Changes in yellow perch length frequencies and sex ratios following closure of the commercial fishery and reduction in sport bag limits in southern Lake Michigan

Abstract  The closure of the Indiana commercial fishery in Lake Michigan in 1997 provided the opportunity to examine the effects of commercial exploitation on the yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), population. Data from annual gillnet and trawl sampling, recreational angler creel surveys and commercial fishing harvest were used to determine whether changes in length–frequency distributions and sex ratios were altered following closure. The proportions of large, adult yellow perch were significantly greater after the closure of the commercial fishery. Overexploitation of fish >200 mm by commercial harvest likely truncated the size distribution, but recreational harvest was comparatively small and did not appear to be a factor influencing size distributions. This post-closure period also had a greater proportion of females in trawl catches, and the mean length of harvested fish increased in the recreational fishery. These findings suggest commercial exploitation influenced yellow perch population dynamics in far southern Lake Michigan.     

Predation of smelt on vendace larvae: experimental and field studies

Abstract –  Lake Höytiäinen in eastern Finland has suffered from a prolonged vendace Coregonus albula (L.) recession during the last two decades. The present study examined the capacity of smelt Osmerus eperlanus (L.) to prey on vendace larvae as well as the diet of smelt in Lake Höytiäinen to reveal its possible predation on vendace larvae. The larvae were observed to be most vulnerable to smelt >100 mm (TL) predation at a total length of 13 mm. In Lake Höytiäinen, the diet of smelt was clearly dominated by zooplankton and no vendace larvae were found in the stomachs, probably due to small size of the smelt and low abundance of the larvae. Spawning time of smelt and larval period of coregonids overlap in spring and an observed decrease in feeding activity of smelt during spawning time may provide a temporal refuge against predation. Although smelt has been found to intensively predate on coregonid larvae in other lakes, it does not play an important role in maintaining the present low-density state of vendace in Lake Höytiäinen.     

Hydroacoustic assessment of young-of-year perch, Perca fluviatilis, population dynamics in an oligotrophic lake (Lake Annecy, France)

Abstract  A cohort of perch, Perca fluviatilis (L.) was monitored from hatching to first winter in the oligotrophic Lake Annecy, France, by combining hydroacoustic and direct capture methods (fish plankton net and pelagic trawl). The total stock of pelagic fish increased by a factor of 10 during the season, reaching a maximum in August and decreasing in autumn. Juvenile perch were mainly pelagic, being aggregated into schools in the daytime and dispersed at night. Migration of young-of-year (Y-O-Y) perch to the pelagic zone of Lake Annecy in late spring did not significantly affect zooplankton population abundance. It did, however, result in changes in zooplankton vertical distribution, with Daphnia remaining deeper in the water column. The increase in Y-O-Y biomass during summer was possibly associated with collapse of the Daphnia population by late July, and copepods one month later.     

Eutrophication and Recreational Fishing on the Finnish Coast of the Gulf of Finland: A Mail Survey

The Gulf of Finland is one of the most eutrophic areas in the Baltic Sea and is also the main fishing area for more than 150 000 recreational fishermen in Finland. The findings of a mail survey showed that the most important species for the recreational fishery is perch, Perca fluviatilis L. There is no clear evidence that eutrophication has had a harmful effect on the stocks of perch and other species considered important. Heavy fouling of gear, particularly gill nets, is the most acute problem caused by eutrophication to the local recreational fishery. The rapid fouling of passive gear was experienced by 67–86% of all fishermen in the three study areas. A general deterioration in water quality was perceived because only 2–14% of fishermen rated the water quality as excellent. However, a minority of recreational fishermen seem to have adapted or grown accustomed to the deterioration in water quality. Even in the two most eutrophic study areas, 23–31% of recreational fishermen considered that an improvement in local water quality would not benefit their own fishing in any way.     

