ALBERT

Description: The moisture, fat, ash, fatty acid profile, and cholesterol content are reported for cooked and raw fillets from 22 species of finfish found in the Northwest Atlantic. All but nine species had 1%or less fat. Ocean perch and a spring sampling of mackerel and wolffiSh had about 2% fat, followed by yellowfin tuna, whiting, silver hake, butterfish, and a summer -sampling of mackerel and wolffish with a range of 3-7% fat. Herring had a range of 5-12% fat representing a winter sampling on the low end and summer sampling on the high end of the range. Bluefin tuna (a summer sampling) contained the most fat with a high of 23% fat. Omega-3 fatty acids were present in excess of omega-6 fatty acids. The fattier fISh supplied the most omega-3fatty acids per gram of tissue. The mean cholesterol content for all species was 57 ± 16 mg/l00 g raw tissue. Finfish from the Northwest Atlantic would appear to fit into the regime for a healthy heart, being low in fat and cholesterol and rich in omega-3 fatty acids.(PDF file contains 42 pages.)

Description: Information on the biology and fisheries of cobia, Rachycentron canadum, is compiled and reviewed in the FAD species synopsis style. Topics include taxonomy, morphology, distribution, reproduction, pre-adult and adult stages, food, growth, migration, population characteristics, and various aspects of exploitation.Data and information were obtained from unpublished aswell as published sources.Cobia, the only species in the family Rachycentridae, is amigratory pelagic fish that occurs in tropical and subtropical seas of the world, except in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. In the western Atlantic Ocean, spawning occurs during the warm months. Eggs and larvae are planktonic. Females grow faster than males: at 1 year, females are 36 cm FL and 0.4 kg; at 4 years, 99 cm and 11 kg; and at 8 years, 137 cm and 31 kg. Comparable data for males are: at 1 year, 31 cm and 0.3 kg; 4 years, 82 cm and 6 kg; and 8 years, 108 cm and 15 kg. Sexual maturity is attained by males at about 52 cm FL in their secondyear and by females at about 70 cm in their third year. Fecundity for females 100-125 cm FL varies from 1.9 to 5.4 million eggs. Cobia favor crustaceans for food, but will feed on other invertebrates and fishes as well. They attain a maximum size of over 60 kg. Cobia are fished both commercially and recreationally. Commercially, they are usually caught incidentally in both hook-and-Iine and net fISheries. In the United States, which ranks behind Pakistan, Mexico, and the Philippines in commercialproduction of cobia, recreational landings exceedcommercial landings by more than ten-fold. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Description: This study examined the efficiency of fish diversion and survivorship of diverted fishes in the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Fish Return System in 1984 and 1985. Generally, fishes were diverted back to the ocean with high frequency, particularly in 1984. Most species were diverted at rates of 80% or more. Over 90% of the most abundant species, Engraulis mordax, were diverted. The system worked particularly well for strong-swimming forms such as Paralobrax clothratus, Atherinopsis californiensis, and Xenistius californiensis, and did not appreciably divert weaker-swimming species such as Porichthys notatus, Heterostichus rostratus, and Syngnathus sp. Return ratesof some species were not as high in 1985 as in 1984. Individuals of most tested species survived both transit through the fish return system and 96 hours in a holding net. Some species, such as E. mordox, X. californiensis, and Umbrina roncador, experienced tittle or no mortality. Survivorship of Seriphus politus was highly variable and no Anchoa delicatissima survived. (PDF file contains 22 pages.)

Description: The objective of this study was to describe the physical andichthyological changes occurring seasonally and annually in the south San Francisco Bay, based on the results of 2,561 otter trawl and water samples obtained between February 1973 and June 1982. Temperature varied predictably among seasons in a pattern that varied little between years. Salinity also underwent predictable seasonal changes but the pattern varied substantially between years. The most abundant species of fish were northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), English sole (Parophrys vetulus), and shiner surfperch (Cymatogaster aggregata). The majority of the common fish species were most abundant during wet years and least abundant in dry years. Numeric diversity was highest during the spring and early summer, with no detectable interannual trends. Species composition changed extensivelybetween seasons and between years, particularly yearswith extremely high or extremely low freshwater inflows. Allthe common species exhibited clustered spatial distributions. Such spatial clustering could affect the interpretation of data from estuarine sampling programs. Gobies (Family Gobiidae) were more abundant during flood tides than during ebb tides. English sole were significantly more abundant in shallower areas. Shiner surfperch showed significant differences in abundancebetween sample areas.(PDF file contains 28 pages.)

