Ranked Risk Assessment for Bycatch in Multiple Fisheries: a Bioregional Risk Assessment Method

This report demonstrates a method to rapidly assess the cumulative risk to sustainability of bycatch species of multiple fisheries. The method draws on other techniques already published in scientific literature and adds a new cumulative ranked estimate of total catch across multiple fisheries

Status of nearshore finfish stocks in south-western Western Australia Part 3: Whiting (Sillaginidae): NRM Project 09003

The whiting family (Sillaginidae) is common in nearshore waters of south-western Western Australia (WA) where it is highly valued by recreational and commercial fishers. The importance of these species to recreational fishers is reflected in this category of fishes being ranked as the most or 2nd most retained finfish species group by boat- and shore-based fishers in several recreational fishing surveys in WA. Whiting are commercially important in a number of fisheries, with total state catches averaging over 200 tonnes per annum since 1980. The composition of the whiting catch, however, is largely unknown, with a number of whiting species potentially contributing substantially to the overall catch of this family. The recreational and commercial fisheries that capture whiting can therefore be considered very data-limited, due to the lack of species-specific data that prohibit a robust assessment of the status of the stocks of the different whiting species. The main purpose of this report is to determine the species composition of whiting landings caught recreationally and commercially in south-western WA. This report then investigates the stock status of the key (most abundant) whiting species identified in the recreational catch

Management implications of climate change effect on fisheries in Western Australia Part 2: Case studies FRDC Project No. 2010/535

The Western Rock Lobster Panulirus cygnus (George) is taken by commercial and recreational fishers throughout its geographic range along the lower west coast of Western Australia. It is fished by three managed fisheries; West Coast Rock Lobster Managed Fishery (WCRLMF), Augusta–Windy Harbour Managed Fishery and the South Coast Crustacean Fisheries. The WCRLMF is the largest fishery encompassing most of the Western Rock Lobster’s (WRL) geographic range (Figure 1.1.1), including the most productive regions and is Australia’s largest single-species fishery worth $200–400 million annually

The Changing Landscape for Stroke\ua0Prevention in AF: Findings From the GLORIA-AF Registry Phase 2

Background GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic treatment patterns in patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke. Phase 2 began when dabigatran, the first non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), became available. Objectives This study sought to describe phase 2 baseline data and compare these with the pre-NOAC era collected during phase 1. Methods During phase 2, 15,641 consenting patients were enrolled (November 2011 to December 2014); 15,092 were eligible. This pre-specified cross-sectional analysis describes eligible patients\u2019 baseline characteristics. Atrial fibrillation disease characteristics, medical outcomes, and concomitant diseases and medications were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Of the total patients, 45.5% were female; median age was 71 (interquartile range: 64, 78) years. Patients were from Europe (47.1%), North America (22.5%), Asia (20.3%), Latin America (6.0%), and the Middle East/Africa (4.0%). Most had high stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VASc [Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age  6575 years, Diabetes mellitus, previous Stroke, Vascular disease, Age 65 to 74 years, Sex category] score  652; 86.1%); 13.9% had moderate risk (CHA2DS2-VASc = 1). Overall, 79.9% received oral anticoagulants, of whom 47.6% received NOAC and 32.3% vitamin K antagonists (VKA); 12.1% received antiplatelet agents; 7.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. For comparison, the proportion of phase 1 patients (of N = 1,063 all eligible) prescribed VKA was 32.8%, acetylsalicylic acid 41.7%, and no therapy 20.2%. In Europe in phase 2, treatment with NOAC was more common than VKA (52.3% and 37.8%, respectively); 6.0% of patients received antiplatelet treatment; and 3.8% received no antithrombotic treatment. In North America, 52.1%, 26.2%, and 14.0% of patients received NOAC, VKA, and antiplatelet drugs, respectively; 7.5% received no antithrombotic treatment. NOAC use was less common in Asia (27.7%), where 27.5% of patients received VKA, 25.0% antiplatelet drugs, and 19.8% no antithrombotic treatment. Conclusions The baseline data from GLORIA-AF phase 2 demonstrate that in newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, NOAC have been highly adopted into practice, becoming more frequently prescribed than VKA in Europe and North America. Worldwide, however, a large proportion of patients remain undertreated, particularly in Asia and North America. (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation [GLORIA-AF]; NCT01468701

Challenges of external insemination in a tropical sparid fish, Acanthopagrus berda

Duration of spermatozoa motility and proportion activated were tested under a range of salinities and temperatures in males of the tropical estuarine fish, Acanthopagrus berda, in both laboratory and novel field experiments. A. berda spermatozoa were activated under a wide range of salinities (5–60%) and showed the greatest duration of motility at approximately 30%) in both laboratory and field fish. The duration of activation exceeded 10 minutes at this salinity. However, relatively low activation rates were recorded (50–70%). The long duration of motility, wide range of activation salinities and low proportion of motile spermatozoa may reflect a reproductive style in A. berda of producing at least some motile spermatozoa despite the ambient conditions at spawning. This is discussed in relation to fishes from other habitats and the wide distribution of A. berda

Variations in condition and body constitution in a tropical estuarine fish with year-round recruitment

Fish condition (Fulton's K) and the abundance of biochemical constituents (water, protein, lipid and carbohydrate) of juveniles of the tropical estuarine fish, Ambassis vachelli, were monitored over a 15 month period. Fulton's K and biochemical constituents of juveniles recruiting into the adult habitat varied significantly throughout the study. Correlations between Fulton's K and all biochemical measures were weak, with a maximum correlation of 0.1379 (with protein abundance). Significant differences in condition and body constitution of individuals suggest that juveniles recruiting into the adult habitat are not in equal condition and therefore survivorship and success may vary within and among cohorts. Temperature (and salinity) display greater variation in tropical estuarine waters than in other tropical waters and are likely to play a role in determining recruit condition and body constitution. However, the exact role of physical parameters in determining condition and body constitution of fishes is still unknown

Otolith increment widths as tools to record and assess environmental changes in estuarine areas

Otolith increments are widely used as accurate measures of age in fish biology and fisheries science. However, the information recorded in otolith increments can be put to a variety of other uses. For example, there is the potential of using the conservative physiology of otoliths as a powerful recording and monitoring tool in environmental and ecological studies. This paper presents the background to the application of otolith increment widths and provides evidence of their utility as a tool for monitoring environmental changes in estuaries and other aquatic systems. Future use of otolith increment widths as part of environmental impact assessments and monitoring is discussed and encouraged, as are the requirements of candidate species of fishes for this exciting field