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The effects of climate change on marine ecosystems are causing cascading impacts on livelihood, food security, and culture through fisheries. Such impacts interact and exacerbate the effects of overfishing on marine social-ecological systems, complicating the rebuilding of ecosystems to achieve desirable and sustainable ocean futures. Developing effective pathways for ecosystem rebuilding requires consideration of the co-benefits and trade-offs between ecological and social dimensions and between fishing sectors. However, the effects of intensifying climate change on such co-benefits or trade-offs are yet to be well understood, particularly in regions where ecosystem rebuilding is urgently needed. We applied a numerical optimization routine to define the scope for improvement toward the Pareto-frontier for ecological robustness and economic benefits of the northern South China Sea (NSCS) and the East China Sea (ECS) ecosystems. These two ecosystems were used to represent over-exploited low- and mid-latitude systems, respectively, and the optimization aimed to improve their status through fisheries management. We find that the ECS ecosystem has the possibility of increasing the economic benefits generated by the fisheries it supports under climate change by 2050 while increasing the uncertainty of achieving biodiversity objectives. Nevertheless, climate change is projected to reduce the scope to restore ecosystem structures and the potential economic benefits in the NSCS ecosystem. This study highlights the contrasting impacts of climate change on the co-benefits/trade-offs in ecosystem rebuilding and the benefits obtainable by different fishing sectors even in neighboring ecosystems. We conclude that consideration at the nexus of climate-biodiversity-fisheries is a key to developing effective ecosystem rebuilding plan.

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Microplastic pollution, especially microfibers (MFs), presents a critical global environmental challenge in natural water bodies. Yet, research on the toxic effects of MFs, particularly during early fish development, is limited. This study aimed to investigate MFs' toxic effects and mechanisms on early-stage zebrafish. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of polyacrylonitrile microfibers (PanMfs) for 7 days. Results revealed PanMfs adhering to the embryos' surface, with higher concentrations accelerating heart rate and causing pericardial edema in post-hatching larvae. Larvae ingested PanMfs, leading to their accumulation in the intestines and increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial quantity. Notably, lipid metabolism and calcium ion related signaling pathways underwent significant changes. Low concentration MFs affected glycometabolism pathways, with potential roles for aldob and cacng1a, exhibiting pronounced increases in ROS levels. High concentration of MFs had the most profound impact on signal transduction-related pathways, and possibly triggering micromitophagy and apoptosis in zebrafish intestinal epithelial cells through the Kras/MAPK signaling pathway, with potential roles for kras and mapk9. Although ROS increase was somewhat alleviated, it resulted in decreased survival rates and restricted growth in high concentration of MFs group. These findings highlight the significant threat of MFs to the early survival of fish. MFs pollution prevention and control hold great significance in the conservation of fishery resources.

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In this study, we assessed spatial and temporal variations in the trophic structure of fish assemblages in the Yellow Sea during spring and summer 2022 and compared their isotopic niches between the Provisional Measure Zone (PMZ) and Korea's west areas (non-PMZ) within the Yellow Sea. Spatial and temporal differences in the diversity and dominant species of fish assemblages were found between the PMZ and non-PMZ areas between the seasons. The mean δ13C values of fish assemblages were relatively higher in the non-PMZ areas than in the PMZ areas. In contrast, no significant differences were found in the mean δ15N values between the areas. Generally, the isotopic niche indices were relatively narrow in the PMZ areas compared to those in the non-PMZ areas. Overall, these spatial differences between the PMZ and non-PMZ areas suggest different trophic diversity of fish assemblages, resulting from site-specific variations in environmental conditions and community composition.

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Open access resource problems and harmful pollutants from manufacturing activities are common in resource management practices. Nevertheless, their implications have only been studied in different and separate frameworks that are not covered within the same structure. Previous studies suggest that resource management enforced by one country can increase welfare levels and rebuild resource conservation, compared to the case where no country imposes resource management policies. However, in real-life examples, the harvesting and manufacturing industries exert simultaneous pressure on fishery resource stocks, thereby changing the nature of the supply curve of renewable resources. This study investigates the effects of trade liberalization under unilateral resource management regimes in a two-country, two-sector model, in which both production sectors can detrimentally affect renewable natural resources by generating two interacting environmental burdens: excessive harvesting and industrial pollution. It is demonstrated that unilateral resource management applied by a country in which the resource-good sector is relatively less damaging to fishery stocks is welfare-reducing for both countries compared to the situation where neither manages its resource sector. This result is identified as "immiserizing resource management." Notably, however, unilateral resource management by one country in which the resource-good sector has a more significant negative impact than the manufacturing industry can benefit both trading partners in welfare terms; this is referred to as "improving resource management." Policymakers in international organizations should consider the relative dominance of externalities in the presence of weak property rights before requiring resource management as a condition for participating in international trade.

