TOXICITY OF PREDNISOLONE, DEXAMETHASONE AND THEIR PHOTOCHEMICAL DERIVATIVES ON AQUATIC ORGANISMS

Light exposure of aqueous suspensions of prednisolone and dexamethasone causes their partial phototransformation. The photoproducts, isolated by chromatographic techniques, have been identified by spectroscopic means. Prednisolone, dexamethasone and their photoproducts have been tested to evaluate their acute and chronic toxic effects on some freshwater chain organisms. The rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and the crustaceans Thamnocephalus platyurus and Daphnia magna were chosen to perform acute toxicity tests, while the alga Pseudokircheneriella subcapitata (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) and the crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia to perform chronic tests. The photochemical derivatives are more toxic than the parent compounds. Generally low acute toxicity was found. Chronic exposure to this class of pharmaceuticals caused inhibition of growth population on the freshwater crustacean C. dubia while the alga P. subcapitata seems to be less affected by the presence of these drugs

Valutazione dell’impatto del settore della pesca sull’ecosistema marino - Indicatori ecosistemici (sezione V) Sub-area Geografica (GSA) 16 – Stretto di Sicilia Anno 2016

Il Programma Nazionale Italiano 2014-2016 di Raccolta Dati nel settore della pesca prevede, inter alia, la stima di cinque indicatori dell’impatto della pesca nell’ecosistema marino, in accordo con quanto riportato nell’appendice XIII della Decisione della Commissione del 6 novembre 200

La reproducción de la cigala (Nephrops norvegicus, Crustacea Decapoda Nephropidae) en diferentes zonas del Mediterráneo

The main aspects of reproduction - namely times of ovarian maturation, brooding and hatching, sizes of maturation and fecundity - were studied in female Norway lobsters in seven areas of the Mediterranean biogeographic subprovince: the Algarve Sea, the Alboran Sea, the Catalan Sea, the Ligurian Sea, the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Adriatic Sea and the Gulf of Euboikos. These included both shelf and slope populations within a latitudinal range of 8°. The reproduction showed clear seasonality with some small differences between areas: maturation delayed by 1-2 months in northern areas (Ligurian, N. Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas) compared to southern areas; absence of embryos for periods of 4-5 months in slope females and for less clearly defined periods in shelf females. The case study of the Ligurian Sea was used to illustrate the ovarian cycle and to describe the pre- and post-puberal growth of the female. First mating occurs at an average size of 32 mm CL, which corresponds to age 3+ of the female and the hatching of the first brood corresponds to age 4. Differences were registered in reproductive sizes in the study areas, with a range of 23-30 mm CL for the smallest berried females and a range of 30-36 mm CL in the 50% maturity size. These differences were ascribed to local factors, whereas ages of the basic steps of reproduction were assumed to be unchanged. Females of age 2 formed the most abundant share of the fished stock. An estimate of fecundity was made in terms of brood size (embryos were counted at an early stage of development): the range was 1119-1834 embryos in a standard female of 35 mm CL. Reproductive potential, calculated on the basis of a virtual population analysis, was strongly influenced by the size structure of the female population in each area and there was a ratio of about 14:1 between the least (Ligurian) and the most exploited (Catalan) fishing grounds.En siete áreas de la subprovincia biogeográfica Mediterránea: costas de Algarve, Alborán, mar Catalán, mar Ligur, norte del Tirreno, Adriático y golfo de Euboikos, se estudian los principales aspectos de la reproducción (período de maduración ovárica, incubación y eclosión, talla de primera maduración y fecundidad) de la cigala. Las poblaciones estudiadas proceden tanto de la plataforma como del talud continental abarcando un rango latitudinal de 8º. La reproducción muestra una clara estacionalidad con pequeñas diferencias entre áreas: la maduración puede presentarse retrasada en 1–2 meses en las áreas más septentrionales (Liguria, Tyrrheno y Adriático), respecto a las áreas más meridonales; ausencia de embriones durante 4-5 meses en hembras del talud y períodods menos claramente definidos en las hembras de la plataforma. Se presenta como ejemplo el caso concreto del mar Ligur con el fin de ilustrar el ciclo gonadal y describir el crecimiento pre y post pubertal de las hembras. La primera cópula ocurre alrededor de los 32 mm CL, lo que corresponde a una edad de 3+ años, mientras que la primera eclosión de los huevos corresponderá a los 4 años. También se observaron diferencias en las tallas reproductivas de las hembras entre las distintas zonas, desde un rango de entre 23 y 30 mm CL para las hembras ovadas más pequeñas, hasta un rango de entre 30-36 mm CL, para las hembras en la talla del 50% de madurez. Estas diferencias se atribuyen a factores locales asumiendo que el patrón reproductor básico es el mismo. Las hembras de edad 2 constituyen la mayor parte del stock pescado. La estimación de la fecundidad se establece en base al tamaño de la puesta (embriones contados en los primeros estados de desarrollo). Para hembras estándar de 35 mm de CL, se estimaron un número de huevos entre 1119 y 1834. El potencial reproductor se calculó en base al análisis de la población virtual y fue estrechamente influenciado por la estructura de tallas de la población de hembras en cada área. La máxima diferencia encontrada, con una proporción de 14:1, fue entre Liguria y Cataluña, esta última como zona más explotada

