Fisheries and Wildlife

Apart from voice services, data made its foray in cellular networks with 2.5G networks. Today, with 3G network already in place, the data requirements of mobile subscribers is very high. With the increasing demand for mobile internet and rich data services such as streaming media for audio and video, this data requirement is expected to multifold in near future.  Correspondingly the network operators have started looking for alternative means of satisfying these data needs. Among many alternatives, mobile data offloading (MDO) is the most promising one. This paper presents the extensive need,  benefits, and technological solutions for MDO. Qualitatively, it is also shown that Wi-Fi, or 802.11 network is the most
promising technology for MDO. Also, to further popularize Wi-Fi as a candidate network for MDO, IEEE published the enhancements to the base IEEE 802.11-2007 standard in the form of its ninth amendment (i.e. IEEE 802.11u). Restricting the scope to beacon frame only, we show how this amendment supports interworking of 802.11 network with external networks. We also show the benefit of 802.11u compatible
Wi-Fi, as a candidate network for MDO, by modelling the problem of taking user's choice for assisting any vertical handover decision algorithm.

Fish traps are passive fishing gear which lured the fish either for food or shelter and get trapped through appropriate hard or soft structures. Documentation of these traditional fish trapping methods from the northeastern parts of India is limited. This study attempts to document the traditional fish trapping devices from four districts of Meghalaya with respect to its structure and operation. The depicted survey highlights 11 types of fish traps which were classified into three major categories such as tubular, basket and box traps. Average length of these documented traps ranged from 0.25-1.5 m and mostly operated during monsoon and post-monsoon season in floodplain and low-lying areas like rice fields, ponds, shallow rivers and ditches. Murrels, minnows, barbs, mahseers and catfishes were the dominant fish catch from these gears. Most of the traps were fabricated with bamboo and locally available materials with a life span of more than 2-3 years. Results revealed that Khnu/Chiap, is the most popular and efficient trap with a CPUE of 2.5 kg day-1 trap-1. Documentation and the knowledge concerning the traditional gears will facilitate to improvise the fishing gears which will ultimately improve the livelihood of fishermen in the northeastern region of India.

This article describes the development of the moral economy of merit among the fishermen and rural poor of Dalai Village, Magtaal soum, Mongolia. In 1971, the historian E. P. Thompson used the term “moral economy” to describe a popular consensus on what was considered right and wrong in economic behavior, arguing that its provocation motivated the eighteenth-century English poor to engage in crowd-based political action. In contemporary, post-socialist eastern Mongolia, the rural poor have constructed a pervasive local discourse on what is considered legitimate (“merit-making” or buyantai) versus what is illegitimate in economic behavior that morally-condones their illegal wildlife procurement, selling, and smuggling activities. The political contexts of these case studies are compared in order to detail a similar political-economic progression: (1) the recent market liberalization of the commons, sparking moral outrage amongst those classes newly disadvantaged through this shift to the market; and (2) the formation of an anti-profiteering moral discourse among these classes, designed to limit the ability of others to economically capitalize off of these circumstances. Comparing the case studies, the moral economy is manifested as exchange practices involving commons-marked goods that distribute their benefits among the participants, envisioned as thereby promoting group wellbeing rather than the uneven accumulation by individuals.

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus, 1758) is the most abundant sea turtle species in the Mediterranean Sea, where commercial fishing appears to be the main driver of mortality. So far, information on sea turtle bycatch in Italy is limited both in space and time due to logistical problems in data collected through onboard observations and on a limited number of vessels involved. In the present study, sea turtle bycatch in Italian waters was examined by collecting fishermen's information on turtle bycatch through an interview-based approach. Their replies enabled the identification of bycatch hotspots in relation to area, season and to the main gear types. The most harmful fishing gears resulted to be trawl nets, showing the highest probabilities of turtle bycatch with a hotspot in the Adriatic Sea, followed by longlines in the Ionian Sea and in the Sicily Channel. Estimates obtained by the present results showed that more than 52,000 capture events and 10,000 deaths occurred in Italian waters in 2014, highlighting a more alarming scenario than earlier studies. The work shows that in case of poor data from other sources, direct questioning of fishermen and stakeholders could represent a useful and cost-effective approach capable of providing sufficient data to estimate annual bycatch rates and identify high-risk gear/location/season combinations.

