Characterising injuries and pathologies of common dolphin Delphinus delphis mortalities in the South Australian Sardine Fishery.

Mortality of dolphins in fishing operations is often under-estimated, as shown by studies of beach-washed carcasses. Linking evidence obtained during necropsies with fishing method is fundamental to understanding the extent of mortality and the manner in which animals die. The South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF) has operated a purse-seine industry since 1991. This study characterised injuries, pathological changes and life history of 49 dead dolphins collected from SASF during 2006-2019. Histology examination was conducted on 25 animals. Neonates, calves and juveniles accounted for 63% of the sample. Of mature females (n = 14), 11 were pregnant or lactating, with cryptic mortality estimated to be 20% of dolphins studied. Body condition was robust in 48 dolphins. Net marks were seen on 82%, mostly on the head, trunk and peduncle. Broken/missing teeth were noted in 63%. All dolphins had subdermal haemorrhage (moderate to severe in 96%), particularly around the head. Deep haemorrhage was common, including around occipital and flipper condyles, and organs. Copious fluid was present in the thoracic (pleural) and abdominal (ascites) cavities of half of the dolphins. Within the lungs, watery fluid and froth were observed in 100 and 39%, respectively. Recent bone fractures were documented in 43% of dolphins, mostly associated with haemorrhage. Severe blunt trauma appeared to be the primary cause of death, and 10 dolphins also had other significant pathologies. Visceral organ congestion and mild cardiomyopathy were observed. Stomachs contained prey remains in 75% of cases. The results of this study may help identify unreported purse-seine mortalities washed up in South Australia and elsewhere.

Impacts of microplastic on fisheries and seafood security - Global analysis and synthesis.

This review paper collected, collated, analysed, interpreted, synthesised, and documented the research investigations conducted on microplastic (MPs) pollution impacts on seafood organisms (including fish, sharks, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, oysters, mussels, and seaweeds) during the last ten years (2012-2022) covering fifty-seven locations/countries in the world. MPs contaminated 926 seafood species comprising 895 finfish, 09 crustaceans, 20 molluscs and 02 seaweeds. Seafood from Asia was found to be most contaminated with MPs. High MP contamination/ingestion was revealed in several seafood organisms. The ingestion of MPs can reduce fish growth and fish fitness, leading to reduced yield/fish production. Fish and seafood play a significant role in supporting the economy, employment, food sources, and livelihoods of people across the globe, which can be threatened due to the contamination of seafood organisms with MPs. MPs have bioaccumulated in fish skin, gills, stomachs, liver, intestine, and muscles as well as dry fish and canned fish. Hence, the consumption of MP-contaminated fresh fish, whole fish, dried fish or canned fish poses risks as it may be a pathway of MP transfer to humans. MPs can increase the health risks to seafood fish consumers since there is a probability that high risks pollutants adsorbed on MPs (heavy metals, pesticides, and oil compounds) can transfer to humans via the food chain. Several of the chemicals (heavy metals, DDT, PAHs) adsorbed onto MPs are carcinogenic. MPs have also been detected in fish meals, therefore, farmed livestock such as aquaculture fish and chicken fed to fish meals can be exposed to MPs and ultimately to humans. Preventive and safety measures are suggested to reduce the exposure of MPs to humans. In addition, several policy strategies are recommended to reduce the impacts of plastic waste and plastic pollution on the environment, aquatic biota, wildlife, seafood and human health.

Red-list status and extinction risk of the world's whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

To understand the scope and scale of the loss of biodiversity, tools are required that can be applied in a standardized manner to all species globally, spanning realms from land to the open ocean. We used data from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List to provide a synthesis of the conservation status and extinction risk of cetaceans. One in 4 cetacean species (26% of 92 species) was threatened with extinction (i.e., critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable) and 11% were near threatened. Ten percent of cetacean species were data deficient, and we predicted that 2-3 of these species may also be threatened. The proportion of threatened cetaceans has increased: 15% in 1991, 19% in 2008, and 26% in 2021. The assessed conservation status of 20% of species has worsened from 2008 to 2021, and only 3 moved into categories of lesser threat. Cetacean species with small geographic ranges were more likely to be listed as threatened than those with large ranges, and those that occur in freshwater (100% of species) and coastal (60% of species) habitats were under the greatest threat. Analysis of odontocete species distributions revealed a global hotspot of threatened small cetaceans in Southeast Asia, in an area encompassing the Coral Triangle and extending through nearshore waters of the Bay of Bengal, northern Australia, and Papua New Guinea and into the coastal waters of China. Improved management of fisheries to limit overfishing and reduce bycatch is urgently needed to avoid extinctions or further declines, especially in coastal areas of Asia, Africa, and South America.