Description: Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) is a commercially important flounder in both the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans. In the latter, its center of abundance is in the eastern Bering Sea and along the Aleutian Islands chain where its population is managed as a single stock. Harvest levels in this region of the North Pacific during the period 1970-81 were comparable with thosein the northwest and northeast Atlantic, with annual average catches of 53,000 metric tons (t). However, the catch in 1984 dropped sharply to 23,100 t, in partbecause of reduced quotas arising from concern over continued poor recruitment and declining catch-per-unit-effort.Recruitment failure was manifested in 1) the sharp decline in the catch rate of young flsh in annual research trawl surveys on the continental shelf of the eastern Bering Sea and 2) an increasing proportion of older and larger fish inthe commercial catch from the continental slope of both the eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. The cause ofthe decline in recruitment could not be clearly identifled.Greenland turbot of the Bering Sea-Aleutian Islands share certain distributional features with the North Atlantic form. There is an apparent bathymetric change in the size and age of fish, with younger animals occupying continentalshelf depths and the older individuals residing at depths of the continental slope. At shallow depths the young are exposed to temperature fluctuations, whereas older animals along the slope are exposed to relatively stable temperatures.A hypothesis is proposed for describing the temporal and spatial paths by which young animals reach the mature or spawning portion of the population. (PDF file contains 38 pages.)

Description: The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries.The UJNR was begun during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program includedesalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air population, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marineresources research, development, and utilization.Accomplishments include: Increased communication and cooperation among tecbnical specialists; exchanges ofinformation, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a· policy-coordinative body; administrativestaff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficialeffects on international relations. (PDF file contains 56 pages.)

Description: The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries.The UJNR was begun during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program includedesalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air pollution, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marineresources research, development, and utilization.Accomplishments include: Increased communication and cooperation among technical specialists; exchanges ofinformation, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a policy-coordinative body; administrativestaff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficialeffects on international relations. (PDF file contains 76 pages.)

Description: In this era of proliferating scientific information it is difficult to keep up with the literature, even in one's own field. Review articles are helpful in summarizing the status of knowledge. In oyster biology, several such published reviews have been of great help to working scientists. The outstanding contributions that come to' mind are those by Baughman (1948), Korringa (1952), Joyce (1972), Breisch and Kennedy (1980), and Kennedy and Breisch(198 I). If done well, such compilations serve as checkpoints, eliminating or vastly reducing the need to consult the literature in detail.On Long Island, New York, where the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria is the major commercial resource, we have felt the need for some time for a compendium of knowledge on this important mollusk. Several years ago my secretary, students, and I began to gather materials for an annotatedbibliography. We have already published a collection of 2233 titles (McHugh et al. 1982), nearly all accompanied by abstracts, and in this publication we have added another 460.The experience has been rewarding. We have been surprised at the extent of the literature, much of it only remotely related to the shellfish industry itself, but nevertheless throwing light on the biology, physiology, and many other aspects of the scientific knowledge of hard clams.The following bibliography is divided into three parts. Part I comprises the bulk of the bibliography, while Parts 2 and 3 contain additional titles that we decided to include during editing, submission, and approval of themanuscript for publication. All three parts are indexed together, however.We also reexamined those titles in the previous bibliography (McHugh et al. 1982) which did not include abstracts. These are included in Parts 2 and 3 of this bibliography. Most of these contained no specific referenceto Mercenaria mercenaria. A few searches were terminated for various reasons. (PDF file contains 66 pages.)