Checking the pulse of the major commercial fisheries of lake Victoria Kenya,for sustainable management

The present study demonstrates the declining state of the major commercial fisheries of Lake Victoria, Kenya, a situation threatening sustainability of the lake's fishery. Data in the present study were derived from resource monitoring programmes that included hydro‐acoustics (2009–2018), trawl net fishing (2011–2018), frame surveys (2000–2016) and catch assessment surveys (2000–2015). The activities provided information on fish stocks and supported advice for fisheries management. The average fish stock densities for Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya of 8.92, 8.25 and 8.19 t/km², respectively, were relatively similar. Diplomatic and sustainable efforts for harmony in fish harvesting among the fishers of the riparian countries are encouraged given the interdependence of the lake. The Kenyan and River Kagera regions had a higher proportion (≈ 4% each) of big‐sized Nile perch (≥50 cm total length) in 2018, signifying the critical breeding areas for Nile perch. To sustain the fishery, there is need to enforce a 36%–44% effort reduction for all the major fisheries, and enforcement of gear limits to avoid harvesting of immature fish and destruction of the lake ecosystem.     

小型渔船绳拖网的研究与试验

１９９３～１９９５年，先后设计和试验了网口目大６ｍ，８ｍ，１０．８ｍ３种规格拖网，普遍增产２０％以上，本文着重介绍１３６ｋＷ渔船使用的网口目大８ｍ的拖网设计方法及试验情况，提出根据捕捞对象习性选择网身形状，根据网以力和渔船功率配置网线，并研究了网目尺寸和网口周长的确定以及网盖和网袖设计。     

Long-term shifts in the growth and maturation size of Miyabe charr <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus malma miyabei</Emphasis>

Overfishing can affect life history traits, resulting in population collapse and oftentimes a decrease in length-at-age and maturation size in fish populations. However, little is known about the recovery mechanisms and time scales of these traits in exploited wild populations. In the study reported here, we documented long-term shifts in growth and mature size in Miyabe charr Salvelinus malma miyabei associated with a history of recreational fishing in Lake Shikaribetsu for approximately 80 years. Downsizing in the charr was observed when the charr population collapsed due to intensive recreational fishing. However, subsequent moratoriums and the introduction of fishing regulations, especially the implementation of a catch-and-release policy, during the following 10–30 years facilitated the recovery of population size, length-at-age and mature fish size. This study provides important insights into the biological changes and required recovery time scales of a heavily harvested population and supports management and conservation strategies.     

浙江省单拖渔业现状分析与研究

利用2001~2006年浙江省单拖渔业典型性调查数据和2005~2008年的单拖作业监测资料,从浙江省单拖捕捞力量和产量分布、渔获对象和资源密度变化及经济效益、劳动力组成等几个方面进行了初步分析。结果表明,近几年浙江省单拖作业船数保持在2200艘左右,产量在40×104t左右,单船净利润存在年间波动,以2005年最高;单拖作业渔场分布较广,渔获物以头足类和中下层鱼类为主;近年来经济鱼类比例下降,而其它低值鱼类比例上升。文章最后提出了当前浙江单拖渔业存在的问题,并提出了相应管理建议以供参考。     

Diet and movements of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) in a large oligotrophic lake with an exceptionally high pikeperch yield

Through the recent increases in abundance, pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) has not only become a valuable target for recreational and commercial fishing, but also the most important top predator in many lakes. Generally oligotrophic Lake Höytiäinen (283 km²) sustains one of the most economically valuable pikeperch stocks in Finland, and its annual fisheries yield (up to 5.5 kg/ha) is exceptionally high among Finnish lakes. Here, we followed seasonal movements of fish using conventional tagging, and studied short‐term and long‐term diet of pikeperch by stomach content and stable isotope analyses to examine if the movements were motivated by prey availability. A clear seasonal migration pattern was observed: in summer, 80% of the tag recoveries were obtained from the shallow and mesotrophic northern and western areas, whereas in autumn and winter, the deep and oligotrophic southern area dominated in the recaptures. The diet of pikeperch consisted of the most abundant fish species in the lake, perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus), as well as insects. Stable isotope analysis indicated a shift from a dominance of pelagic food sources to littoral food sources during the growing season of pikeperch. Our results suggest that the pikeperch migrations facilitate efficient material transfer from the mesotrophic part while the deeper and oligotrophic part offers a favourable overwintering environment.     