Estado en la lista roja y riesgo de extinción de las ballenas, delfines y marsopas del mundo Resumen Para comprender el alcance y la escala de la pérdida de biodiversidad, se necesitan herramientas que puedan aplicarse de forma estandarizada a todas las especies a nivel mundial y que abarquen todos los ámbitos desde la tierra hasta el océano. Utilizamos datos de la Lista Roja de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza para proporcionar una síntesis del estado de conservación y el riesgo de extinción de los cetáceos. Una de cada 4 especies de cetáceos (26% de 92 especies) se encuentra amenazada (es decir, en peligro crítico, en peligro o vulnerable) y el 11% de las especies está clasificado como casi amenazada. El 10% de las especies de cetáceos carecía de datos, por lo que predijimos que 2-3 de estas especies también podrían estar amenazadas. La proporción de cetáceos amenazados ha aumentado: 15% en 1991, 19% en 2008 y 26% en 2021. El estado de conservación evaluado del 20% de las especies ha empeorado de 2008 a 2021, pues sólo 3 pasaron a categorías de menor amenaza. Las especies de cetáceos con áreas de distribución geográficas pequeñas tenían más probabilidades de ser catalogadas como amenazadas que aquellas con áreas de distribución extensas, y aquellas que ocurren en hábitats de agua dulce (100% de las especies) y costeros (60% de las especies) eran las que se encontraban bajo mayor amenaza. La superposición de los mapas de distribución de las especies reveló la existencia de puntos calientes de pequeños cetáceos amenazados en el sudeste asiático y en una zona que abarca el Triángulo de Coral y se extiende por las aguas cercanas a la costa de la Bahía de Bengala, el norte de Australia, Papúa Nueva Guinea y las aguas costeras de China. Urge mejorar la gestión de las pesquerías para limitar la sobrepesca y reducir la captura accesoria con el fin de evitar extinciones o mayores descensos, especialmente en las zonas costeras de Asia, África y Sudamérica.

Adapting the WEPP Hillslope Model and the TLS Technology to Predict Unpaved Road Soil Erosion.

Unpaved road erosion have been recognized as important sediment sources in a watershed. To evaluate where and when road erosion occurs, the soil loss along road segments should be precisely predicted with process-based erosion models. Methods: The hillslope version of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) was used to estimate soil loss from 20 typical road segments in the red soil region of South China. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS)-measured soil losses were used to validate the model simulations. The results showed that the WEPP model could reasonably predict the total soil loss in relatively short (less than 100 m) and gentle (slope gradient lower than 10%) road segments. In contrast, soil loss would be underestimated for long or steep road segments. Detailed outputs along roads revealed that most of the peak soil loss rates were underestimated. It might due to the linear critical shear stress theory in the WEPP model. Additionally, the lack of upstream flow was found to be connected to the relatively low model efficiency. Nevertheless, the WEPP simulation could accurately fit erosion trend and predict the peak soil loss positions along road segments. Conclusions: The WEPP model could be adopted to evaluate the erosion risk of unpaved roads in the red soil region of South China.

The role of tropical small-scale fisheries in trace element delivery for a Small Island Developing State community, the Seychelles.

The concentrations of 13 trace elements were determined in 1032 muscles of 54 small-scale fisheries species collected from the Seychelles waters between 2013 and 2019. Overall, profiles were dominated by zinc (Zn) > arsenic (As) > iron (Fe) > copper (Cu) > selenium (Se), with the spiny lobsters, spanner crab and octopus exhibiting the highest levels of As, Cu and Zn while fish had higher Fe concentrations. Both taxonomy-dependent processes and ecological factors explained the interspecific differences of trace element profiles observed. A benefit-risk assessment revealed that crustaceans and cephalopods were good sources of Cu and Zn. One portion of any fish could provide 30-100 % of daily Se needs, and one portion of demersal and pelagic teleost fish could bring 5-20 % of Cu, Fe and Zn needs, especially for young adult and adult women. Finally, our analysis showed that there was very low health risks associated with small-scale fisheries consumption for the Seychelles population.