News and information on wildlife and protected areas from India and South Asia. Published by Kalpavriksh and the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), IIT Bombay with support from the Duleep Matthai Nature Conservation Trust. In it's 27th year of non-stop publication.
Vol. XVII, No. 3, June 2021 (No. 151)

Background The present study was performed to determine carapace length–body weight relationship of Charybdis callianassa. In fisheries biology, length–weight relationships are important as they allow for the calculation, by creating a mathematical equation between the two, of the total weight of the fish in a particular group in fish. Such information is helpful for fishery scientists to research the dynamics of development and populations and for public agencies that can maintain and preserve these resources sustainably. Results A study on the carapace length–body weight relationship of Charybdis callianassa (Herbst, 1789) was made on the northwest coast of India for the first time. The study was based on experimental trawl fishing conducted fortnightly from August 2019 to March 2020. A total of 479 specimens, including 262 males and 217 females from fishing trawler, were examined for their carapace length and total weight. The carapace length ranged from 2.69 to 3.54 cm, and the ...

Manta ray watching tourism has become a popular tourist attraction over the past two decades, with a number of destinations offering different encounter experiences for tourists. This type of attraction has drawn worldwide attention because it can offer significant contributions to the local economy through snorkelling and diving services. Since its early development, a number of scientists have conducted research on the impacts of manta ray watching tourism, and have reported different findings regarding its sustainability. Based on published scientific articles, this study provides a literature review of manta ray watching tourism and examines the sustainability of its operation. This paper also highlights manta ray tourism hotspots in Indonesia including Nusa Penida, Komodo, and Raja Ampat as the study locations. Interviews with ten key persons including government officials, tourism operators, community, and non-governmental organization were conducted to collect and identify their perceptions. This study demonstrates different impacts of economy, ecology, and social-cultural aspects. Furthermore, different study areas apply different management approach in managing their tourist in terms of manta ray watching tourism operation. In conclusion, good governance, regulations/law enforcement, and collaborative management are significant factors to achieve sustainable manta ray watching tourism.

Gender is an explanatory factor in multiple dimensions of conservation, including women's access to and participation in conservation programmes, with gender bias in wildlife research persisting globally. There is reason to believe the current global wildlife crime crisis is no exception, with a lack of critical examination of gendered roles in security for biodiversity conservation. Despite the emergence of high-profile all-women ranger units (e.g. Akashinga in Zimbabwe) there has been a lack of systematic integration of gender within biodiversity protection. Theoretical and methodological applications from criminology have become progressively more common in response to an increase in a wide range of environmental crimes with consequences for women and their communities. Here we consider the implications of the lack of knowledge of women's direct and indirect roles in wildlife security. We used the criminology and conservation literature to identify key gaps in research, and relevant and robust typologies and frameworks informed by criminology to structure future research on women as offenders, protectors (handlers, managers, guardians) and victims of wildlife crime. We argue that more intentional research into the direct and indirect roles of women in wildlife crime is needed to address wildlife crime, protect biodiversity and support social justice in response to wildlife crimes.

ABSTRACT-Pesticides frequently premeditated a quick source for scheming weeds and insect pests but they cause noteworthy risk to non ‐targeted  organisms. This present work includes susceptible species such as amphibians show venomous effect and death by extensive used pesticide lambda cyhalothrin in rice fields of Pakistan and this ecological alteration may initiate a reduced biodiversity, trophic cascades’ damage and ultimate harm  to public health. Analysis has been made to assess the influence of various concentrations of lambda cyhalothrin on several histopathological constraints of gonads of frog. In this work 40 frogs were divided into four groups A (control), B(low lethal), C(median lethal) and D(high lethal) at no, 0.008,0.010 and 0.012mg/litre doses of different weight retaining frogs, respectively. The doses were given in water of aquarium mg/litre at 20th June,2014 and frogs in took them through cutaneous respiration and inhalation. Effect differs with frogs’ weight and morphological and histological alterations were observed in control group compared to treated group. At 2nd and 3rd day, frogs were pithed and observations concerning to morphology and histology of gonads were documented in all treatments, which incorporated discoloration and disruption of gonads and total degeneration of testis  in less weighty frogs in morphological changes. Histopathological changes were foremost and included breaking of cyst walls, bunching of spermatocytes, necrosis of sertoli cells and sprinkled masses of decayed sperm bundles etc in testis and contraction in follicles, reduction in the number of oocytes, edema in stroma and formation of denatured yolk and necrosis etc. in ovaries which concluded that it has adverse affect on fertility of  amphibians ultimately reducing their population size at all doses.
INDEX TERMS: Amphibian, Lambda-Cyhalothrin, Frog, Gonads, Rice fields, Decline, Pakistan

