A Review of the South Pacific Tuna Baitfisheries: Small Pelagic Fisheries Associated with Coral-Reefs

A review is given of current information concerning small pelagic fishes exploited for tuna bait in the South Pacific. These fishes are usually caught over or near coral reefs using light attraction and lift nets. The most common and widespread species are anchovies (Engraulidae), sprats (Clupeidae), silversides (Atherinidae), and herrings (Clupeidae). Recorded yields ranged from 0.5 to 2.6t/km2, and methods are described to estimate potential yields empirically in the absence of catch data. Environmental effects on small pelagic fish production are discussed, and evidence is presented to suggest that rainfall markedly affects stolephorid anchovy production. Some species of small pelagic fish, such as Selar spp., Decapterus spp., and Herklotsichthys sp., have been fished traditionally by artisanal fishermen, but anchovy and sprat stocks were probably unexploited prior to pole-and-line tuna fishing in the South Pacific

An indexed bibliography of papers on tagging of tunas and billfishes

Two working parties, the Working Party on Tuna Tagging in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Working Party on Tuna Tagging in the Atlantic and Adjacent Seas, were formed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAD) of the United Nations in 1966 (Anonymous, 1966c). The conveners of these working parties were Dr. James Joseph of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) and Mr. FrankJ. Mather, III, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). In 1969 it was recommended that the working parties direct their attention toward billfishes, as well as tunas (Anonymous, 1969h: 5). One report (Joseph and working party, 1969) was published by the Pacific and Indian Oceans group and two (Mather and working party, 1969 and 1972) were published by the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas group. Each of the three working party reports included a bibliography of tuna and billfish tagging. The compiler of this bibliography, beginning in 1970, prepared numerous memoranda to the members of the working party, most of which included lists of papers on tuna and billfish tagging which had come to his attention, either directly or through members of the working party. The bibliographies in the three working party reports and the lists of references in the memoranda form the basis for the present bibliography

A Japanese fishing joint venture: worker experience and national development in the Solomon Islands

Tuna fisheries, Joint ventures, Fishery development, Sociological aspects, Solomon Islands, Japan,

Tuna live-bait fishes - their exploitation, conservation and management in Lakshadweep

The total annual catch of baitfishes form pole and line fishing areas of Lakshadweep is estimated to be 1251. At Minicoy, the average annual catch is estimated at 9.11 and at Agatti it is estimated to be 51 t. Data from other baitfish fishing areas such as Suheli, Valiapani and Cheriyapani are virtually non-existent. Management options suggested earlier include the collection of fishery data from more areas, studying the biology and understanding the stock of exploited species, culture of suitable species and maintaining the health of the coral reefs of the islands. Future thrust areas for research to elucidate the factors that determine the baitfish fishery include a full review of the existing fishery and development of a baitfish statistics collection system

Tuna Baitfish and the Pole-and-line Industry in Kiribati

Livestock Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

A tackle box guide to: common saltwater fishes of southwest Florida

There are well over 150 species of fish caught by hook and line in local waters. The 86 species included in this book were selected by the author and editors because they are the most frequently encountered. For eachspecies, important informationabout distinguishing features, biology/habitat, and fishing methods is provided. The often confusing common nicknames applied to each fish are noted, as well as the fish's preferred common name. (56pp.

Florida's Halfbeak, Hemiramphus spp., Bait Fishery

Two species of halfbeaks, ballyhoo, Hemiramphus brasiliensis, and balao, H. balao, form the basis of a relatively small but valuable bait fishery in southeastern Florida. Halfbeak landings increased rapidly in the late 1960's but are now relatively stable (about 450,000 kg or 1 million lb annually), and their ex-vessel price is about $600,000. Fishing methods, which had changed in the late 1960's when landings increased, have changed little since the 1970's. Data from a fishery-dependent survey (1988-91) show that catch rates were highest from October to February, when catches were dominated by large ballyhoo (>200 mm or 8 inches fork length (FL)); rates were lowest from May to September, when catches contained both species in more equal numbers and the size range was greater (about 150-250 mm FL) than it was for winter landings. There was little bycatch, and only flyingfishes (Exocoetidae) and needlefishes (Belonidae) occurred consistently. Comparisons of the 1988-91 data with similar data reported from 1974 indicated that halfbeak populations have remained relatively stable

