Growth and mass wasting of volcanic centers in the northern South Sandwich arc, South Atlantic, revealed by new multibeam mapping

New multibeam (swath) bathymetric sonar data acquired using an EM120 system on the RRS James Clark Ross, supplemented by sub-bottom profiling, reveals the underwater morphology of a not, vert, similar 12,000 km2 area in the northern part of the mainly submarine South Sandwich volcanic arc. The new data extend between 55° 45′S and 57° 20′S and include Protector Shoal and the areas around Zavodovski, Visokoi and the Candlemas islands groups. Each of these areas is a discrete volcanic center. The entirely submarine Protector Shoal area, close to the northern limit of the arc, forms a 55 km long east–west-trending seamount chain that is at least partly of silicic composition. The seamounts are comparable to small subaerial stratovolcanoes in size, with volumes up to 83 km3, indicating that they are the product of multiple eruptions over extended periods. Zavodovski, Visokoi and the Candlemas island group are the summits of three 3–3.5 km high volcanic edifices. The bathymetric data show evidence for relationships between constructional volcanic features, including migrating volcanic centers, structurally controlled constructional ridges, satellite lava flows and domes, and mass wasting of the edifices. Mass wasting takes place mainly by strong erosion at sea level, and dispersal of this material along chutes, probably as turbidity currents and other mass flows that deposit in extensive sediment wave fields. Large scale mass wasting structures include movement of unconsolidated debris in slides, slumps and debris avalanches. Volcanism is migrating westward relative to the underlying plate and major volcanoes are asymmetrical, being steep with abundant recent volcanism on their western flanks, and gently sloping with extinct, eroded volcanic sequences to their east. This is consistent with the calculated rate of subduction erosion of the fore-arc

International Bottom Trawl Survey Working Group (IBTSWG). ICES Scientific Reports, 04:65

The International Bottom Trawl Survey Working Group (IBTSWG) coordinates fishery-independent bottom trawl surveys in the ICES area in the Northeast Atlantic and the North Sea. These long-term monitoring surveys provide data for stock assessments and facilitate examina-tion of changes in fish distribution and relative abundance. The group also promotes the stand-ardization of fishing gears and methods as well as survey coordination. This report summarizes the national contributions in 2021–2022 and plans for the 2022–2023 surveys coordinated by IBTSWG

Workshop on Raising Data using the RDBES and TAF (WKRDBESRaiseTAF; outputs from 2022 meeting)

41 páginasThe Workshop on Raising Data using the RDBES and TAF (WKRDBES-Raise&TAF) met online (26–30 of September 2022) to evaluate the use of the Regional Database and Estimation System (RDBES) format to reproduce the 2022 InterCatch input and output, identifying a Transparent Assessment Framework (TAF) structure to organize the intermediate steps and to propose standardized output formats. The main outcomes of WKRDBES-Raise&TAF were: · RDBES provides sufficient support for current national estimation protocols. However, some minor issues were reported that hampered an exact reproduction of the estimates. Therefore, adaptations of the data model should not be excluded completely. · All the input to stock assessment that InterCatch currently provides, could be reproduced. The participants started from the current stock extracts that can be downloaded from InterCatch. · A workflow was proposed with a national TAF repository for each country, a stock estimation repository and a stock assessment repository. The intermediate output of those repositories will be stored in an ‘intermediate output database’ and depending on the user role, you will get access to the relevant stages in this workflow. · The following requirements for the standard output formats were defined: they cannot be more restrictive than the InterCatch input and output format; they should present measures of uncertainty and sample sizes (for national estimates) and should have a configurable domain definition (for national estimates). Despite those successful outcomes, the current plan for transition to an operational system was concluded to be too optimistic. WKRDBES-Raise&TAF therefore recommends to the Working Group on Governance of the Regional Database and Estimation System (WGRDBESGOV) to revise the roadmap and allow RDBES to be in a test phase also for 2023. WKRDBES-Raise&TAF felt the need to test the proposed workflow on a small scale and therefore recommends to the WGRDBESGOV to arrange a workshop where two stocks (pok.27.3a46 (Saithe (Pollachius virens) in Subareas 4, 6 and Division 3.a (North Sea, Rockall and West of Scotland, Skagerrak and Kattegat) and wit.27.3a47d (Witch (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) in Subarea 4 and Divisions 3.a and 7.d (North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel)) will be set up to go through the whole flow.Peer reviewe

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Herring Assessment Working Group for the Area South of 62° N (HAWG).