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The legal status of marine fishery resources is analyzed from a spatial perspective: States have the right for their nationals to engage in fishing activities in the corresponding maritime areas based on the sovereignty, sovereign rights, the principle of freedom of the high seas as well as the principle of the common heritage of mankind of the Area under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Meanwhile, the legal status of marine fishery resources is analyzed from two aspects in terms of contents: the legal regime of exploitation and utilization of marine fishery resources and the legal regime of conservation and management of marine fishery resources. The transformation of marine fishery resources from natural resources to individual catches involves the regime of ownership. There is no specific regime of ownership regarding marine fishery resources under UNCLOS or other international legal instruments, which should be stipulated by domestic laws.

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The Brazilian sardine (Sardinella aurita) is an important food resource found in the subtropical Southwestern Atlantic Continental Shelf (CSSWA), but limited information about its metal(loid) concentrations is available, restricting effective risk assessment by its consumption. On this research, we hypothesized that S. aurita presents different metal(loid) concentrations within a latitudinal gradient in the CSSWA (northern and southern sectors). We also assessed the S. aurita consumption contamination risk in both sectors of the CSSWA. The results indicated that S. aurita might present different chemical and contamination profiles between the observed sectors, with highlights to As, Cr, and Fe at greater levels than the safety limits established by regulatory agencies. Such finds could be explained by urbanization, industrialization, continental and oceanographic processes along the CSSWA, corroborating our hypothesis for most observed metals(loid). On the other hand, our risk assessment analysis of metal(loid) concentrations did not indicate hazards for human consumption.

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The Pasur River estuary (PRE), the largest estuary in the Sundarbans mangrove area, provides vital fishery resources and supports millions of livelihoods in the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. This study focused on the tidal and run-off effects on the outwelling of nutrients from the Sundarbans mangrove creeks to the PRE. Spatial and temporal variations of nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations were assessed by water sampling at 11 stations in the study area from January to December 2019. Dissolved inorganic nutrients and chlorophyll-a were analyzed by standard methods using a spectrophotometer. In the tidal mangrove creeks, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphate, and silica concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the spring tide than those during the neap tide, suggesting that these nutrients were flushed from the mangrove area by the inundation and tidal mixing of the spring tide. In general, chlorophyll-a (mean ± SD) concentrations in the PRE and the tidal mangrove creeks were 5.62 ± 1.30 µg/L and 9.03 ± 0.59 µg/L in the wet season, respectively. During the dry season, the chlorophyll-a decreased to 4.37 µg/L ± 0.68 and 4.94 ± 1.52 µg/L in the PRE and the tidal mangrove creek, respectively. The amount of nutrients outwelled from the mangrove creeks to the estuary was 1.53 ± 0.67 mg/L DIP, 0.001 ± 0.0004 mg/L DIN, and 1.38 ± 0.48 mg/L dissolved silica. DIP, silica, and chlorophyll-a concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the spring tide compared to the neap tide, but salinity was not significantly (p > 0.05) different between the two tidal levels. This study showed that the mangrove creeks formed an important link in transporting nutrients from the mangrove forest to the estuary.

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The small yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis, is a commercial fish of the order Perciformes that mainly inhabit estuaries and coastal waters.In recent years, the resources and catch of L. polyactis have undergone huge fluctuations. To detect genetic variations caused by the fluctuation of resources, genetic diversity of L. polyactis in the coastal waters of China were analyzed in this study using microsatellite DNA marker. The results revealed high genetic diversity of this species. The STRUCTURE, DAPC and F ST results all indicated that there was no genetic structure consistent with the distribution pattern. Overall, our main findings are in agreement with previous studies, indicating that L. polyactis showed high genetic diversity and low genetic differentiation. Our results for high genetic connectivity among L. polyactis localities provide insights into the development of management strategies, that is, to manage this species as a single management unit.