Macrobrachium lanchesteri or locally known as “Udang Gantung” is popular in Nyatoh River, Setiu, Terengganu during monsoon season. Thirty nine sample of the shrimp with the weight (2.64±0.76) and length (5.51±0.11) were collected. From this study, the prevalence (41%) and mean intensity (1) of the parasites were observed. The parasites were collected and preserved in 70% alcohol for morphological identification by using Scanning Electron Microscope (Joel JSM-6360LA and Hitachi TM-1000). The morphological characteristics were observed and described for identification. Recently, there were no reports of Probophyrus sp. infected on M. lanchesteri from Nyatoh River, Setiu except on Macrobrachium rosenbergii.

On the creation of Cartagena Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge. 
In 1982, at the age of 21, Héctor E. Colón-Rodríguez made a series of public and private appearances in order to save the most endangered habitat in the Island of Puerto Rico: Cartagena Lagoon, at the time, the only fresh water habitat for wildlife. 
He conducted: (a) 1 year of field research (36 field visits), (b) wrote a 190 pp. monograph, (c) wrote 10 letters to Policy Makers, (d) wrote 4 popular newspaper articles, (e) met with PR governor, PR Secretary of Nat Resources, with University professors and students, (f) coordinated efforts with them, (g) participated and public talk about CL importance and (h) wrote 2 scientific articles about CL. 
He was the founder of the movement that restored and saved 3 Wildlife Refuges (1) Cartagena Lagoon, (2) Humacao Lagoons, (3) Caño Tiburones.  Now, more than 75 species of waterfowl have augmented their populations, and 10 new species are nesting in Puerto Rico. About 35 new migratory bird species are now visible because these habitat improvements.

Unusual catches of more than 4200 kg of the slender sunfish Ranzania laevis are described from the southwestern Atlantic, corresponding to the largest aggregation records for the species. These unexpected records were associated with unusually warm currents in the area. Males and females were physiologically able to spawn at the moment of capture, suggesting the occurrence of reproductive aggregation in this species.

The effects of temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) changes on different haematological parameters and enzymes activities such as on LDH (Lactate de Hydrogenase), MDH (Malate de Hydrogenase) & GST (Glutathione-S-Transferase) were studied in the liver and skeletal muscles of Tambaqui fish (Collosoma macropomum, Cuvier, 1818) in the Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Molecular Evolution (LEEM) of the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA). The experimental procedures involved the exposure of fish to temperature rise from 28Cº to 32Cº and an increased in CO2 concentration up to 10 times higher than the current levels for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The levels of LDH, GST and MDH in both the tissues of Tambaqui (Muscles & Liver) showed a significant decreased at different along the different exposure periods. The levels of plasma glucose in blood decreased and the values of Hb, Ht, RBC, VCM, and HCM & CHCM showed increased after the exposure.

The purpose of this project was to assess the mussel (Mytilus edulis) food requirements of oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) in the Exe Estuary, which has been designated a Special Protection Area for overwintering waterbirds, including oystercatcher. The overwintering oystercatcher population of the Exe Estuary has been well-studied, and the birds are known to feed predominantly upon mussels in intertidal areas. There have been recent declines in the population size of oystercatcher in the Exe Estuary, mirroring wider declines throughout Europe, the reasons for which are unknown.

The study comprised:
• The collection of new data on the area of mussel beds, the density and size distribution of mussels on these beds, and the numbers and behaviour of oystercatcher on these beds;
• The collation of existing data on the food supply of oystercatchers in the Exe Estuary;
• The development of models to predict the food requirements of oystercatcher;
• Running simulations of the models to predict whether there is / could be any effect on oystercatcher survival of the current / potential future ways of managing the mussel fishery on the Exe Estuary.