Age-based life history of three groupers in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

The three most important grouper fishery species in southern Gulf of Mexico, Epinephelus morio, Mycteroperca bonaci and Mycteroperca microlepis, do not have life history parameters data reported such as growth, age and natural mortality essential to management. Individuals from the three species were captured in the Campeche Bank (CB) at different times from 1988 to 2001. Sagittae were thin-sectioned to count annuli: n = 1081 for E. morio, n = 920 for M. bonaci and n = 251 for M. microlepis. Otoliths from the three species exhibited successive opaque and translucent bands deposited with an annual frequency, occurring between January and April for E. morio and M. bonaci, and between January and March for M. microlepis. Estimated age in the three grouper species ranged from 0+ to 20 years. The most frequent ages were 7-10 years for E. morio and 8-12 years for M. bonaci and M. microlepis. The von Bertallanfy Growth Function model parameters (L∞ , K and t0 ) were consistent with reported growth patterns for Epinephelidae family species, as established by growth performance Ф' (near 3). The CB groupers appear to reach maximum ages over 13 years with K values between 0.09 and 0.12 year-1 , indicating all three studied species displayed relatively slow growth rate and medium longevity. Lifespan values ranged from 13 to 33 years for E. morio, from 18 to 30 years for M. bonaci and from 17 to 33 years for M. microlepis. A50 was 6.1 years for E. morio and 5.5 years for both M. bonaci and M. microlepis. Age at which all females were mature was 8 years for M. bonaci and 10 years for E. morio and M. microlepis. P50 was 9.3 years for E. morio, 13.6 years for M. bonaci and 11.6 years for M. microlepis. Age at which 100% of individuals were male was 13 years for E. morio, 19 years for M. bonaci and 15 years for M. microlepis. Values of M at age exhibited an exponential decrease with age for all three species, but overall values were 0.13 year-1 for E. morio, 0.14 year-1 for M. bonaci and 0.17 year-1 for M. microlepis. For the three species size at age varied by geographical distribution area, but particularly for E. morio the discrepancy in average size between published studies may be the consequence of the fishing effort exerted on the stock and/or the lack of regulation for the fishery prior to 2001; after this stock biomass fell below the reference limit point and was declared overexploited. Resource managers could use the information provided in this study as a reference, representing pre-overexploitation values, to evaluate the current status of these populations and ensure sustainable management actions for the CB grouper fisheries.

The direct and indirect effects of a global pandemic on US fishers and seafood workers.

The United States' fishing and seafood industries experienced major shifts in consumer demand and social-distancing restrictions starting in March 2020, when the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic were unfolding. However, the specific effects on fishers and seafood processors are less well known. Fishermen and seafood workers are potentially at risk during a pandemic given existing tight working quarters, seasonal work, and long hours. To address these concerns, and given a lack of data on the sector, we reviewed news articles, scientific articles, and white papers to assess the various effects of COVID-19 on US seafood workers. Here, we show that most COVID-19 cases among seafood workers occurred during summer 2020 and during the beginning of 2021. These cases were documented across coastal areas, with Alaska experiencing the largest number of cases and outbreaks. Seafood workers were about twice as likely to contract COVID-19 as workers in other parts of the overall US food system. We also documented a number of indirect effects of the pandemic. New social-distancing restrictions and policies limited crew size, resulting in longer hours and more physical taxation. Because of changes in demand and the closure of some processing plants because of COVID-19 outbreaks, economic consequences of the pandemic were a primary concern for fishers and seafood workers, and safety measures allowed for seafood price variation and losses throughout the pandemic. We also highlight a number of inequities in COVID-19 responses within the seafood sector, both along racial and gender lines. All of these conditions point to the diverse direct and indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on fishers and seafood workers. We hope this work sets the foundation for future work on the seafood sector in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, improving the overall workplace, and collecting systematic social and economic data on workers.

Wilderness forms and their implications for global environmental policy and conservation.

With the intention of securing industry-free land and seascapes, protecting wilderness entered international policy as a formal target for the first time in the zero draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Given this increased prominence in international policy, it is timely to consider the extent to which the construct of wilderness supports global conservation objectives. We evaluated the construct by overlaying recently updated cumulative human pressure maps that offer a global-scale delineation of industry-free land as wilderness with maps of carbon stock, species richness, and ground travel time from urban centers. Wilderness areas took variable forms in relation to carbon stock, species richness, and proximity to urban centers, where 10% of wilderness areas represented high carbon and species richness, 20% low carbon and species richness, and 3% high levels of remoteness (>48 h), carbon, and species richness. Approximately 35% of all remaining wilderness in 2013 was accessible in <24 h of travel time from urban centers. Although the construct of wilderness can be used to secure benefits in specific contexts, its application in conservation must account for contextual and social implications. The diverse characterization of wilderness under a global environmental conservation lens shows that a nuanced framing and application of the construct is needed to improve understanding, communication, and retention of its variable forms as industry-free places.

