner was impacted by me COVID-19 market closure in late January of 2020. The impact was a reduction in catch in February/March 2020 (21 t) where normally up to 100 t is landed. Consequently. me 2019 TACC (296 t) was not fully taken with a reported catch of 253 t (236 t Inner sub-region: 17 t Outer sub-region: 86% of TACC). Effort in 2019 was 304.040 potlifts. the third lowest on record. In 2019. zonal legal-sized CPUE (November-April) was 0.89 kg/potlifts, reflecting a 16% increase from 2016 (0.77 kg/potlifts) shim Increases observed across broad spatial scales in all major Marine Fishing Areas (MFAS) of the Inner. Despite COVID-19 impacts. there was no change In CPUE between 2018 and 2019. The logbook-derived pre-recruit rides (PRI) the 2019 was 0.20 undersized/potlifts reflecting a marginal decrease from 2018 (0.21) undersized/potlifts but remaining above Me draft harvest strategy trigger reference pant (TrRP) of 0.16 undersize/potlift. The time taken for pre-recruits to enter the fishable biomass is estimated to be approximately one year. Model outputs Indicate long-term declines in lobster biomass but with increases over the last tree seasons. in 2019, the estimates ranged from 1, 200 to 1,700 t equating to exploitation rates of 13 to 21%. the lowest on record. Despite recent increases, egg production on the fishery remains low with 2019 estimates equating to 10 to 15% or unlisted levels. The performance of the Outer lob-region of the fishery remains uncertain. The catch level of 17 t makes assessment difficult in 2019, however, catch rates in MFAs 7 and 8, two key catch areas, remain dose to historical lows. There is now evidence to indicate tint the status of the NZRLF stock has improved over the last two seasons in response to TACC reductions. Specifically: (i) catch rates have Increased by 16% with improvements in fishery performance observed across broad spinal acmes: (ii) biomass has increased and exportation rates are at historical lows: and (iii) the PRI is above the TrRP. As a result, Cased co a weight-of-evidence approach. me NZRLF stock is classMed as 'sustainable' at the current TACC of 296 t. This means that me current fisting mortally is being adequately controlled to avoid the stock becoming recruitment impaired.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 global pandemic and resulting effects on the economy and society (e.g., sheltering-in-place, alterations in transportation, changes in consumer behaviour, loss of employment) have yielded some benefits and risks to biodiversity. Here, we considered the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced (or may influence) freshwater fish biodiversity (e.g., richness, abundance). In many cases, we could only consider potential impacts using documented examples (often from the media) of likely changes, because anecdotal observations are still emerging and data-driven studies are yet to be completed or even undertaken. We evaluated the potential for the pandemic to either mitigate or amplify widely acknowledged, pre-existing threats to freshwater fish biodiversity (i.e., invasive species, pollution, fragmentation, flow alteration, habitat loss and alteration, climate change, exploitation). Indeed, we identified examples spanning the extremes of positive and negative outcomes for almost all known threats. We also considered the pandemic's impact on freshwater fisheries demand, assessment, research, compliance monitoring, and management interventions (e.g., restoration), with disruptions being experienced in all domains. Importantly, we provide a forward-looking synthesis that considers the potential mechanisms and pathways by which the consequences of the pandemic may positively and negatively impact freshwater fishes over the longer term. We conclude with a candid assessment of the current management and policy responses and the extent to which they ensure freshwater fish populations and biodiversity are conserved for human and aquatic ecosystem benefits in perpetuity.