An assessment of yellow perch, Perca flavescens, stocking contributions in eastern South Dakota lakes

The success and value of yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill), stocking programmes are largely unknown because of the difficulties in differentiating between naturally recruited and translocated stocks. To determine stocking contributions of yellow perch, fingerlings and adults were collected from natural rearing ponds in south-eastern South Dakota. Prior to stocking, all fish were marked for 6 h in transfer tanks containing 700 mg L⁻¹ oxytetracycline hydrochloride. Six lakes containing yellow perch populations were supplemented at low, medium and high stocking densities of about 25, 135 or 200 fish ha⁻¹, respectively. Yellow perch populations were subsequently sampled with experimental gill nets during late summer; two lakes were resampled with additional gears (electric fishing, trap nets and cloverleaf traps). Yellow perch were processed for routine measurements, and saggital otoliths were removed to determine the origin of the fish. Stock contribution estimates determined from gill-net samples for Island (low), Oak (low), Twin (medium) and Wall (high) lakes were approximately 18, 5, 41, and 38%, respectively. Samples from other gears provided stock contributions of 15 and 10% for Cavour Lake and 41% for Diamond Lake (high density stockings). Although these results showed that supplemental stockings were successful, variability in stock contributions among populations indicates a need for further assessment of variables that may influence the stocking success of yellow perch.     

Interlocked use of inland fish resources: a new management strategy under private property rights

Abstract  Interlocked use of multiple inland vendace, Coregonus albula (L.), stocks is a relatively new strategy to exploit asynchronous fluctuations in abundance of natural fish stocks between waterbodies. It combines vendace stocks from different lakes or parts of lakes into one interlocked stock to be managed across waterbody ownership boundaries. Management of interlocked stocks can be regarded as one form of portfolio management. Exploitation of interlocked stocks should reduce the interannual variation in yield, and thus ensuring fishers more constant income and the market more constant material flow. The strategy requires fishers to increase their mobility, to benefit from asynchronous fluctuations in abundance of vendace stocks between exploitable waters. A postal inquire addressed to Finnish commercial inland fishers examined whether existing property rights institutions' and fishers' harvesting policies were appropriate to establish interlocked use of multiple vendace stocks. Almost half of fishers had, to some extent, reaped benefit from a fishing strategy that included small-scale mobility, which is consistent with the proposed strategy. By harvesting three or four lakes and stocks, fishers increased their yield compared with exploiting one fishing ground and one vendace stock. Public ownership provided fishers access to stocks nearer their place of residence than other ownership types.     

辽宁省海洋渔具渔法结构调整的研究

根据辽宁省海洋捕捞产量的统计资料,运用灰色关联法分析了拖网、围网、流刺网、钓具、定置网5种主要渔具渔法的产量与海洋捕捞总产量的关联度,运用改进的层次分析法确定了5种主要渔具渔法产量的权重。结果表明,海洋捕捞产量与定置网、拖网的产量的关联度高,与围网、钓具和流刺网的产量关联度低;拖网、围网、流刺网、钓具、定置网产量的计算权重分别约为23．3％、16．1％、31．1％、20．4％、9．1％。对辽宁省渔具渔法产量结构调整进行了讨论。     

Ice fishing reveals size structure but not abundance of Eurasian perch in small boreal lakes

