The life history of longnose emperors (Lethrinus olivaceus) and a data-limited assessment of their stock to support fisheries management at Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia.

The spawning aggregations of coral reef species support artisanal fisheries throughout the Pacific Islands, but they are vulnerable to overexploitation and need improved fisheries management. To this aim, the authors employed a combination of fishery methods including life-history studies to estimate the age, growth and reproductive parameters of longnose emperor (Lethrinus olivaceus), and a length-based stock assessment to provide the community of Rangiroa Atoll with an assessment of their longnose emperor spawning aggregation fishery. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters of this species were estimated to be L∞  = 80 (75-87) cm TL, K = 0.18 (0.15-0.24), t0  = -0.82 (-1.43-0.27) with a mean natural mortality rate of 0.309 ± 0.038. The sex ratios observed in this study support the belief that this species exhibits functional protogyny with females reaching sexual maturity at 38 cm TL and approximately 3 years of age, and sex change occurring at approximately 45 cm TL and 4 years of age. The spawning potential ratio (SPR) of the longnose emperor stock was estimated to be between 19% and 28% across the years of this study, and simulations of SPR and yield per-recruit indicate that if the community wanted to conserve >30% of the stock's SPR, the ideal minimum size limit for this species is 50 cm TL. The results provide the baseline life-history information required to evaluate the fisheries for this species in the South Pacific region and support community-led management actions for this spawning aggregation fishery on Rangiroa Atoll.

Identifying ELIXIR Core Data Resources.

The core mission of ELIXIR is to build a stable and sustainable infrastructure for biological information across Europe. At the heart of this are the data resources, tools and services that ELIXIR offers to the life-sciences community, providing stable and sustainable access to biological data. ELIXIR aims to ensure that these resources are available long-term and that the life-cycles of these resources are managed such that they support the scientific needs of the life-sciences, including biological research. ELIXIR Core Data Resources are defined as a set of European data resources that are of fundamental importance to the wider life-science community and the long-term preservation of biological data. They are complete collections of generic value to life-science, are considered an authority in their field with respect to one or more characteristics, and show high levels of scientific quality and service. Thus, ELIXIR Core Data Resources are of wide applicability and usage. This paper describes the structures, governance and processes that support the identification and evaluation of ELIXIR Core Data Resources. It identifies key indicators which reflect the essence of the definition of an ELIXIR Core Data Resource and support the promotion of excellence in resource development and operation. It describes the specific indicators in more detail and explains their application within ELIXIR's sustainability strategy and science policy actions, and in capacity building, life-cycle management and technical actions. The identification process is currently being implemented and tested for the first time. The findings and outcome will be evaluated by the ELIXIR Scientific Advisory Board in March 2017. Establishing the portfolio of ELIXIR Core Data Resources and ELIXIR Services is a key priority for ELIXIR and publicly marks the transition towards a cohesive infrastructure.

A transactional and collaborative approach to reducing effects of bottom trawling.

Private-sector financial and legal transactions have long been used to protect terrestrial habitats and working landscapes, but less commonly to address critical threats in marine environments. Transferrable and marketable fishing privileges, including permits and quotas, make it possible to use private-sector transactions as conservation strategies to address some fishery management issues. Abating the effects of bottom trawling on the seafloor and bycatch and discard associated with the practice has proven challenging. On the Central Coast of California, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Environmental Defense Fund, local fishers and local, state, and federal authorities worked collaboratively to protect large areas of the seafloor from bottom trawling for groundfish while addressing economic impacts of trawl closures. Contingent on the adoption of trawl-closure areas by a federal regulatory agency, TNC used private funds to purchase federal groundfish trawl permits and vessels from willing sellers. Trawl-closure areas were designed collaboratively by combining regional biological diversity and fisheries data with local fishers' knowledge. The private transactional strategy was designed to remedy some deficiencies in previous federal buyouts, to mitigate economic impacts from trawl closures, and to carefully align with a public regulatory process to protect "essential fish habitat" under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This collaborative effort protected 1.5 million ha (3.8 million acres) of seafloor, reduced trawl effort in the area by 50%, and set a precedent for collaborative partnerships between conservation and fishing interests. This is the first time a large conservation organization has taken an ownership position in a fishery and demonstrates how nongovernmental organizations can invest in fisheries to improve environmental and economic performance.