ALBERT

Description: Time series (1965-1985) of Illex illecebrosus catch and morphometric data from the Northwest Atlantic were analysed to describe geographic variability in population structure. The areas studied were NAFO sub-areas 3 to 6, which range from Newfoundland to the northeastern USA shelf. Population components, reflecting seasonal spawning groups, were identified based on analysis of length frequency data. Components 3 and 4 represent two prominent life cycles: the summer spawners and winter spawners respectively. Components 1, 2, and 5 do not represent different life cycles, but result from the capacity to shift between life cycles by prolonging (or shortening) the life span. The presence of up to five components in the southern area illustrates a life history strategy involving protracted spawning and complex population structure. There was clear geographic variability in annual catch, with fluctuations being most extreme in the most northern area. Annual catch levels in all areas were significantly correlated with the abundance of the winter-spawning component, as represented by the number of squid within samples which belong to component 4. Population structure in the most northem area was simplest and catch levels therefore were most dependent on the highly migratory winter-spawning component. This leads to greater catch variability in the most northern area than in the other areas. The advantages of good feeding conditions may compensate for the risks associated with long-range migrations, especially recruitment failure. Life history strategies involving migratory and non-migratory population components limit the risk of recruitment failure. The overall resultant life history strategy for Illex illecebrosus is one that ensures survival of the species by stabilizing recruitment in at least one (southern) area through protracted spawning, complex population structure and interaction of spawning components. Time series (1965-1985) of Illex illecebrosus catch and morphometric data from the Northwest Atlantic were analysed to describe geographic variability in population structure. The areas studied were NAFO sub-areas 3 to 6, which range from Newfoundland to the northeastern USA shelf. Population components, reflecting seasonal spawning groups, were identified based on analysis of length frequency data. Components 3 and 4 represent two prominent life cycles: the summer spawners and winter spawners respectively. Components 1, 2, and 5 do not represent different life cycles, but result from the capacity to shift between life cycles by prolonging (or shortening) the life span. The presence of up to five components in the southern area illustrates a life history strategy involving protracted spawning and complex population structure. There was clear geographic variability in annual catch, with fluctuations being most extreme in the most northern area. Annual catch levels in all areas were significantly correlated with the abundance of the winter-spawning component, as represented by the number of squid within samples which belong to component 4. Population structure in the most northem area was simplest and catch levels therefore were most dependent on the highly migratory winter-spawning component. This leads to greater catch variability in the most northern area than in the other areas. The advantages of good feeding conditions may compensate for the risks associated with long-range migrations, especially recruitment failure. Life history strategies involving migratory and non-migratory population components limit the risk of recruitment failure. The overall resultant life history strategy for Illex illecebrosus is one that ensures survival of the species by stabilizing recruitment in at least one (southern) area through protracted spawning, complex population structure and interaction of spawning components.

Description: Juveniles of the common dentex (Dentex dentex) (2.4 g mean weight), were grown over a 6 week period, fed exclusively on a commercial sea bream diet or an isocaloric moist pellet diet, which was produced on site. Ambient temperature (24.4-26.2 °C) and oxygen content (4.8-5.9 mg/L), as well as the relatively low stocking density (max. 2.62 kg/m3) provided favourable rearing conditions. Survival (63.8% vs 51.6%), specific growth rates (6.1% vs 4.5%) and food conversion efficiency (115.8% vs 76.3%) were considerably elevated in the group fed on moist pellets. The growth performance parameters recorded are considered to be favourable for aquaculture requirements. Agonistic behaviour (particular biting of the tail) was found to be the main cause of the continuous mortality that occurred in both feed groups (78% and 64.8% of total mortality in the dry- and moist-pellet group, respectively). These biting attacks targeted the smallest individuals in a tank, whose mean individual weight made up 49-62% (with dry pellet diet) and 28.9-46.6% (with moist pellet diet) of the respective mean weights. The results indicate a strong relationship between nutrition, size variation and agonistic behaviour in the rearing of cornmon dentex juveniles.

Description: An investigation was carried out during the Illex argentinus trawl fishery (January-July) in the fishery regions of 42 °S and 45-47 °S off the Exclusive Economic Zone of Argentina between 1985 and 1990. Statoliths of 5,232 squid were sampled and processed to study age and growth patterns in squid, hatched in different months. Among squid of similar ages (within an age interval from 180 to 300 days), the May-hatched squid were the smallest while the September-hatched were largest. Growth rates of squid of the same hatching-months were significantly different according to year, but these differences were considerably smaller than those observed between various hatching-months within one year. The largest individuals at a given age were captured in 1990, and the smallest in 1985. Males and females became mature at age 220-320 and 210-360 days respectively. The maturation period lasts 1.5-2.5 months in males and 1 month in females. Early and late-maturing groups were observed within each hatching-month. The peak. of spawning was in July of 1984, 1986, 1987, in June of 1985 and in August of 1989.

Description: A wide spectrum of fish hosts in the Gulf of Guinea was examined for infestation with trypanorhynchid cestodes. A total of 1341 specimens belonging to 45 species were examined. The following 9 trypanorhynchid species were identified: Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, Grillotia perelica, Nybelinia sp., Otobothrium cysticum, O. dipsacum, Otobothrium sp., Poecilancistrum caryophyllum, Ptero-bothrium sp. and one unidentified species. The pattern of occurrence of Callitetrarhynchus gracilis has been used to draw conclusions on a possible 4-host life cycle of the species, involving two obligatory teleost host fish species, small clupeids and large predatory fish. The most abundant parasite was O. cysticum which was found in 8 host fishes. In general most other species occurred in one host fish species only. The study confirms the predominance of otobothriid cestodes in the parasite fauna of tropical and subtropical teleost fish species. Since only Pseudotolithus senegalensis and Stromateus fiatola harboured flesh infestations, trypanorhynchids do not pose serious dangers to the marketability of most commercially important fish species in the area. The method of scanning electron microscopy was used to clarify the details of hooklet arrangement on the tentacular armature of some species for the first time.