Management of inland recreational fisheries would benefit from stock abundance and size structure data. Feasibly standardised angling methods such as ice fishing could produce representative catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) information on the abundance of different-sized fish in small lakes. Here, we first used standard Nordic multimesh gillnets to obtain number-per-unit-effort (NPUE), biomass-per-unit-effort (BPUE) and size structure data on Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) stocks in 11 small boreal lakes in summer. Second, the same lakes were ice-fished by voluntary anglers using a pre-defined, loosely standardised protocol to obtain angling-based NPUE, BPUE, and length frequency distributions. Effects of environmental variables such as water oxygen concentration and light penetration on angling catch rates were controlled statistically. Neither perch Nordic gillnet NPUE nor BPUE corresponded to ice-fishing CPUEs. However, the length distribution of the catch did not differ between methods. Our results imply that traditional ice fishing applying natural baits is relatively unselective for fish size and could produce valid length-based indicators for management purposes while angling CPUE was poorly related to Nordic gillnet CPUE.     

Long-term dynamics of pelagic fish density and vendace (Coregonus albula (L.)) stocks in four zones of a lake differing in trawling intensity

Abstract – An 11-year time series of hydroacoustic fish density estimates and fisheries statistics of vendace ( Coregonus albula (L.)) from four zones of a lake differing in trawling intensity was analyzed in order to test the hypothesis that intensive trawling has detrimental effects on pelagic fish stocks, especially vendace recruitment. The standardized fish density estimate in trawled zones showed no decrease in comparison to the non-trawled zone. No signs of recruitment failure associable with trawling intensity were found. The growth of vendace at the end of the study period was slower than that at the beginning, indicating a higher density, most clearly so in the zone with highest trawling intensity. No significant correlations were detected between 3-year mean trawling intensity and yield per unit effort of over-1-year-old vendace or fish density in any zone. Thus, no evidence to support the hypothesis was found. This was suggested to be due to density-dependent compensatory processes in recruitment and/or natural mortality effectively counteracting the population change induced by exploitation. ^Note     

东海刺鲳资源状况及数量分布

本文利用2001~2005年东海区底层拖网调查资料,分析了东海刺鲳的资源状况和数量分布。结果表明,东海刺鲳近年来资源数量稳定而且缓慢增长,2001~2005年平均资源密度为1.49kg/h,从数量分布来看,8、9月是刺鲳分布范围最广、资源密度最高的月份,主要分布海域为鱼山、江外和长江口渔场。分析4个季节刺鲳的分布水深变化情况表明,主要分布水深为50~90m,刺鲳分布具有季节移动现象,夏季最靠近近海。刺鲳的群体结构不稳定,以幼鱼和1龄鱼为主。     

闽南-台湾浅滩渔场单船拖网作业调查与分析

根据2009—2010年闽南-台湾浅滩渔场单船拖网作业监测调查资料和生产统计数据,阐明单船拖网作业的渔业地位、渔场分布、网具类型,着重分析该作业渔获种类组成及主要捕捞对象的资源动态。结果表明:单船拖网作业产量位居闽南-台湾浅滩渔场各种海洋捕捞作业的首位,大吨位、大功率渔船数量连续多年不断增长;渔具型式以有翼单囊网具为主;部分渔船使用的拖网网囊尺寸远远低于国家标准;带鱼、二长棘鲷幼鱼损害现象较为严重;秋季8—10月蓝圆鲹和鲐鱼群体绝大多数个体可达到最小可捕规格。调查研究结果还表明,2002年以来单船拖网渔业资源结构已发生较大变化,生命周期短、营养级较低的蟹类、枪乌贼类、乌贼类和虾类资源渔获比重显著增长;原优势种类绿布氏筋鱼资源已出现严重衰竭;二长棘鲷资源量逐年减少,渔获群体明显趋向小型化、低龄化。     

Fishing down and fishing hard: ecological change in the Nile perch of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda

Abstract –  Fishing is a potent ecological force. In Lake Victoria, East Africa, Nile perch , Lates niloticus contributes to a multi-million dollar fishing industry but is threatened by over-exploitation. We quantified spatial and temporal trends in the distribution, diet and size of Nile perch in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda, a satellite of Lake Victoria. From 1995 to 2007, we detected a decline in catch per unit effort of Nile perch, a shift in their distribution and diet, and a decrease in their body size. A greater proportion of Nile perch were found near wetland ecotones than in the 1990s. This may reflect intensive size-selective fishing in open waters, and encroachment of Vossia cuspidata , an emergent macrophyte that has expanded across the lakeshore. Results highlight the strength of fishing in inducing phenotypic changes in target stocks as well as large-scale changes to the aquatic community and are of value in understanding changes in Lake Victoria.     