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Environmental challenges are as vast as the universe, allowing for numerous studies on their various dimensions. Using 17 data sets from Asia-Pacific countries between 2000 and 2017, this study attempted to investigate the economic factors influencing the ecological footprint of the fishing sector. The primary contribution of this study is to examine the effects of nine economic freedom indicators, as well as other control variables, on the status of fishery resources due to environmental pressure. The findings confirm the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in the fishing grounds footprint, indicating that GDP per capita growth has a positive and significant effect, even though its squared form coefficient is negative. Other control variables, including natural resource rents, urbanization, and energy intensity, do not significantly affect the fishing footprint. The different components of economic freedom show different effects, while their cumulative effects in the form of the total economic freedom index positively affect the footprint of fishing and lead to increased extraction from fishing resources. The results show that the government integrity, tax burden, business freedom, and monetary freedom indices increase the fishing footprint. In contrast, indices of trade freedom and investment freedom, by highlighting the adverse effects of fishing on the environment, help countries reduce pressure on their aquatic resources. The findings of this study highlight the importance of examining how various dimensions of economic freedom affect the ability to manage fishery resources effectively.

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Across publicly owned natural resources, the practice of recovering financial compensation, commonly known as resource rent, from extractive industries influences wealth distribution and general welfare of society. Catch shares are the primary approach adopted to diminish the economically wasteful race to fish by allocating shares of fish quotas-public assets-to selected fishing firms. It is perceived that resource rent is concentrated within catch share fisheries, but there has been no systematic comparison of rent-charging practices with other extractive industries. Here, we estimate the global prevalence of catch share fisheries and compare rent recovery mechanisms (RRM) in the fishing industry with other extractive industries. We show that while catch share fisheries harvest 17.4 million tons (19% of global fisheries landings), with a value of 17.7 billion USD (17% of global fisheries landed value), rent charges occurred in only 5 of 18 countries with shares of fish quotas primarily allocated free of charge. When compared with other extractive industries, fishing is the only industry that consistently lacks RRM. While recovering resource rent for harvesting well-governed fishery resources represents a source of revenue to coastal states, which could be sustained indefinitely, overcharging the industry might impact fish supply. Different RRM occurred in extractive industries, though generally, rent-based charges can help avoid affecting deployment of capital and labor to harvest fish since they depend on the profitability of the operations. Our study could be a starting point for coastal states to consider adapting policies to the enhanced economic condition of the fishing industry under catch shares.

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Understanding aspects of the biology of early life stages of marine fish is critical if one hopes to reveal the factors and processes that impact the survival and recruitment (year class) strength. The Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens) is a key species in the Humboldt current system, and the present study provides the first description of the embryonic and larval development of this species reared in captivity. Embryonic and early exogenous feeding stages of larvae were illustrated in detail at 18.5°C. Hatching was completed within 42 and 48 h post-fertilization at 18.5 and 14.5°C, respectively. Mean ± 95% C.I. standard length (LS ) at hatch (3.40 ± 0.10 mm at 18.5°C and 2.76 ± 0.34 mm at 14.5°C) was significantly different between the two temperatures. Larval behaviour was assessed at 18.5°C; at the onset of exogenous feeding [3 days post-hatch (dph)], larvae were fed small, motile dinoflagellates, Akashiwo sanguinea. At 7 dph, larvae started to feed almost exclusively on zooplankton (rotifers and Artemia nauplii). Larval activity increased with age, and the first sign of schooling was noted at 31 dph (18.56 mm LS ) at 18.5°C. Temperature had a significant effect on size-at-age, but not on body shape (depth to LS ratio). The size-at-age data for larvae (this study) was used to parameterize a temperature-corrected von Bertalanffy growth function for Peruvian anchovy, the accuracy of which was assessed for juveniles and adults (literature values).

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The migratory catfish Brachyplatystoma vaillantii is one of the most important fishery resources in the Amazon. Intense capture occurs associated to its life cycle. In order to know the genetic status, we sequenced the mitochondrial DNA control region from 150 individuals of B. vaillantii, collected in five fishing landing locations, covering the length of the Solimões-Amazonas River in Brazil. Genetic diversity parameters suggest there is no genetic differentiation between the five localities. Population's expansion indicated by R 2 and Fu's Fs tests was also confirmed by the high number of unique haplotypes found. The Analyses of molecular variance indicated that nearly all variability was contained within locations (99.86%), and estimates of gene flow among B. vaillantii were high (F ST = 0.0014). These results suggest that Brachyplatystoma vaillantii forms a panmitic population along the Solimões-Amazonas River and, has greater genetic variability than other species of the Brachyplatystoma genus available so far. Although the influence of different tributaries on B. vaillantii migration patterns remains uncertain, a single population in the main channel should be consider in future policies for management of this resource. However, since the species' life cycle uses habitats in several countries, its management and conservation depend greatly of internationally joined efforts.(AU)