The current mussel fishery on the Exe provides a feeding resource for oystercatcher on intertidal lays that are exposed on spring tides. Two potential management options that could be effective at improving the feeding conditions of oystercatcher would be to increase the number and area of intertidal mussel lays, and / or to place mussel discards at a relatively high shore level close to the oystercatcher roost.

This project documented a number of changes that have occurred to the Exe Estuary mussel and oystercatcher populations including:
• The number and size of mussel beds have decreased since traditional methods of maintaining mussel beds in the estuary have ceased.
• The density of mussels within the size range consumed by the birds has generally decreased, but the density of the larger mussels within this size range, which are more profitable to oystercatcher, has generally increased.
• Oystercatcher lose a higher proportion of mussels to attacks by carrion crows and herring gulls than they have in the past.
• The number of oystercatcher wintering in the estuary has declined, but the number of birds feeding on the mussel beds has been relatively stable.

The models developed in the project predict that the present day mussel population is sufficient to support the number of oystercatcher that were observed to feed on mussels.

The presence of mussel lays provides extra food for oystercatcher when these lays are exposed on spring tides. The present area, or increases in the area of mussel lays could increase the survival rate of oystercatcher if the number of birds feeding on mussels was over 2000. Below this threshold, starvation was predicted to affect 0 % of the population and so additional food resources cannot further reduce the starvation. The effect over 2000 birds is relatively small because the lays are only exposed for a short time, and so oystercatcher will obtain the majority of their food from mussel beds that are higher on the shore, and hence exposed for longer. Simulations were not run in which lays were positioned higher on the shore because this would not be commercially viable from a fishery perspective; the growth rate of mussels declines as they are positioned further up the shore because they are inundated with water for less time and so have less time to feed.

Factors that would affect the beneficial effect of discards include the size of the discards, the size of the discard bed and the date from which discards are replenished. Our simulations predicted that larger discards spread at lower density over a larger bed increased oystercatcher survival by the greatest amount. This happened because interference competition excluded some birds from smaller patches, and oystercatcher can maintain high intake rate down to low mussel densities. It is unlikely that the size of discards could be increased, but the simulations suggest that the greatest benefit to oystercatchers could be achieved by spreading discards over a larger area. Our simulations predicted that making discards available from January increased oystercatcher survival by the same amount as making them available from September. This was because the feeding conditions of birds deteriorate through winter as, for example, the ash-free dry mass of prey declines, interference competition intensifies and day length shortens. The intake rate of birds feeding on discards was not measured during the study, but we recommend that this is done to between understand the potential benefit of discards. We recommend that the best place for the discard bed would be along the top of the shore on an area of gravel (and hence of relatively low food value to the birds), to the south of Cockwood. This is south of an area where discards have been laid and exploited by oystercatcher in the past, but would experience lower levels of disturbance from human activity.

Background In Probolinggo coastal waters, part of the Madura Strait, the appearance of whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) is a common sight especially during late December to March. The aggregation of these large vertebrates in this area have become highly attractive for local coastal tourism. Yet there has been limited scientific information regarding their population, from which better conservation management might result. The present study partly dealt with an exploration of whale shark habitat conditions at their arrival in this region. Approach Twelve days of whale shark sightings were made on board a wooden fishing boat (8 m length), coupled with weather data based on Beaufort's scale and plankton sampling at the time of shark surfacing. Observations were performed from early morning to late afternoon (7 am to 4 pm). The animals were counted and their length estimated by placing the boat and a whale shark in parallel positions. Zooplankton was sampled by filtering 100 L seawater using a 250 µm mesh-size plankton net. Site marking was done at each sight using GPS. The combination of primary data and secondary supporting information was combined to understand why whale sharks are present in the area. Results There were 72 individual whale sharks recorded during 12 d of observation, of which 94% appeared between morning to late morning. The highest number of sharks was found on day 6 with 14 individuals. Shark size ranged between 2 – 8 m, with most animals between 3 – 6 m, indicating the population might by dominated by immature individuals. During observation, there was no preferred temperature for whale shark sightings, with temperatures ranging between 28.5 – 30.0°C. Instead, whale shark presence coincided with relatively calm weather (1 – 3 Beauforts' scale). Whale sharks were absent on days 3, 7, and 12, when weather conditions were between 4 – 5 Beauforts' scale. The sharks swim as close as 1 nm to shore, in 5 – 10 m water depths. Among potential food items, there were 5 dominating zooplankton groups, i.e. crustaceans, sagittoideans, urochordatans, hydrozoans, and scyphozoans. In addition, fish eggs and larvae were also found. Regarding crustaceans, the copepods were the dominant group, especially genera Lucifer, Mysis, Sergia, and nauplii larvae forms. Conclusion The aggregation of whale sharks in Madura Strait is likely feeding-based in this area where wind-driven oceanographic conditions cause food to be in high abundance. Research on ID-based population structure of this whale shark aggregation is required.