延长拖网伏季休渔期的渔业资源养护效应

海洋伏季休渔制度是当前中国最主要的渔业资源管理制度之一,并在实践中得到不断调整与完善,新的海洋伏季休渔制度已于2017年发布实施。为论证新制度延长拖网休渔期的渔业资源养护效应,本研究依据2015—2017年每年5月东海区拖网大面定点调查资料,利用Ricker动态综合模型,从拖网的渔获结构特征和带鱼(Trichiurus japonicus)的种群动力学过程视角开展了相应的量化分析研究。研究结果表明, 5月拖网利用主体为带鱼和小黄鱼(Larimichthys polyactis),带鱼和小黄鱼的性成熟比例分别为92.04%～95.57%和13.82%～29.55%,幼鱼比例分别为74.94%～88.90%和0.03%～4.19%;带鱼种群经过4.5个月的休渔,其单位补充量资源量、单位补充量渔获量和平均渔获质量与3.5个月休渔期相比较,分别增加了7.04%、8.96%和20.78%。以上结果表明,提前并延长拖网休渔期,东、黄海主要经济渔业资源带鱼与小黄鱼的产卵群体和幼鱼得到进一步保护,资源增殖效果随着休渔期的不断延长而增加,新制度的休渔时间设置更趋合理。但由于开捕后的带鱼与小黄鱼渔获仍主要以当龄鱼为主,有必要同时配套执行现已颁布的最小网目尺寸和开捕标准等其他渔业资源管理措施,以确保伏季休渔制度主导下的渔业资源养护效果能真正得到巩固,渔业资源的种群结构能够得到切实好转与不断合理化。     

桁拖网作业中鱼虾分隔的初步试验研究

1996年末,我们在浙江渔场进行了桁拖网作业的鱼虾分隔试验,如同我们过去对这类渔具所作的放大网目以释放鱼、虾幼体;伸长吊纲,提高网口以增加对三疣梭子蟹的捕捞产量(季星辉等,1984)一样,本次试验也是这类网具选择性研究的内容之一,目标是改善桁拖网的选择性。在提高这种作业经济效益的同时,充分兼顾保护渔业资源和海洋生态环境的社会效益。 试验工作是在现有多囊捕虾桁拖网上,选择其中一个囊网,用一片目大为100mm的网片进行分隔,使鱼进入原囊网下方增设的盛鱼囊袋,而虾因其遇惊会弹跳的习性,穿过分隔网片进入原囊网。实践证明,分隔的效果是明显的,虾的分隔率达到55～68％,鱼的分隔率达到95％。现有的试验是初步的,我们将创造条件继续下去。     

The effect of LED lights on trap catches in Finnish inland fisheries

Trap fisheries can provide catches of high quality, and unwanted bycatch can be released with high survival. Light attraction could be an effective way of increasing trap catches, but research results are largely lacking. Experiments to test the effect of LED lights in trap-net fishing were conducted in two Finnish lakes where fishing targeted Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L. and roach Rutilus rutilus (L.). LED lights (white, green, red, blue and combinations) were attached inside the traps. The use of LED lights did not increase fish CPUE. Contrary to expectation, Eurasian perch catches were higher in traps without LED lights. Significant variation in CPUEs was observed, but without interaction with light treatments. The LED lights tested in this study do not increase the effectiveness of trap fishery targeting Eurasian perch and roach in Finnish lakes in the ice-free season.