O bagre migrador, Brachyplatystoma vaillantii, é um dos mais importantes recursos pesqueiros da Amazônia. Intensa captura ocorre associada ao seu ciclo de vida. Para conhecer seu status genético, sequenciamos a região de controle do DNA mitocondrial de 150 indivíduos, coletados em cinco locais de desembarque pesqueiro, abrangendo toda a extensão do rio Solimões-Amazonas no Brasil. Os parâmetros de diversidade genética sugerem que não existe diferenciação genética entre as cinco localidades amostradas. A expansão populacional indicada pelos testes R 2 e Fs de Fu, também foi confirmada pelo elevado número de haplótipos únicos encontrados. A análise de variância molecular indicou que quase toda a variabilidade estava contida nas localidades (99,86%), e as estimativas de fluxo gênico desta espécie eram altas (F ST = 0,0014). Esses resultados sugerem que Brachyplatystoma vaillantii forma uma população panmítica ao longo do rio Solimões-Amazonas com maior variabilidade genética que outras espécies do gênero Brachyplatystoma disponíveis no momento. Embora a influência dos diferentes afluentes na migração de B. vaillantii permaneça incerta, em futuras políticas de gestão deste recurso deve-se considerá-lo como uma única população no canal principal. Entretanto, uma vez que seu ciclo de vida abrange habitats em vários países, seu manejo e conservação dependem muito de esforços internacionais em conjunto.(AU)

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The fragmentation and homogenization of habitats have seriously affected the fishery resources of the Pearl River. To protect the fishery resources, a novel artificial habitat, constructed using bamboo and palm slices, was deployed in the Youjiang River, a tributary of the Pearl River in China. The results of field and laboratory experiments showed that fish abundance, species richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity index were higher in the artificial habitats than at the control sites. There was no significant impact on fish biomass, as the artificial habitats attracted more Cultrinae and Gobioninae fish that are of a smaller size. Artificial habitats can serve as spawning grounds for fish that produce sticky eggs and refuges that improve the survival rates of juvenile fishes. This study revealed that this novel artificial habitat created suitable habitats and suitable spawning substrate for fish, improved fish richness and diversity in the structureless freshwater ecosystem like the Youjiang River.

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Based on the bottom trawl surveys in spring (May) and in autumn (September to October) from 2011 to 2017 (except 2012) in Haizhou Bay, variations in the mean trophic levels (MTL) and large fish index (LFI) of fish community were examined to understand the changes of fish community structure in Haizhou Bay. The results showed that the dominant fish species were Hexagrammos otakii, Enedrias fangi, Syngnathus acus, Pseudosciaena polyactis and Saurida elongata, which had obvious seasonal variation. The mean trophic level of fish community varied significantly among different years and seasons. Generally, MTL in autumn was higher than that in spring, and the variation of which in autumn always lagged behind that in spring. The result of LFI calculation showed that the large fish resources declined and fish community structure in Haizhou Bay showed an obvious tendency of miniaturization in recent years.

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Abstract: Demersal fishery resources are abundant on continental shelves, on the tropical and subtropical coasts, making up a significant part of the marine environment. Marine demersal fishery resources are captured by various fishing methods, often unsustainably, which has led to the depletion of their stocks. In order to inventory the marine demersal ichthyofauna on the Southern Brazilian coast, as well as their conservation status and distribution, this study analyzed the composition and frequency of occurrence of fish captured by pair trawling in 117 fishery fleet landings based in the State of São Paulo between 2005 and 2012. The ichthyofauna consisted of 245 species (81 families, 32 orders and 2 classes). Among the species, 50 species were classified as constant, 38 accessory and 157 accidental. Still, 13.47% of the species were listed as endangered; 35.29% of the Chondrichthyes and 11.85% of the Actinopterygii (15.1% of the total species) belong to the endemic fauna of the Biogeographic Province of Argentina. The richness was directly related to the oceanographic features of the study area, which determined the southern boundary of occurrence of several tropical species and the northern boundary of occurrence for temperate species. This is the region with the highest abundance of fishery resources in Brazil.