Formas de las Áreas Silvestres y sus Implicaciones para las Políticas y la Conservación Mundial Resumen Con la intención de asegurar paisajes terrestres y marinos libres de la industria, la protección de las áreas silvestres entró a la política internacional por primera vez como un objetivo formal en el primer borrador del Marco de Trabajo para la Biodiversidad Mundial Post-2020 bajo el Convenio sobre la Diversidad Biológica. Con este incremento en la presencia dentro de la política internacional, es oportuno considerar el grado al que el concepto de área silvestre ayuda a los objetivos de conservación mundial. Evaluamos este concepto mediante la superposición de mapas de la presión humana acumulada recientemente actualizados que brindan una definición a escala mundial de las tierras libres de industria con mapas del stock de carbono, riqueza de especies y el tiempo de traslado terrestre desde los centros urbanos. Las áreas silvestres mostraron formas variables con respecto al stock de carbono, la riqueza de especies y la cercanía a los centros urbanos, de las cuales el 10% representó una elevada riqueza de especies y presencia de carbono, el 20% una baja riqueza de especies y presencia de carbono y el 3% una elevada lejanía (>48 horas), presencia de carbono y riqueza de especies. Aproximadamente el 35% de todas las áreas silvestres en 2013 era accesible en <24 horas de traslado desde los centros urbanos. Aunque el concepto de áreas silvestres puede usarse para garantizar beneficios en contextos específicos, su aplicación en la conservación debe considerar las implicaciones contextuales y sociales. La caracterización diversa de las áreas silvestres bajo el lente de la conservación ambiental mundial muestra que un encuadre matizado y la aplicación de este concepto son necesarios para aumentar el conocimiento, la comunicación y la retención de sus formas variables como lugares libres de industria.

Microplastic contamination in Great Lakes fish.

Freshwater ecosystems, generally adjacent to human population and more contaminated relative to adjacent marine ecosystems, are vulnerable to microplastic contamination. We sampled 7 species of fish from Lake Ontario and Lake Superior and assessed their gastrointestinal (GI) tracts to quantify ingested microplastics and other anthropogenic particles. A subset of the microparticles were chemically analyzed to confirm polymer types and anthropogenic origins. We documented the highest concentration of microplastics and other anthropogenic microparticles ever reported in bony fish. We found 12,442 anthropogenic microparticles across 212 fish (8 species) from nearshore Lake Ontario, 943 across 50 fish (1 species) from Humber River, and 3094 across 119 fish (7 species) from Lake Superior. Fish from Lake Ontario had the greatest mean abundance of anthropogenic microparticles in their GI tracts (59 particles/fish [SD 104]), with up to 915 microparticles in a single fish. Fish from Lake Superior contained a mean [SD] of 26 [74] particles/fish, and fish from Humber River contained 19 [14] particles/fish. Most particles were microfibers. Overall, ≥90% of particles were anthropogenic, of which 35-59% were microplastics. Polyethylene (24%), polyethylene terephthalate (20%), and polypropylene (18%) were the most common microplastics. Ingestion of anthropogenic particles was significantly different among species within Lake Ontario (p < 0.05), and the abundance of anthropogenic particles increased as fish length increased in Lake Ontario (ρ = 0.62). Although we cannot extrapolate the concentration of microplastics in the water and sediments of these fish, the relatively high abundance of microplastics in the GI tracts of fish suggests environmental exposure may be above threshold concentrations for risk.

Contaminación por Microplásticos en Peces de los Grandes Lagos Resumen Los ecosistemas de agua dulce, generalmente contiguos a poblaciones humanas y más contaminados en relación con los ecosistemas marinos adyacentes, son vulnerables a la contaminación por microplásticos. Muestreamos siete especies de peces del Lago Ontario y del Lago Superior y analizamos sus tractos gastrointestinales (GI) para cuantificar los microplásticos ingeridos, además de otras partículas antropogénicas. Un subconjunto de las micropartículas fue analizado químicamente para confirmar los tipos de polímero y los orígenes antropogénicos. Documentamos la concentración más alta de microplásticos y de otras micropartículas antropogénicas jamás reportada en peces óseos. Encontramos 12,442 micropartículas antropogénicas en 212 peces (ocho especies) del Lago Ontario, 943 en 50 peces (una especie) en el Río Humber y 30,094 en 119 peces (siete especies) del Lago Superior. Los peces del Lago Ontario tuvieron la mayor abundancia promedio de micropartículas antropogénicas en sus tractos GI (59 partículas/pez [DS 104]), con hasta 915 micropartículas en un solo pez. Los peces del Lago Superior tuvieron un promedio [DS] de 26 [74] partículas/pez y los peces del Río Humber tuvieron 19 [14] partículas/pez. La mayoría de las partículas eran microfibras. En general, ≥90% de las partículas eran antropogénicas, de las cuales el 35-39% eran microplásticos. El polietileno (24%), el tereftalato de polietileno (20%) y el polipropileno (18%) fueron los microplásticos más comunes. La ingesta de partículas antropogénicas tuvo una diferencia significativa entre las especies del Lago Ontario (p < 0.05) y la abundancia de las partículas antropogénicas incrementó conforme aumentó la longitud de los peces en el Lago Ontario (ρ = 0.62). Aunque no podemos extrapolar la concentración de microplásticos en el agua y los sedimentos para estos peces, la abundancia relativamente alta de microplásticos en los tractos GI de los peces sugiere que la exposición ambiental puede estar por encima del umbral de concentraciones para el riesgo.

