Efectos de muestras de tallas erróneas sobre los valores estimados del crecimiento individual y la condición de los stocks

Despite its importance in fisheries studies, there is insufficient understanding on the effect of sampling error or bias on individual growth and other stock indicators. We show the influence of sample length distributions on parameter estimates, illustrating with an example. For the brown swimming crab, we simulated length samples in five configurations and estimated parameters of von Bertalanffy (k, L∞L∞ , t0), asymptotic weight ( W∞W∞ ), weight-length relationship (a, b), growth performance (ϕ’) and condition factor (Kn). Parameter estimates were compared with baseline values using relative bias, standard error and root mean square error. The results show that the accuracy and bias of parameter estimates depend on the lengths sampled. For example, the bias and accuracy of L∞L∞ and W∞W∞ vary inversely with sampled length, whereas combining length segments yields smaller biases of k and t0 than those of L∞L∞ and W∞W∞ . In general, the accuracy of parameter estimates does not always depend on sampling the entire length range, and errors are not the same for all parameters. These results are useful to guide sampling when resources are scarce. We discuss potential reasons for incomplete length sample structure and offer recommendations to obtain best estimates for parameters of interest.A pesar de su importancia en los estudios de pesquerías, aún no se comprende lo suficiente el efecto del error o del sesgo del muestreo en los parámetros de crecimiento individual y otros indicadores poblacionales. Utilizando un ejemplo, aquí se muestra la influencia de las distribuciones muestrales de longitud en las estimaciones de parámetros poblacionales. Para la jaiba café, simulamos muestreo de longitud en cinco configuraciones y estimamos parámetros de von Bertalanffy (k, L∞L∞ , t0), peso asintótico ( W∞W∞ ), relación peso-longitud (a, b), eficiencia de crecimiento (ϕ’), y factor de condición (Kn). Las estimaciones de los parámetros se compararon con valores de referencia utilizando el sesgo relativo, el error estándar y el error cuadrático medio. Los resultados muestran cómo la precisión y el sesgo de las estimaciones de parámetros dependen de las longitudes muestreadas. Por ejemplo, el sesgo y la precisión de L∞L∞ y W∞W∞ , varían inversamente con la longitud muestreada, mientras que la combinación de segmentos de longitud produce sesgos de k y t0 más pequeños que los de L∞L∞ y W∞W∞ . En general, la precisión de las estimaciones de los parámetros no siempre depende del muestreo de todo el rango de tallas disponible, y los errores no son los mismos para todos los parámetros. Estos resultados son útiles para guiar el muestreo cuando los recursos son escasos. Discutimos las posibles razones de la estructura de la muestra de longitud incompleta y ofrecemos recomendaciones para obtener las mejores estimaciones para los parámetros de interés

Fisheries and Biodiversity in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico

The Upper Gulf of California (UGC) has been recognized by its high primary productivity and abundant fishing (Aragon-Noriega & Calderon-Aguilera, 2000). Sediments and nutrients from the Colorado River, and complex hydrodynamics render this as an Important site for spawning, mating and nursing for numerous species of commercial and ecological importance (Cudney & Turk, 1998; Ramirez-Rojo & Aragón-Noriega 2006). Temperature, salinity and abundance of nutrients in this region vary depending on fresh water runoff from the Colorado River (Alvarez-Borrego et al., 1975; Hernández-Ayón et al., 1993; Lavín & Sánchez, 1999). Commercial fishing of high market value resources such as shrimp takes place in the UGC by artisanal or small scale, and industrial fishing. Artisanal fishing is done on relatively small (30 feet) fiber glass boats or artisanal boats with outboard motors, usually operated by two fishers; their primary fishing gear is drift gillnets, which they use to catch croakers, Spanish mackerel and even shrimp. This type of fishing is carried out by cooperatives and individual fishers from the three ports of the UGC: Puerto Peñasco and El Golfo de Santa Clara, in the State of Sonora, and San Felipe, in Baja California. Because marine resources in the region are migratory, fisheries are seasonal generating bursts of accumulated fishing effort over a few months depending on availability of species (see Cudney & Turk 1998). Increasing demand of economically important species has motivated a steady rise in fishing effort and use of gear and fishing practices jeopardizing critical species such as totoaba, Totoaba macdonaldi, an endemic croaker declared under risk of extinction (Cisneros-Mata et al., 1995), and the rare vaquita, Phocoena sinus. Vaquita are accidentally caught in all kinds of gillnets used in the Upper Gulf (D’Agrosa et al., 1995; Blanco 2002)

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Multispecies perspective for small-scale fisheries management: A Trophic analysis of La Paz Bay in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Given the complexity of small-scale fisheries and the difficulties for applying classical assessment methods, the status of these fisheries has been poorly documented. In this study, we used a trophic mass-balance model as an analytical alternative to evaluate the trophic impacts of small-scale fisheries as a whole on the marine ecosystem and their implications for ecosystem-based management, taking as a case study the La Paz bay and adjacent fishing grounds (BALAP) located in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Maturity indices, like ascendency and primary production to respiration ratio, indicate that the BALAP ecosystem is in a developing stage. This seems to be closely related to the reported two-season climatic regime that results in a nutrient supply characterized by an oscillating upwelling. The trophic model predicts a predominance of bottom-up control in the food web, which is congruent with the immaturity of the ecosystem. In this context, fisheries seem not to cause a significant impact to the ecosystem as a whole; however, target species show signals of being fully exploited by fisheries in the system. Red snapper and sharks showed the highest exploitation rates in the ecosystem. Based on these results, we discuss the current stock concept as a population-based management unit and the necessity for defining an ecosystem-based management unit

Changes in the spawning environment of Sardinops caeruleus in the Gulf of California during El Niño 1997-1998

The Sardinops caeruleus fishery decreased drastically in the Gulf of California during the seawater heating generated by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Changes in the spawning environment of this species and their relation with the larval abundance in the Gulf of California during the ENSO 1997-1998 are analysed. Plankton and water samples and CTD data were obtained from cruises made during (November 1997 and March 1998) and after the ENSO (November 1998 and March 1999), coinciding with the spawning period of the species. Higher values of sea surface temperature (SST) and lower values of the stratification parameter [phi] (water column stratification), zooplankton biomass, copepod nauplii, and integrated chla were recorded in November 1997 (ENSO) than in November 1998. Higher values of SST and copepod nauplii were recorded in March 1998 (ENSO) than in March 1999. The differences in zooplankton biomass and chl a were not significant. Principal component analysis recognized two large zones during and after the ENSO; the big island zone (BIZ) and the central Gulf. Low SST values and high of plankton levels were at the BIZ in both Novembers, whereas in the March cruises they were in the central Gulf.Sardinops caeruleus larvae were almost absent during the ENSO, whereas in November 1998 high larval abundance concentrated in the BIZ was recorded. In March 1999 the larval abundance decreased again. The results showed changes in the spawning environment of the species during the cruises influenced by the ENSO, which coincided with low abundance of S. caeruleus larvae. But these environmental changes were buffered more in March than in November, maintaining in the first similar levels of some plankton fractions during and after the event. In November 1998 at the BIZ, the interaction of a SST optimal range for the spawning species (from 18 to 21 °C) and availability of food indicated by the plankton abundance coincided with high abundance of S. caeruleus larvae. In addition, enrichment mechanisms occur in the BIZ (e.g. tidal mixing), that might contribute to generate favourable conditions for spawning of the species