Population parameters of small pelagic fishes caught off Tawi-Tawi, Philippines

Growth and mortality parameters, exploitation rates and annual recruitment patterns were estimated from monthly length-frequency samples for Sardinella longiceps, S. fimbriata, S. Albella, Decapterus macrosoma, Dipterygonatus balteatus, Rastrelliger faughni and Encrasicolina heteroloba. These results provide the first sets of stock parameter estimates for these species off Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. The growth parameters derived were found comparable with previous estimates available for the same species from other localities. Recruitment was noted to be year-round and bimodal. Estimates of fishing mortality and exploitation rate were found to be presently above appropriate levels

The use of tricaine methanesulfonate, clove oil, metomidate, and 2-phenoxyethanol for anesthesia induction in alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus)

Anesthetics are widely used in routine aquaculture operations to immobilize animals for tagging, spawning, handling, and vaccination. A number of anesthetics are currently available for finfish, but their efficacy and optimal dosage is highly species-specific. The efficacy of the anesthetic agents (tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), clove oil, metomidate, and 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE)) was studied in adult, juvenile (133.3 ± 1.5 mm, 27.5 ± 8.9 g), and larval Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus Wilson). In an initial trial, wild-caught adults were anesthetized with doses of 87.5-112.5 mg/L MS-222, 25-40 mg/L clove oil 0.5-5.0 mg/L metomidate and 0.125-0.550 mg/L 2-PE. Optimal doses for anesthesia were similar for larvae and juveniles, and were identified as: 75-100 mg/L MS-222, 40 mg/L clove oil, 5-7 mg/L metomidate, and 500 mg/L 2-PE. All juvenile fish survived 48 hours post-exposure to each optimal dose. In a longer-term (24 hour) sedation experiment, juvenile alewives were netted and exposed to low clove oil (2.5 and 5.0 mg/L) and metomidate (0.25 and 0.50 mg/L) doses, and plasma cortisol was measured. Fish exposed to the clove oil treatments exhibited a cortisol stress response that was prolonged in the higher dose treatment. No cortisol stress response was observed in the metomidate treatments. Overall, optimal acute anesthesia doses for alewives were similar to those reported for other species, and metomidate may be useful for longer-term sedation

Extending the Bajo de Sico, Puerto Rico, Seasonal Closure: An Examination of Small-scale Fishermen’s Perceptions of Possible Socio-economic Impacts on Fishing Practices, Families, and Community

Despite considerable conservation efforts, many reef fish fisheries around the world continue to be in peril. Many are vulnerable to overexploitation because they have predictable and highly aggregated spawning events. In U.S. Caribbean waters, fishery managers are increasingly interested in advancing the use of closed areas as a means for rebuilding reef fisheries, protecting coral reef habitats, and furthering ecosystem-based management while maintaining the sustained participation of local fishing communities. This study details small-scale fishermen’s views on the Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s proposals to lengthen the current Bajo de Sico seasonal closure off the west coast of Puerto Rico to afford additional protection to snapper-grouper spawning populations and associated coral reef habitats. Drawing on snowball sampling techniques, we interviewed 65 small-scale fishermen who regularly operate in the Bajo de Sico area. Snowball sampling is a useful method to sample difficult-to-find populations. Our analysis revealed that the majority of the respondents opposed a longer seasonal closure in the Bajo de Sico area, believing that the existing 3-month closure afforded ample protection to reef fish spawning aggregations and that their gear did not impact deep-water corals in the area. Whilst fishermen’s opposition to additional regulations was anticipated, the magnitude of the socio-economic consequences described was unexpected. Fishermen estimated that a year round closure would cause their gross household income to fall between 10% and 80%, with an average drop of 48%. Our findings suggest that policy analysts and decision-makers should strive to better understand the cumulative impacts of regulations given the magnitude of the reported socio-economic impacts; and, more importantly, they should strive to enhance the existing mechanisms by which fishermen can contribute their knowledge and perspectives into the management process