Effects of human footprint and biophysical factors on the body-size structure of fished marine species.

Marine fisheries in coastal ecosystems in many areas of the world have historically removed large-bodied individuals, potentially impairing ecosystem functioning and the long-term sustainability of fish populations. Reporting on size-based indicators that link to food-web structure can contribute to ecosystem-based management, but the application of these indicators over large (cross-ecosystem) geographical scales has been limited to either fisheries-dependent catch data or diver-based methods restricted to shallow waters (<20 m) that can misrepresent the abundance of large-bodied fished species. We obtained data on the body-size structure of 82 recreationally or commercially targeted marine demersal teleosts from 2904 deployments of baited remote underwater stereo-video (stereo-BRUV). Sampling was at up to 50 m depth and covered approximately 10,000 km of the continental shelf of Australia. Seascape relief, water depth, and human gravity (i.e., a proxy of human impacts) were the strongest predictors of the probability of occurrence of large fishes and the abundance of fishes above the minimum legal size of capture. No-take marine reserves had a positive effect on the abundance of fishes above legal size, although the effect varied across species groups. In contrast, sublegal fishes were best predicted by gradients in sea surface temperature (mean and variance). In areas of low human impact, large fishes were about three times more likely to be encountered and fishes of legal size were approximately five times more abundant. For conspicuous species groups with contrasting habitat, environmental, and biogeographic affinities, abundance of legal-size fishes typically declined as human impact increased. Our large-scale quantitative analyses highlight the combined importance of seascape complexity, regions with low human footprint, and no-take marine reserves in protecting large-bodied fishes across a broad range of species and ecosystem configurations.

Las pesquerías marinas de los ecosistemas costeros en muchas áreas del mundo históricamente han removido a individuos de gran tamaño, potencialmente perjudicando el funcionamiento ambiental y la sostenibilidad a largo plazo de las poblaciones de peces. Los reportes sobre los indicadores basados en el tamaño que se vinculan con la estructura de la red alimenticia pueden contribuir al manejo basado en el ecosistema, aunque la aplicación de estos indicadores a grandes (inter-ecosistemas) escalas geográficas ha estado limitada a datos de captura dependientes de las pesquerías o métodos basados en el buceo restringidos a aguas someras (<20 m), lo cual puede representar erróneamente la abundancia de peces de gran tamaño capturados para la pesca. Obtuvimos los datos de la estructura del tamaño corporal de 82 teleósteos marinos demersales focalizados por razones recreativas o comerciales tomados de 2,904 despliegues de video estéreo subacuático remoto con cebo (stereo-BRUV, en inglés). El muestreo se realizó hasta los 50 metros de profundidad y abarcó aproximadamente 10,000 km del talud continental de Australia. El relieve marino, la profundidad del agua y la gravedad humana (es decir, un indicador de los impactos humanos) fueron los pronosticadores más sólidos de la probabilidad de incidencia de los peces de gran tamaño y de la abundancia de peces por encima del tamaño legal mínimo de captura. Las reservas marinas de protección total tienen un efecto positivo sobre la abundancia de los peces que están por encima del tamaño legal, aunque el efecto varió según el grupo de especies. Como contraste, los peces de tamaño sublegal fueron pronosticados de mejor manera usando gradientes de la temperatura de la superficie marina (media y varianza). En las áreas con un impacto humano reducido, los peces de gran tamaño corporal tenían hasta tres veces mayor probabilidad de aparecer y los peces de tamaño legal eran aproximadamente cinco veces más abundantes. Para los grupos de especies conspicuas con afinidades contrastantes de hábitat, ambiente y biogeografía, la abundancia de peces de tamaño legal normalmente declinó conforme aumentó el impacto humano. Nuestros análisis cuantitativos a gran escala resaltan la importancia conjunta que tienen la complejidad marina, las regiones con una huella humana reducida y las reservas marinas de protección total para la protección de los peces de gran tamaño corporal en una extensa gama de especies y configuraciones ecosistémicas. Efectos de la Huella Humana y los Factores Biofísicos sobre la Estructura del Tamaño Corporal de Especies Marinas Capturadas para la Pesca.