Resumo: Nas costas tropicais e subtropicais, sobre as plataformas continentais, os recursos pesqueiros demersais são abundantes e considerados uma parcela importante do ambiente marinho. Os recursos pesqueiros demersais marinhos são capturados por diversas modalidades de pesca, muitas vezes de forma insustentável, o que vem provocando o esgotamento de seus estoques. Com o objetivo de inventariar a ictiofauna demersal marinha da costa sudeste-sul do Brasil, assim como seu status de conservação e distribuição, foram analisadas a composição e frequência de peixes capturados em 117 cruzeiros de pesca entre 2005 e 2012 pela frota de arrasto de parelha sediada no Estado de São Paulo. A ictiofauna foi composta por 245 espécies (81 famílias, 32 ordens e 02 classes), sendo 50 consideradas como constantes, 38 acessórias e 157 acidentais; 13.47% apresentam algum grau de ameaça; 35.29% dos Chondrichthyes e 11.85% dos Actinopterygii (15.1% do total) pertencem à fauna endêmica da Província Zoogeográfica da Argentina. A riqueza observada está diretamente vinculada às características oceanográficas da área de estudo, sendo estas responsáveis pelo limite meridional de ocorrência de várias espécies tropicais e o limite setentrional de espécies de regiões temperadas. Esta é a região com maior abundância de recursos pesqueiros do Brasil.

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Sample size plays a significant role in determining accuracy and precision for estimates of fish population dynamics or fish communities. A fisheries survey that estimated the fish community in Dianshan Lake was conducted as a case study to determine the necessary sample size for such estimates. Monthly surveys of 24 survey stations in Dianshan Lake were conducted from July, 2010 to June, 2011, resulting in the collection of 45 fish species from 14 families. A resampling technique was used to estimate the optimal survey times and number of survey stations for a Dianshan Lake fishery survey. Results showed a negative relationship between the number of stations per survey and survey times per year. To maintain a 90% fixed percentage of fish species detection and 95% fixed probability of detection within the fishery survey, the required sample sizes were 19 and 21 stations per survey and 12 and 11 survey times per year, correspondingly. The Shannon diversity index increased with the number of stations before reaching equilibrium, therefore, the optimal survey stations for estimating fish biodiversity of the Dianshan Lake fishery was determined to be 21 stations. This study provided a framework for determining the optimal sampling effort in similar studies at other locations.

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Two Coryphaena hippurus morphotypes (dourado and palombeta) are found along the Brazilian coast and are considered by Rio de Janeiro’s fisherman and fishmongers as two different species. Furthermore, these morphotypes are commercialized under different values and suffer different fishing pressure. Therefore, a definition of their taxonomic status is an important economic and biological matter. In order to investigate this problem, allozyme electrophoresis method was undertaken for seventeen loci on 117 individuals of C. hippurus sampled at Cabo Frio/RJ (Brazil). The data indicate homogeneity between the morphotypes gene pools. Nevertheless, differences were found for genetic variation among dourado and palombeta, especially due to alcohol dehydrogenase locus. Natural selection hypothesis is discussed in explaining these findings.(AU)

Dois morfotipos de Coryphaena hippurus (dourado e palombeta) encontrados ao longo da costa brasileira são considerados espécies diferentes por pescadores e mercadores das regiões de desembarque do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Além disso, esses morfotipos são comercializados por valores diferentes e sofrem diferentes pressões de pesca. Desta forma, a definição do status taxonômico desses morfotipos é importante, tanto em termos econômicos quanto biológicos. A fim de investigar esse problema foi utilizado o método de eletroforese de aloenzimas com a amostragem de dezessete loci para 117 indivíduos dos dois morfotipos de C. hippurus obtidos em desembarques pesqueiros na região de Cabo Frio/RJ (Brasil). Os dados indicaram uma homogeneidade entre os conjuntos gênicos dos morfotipos. A despeito disso, diferenças entre os conjuntos gênicos de dourado e palombeta foram encontradas, devido, especialmente, ao locus álcool desidrogenase. A hipótese de seleção natural é discutida como possível explicação para esses resultados.(AU)