Modern colleges of agriculture are often a mixture of traditional agricultural, natural resources, and other programs, which may lead to challenges for recruiting. During the past 10 years, the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln enhanced recruiting in rural areas in response to stakeholders' interests. As a result, CASNR graduates in agricultural programs from the smallest towns in Nebraska of <5,000 people increased markedly, relative to trends of all other types of CASNR students. Almost 60% of graduates during 2005-2015 in agriculture majors were from towns of <5000 people; in contrast, only 27% of graduates from natural resources and 22% of graduates from other programs were from small towns; instead, 51% of natural resources students and 45% of students in other CASNR programs came from the largest Nebraska cities with <45,000 people. Male graduates were the majority of all types of academic programs in CASNR (agriculture: 64%, natural resources: 61%, other programs: 61%), and 94% of CASNR graduates were white. Demographic data analysis is critical to confirmation of successful, targeted recruiting plans aimed at the unique sets of students in a college of agriculture.

Background The present study was performed to determine carapace length–body weight relationship of Charybdis callianassa. In fisheries biology, length–weight relationships are important as they allow for the calculation, by creating a mathematical equation between the two, of the total weight of the fish in a particular group in fish. Such information is helpful for fishery scientists to research the dynamics of development and populations and for public agencies that can maintain and preserve these resources sustainably. Results A study on the carapace length–body weight relationship of Charybdis callianassa (Herbst, 1789) was made on the northwest coast of India for the first time. The study was based on experimental trawl fishing conducted fortnightly from August 2019 to March 2020. A total of 479 specimens, including 262 males and 217 females from fishing trawler, were examined for their carapace length and total weight. The carapace length ranged from 2.69 to 3.54 cm, and the ...

Genetic networks can characterize complex genetic relationships among groups of individuals, which can be used to rank nodes most important to the overall connec-tivity of the system. Ranking allows scarce resources to be guided toward nodes integral to connectivity. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation concern that breeds on spatially discrete leks that must remain connected by genetic exchange for population persistence. We genotyped 5,950 individuals from 1,200 greater sage-grouse leks distributed across the entire species' geographic range. We found a small-world network composed of 458 nodes connected by 14,481 edges. This network was composed of hubs—that is, nodes facilitating gene flow across the network—and spokes—that is, nodes where connectiv-ity is served by hubs. It is within these hubs that the greatest genetic diversity was housed. Using indices of network centrality, we identified hub nodes of greatest conservation importance. We also identified keystone nodes with elevated centrality despite low local population size. Hub and keystone nodes were found across the entire species' contiguous range, although nodes with elevated importance to network-wide connectivity were found more central: especially in northeastern, central , and southwestern Wyoming and eastern Idaho. Nodes among which genes are most readily exchanged were mostly located in Montana and northern Wyoming, as well as Utah and eastern Nevada. The loss of hub or keystone nodes could lead to the disintegration of the network into smaller, isolated subnetworks. Protecting both hub nodes and keystone nodes will conserve genetic diversity and should maintain network connections to ensure a resilient and viable population over time. Our analysis shows that network models can be used to model gene flow, offering insights into its pattern and process, with application to prioritizing landscapes for conservation.

In 1982 I made a presetation at the fouth Simposium of Flora and Fauna at the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao.  Entitled "The importance of Cartagena Lagoon (Lajas, PR) for the preservation of endangered bird species in Puerto Rico".  After that 1982 presentation, a petition to the then governor Carlos Romero Barceló was signed by the public.  To our surprise the then governor was interested in the project and that was the start of what is today (2005) "The Cartagena Lagoon National Wildlife Refuge", operated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  The 2015 presentation was a summary of the efforts by the author, the 21 year of age, in order to save the lagoon. The efforts were successful.