Fishery Bulletin articles from October 2006

Fishery Bulletin archives from October 2006

Geographical differences in the feeding patterns of red rockfish (Sebastes capensis) along South American coasts.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Feeding habits and feeding strategy of red rockfish (Sebastes capensis) were studied from fish captured along most of the range of this species in coastal waters of South America. Stomach contents of 613 individuals, collected during...

The use of otolith morphology to indicate the stock structure of common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus) on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--We investigated the use of otolith morphology to indicate the stock structure of an exploited serranid coral reef fish, Plectropomus leopardus, on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia. Otoliths were measured by traditional one- and...

Biological characteristics and mortality of western butterfish (Pentapodus vitta), an abundant bycatch species of prawn trawling and recreational fishing in a large subtropical embayment.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--The western butterfish (Pentapodus vitta) is numerous in the bycatch of prawn trawling and recreational fishing in Shark Bay, Western Australia. We have thus determined crucial aspects of its biological characteristics and the...

The use of multibeam sonar mapping techniques to refine population estimates of the endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni).
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Multibeam sonar mapping techniques provide detailed benthic habitat information that can be combined with the data on species-specific habitat preferences to provide highly accurate calculations of populations in a particular area....

Experiments in gear configuration to reduce bycatch in an estuarine squid-trawl fishery.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Three experiments were performed in an estuarine squid-trawl fishery in New South Wales, Australia, to test modifications to trawl nets. Lateral mesh openings were experimentally increased and physical bycatch reduction devices (BRDs)...

The relationships between fish assemblages and the amount of bottom horizontal beam exposed at California oil platforms: fish habitat preferences at man-made platforms and (by inference) at natural reefs.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Between 1995 and 2002, we surveyed fish assemblages at seven oil platforms off southern and central California using the manned research submersible Delta. At each platform, there is a large horizontal beam situated at or near the sea...

A Bayesian method for identification of stock mixtures from molecular marker data.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Molecular markers have been demonstrated to be useful for the estimation of stock mixture proportions where the origin of individuals is determined from baseline samples. Bayesian statistical methods are widely recognized as providing...

The migration patterns of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) along the Atlantic coast determined from tag recoveries.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) were tagged and released in Atlantic coastal areas between Massachusetts and Florida from 1963 through 2003 as part of a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) project and a volunteer program sponsored...

Evaluating light-based geolocation for estimating demersal fish movements in high latitudes.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--We evaluated light-based geolocation estimates from pop-up satellite tags in high latitudes because some of the largest fisheries in the world are in areas where this technique has not been assessed. Daily longitude and latitude were...

Abundance and distribution of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Information on the seasonal abundance and distribution of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) is largely unknown throughout range of the species. Between 1989 and 1998, three spatially and temporally intensive aerial surveys were conducted...

Effects of a simulated fishing moratorium on the stock assessment of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus).
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Much of the information available on the population status of a harvested fish species is obtained from landings data. When fishing restrictions are in place, fishery-dependent data are reduced and assessments rely more heavily on...

Habitat use of the inner continental shelf off southern New Jersey by summer-spawned bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) *.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--The goal of this study was to provide insight into habitat use of the inner continental shelf off southern New Jersey by summer-spawned bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Throughout the August-October 1998 sampling period, a total of...

Seasonal and size-based predation on two species of squid by four fish predators on the Northwest Atlantic continental shelf.
October 1, 2006... Abstract--Longfin inshore (Loligo pealeii) and northern shortfin (Illex illecebrosus) squids are considered important prey species in the Northwest Atlantic shelf ecosystem. The diets of four major squid predators, bluefish (Pomatomus...

Evidence for resource partitioning and competition in nursery estuaries by juvenile flatfish in Oregon and Washington.
October 1, 2006... Resource partitioning among co-occurring species can provide evidence that density-dependent survival can be a function of interspecific competition. Of the early life history stages of flatfish, the juvenile phase is thought to be the most...

Length-specific brood size and winter parturition in pink seaperch (Zalembius rosaceus) (Perciformes: Embiotocidae).
October 1, 2006... The viviparous pink seaperch (Zalembius rosaceus) is considered unusual among other embiotocids because of its deep-water habitat (Tarp, 1952), winter parturition (Goldberg and Ticknor, 1977), small brood size (Baltz, 1984), and apparent lack...

Aging fish otoliths recovered from Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) fecal samples.
October 1, 2006... Seals and sea lions are opportunistic predators that feed on a variety of fish and cephalopods, including some commercially and recreationally important species. Concerns over their interactions with commercial and sport fishing operations, and...

Habitat, age, and diet of a forage fish in southeastern Alaska: Pacific sandfish (Trichodon trichodon).
October 1, 2006... Forage fish are an important part of Alaska's marine ecosystems and coastal areas. Forage fish are a critical food source for numerous groundfish, marine mammals, and seabirds (Wespestad (1); Allen and Smith, 1988; Paul et al., 1997; Yang and...

Genetic diversity of yellow grouper (Epinephelus awoara) determined by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis.
October 1, 2006... The development of molecular techniques has enhanced our ability to identify fish species. A few molecular markers, such as mitochondrial DNA and ribosomal DNA, have been used to assist in the identification of fish species. One such technique...

Improving the precision of otolith-based age estimates for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) with preparation methods adapted for fragile sagittae.
October 1, 2006... Otolith-based age estimates for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) have low precision, and there is general uncertainty about their accuracy in older fish (Anon. (1); Alpoim et al. (2)). Low precision can result from inadequate...