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BACKGROUND: Climate change is altering climate patterns, mainly increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme events with potentially serious impacts on natural resources and the people that use them. Adapting to such impacts will require the integration of scientific and local (folk) knowledge, especially the first-hand experiences and perceptions of resource users such as fishers. In this study, we identify how commercial riverine fishers in the Amazon remember extreme climatic events (flood and drought) and how they face the consequences of extreme events on fish availability. METHODS: Data were collected from the main Manaus fishery harbor between June and October of 2013. Semi-structured questionnaires and a historical timeline technique were used to gather data from artisanal commercial fishers. Fishers' knowledge of extreme climate events was assessed by their "cultural consensus" for identification of event years and perceived impacts. Fishers' responses were also compared to hydrological data to test their similarity. RESULTS: There was a high level of cultural consensus among fishers about extreme events years. They were able to identify four consecutive unusual droughts, between 2009 and 2012. Elevated levels of fish mortality and decreases in the fishery were perceived as consequences of the drought events, as well as, a reduction in fish size, and disappearance of some species. Extreme flood events were associated with greater difficulties accessing fishing grounds. CONCLUSIONS: Extreme climatic events (floods and droughts) were remembered, and the recent increase in their intensity and frequency was also perceived. Moreover, extreme climate event (mainly droughts) impacts on fishery resources were also observed. Such information is potentially valuable for educational programs to further improve adaptation of local Amazonian fishing communities to future climate change, e.g. increasing local ecological knowledge using learning material based on their perception.

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Non-target screening analyses were conducted in order to identify a wide range of organic contaminants in sediment and animal tissue samples from Jakarta Bay. High concentrations of di-iso-propylnaphthalenes (DIPNs), linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in all samples, whereas phenylmethoxynaphthalene (PMN), DDT and DDT metabolites (DDX) were detected at lower concentrations. In order to evaluate the uptake and accumulation by economic important mussel (Perna viridis) and fish species, contaminant patterns of DIPNs, LABs and PAHs in different compartments were compared. Different patterns of these contaminant groups were found in sediment and animal tissue samples, suggesting compound-specific accumulation and metabolism processes. Significantly higher concentrations of these three contaminant groups in mussel tissue as compared to fish tissue from Jakarta Bay were found. Because P. viridis is an important aquaculture species in Asia, this result is relevant for food safety.

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Spearfishing was becoming an increasingly important economic activity in the Caribbean as a result of socioeconomic factors related to underemployment and the low capital outlay for equipment. For a year (2011) we surveyed spearfishing in 23 Jamaican beaches. Spearfishing has expanded from approximately 1% of fishers in 1991 to about 10% in 2011. The fishery is larger than expected and probably produced 4 000tons per year. Though reef fishes dominated catches, other resources such as lobsters, conch and octopus were regularly taken. Many small juvenile fishes were observed in catches well below their adult or optimum sizes. A total of 58% of spear-fishers reported they would have significant difficulty finding alternative employment if spearfishing was banned. Spearfishers reported exploiting the entire island shelf and also nearly all the offshore banks, especially Pedro Bank. Night spearfishing was common and targeted sleeping reef fishes. The activity is banned and should be enforced. Our recommendations include: register all spearfishers, actively manage spearfishing, a partial ban for part of the year and a ban on using scuba and hookah gear for spearfishing.

Un estudio de la pesca submarina en Jamaica durante el 2011 reveló una pesquería mayor que la esperada, que produce aproximadamente 4 000 toneladas por año de todos los tipos de recursos pesqueros. Este nivel de producción esta por encima de lo que se pensaba era una actividad pesquera de pequeña escala. Esta pesquería especializada se ha ampliado aproximadamente en 1% de pescadores a al menos el 10%, en un periodo de 20 años (1991 a 2011). Aunque los peces de coral se dominaran como otros recursos tales como langostas, concha y pulpo. Aunque no era un objetivo del censo se observaron muchos peces juveniles en las capturas con tamaños muy por debajo de su tamaño adulto u óptimo. Un total de 58% pescadores informaron que tendrían dificultad para encontrar otra opción de empleo si la pesca submarina se prohibe. Los pescadores explotan recursos en la plataforma de la isla y también en casi todos los bancos de la costa sobre todo en el Banco de Pedro. Este estudio también muestra que comunmente se práctica la pesca submarina durante la noche con el fin de capturar peces de coral durmiendo. A pesar de que esta actividad es prohibida. Se recomienda que los pescadores se registren y que se regule la actividad. Posibles acciones incluyen considerar la prohibición parcial durante el año o prohibir el uso de equipo de buceo y narguile.

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