A BIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE NORWEGIAN SPRING SPAWNING HERRING (NSSH) STOCK

A biological model belonging to the Beverton-Holt age-structured family for the Norwegian spring spawning herring (Clupea harengus) (NSSH) is simulated, the outcome of which compares well with actual data on the fishery. This model is then combined with an economic model to help investigate how optimal a management policy of constant fishing mortality will be for a fishery such as the NSSH, which has a highly fluctuating stock biomass. For the range of constant values of fishing mortality explored, and a simulation time horizon of 20 years, a constant fishing mortality of 0.15 turns out to be economically optimal. It should be noted that this result is sensitive to variations in the assumptions underlying key variables of the fishery. For example, when a constant rather than variable recruitment was assumed, a different optimal fishing mortality rate was obtained.bioeconomic model, herring optimal management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q57, Q22, Q28,

PERFORMANCE OF AN AUTOMOTIVE BUMPER FROM LALLOH (Corchorus triden L.) PLANT FIBRE REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITE UNDER MODIFIED DYNATUP MODEL 8150 TEST

The work presented here is the production of an automotive Bumper from Lalloh plant (Corchorus tridenL.) fibre reinforced epoxy composite and its performance evaluation using the drop weight test method. An impact test was carried out on the bumper using a test rig modeled after the Dynatup Model 8150 drop weight test set up. Two test variants were used that is, with the bumper completely restraint and the bumper restraint at two-points. The bumper damage were assessed using a set of criteria as outlined by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Results obtained showed that the bumper performed satisfactorily under the completely restraint condition. However, there were, tears, distortion and delamination observed on the bumper after the two-point constraint test. Although the extent of the tear, distortion and delamination were minimal which did not result in the shattering of the bumper. This therefore showed that, the bumper was able to absorb the impact energy by confining the damage to itself, thereby protecting adjacent components

Comparative Nitrogen fixation, native arbuscular mycorrhiza formation and biomass production potentials of some grain legume species grown in the iield in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Ghana

An on-station trial was conducted in the experimental field of Savanna Agricultural Research Institute at Nyankpala in the Northern Region of Ghana to assess the nitrogen fixation, native arbuscular mycorrhizal formation and biomass production potentials of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), devil-bean (Crotalaria retusa), Mucuna pruriens var. utilis(black and white types) and Canavalia ensiformis with maize (Dorke SR) as the reference crop using the total nitrogen difference (TND) method. Plants were fertilized with 40 kg P/ha and 30 kg K/ha at 2 weeks after planting and grown for 55 days after which they were harvested. The harvested biomass (separated into roots, stems and leaves) of eachcrop was oven-dried at 70 oC for 48 h to a constant weight. Cowpea and devil-bean produced approximately 5 and 6 t/ha biomass whereas Mucuna and Canavalia yielded about 2 t/ha biomass each. Although cowpea had the least number of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungal (AMF) spores in its rhizosphere, its roots were the most heavily colonized (34%) and M. pruriens recording below 5% colonization. Apart from C. ensiformis, the test legumes derived over 50% of their total accumulated N from the atmosphere with cowpea being the most efficient (90% Ndfa). Both N and Paccumulations were significantly higher in cowpea than the other legumes due to increased N concentration and dry matter accumulation, respectively. In all the legumes, there was a direct positive correlation between the extent of mycorrhiza formation, biological N fixation and total N uptake. It could, therefore, be concluded that the extensivemycorrhiza formation in cowpea and its high N2-fixing potential resulted in a high shoot N and P uptake leading to a comparatively better growth enhancement. Cowpea could, therefore, be the grain legume for consideration in the selection of a suitable legume pre-crop to cereals for the amelioration of the low fertility of the degraded soils of the Guinea savanna zone of Ghana, and also as a source of food to fill the hunger gap that precedes the growing season in the Northern Region of Ghana

Health Hazards Associated with Electric and Magnetic Field Intensities around Mobile Base Stations in Katsina State, Nigeria

This work was carried out to assess the health hazards associated with exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile base stations (MBS) within Katsina, Nigeria. Seventy seven MBS were identified through reconnaissance survey. Received radiated power was measured at a distance of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80m from the MBS using a handheld B and K precision spectrum analyser. Electric and magnetic field intensities (E and H) were calculated. E (mV/m) and H (μA/m) had average values of; 21.03 and 55.78 for MTN; 9.41 and 24.96 for GLO; 2.33 and 6.18, for Etisalat; 18.32 and 48.62 for Airtel. Our results indicated that the general public exposure from radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation from all the considered mobile base stations is within the acceptable threshold of 61 V/m for Electric field intensity and 0.16A/m for Magnetic field intensity. Keywords: Mobile base stations, Radiation, Katsina, Health hazard, Electric field, Magnetic fiel

A General Business Model for Marine Reserves

Marine reserves are an effective tool for protecting biodiversity locally, with potential economic benefits including enhancement of local fisheries, increased tourism, and maintenance of ecosystem services. However, fishing communities often fear short-term income losses associated with closures, and thus may oppose marine reserves. Here we review empirical data and develop bioeconomic models to show that the value of marine reserves (enhanced adjacent fishing + tourism) may often exceed the pre-reserve value, and that economic benefits can offset the costs in as little as five years. These results suggest the need for a new business model for creating and managing reserves, which could pay for themselves and turn a profit for stakeholder groups. Our model could be expanded to include ecosystem services and other benefits, and it provides a general framework to estimate costs and benefits of reserves and to develop such business models

Climate change increases the risk of fisheries conflict

The effects of climate change on the ocean environment – especially ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise – will impact fish stocks and fishers in important ways. Likely impacts include changes in fish stocks’ productivity and distribution, human migration to and away from coastal areas, stresses on coastal fisheries infrastructure, and challenges to prevailing maritime boundaries. In this paper, we explore these and other related phenomena, in order to assess whether and how the impacts of climate change on fisheries will contribute to the risk of fisheries conflict. We argue that climate change will entail an increase in the conditions that may precipitate fisheries conflict, and thereby create new challenges for existing fisheries management institutions. Several potential changes in fisheries management policy are recommended to avert the growing risk of fisheries-related conflicts

How U.S. Ocean Policy and Market Power Can Reform the Coral Reef Wildlife Trade

As the world’s largest importer of marine ornamental species for the aquaria, curio, home décor, and jewelry industries, the United States has an opportunity to leverage its considerable market power to promote more sustainable trade and reduce the effects of ornamental trade stress on coral reefs worldwide. Evidence indicates that collection of some coral reef animals for these trades has caused virtual elimination of local populations, major changes in age structure, and promotion of collection practices that destroy reef habitats. Management and enforcement of collection activities in major source countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines remain weak. Strengthening US trade laws and enforcement capabilities combined with increasing consumer and industry demand for responsible conservation can create strong incentives for improving management in source countries. This is particularly important in light of the March 2010 failure of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to take action on key groups of corals