Status, trends and management of sturgeon and paddlefish fisheries

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75518/1/j.1467-2979.2005.00190.x.pd

Population aggregation analysis of three caviar-producing species of sturgeons and implications for the species identification of black caviar.

Abstract: We describe a reliable method for the identification of the species source for caviar. The assay is based on the identification of diagnostic nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial Análisis de Agregación de Poblaciones de Tres Especies de Esturiones Productoras de Caviar y sus Implicaciones en la Identificación de Especies de Caviar Negro Resumen: Describimos un método confiable para la identificación de las especies fuente de caviar. La prueba se basa en la identificación de posiciones diagnóstico de nucleótidos en el gen citocromo b de una base de datos de secuencias de 20 de las 25 especies de esturiones vivientes. La colección de datos se basa en PCR y puede identificar fácilmente los estados de diversas posiciones diagnóstico de nucleótidos del gen citocromo b de las tres especies comerciales de esturiones mas importantes productoras de caviar

Research Tools to Investigate Movements, Migrations, and Life History of Sturgeons (Acipenseridae), with an Emphasis on Marine-Oriented Populations

Worldwide, sturgeons (Acipenseridae) are among the most endangered fishes due to habitat degradation, overfishing, and inherent life history characteristics (long life span, late maturation, and infrequent spawning). As most sturgeons are anadromous, a considerable portion of their life history occurs in estuarine and marine environments where they may encounter unique threats (e.g., interception in non-target fisheries). Of the 16 marine-oriented species, 12 are designated as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and these include species commercially harvested. We review important research tools and techniques (tagging, electronic tagging, genetics, microchemistry, observatory) and discuss the comparative utility of these techniques to investigate movements, migrations, and life-history characteristics of sturgeons. Examples are provided regarding what the applications have revealed regarding movement and migration and how this information can be used for conservation and management. Through studies that include Gulf (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) and Green Sturgeon (A. medirostris), we illustrate what is known about well-studied species and then explore lesser-studied species. A more complete picture of migration is available for North American sturgeon species, while European and Asian species, which are among the most endangered sturgeons, are less understood. We put forth recommendations that encourage the support of stewardship initiatives to build awareness and provide key information for population assessment and monitoring

Research Tools to Investigate Movements, Migrations, and Life History of Sturgeons (Acipenseridae), with an Emphasis on Marine-Oriented Populations

Worldwide, sturgeons (Acipenseridae) are among the most endangered fishes due to habitat degradation, overfishing, and inherent life history characteristics (long life span, late maturation, and infrequent spawning). As most sturgeons are anadromous, a considerable portion of their life history occurs in estuarine and marine environments where they may encounter unique threats (e.g., interception in non-target fisheries). Of the 16 marine-oriented species, 12 are designated as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, and these include species commercially harvested. We review important research tools and techniques (tagging, electronic tagging, genetics, microchemistry, observatory) and discuss the comparative utility of these techniques to investigate movements, migrations, and life-history characteristics of sturgeons. Examples are provided regarding what the applications have revealed regarding movement and migration and how this information can be used for conservation and management. Through studies that include Gulf (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) and Green Sturgeon (A. medirostris), we illustrate what is known about well-studied species and then explore lesser-studied species. A more complete picture of migration is available for North American sturgeon species, while European and Asian species, which are among the most endangered sturgeons, are less understood. We put forth recommendations that encourage the support of stewardship initiatives to build awareness and provide key information for population assessment and monitoring

Population aggregation analysis of three caviar-producing species of sturgeons and implications for the species identification of black caviar.

Abstract: We describe a reliable method for the identification of the species source for caviar. The assay is based on the identification of diagnostic nucleotide positions in the mitochondrial Análisis de Agregación de Poblaciones de Tres Especies de Esturiones Productoras de Caviar y sus Implicaciones en la Identificación de Especies de Caviar Negro Resumen: Describimos un método confiable para la identificación de las especies fuente de caviar. La prueba se basa en la identificación de posiciones diagnóstico de nucleótidos en el gen citocromo b de una base de datos de secuencias de 20 de las 25 especies de esturiones vivientes. La colección de datos se basa en PCR y puede identificar fácilmente los estados de diversas posiciones diagnóstico de nucleótidos del gen citocromo b de las tres especies comerciales de esturiones mas importantes productoras de caviar

Diversity and Movement of Reef-Associated Elasmobranchs at a Caribbean Oceanic Atoll (Glover\u27s Reef, Belize): Implications for Marine Reserve Design

Little is known about the sharks and rays of the Mesoamerican Caribbean. Studies of the elasmobranch fauna of Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve (GRMR), Belize, demonstrate its importance for a diversity of elasmobranchs and provide essential information for marine protected area design. A five year survey documents GRMR as a nursery area for four species of elasmobranchs and the use of the atoll by eight other species (6 sharks, 2 batoids), including the Galapagos shark, C. galapagensis, previously known in the Caribbean from only one specimen. Differences exist in elasmobranch abundance, species composition and intraspecific size distribution among shallow lagoon, deep lagoon, ocean reef, and inshore habitats. Telemetry studies of two common sharks illustrate movement within and outside of the atoll and across the boundaries of the no-take zone of the marine reserve. GRMR is an important breeding ground for several species of elasmobranchs and in need of further study and conservation. For effective conservation of elasmobranchs, an ecosystem based approach should be taken in designing marine protected areas. Zoned management plans are needed that incorporate a fairly large no-take reserve that protects diverse habitats and the connections between them, surrounded by a larger area where fishing is regulated

Testing the effectiveness of an international conservation agreement: marketplace forensics and CITES caviar trade regulation.

BACKGROUND: The international wildlife trade is a key threat to biodiversity. Temporal genetic marketplace monitoring can determine if wildlife trade regulation efforts such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are succeeding. Protected under CITES effective 1997, sturgeons and paddlefishes, the producers of black caviar, are flagship CITES species. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We test whether CITES has limited the amount of fraudulent black caviar reaching the marketplace. Using mitochondrial DNA-based methods, we compare mislabeling in caviar and meat purchased in the New York City area pre and post CITES listing. Our recent sampling of this market reveals a decrease in mislabeled caviar (2006-2008; 10%; n = 90) compared to pre-CITES implementation (1995-1996; 19%; n = 95). Mislabeled caviar was found only in online purchase (n = 49 online/41 retail). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Stricter controls on importing and exporting as per CITES policies may be having a positive conservation effect by limiting the amount of fraudulent caviar reaching the marketplace. Sturgeons and paddlefishes remain a conservation priority, however, due to continued overfishing and habitat degradation. Other marine and aquatic species stand to benefit from the international trade regulation that can result from CITES listing

Applying Genetic Techniques to Study Remote Shark Fisheries in Northeastern Madagascar

Background and aims: The shark fisheries of Madagascar remain largely unstudied. Remoteness makes fisheries monitoring challenging while the high value of shark fins combined with the extreme poverty in Madagascar creates intensive pressure on shark resources. Materials and methods: We use DNA barcoding and species-specific PCR assays to characterize shark fisheries in Antongil Bay in northeastern Madagascar. Results: The 239 samples taken from individuals collected in 2001 and 2002 correspond to 19 species. The four most common species were Sphyrna lewini, Rhizoprionodon acutus, Carcharhinus brevipinna, and C. sorrah. Antongil Bay may be a breeding area for C. brevipinna, C. leucas, and S. lewini. Conclusion: Local names are generally not a useful proxy for monitoring the species harvested in the fishery. Conservation efforts should characterize species exploitation at present, create spatial and temporal fishing restrictions to protect endangered species, and restrict large mesh gillnets