Marine Recreational Fisheries Management Challenges and Marine Protected Areas: Comparison Between the Mediterranean and Australia

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a management tool of global interest for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. Much of the research attention focused on MPAs is directed towards the cost and benefits of MPAs on commercial fisheries. This chapter compares the development and implementation of MPAs in Australia and the Mediterranean and their potential impacts on the recreational fishing sector. These two contrasting regions differ significantly with respect to bio-physical characteristics, governance arrangements, environmental pressures, experience with MPAs and recreational fishing standpoints. These differences have led to differences in definitions of MPAs and in the development and implementation of MPAs. In both regions, the impact of MPAs on recreational fishing businesses has not been thoroughly analysed and warrants further detailed analysis. Local economies dependent on recreational fishing may suffer when MPAs are of a size and in locations that do not leave significant fishing areas that can still be accessed

Biological Impacts of Recreational Fishing Resulting from Exploitation, Stocking and Introduction

While the biological impacts of commercial fishing are well documented, those of recreational fisheries have received less attention. However, intensive and selective angling and related activities (e.g. fish stocking and introductions) can affect fish populations and aquatic ecosystems, often in conjunction with impacts external to the fishery. The risks range from those occurring to the exploited fish population (truncation of the natural age and size structure, delay of stock rebuilding through depensatory mechanisms, loss of genetic variability and adaptation, evolutionary changes) to those that occur to the aquatic ecosystem (changes in trophic cascades or nutrient cycling). In particular, genetic changes and the loss of biodiversity can be a severe threat to fish communities and ecosystems and require sophisticated management approaches. Finally, those implications for a sustainable management of recreational fisheries are discussed, which can help to reduce or avoid unwanted biological effects, social conflicts and ensure the long-term persistence of the natural resources

Changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and the blood transcriptome in preterm infants at less than 29 weeks gestation diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic lung condition in preterm infants that results in abnormal lung development and leads to considerable morbidity and mortality, making BPD one of the most common complications of preterm birth. We employed RNA sequencing and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to profile gene expression in blood and the composition of the fecal microbiota in infants born at <29 weeks gestational age and diagnosed with BPD in comparison to those of preterm infants that were not diagnosed with BPD. 16S rRNA gene sequencing, performed longitudinally on 255 fecal samples collected from 50 infants in the first months of life, identified significant differences in the relative levels of abundance of Klebsiella, Salmonella, Escherichia/Shigella, and Bifidobacterium in the BPD infants in a manner that was birth mode dependent. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed that more than 400 genes were upregulated in infants with BPD. Genes upregulated in BPD infants were significantly enriched for functions related to red blood cell development and oxygen transport, while several immune-related pathways were downregulated. We also identified a gene expression signature consistent with an enrichment of immunosuppressive CD71⁺ early erythroid cells in infants with BPD. Intriguingly, genes that were correlated in their expression with the relative abundances of specific taxa in the microbiota were significantly enriched for roles in the immune system, suggesting that changes in the microbiota might influence immune gene expression systemically. Importance: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a serious inflammatory condition of the lung and is the most common complication associated with preterm birth. A large body of evidence now suggests that the gut microbiota can influence immunity and inflammation systemically; however, the role of the gut microbiota in BPD has not been evaluated to date. Here, we report that there are significant differences in the gut microbiota of infants born at <29 weeks gestation and subsequently diagnosed with BPD, which are particularly pronounced when infants are stratified by birth mode. We also show that erythroid and immune gene expression levels are significantly altered in BPD infants. Interestingly, we identified an association between the composition of the microbiota and immune gene expression in blood in early life. Together, these findings suggest that the composition of the microbiota may influence the risk of developing BPD and, more generally, may shape systemic immune gene expression.Feargal J. Ryan, Damian P. Drew, Chloe Douglas, Lex E.X. Leong, Max Moldovan, Miriam Lynn, Naomi Fink, Anastasia Sribnaia, Irmeli Penttila, Andrew J. McPhee, Carmel T. Collins, Maria Makrides, Robert A. Gibson, Geraint B. Rogers, David J. Lyn

Estimating recreational fishing tackle loss in Mediterranean coastal areas: Potential impacts on wildlife

7 pagesThis study evaluates the loss of recreational fishing tackle, for the first time, in a Mediterranean coastal area and discusses the potential biological impacts on fish and wildlife from exposure to lead, plastic and other toxic materials from recreational fishing. The estimation of lost fishing gear on the seabed took place over a three-year period (2010, 2011 and 2012) using divers, in two zones (4700 m2 and 5300 m2, respectively). The most abundant were lead weights (sinkers), which made up 36% of the total. Overall, the presence of a multitude of potentially harmful materials in our study area, particularly in shallow waters, demonstrates the importance of conducting studies to determine the actual impact resulting from the loss of recreational fishing tackle so that effective regulatory measures can be developed for this activity. Management concerns about these potential impacts, as well as possible solutions, are discussedPeer reviewe