Nursery habitat use patterns of the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini, in coastal areas of the central Mexican Pacific.

This work aimed to characterize the nursery habitat use patterns of the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini (SPL), in coastal areas of Jalisco and Colima, through the birth pattern, space-time distribution and relationship with environmental conditions. Information was combined from three sources: monitoring bycatch from the artisanal fishery, fishery-independent samplings, and acoustic tracking and monitoring. From September 2013 to May 2017, 408 juvenile SPL (41.6-100.1 cm total length) were recorded. Births occurred between May and December (rainy-warmer season), within a radius of 2 km from river mouths in Marabasco, Navidad Bay, Rebalsito-Tecuan and Cuitzmala mainly in shallow (<20 m), turbid and soft-bottom areas. Some tagged SPL moved from Marabasco and Rebalsito to Navidad Bay. The peak of catch and births occurred in June-August. Tagged SPL remained near the river mouth in Rebalsito for up to 27 days, showing a mean residency index of 0.29, a home range of 5.55 km2 with a core area of 1.23 km2 located within a 1.5 km radius from the river mouth. In December-January SPL left the river mouth areas and the catch was scarce until the following May-June, except in January 2016, when the catch was high due to El Niño 2015. SPL bycatch was significantly associated with temperature, precipitation and the Oceanic Niño Index.

Application of Environmental DNA for Monitoring Red Sea Bream Iridovirus at a Fish Farm.

Red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD) causes high economic damage in mariculture in Asian countries. However, there is little information on the source of infection and viral dynamics in fish farms. In the present study, the dynamics of RSIV in a fish farm that mainly reared juveniles and broodstocks of red sea bream (Pagrus major) were monitored over 3 years (2016 to 2018) by targeting environmental DNA (eDNA) of seawater. Our monitoring demonstrated that red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) was detected from the eDNA at least 5 days before an RSIVD outbreak in the juveniles. The viral loads of eDNA during the outbreak were highly associated with the numbers for daily mortality, and they reached a peak of 106 copies/liter seawater in late July in 2017, when daily mortality exceeded 20,000 fish. In contrast, neither clinical signs nor mortality was observed in the broodstocks during the monitoring periods, whereas the broodstocks were confirmed to be virus carriers by an inspection in October 2017. Interestingly, the viral load of eDNA in the broodstock net pens (105 copies/liter seawater) was higher than that in the juvenile net pens (104 copies/liter seawater) just before the RSIVD outbreak in late June 2017. After elimination of all RSIV-infected surviving juveniles and 90% of broodstocks, few RSIV copies were detected in the eDNA in the fish farm from April 2018 onward (fewer than 102 copies/liter seawater). These results imply that the virus shed from the asymptomatically RSIV-infected broodstock was transmitted horizontally to the juveniles and caused further RSIVD outbreaks in the fish farm. IMPORTANCE Environmental DNA (eDNA) could be applied in monitoring waterborne viruses of aquatic animals. However, there are few data for practical application of eDNA in fish farms for the control of disease outbreaks. The results of our field research over 3 years targeting eDNA in a red sea bream (Pagrus major) fish farm implied that red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD) outbreaks in juveniles originated from virus shedding from asymptomatically virus-infected broodstocks. Our work identifies an infection source of RSIVD in a fish farm via eDNA monitoring, and it could be applied as a tool for application in aquaculture to control fish diseases.

Can wrecks serve as exploitable surrogate habitats for degraded natural reefs?

Overfishing is a key stressor in many coral reefs, affecting their function and ecosystem services. In the Gulf of California, 50 years of artisanal and recreational fishing have removed most of the largest and most vulnerable fish species, the Espiritu Santo Archipelago (ESA) is a marine protected area (MPA) where artisanal and recreational fishing are allowed in most of the natural reefs, while the artificial reefs (wrecks) are fully protected. An important question under such circumstances is whether artificial reefs can serve as surrogate habitats for the natural reefs. To address this question, we characterized the fish community (species richness, abundance, differences in taxonomic structure) and analyzed the obtained data by multivariate ordination and similarity analysis. The highest species richness was found in the artificial reefs, with total of 83 species, of which 21 species were exclusive. Contrary to the species richness, the total fish abundance was 20% higher at the natural reefs. The fish assemblages of the artificial reefs differ significantly from those of the natural reefs. The natural reefs of the ESA are dominated by few fish species from families of lower trophic levels. In contrast, the studied shipwrecks provide refuge to commercially important fish species (such as Snappers, Triggerfish, Jacks, and Groupers) including threatened species. The different fish compositions on the natural and artificial reefs is likely to be the outcome of differential fishing pressure. The non-fished areas (wrecks) of the ESA may represent a good strategy for reef restoration, enhanced fishing grounds (via spillover) and fishing management. However, the fish community structure of the artificial reefs differs from natural rocky reefs of the ESA, and therefore, should not be considered as surrogate habitats for natural reefs. The results point out the need to reassess the management effectiveness of the natural reefs of the ESA.