How Can We Reduce the Overexploitation of the Mediterranean Resources?

Based on the characteristics of the fishing sector (multispecies and multi-gears) and the stock status of main resources (overfishing and overexploitation), some suggestions to improve the sustainability of demersal and small pelagic fisheries in the Mediterranean are proposed. In fisheries exploiting single or few species, such as small pelagics and deep-water red shrimps, the adoption of a management system based on catch quota approaches is suggested. In the case of mixed fisheries exploiting species with very different biological traits, it is proposed to reduce the fishing effort to a level corresponding to the lower range of the “pretty good yield” of the main target species while improving the status of the most sensitive associated species, adopting technical measures to mitigate fishing mortality. The feasibility of the proposed approaches is briefly discussed, taking into account the different levels of development of the Mediterranean countries

Escape Survival and Scale Damage Assessment of Red Mullet (Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758) during Bottom Trawling in the Central Mediterranean Sea

Stock assessments routinely evaluate the status of commercially harvested species, but seldom account for the possible mortality of released or escaping fish. This study presents a method for estimating the escape survival of the red mullet (Mullus barbatus) from demersal trawling in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Fish escaping from the trawl codend were collected in a detachable cage, which was lined to reduce water flow and protect the sampled fish from further fatigue and injury. Control fish (from an open codend) showed high survival, 94% (87–97%, 95% Confidence Interval), and minimal injuries, while fish escaping through codend meshes had significantly increased injuries and reduced survival, 63% (55–70%). During 7 days of captive monitoring, treatment group mortality was highest in the first 24 h and ceased for both groups within 48 h. Conflicting length-related mortality was observed, where larger treatment fish had a higher probability of dying, while the opposite was observed in the controls. Analysis showed that treatment fish were significantly more injured than control fish, with treatment fish predominantly injured in the head zone. In conclusion, this improved methodology should be repeated to provide accurate escape mortality estimates for the improved stock assessment of the red mullet in the Central Mediterranean

smartR: An r package for spatial modelling of fisheries and scenario simulation of management strategies

Abstract Overfishing or exploitation patterns with high juvenile mortalities often negatively impact demersal fish stocks. Meanwhile, the increased availability and diffusion of georeferenced information is propelling a revolution of marine spatial planning. A spatial‐explicit approach to the management of fishing effort should protect the Essential Fish Habitats and minimize the impact of trawlers on areas where juveniles of commercial species concentrate. The smartR package is a data‐driven model that implements the Spatially explicit bio‐economic Model for Assessing and managing demeRsal Trawl fisheries to edit and format the raw data; construct and maintain coherent datasets; to numerically and visually inspect the generated metadata; to simulate management scenarios and forecast the possible effects in terms of resources status and economic performances of the fleets. Explicit inclusion of the spatial dimension is essential to improve the understanding of the fishery system, and to enhance the ability of management plans to improve stocks statuses