The ICES herring assessment working group (HAWG) met online for nine days in March 2023 to assess the state of six herring (Clupea harengus) and three sprat (Sprattus sprattus) stocks. Additionally, HAWG provided advice for eight Sandeel (Ammodytes spp.) in January 2023. The working group conducted update category 1 assessments for four of the herring stocks and category 3 assessments for 2 herring stocks. An analytical assessment was performed for the combined North Sea and Division 3.a sprat, and data limited assessment (ICES category 3) was conducted for English Channel sprat (spr.27.7de). Biennial advice is given for sprat in the Celtic Seas and West of Scotland with advice provided in 2023.North Sea autumn spawning herring (her.27.3a47d). SSB in 2022 was estimated at 1.65 million tonnes while F 2–6 in 2021 was estimated at 0.23, which is below FMSY. Recruitment in 2022 is at its highest since 2014, which is expected to contribute positively to SSB levels from 2024 onwards. ICES considers that the stock is still in a low productivity phase.Western Baltic spring-spawning herring (her.27.20-24). SSB in 2022 was estimated at 75,548 tonnes and is below MSY Btrigger, Bpa, and Blim. Recruitment has been low since 2007 and has been deteriorating further with time. F3-6 has been decreasing since 2018 and is now week below FMSY (0.31) at 0.05. The stock has decreased consistently during the second half of the 2000s and given the continued low recruitments, the stock is not able to recover above Blim unless a drastic reduction in fishing effort is applied for several years.Celtic Sea autumn and winter spawning stock (her.27.irls). SSB in 2022 was estimated at 16,539 tonnes, though is increasing from its lowest level seen in 2018 (6,474 tonnes), but remains below Blim (34,000 tonnes). F(2-5 rings) in 2022 was estimated at 0.028, having decreased from a peak of 1.16 in 2017. Recruitment has been consistently below average since 2013.Irish Sea autumn spawning herring (her.27.nirs). SSB in 2022 was estimated at 25,900 tonnes and is above MSY Btrigger, Bpa, and Blim. Recruitment in 2022 is the highest on record and continues the trend of large incoming year-classes in recent years. F4-6 has been stable between 0.22 and 0.24 since 2006 and is below FMSY (0.266).6aN autumn spawning herring (her.27.6aN). SSB in 2022 was estimated at 33,283 tonnes using the genetically split, Malin Shelf Herring Acoustic Survey (MSHAS). Whilst SSB has increased since its lowest level in 2019, these numbers of herring are low compared to historical estimates. Indicators show that stock size is above MSY Btrigger proxy and below FMSY proxy.Herring in 6.aS/7.b, c (her.27.6aS7bc). SSB in 2022 was estimated at 147,199 tonnes using the genetically split, Malin Shelf Herring Acoustic Survey (MSHAS) and has been increasing since the lowest point in 2016 (36,707 t). Recent catches are among the lowest in the time series. Fishing pressure on the stock is below FMSY proxy (0.034) and the stock size index is well above MSY Btrigger proxy (51 390 t).Sprat in the North Sea and 3.a (spr.27.3a4). SSB in 2023 was estimated at 206,581 tonnes and is above MSY Bescapement, Bpa , and Blim. F1-2 has been decreasing since 2016, however there are high levels of fluctuation throughout the time series. Low recruitment in recent years had contributed to the stock being below MSY Bescapement, though this has been alleviated by the 2023 year-class

International Bottom Trawl Survey Working Group (IBTSWG)

The International Bottom Trawl Survey Working Group (IBTSWG) coordinate fishery-independent bottom trawl surveys in the ICES Area (Northeast Atlantic and North Sea) providing an important platform for the collection of additional data such as sampling larval sprat, stomach contents and fish parasites. These long-term monitoring surveys provide data for stock assessments and facilitate analyses of the distributions and relative abundance of fish. IBTSWG promotes the standardization of fishing gears and methods. This report summarizes national contributions in 2022–2023 and plans for the 2023–2024 surveys.In the North Sea, the surveys are performed in Quarter 1 and Q3. The Northeast Atlantic surveys are conducted mostly in Q1, Q3, and Q4 with a suite of 14 national surveys covering large areas of continental shelf extending from northern Scotland to the Gulf of Cádiz.The 2023-Q1 North Sea IBTS was impacted slightly by mechanical issues on one vessel, resulting in some of the Rectangles in the central North Sea being sampled with a single haul instead of the planned two. The 2022-Q3 North Sea IBTS was broadly complete, with the overall number of hauls comparable to previous years, though some Rectangles close to shore or with obstructions may not have had full coverage.The Northeast Atlantic surveys were mostly completed successfully, with the exception of the Scottish west coast groundfish survey in Q1 (cancelled due to vessel breakdown). There was incomplete survey coverage for some of the surveys, including the EVHOE survey (severe weather) and Portuguese groundfish survey (severe weather and mechanical problems). The Spanish surveys in the Gulf of Cádiz (cancelled in 2021) were undertaken in 2022.Recent updates to DATRAS, where the trawl survey data are stored, were summarised and data quality, including catch weights and species identification, was reviewed.IBTSWG met with members of various data users, including relevant stock assessment groups, such as WGNSSK, WGEF and HAWG, presenting summaries of relevant surveys.A proposed new survey trawl, following on from earlier workshops and intersessional discussions, was reviewed. Several nations have conducted, or are planning, gear trials. Pending fine tuning required for the gear, the main aspects of the new trawl have been agreed. IBTSWG plan to hold an intersessional meeting to discuss implementation and to ensure communication and involvement of relevant experts on survey design and survey indices