Environmental assessment, mechanical behavior, and chemical properties of self-compacting mortars (SCMs) with harbor dredged sediments to be used in construction.

Environmental and ecological issues have led to the development of new sustainable channels for the recovery of dredged sediments. One of the major difficulties of sediment valorization lies in particular in its very heterogeneous composition. For example, the presences of heavy metals and organic matter have a significant influence on the environmental impact of materials formulated with sediment. Some heavy metals such as antimony, mercury, lead, and cadmium in high concentrations are dangerous to the body. Trace metals trapped in sediments are transformed through complex biogeochemical processes. They subsequently associate with organic matter to form clay-humic groups that define the degree of sediment pollution. The Harbour Dredging Sediments (HDSs) used were classified as non-hazardous waste in accordance with Directive 12/12/14/EC. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact of the use of HDS from active lagoon in the formulation of self-compacting concrete (SCC) with the objective of incorporating a high sediment content, obtaining materials with a low environmental impact and ensuring compressive strength of a C25/30 class concrete. Three HDSs are being studied that have a significant impact their difference by their fines content at 125 µm. Sediments recovered from the active lagooning process have not undergone any physical, chemical, or thermal treatment. The DMDA (Densified Mixture Design Algorithm) method is used to optimize the composition of "sediment" SSCs. The communication focuses on mortars equivalent to these "sediment" SCCs (SCMs). Sediment represents about 20% of the granular composition with a sediment-to-cement ratio of 80%. Compressive strengths are greater than 25 MPa and tensile strengths are in the range of 3 to 8 MPa at 28 days of curing. From an environmental point of view, all heavy metals are stabilized except nickel. In particular, there has been a considerable decrease in the levels of sulfate, total organic carbon, and chloride. The different SCMs are classified as inert, clinker hydration produces hydrates that capture and stabilize heavy metals in the cementitious matrix. The results obtained show that HDSs could be used as a secondary raw material in the formulation of self-compacting concretes.

Picturing donations: Do images influence conservation fundraising?

Many environmental organizations use photographic images to engage donors and supporters. While images play a role in fundraising, visual framing remains understudied in the environmental field. Few real-world experiments have examined which types of images result in higher donations to biodiversity conservation. We examined the role of images in conservation fundraising through a public experiment at Zoomarine, a marine park located in southern Portugal. Zoomarine runs a program called Dolphin Emotions where visitors pay to learn about dolphin biology and to interact with dolphins. We placed a donation box and a large informational poster about the Marine Megafauna Foundation, a conservation partner, in the lounge of the Dolphin Emotions program, which is open to participants and their families. The text on the poster, which solicited donations for the Marine Megafauna Foundation, was held constant, while four different image conditions were tested: dolphins, ocean wildlife, children, and people staring out from the poster (i.e., "watching eyes"). Each image condition was displayed for three days at a time and was on display for at least seven randomly assigned three-day periods over the course of 91 days. 20,944 visitors passed the donation box and the four poster conditions during this time and a total of € 952.40 was collected. The differences in mean donations in € per visitor per 3-day period were not statistically significant, F(3, 25) = 0.745, p = 0.54. Thus, we did not find that different images had a significant influence on donations to conservation. This may be due to our choice of visual frames or to the use of a donation box, which is a passive fundraising channel. Future research should examine how visual framing influences donations in other public settings and should test the influence of other visual frames on philanthropic behavior.

Impact of the COVID-19 crisis: Analysis of the fishing and shellfishing sectors performance in Galicia (Spain).

The COVID-19 crisis has had consequences in every area of the Spanish economy. The fisheries and shellfishing sectors in Galicia have been significantly affected due to the measures taken to curb the pandemic. In particular, the closure of the HORECA channel and the confinement of the population have adversely affected the production of fresh fish and shellfish. In this study, a three-stage analysis of the management of the pandemic in Spain has been carried out (confinement, "new normality" and closure of the HORECA channel). The direct and indirect effects of the pandemic have been considered, as well as other factors independent of it, which usually influence production. The results show a decrease in catches, revenue and average price (euros/kg) at first sale of Galician fish and shellfish products over the three study periods, with an incidence level that varies between phases, species, fleet segments and sectors.