Application of the MESMA framework. Case study : Strait of Sicily

This deliverable D2.2 comprises a manual containing the protocol for the application of the generic framework to the MESMA case studies. The generic framework (deliverable D2.1) is the central document for the subsequent work packages of MESMA. It provides a best practice guide for monitoring and evaluation of Spatially Managed Areas (SMA) in seven distinctive and clearly outlined steps which comprise 1) setting the context, 2) collation of existing information and mapping, 3) setting of targets, 4) risk analysis and state assessment, 5) assessment of findings against operational objectives, 6) evaluation of the effectiveness of management measures and 7) adaptation of the current management regime based on the outcome of the assessments (for details see D2.1). Although the framework has been developed as a generic tool for use by a range of people involved in evaluating SMAs, the first version of the manual was specifically tailored (in certain areas) for use by the case studies (WP3 of MESMA). It was designed to be an aid to the case studies applying the framework. Thus, feedback on the performance of the framework and manual is guiding the production of a revised framework and manual (D2.3) to be delivered in November 2012. The revised versions will be made available to the wider scientific community and management bodies. This document is the third version of the original document D2.2. As outlined in more detail in D2.1, we have identified several links between the WP2 framework on the one hand and a structured governance analysis (WP6) on the other. These links are indicated in the respective framework steps. The MESMA generic framework and manual does not accommodate for a comprehensivec governance analysis. Therefore the MESMA case study research has two streams – the MESMA framework and the governance research analysis. Governance issues in all MESMA case studies will be analysed through the WP6 Governance Analytical Structure. Further guidance on governance research has been developed and is available in a separate document entitled ‘Guidelines for MESMA WP6 Governance Research’. The WP6 governance research essentially aims to address the following questions: 1) What are the governance approaches and incentives being adopted in a given existing initiative with spatial elements, and how effective are the incentives and governance approaches in that particular context in achieving a particular priority objective? 2) What are the potential incentives and governance approaches that could be implemented to improve effectiveness in achieving the specific objective of an existing initiative and addressing related conflicts? 3) How do wider issues, such as top-down/bottom-up balance, inter-sectoral integration and power, cross-border issues, justice and different levels of knowledge, affect the effectiveness of existing initiatives? This ‘two stream’ approach will provide a clear way forward for combining the MESMA framework and governance research to the case studies in an integrated and coherent manner. As a result, in depth governance analysis covered by the governance work package is outlined briefly in the introduction of each framework step together with specific actions which will be largely carried out under the governance research. Further details on the WP6 governance analysis and on how the two streams of work will be linked from a WP6 governance perspective can be found in the document ‘Guidelines for MESMA WP6 Governance Research’, and Appendix 1 of this document shows a visualisation of the linkages between the two streams of work. It should be noted that in order to be able to link and integrate WP2 and WP6 research, both of the following conditions should be met: 1) Both WP2 and WP6 research are about analysing an existing initiative. Such an initiative may be an integrated marine spatial plan or part of the integrated plan; or if there is no integrated marine spatial plan in place, an existing initiative with spatial elements (e.g. sectoral management plan with spatial restrictions) which may be linked or offer valuable lessons to the future development of an integrated marine spatial plan. 2) WP2 and WP6 research should focus on the same priority objective for at least one run of the WP2 framework. The practical implementation of the framework is also linked to specific tools which will be identified and developed in WP4 and the data handling standards specified in WP5. A revised version of the manual should then interlink the actions underneath each framework step with a set of practical tools comprising technical and conceptual tools.peer-reviewe