Simultaneous quantification of 12 veterinary drug residues in fishery products using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Herein, an analytical method was developed for simultaneous determination of 12 anthelmintics (closantel, niclosamide, nitroxynil, rafoxanide, cymiazole, fluazuron, levamisole, morantel, praziquantel, pyrantel, thiophanate, and trichlorfon) in fishery products (eel, flatfish, and shrimp) using liquid-liquid extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A reversed-phase analytical column was then used to separate the analytes from various matrices. Linear matrix-matched calibration curves were generated with coefficients of determination ≥ 0.9935. Recovery rates at three spiking levels (5, 10, and 20 µg/kg) ranged between 61.58% and 119.37% with relative standard deviations ≤ 19.05%. Limits of detection were in the range of 0.3-1.6 µg/kg, whereas limits of quantification ranged between 1.0 and 5.0 µg/kg. The matrix effect was moderate with values ranging from -99.47% to 51.98%. Matrices procured from large markets tested negative for the 12 anthelmintics. The developed method proved amenable to real sample testing and can be used for simultaneous determination of target analytes in aquatic products.

Benefit-risk associated with the consumption of fish bycatch from tropical tuna fisheries.

Mercury, omega-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and macronutrients (fat and proteins) were quantified on a wet weight (ww) basis in 20 species of fish taken as bycatch in tropical tuna fisheries. Based on a hazard quotient taking into account mercury and omega-3 contents, a benefit-risk assessment for the consumption of these pelagic species was conducted for three people categories: young children, children and adults. All fish bycatch were found to be an excellent source of proteins (min‒max = 14.4-25.2 g/100 g fillet), had low omega-6/omega-3 ratios (<1, except for silky shark), and had mercury content below the safety limits defined by sanitary agencies. Silky shark and Istiophoridae had the highest mercury contents (min‒max = 0.029-0.317 ppm ww). Omega-3 contents were the lowest in silky shark (0.2 ± 0.2 mg/100 g fillet) and the highest in striped marlin (3.6 ± 3.2 g/100 g fillet). Billfishes (Istiophoridae, including striped marlin), minor tunas (Scombridae), and Carangidae had the highest omega-3 contents (min‒max = 0.68-7.28 g/100 g fillet). The highest hazard quotient values obtained for silky shark and great barracuda reflected a lower nutritional benefit (i.e., low omega-3 source) than risk (i.e., mercury exposure), making them not advisable for consumption. Eight species had low hazard quotients, and among them cottonmouth jack and flat needlefish were found of high health interest (high protein, moderate fat contents, and low omega-6/omega-3 ratio). A daily serving portion of 85-200 g (according to people category) can be recommended for these species. Batfish, and to a lower extent pompano dolphinfish and brassy chub, can also be consumed safely and would provide greater health benefits than risks. These results advocate for a better access of these species to local populations.

Climate and land-use as the main drivers of recent environmental change in a mid-altitude mountain lake, Romanian Carpathians.

Recent decades have been marked by unprecendented environmental changes which threaten the integrity of freshwater systems and their ecological value. Although most of these changes can be attributed to human activities, disentagling natural and anthropogenic drivers remains a challenge. In this study, surface sediments from Lake Ighiel, a mid-altitude site in the Carpathian Mts (Romania) were investigated following high-resolution sedimentological, geochemical, environmental magnetic and diatom analyses supported by historical cartographic and documentary evidence. Our results suggest that between 1920 and 1960 the study area experienced no significant anthropogenic impact. An excellent correspondence is observed between lake proxy responses (e.g., growth of submerged macrophytes, high detrital input, shifts in diatom assemblages) and parameters tracking natural hydroclimate variability (e.g., temperature, NAO). This highlights a dominant natural hydroclimatic control on the lacustrine system. From 1960 however, the depositional regime shifted markedly from laminated to homogenous clays; since then geochemical and magnetic data document a trend of significant (and on-going) subsurface erosion across the catchment. This is paralleled by a shift in lake ecosystem conditions denoting a strong response to an intensified anthropogenic impact, mainly through forestry. An increase in detrital input and marked changes in the diatom community are observed over the last three decades, alongside accelerated sedimentation rates following enhanced grazing and deforestation in the catchment. Recent shifts in diatom assemblages may also reflect forcing from atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, a key recent drive of diatom community turnover in mountain lakes. In general, enhanced human pressure alongside intermittent hydroclimate forcing drastically altered the landscape around Lake Ighiel and thus, the sedimentation regime and the ecosystem's health. However, paleoenvironmental signals tracking natural hydroclimate variability are also clearly discernible in the proxy data. Our work illustrates the complex link between the drivers of catchment-scale impacts on one hand, and lake proxy responses on the other, highlighting the importance of an integrated historical and palaeolimnological approach to better assess lake system changes.