Description: This study is concerned with the measurement of total factor prodnctivity in the marine fishing industries in general and in the Pacific coast trawl fishery in particular. The study is divided into two parts. Part I contains suitable empirical and introductory theoretical material for the examination of productivity in thePacific coast trawl Deet. It is self-contained, and contains the basic formulae, empirical results, and discussion. Because the economic theory of index numbersand productivity is constantly evolving and is widely scattered throughout the economics literature, Part D draws together the theoretical literature into one place to allow ready access for readers interested in more details.The major methodological focus of the study is upon the type of economic index number that is most appropriate for use by economists with the National Marine Fisheries Service. This study recommends that the following types ofeconomic index numbers be used: chain rather than fIxed base; bilateral rather than multilateral; one of the class of superlative indices, such as the Tornqvist or Fisher Ideal. (PDF file contains 40 pages.)

Description: The geographic and depth frequency distribution of 124 common demersal fish species in the northeastern Pacific were plotted from data on me at the Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center (NWAFC), National Marine Fisheries Service. The data included catch records of fishes and invertebrates from 24,881 samples taken from the Chukchi Sea, throughout the Bering Sea, Aleutian Basin, AleutianArchipelago, and the Gulf of Alaska, and from southeastern Alaska south to southern California. Samples were collected by a number of agencies and institutions over a 30-year period (1953-83), but were primarily from NWAFC demersaltrawls. The distributions of all species with 100 or more occurrences in the data set were plotted by computer.Distributions plotted from these data were then compared with geographic and depth-range limits given in the literature. These data provide new range extensions(geographic, depth, or both) for 114 species. Questionable extensions are noted, the depth ranges determined for 95% of occurrences, and depths of most frequent occurrence are recorded. Ranges of the species were classified zoogeographically, according to life zone, and with regard to the depth zone of greatest occurrence. Because most species examined have broad geographic ranges, they do not provide the best information for testing the validity of proposed zoogeographic province boundaries. Because of the location of greatest sampling effort and methods used in sampling,most fIShes examined were eastern boreal Pacific, sublittoral-bathyal (outer shelf) species. (PDF file contains 158 pages.)

Description: The following series of fishery publications produced in calendar years 1980-85 by the Scientific Publications OffIce of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are listed numerically and indexed by author and subject: Circular, Fishery BuUetin, Marine Fisheries Review, Special Scientific Report-Fisheries, and Technical Report NMFS.Also included is an alphanumeric listing of the NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS series published in calendar years 1972-85 by NMFS regional offices and fisheries centers. Authors and subjects for the Memoradum series are indexed with the other publication series. (PDF file contains 156 pages.)

Description: A stock assessment of the Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, fishery was conducted with purse-seine landings data from 1940 to 1984 and port sampling data from 1955 to 1984. These data were analyzed to determine growth rates,maximum sustainable yield (MSY), spawner-recruit relationships, and yield per recruit. Virtual population analysis was used to estimate stock size, year classsize, and fishing mortality rates.Surplus production models produced estimates of MSY from 450 to 490 kmt compared with yields of 416to 436 kmt based roughly on maximum recruitment from a weak spawner-recruit relationship. Recruitment to age-I ranged from 1.2 to 14.8 billion fish for year classes 1955-81. Recent mean recruitment to age-I for the 1975-81 year classes averaged 5.7 billion fish and compared favorably with the mean of 7.7 billion age-I fish recruited during the late 1950's. Mean recruitment from recent years suggests possible coastwide yields of 416 to 481 kmt. Continued dominance of late age-2 spawners among the spawning stock is of concern, since the stock is at greater risk through poor recruitment if recent favorable environmental conditions change.Yield-per-recruit estimates ranged from 46 g to 59 g since 1970. The high dependency of the modern fishery on prespawners has increased concerns about fluctuations in year-to-year availability and catches. To increase yield and enhance the stability of the resource, the number of age classes contributing significantly to the fishery should be increased, creating a butTer against future poorrecruitment years and lessening the year-to-year fluctuations in landings. (PDF file contains 24 pages.)

Description: This study aims to reconstruct the history of shore whaling in the southeastern United States, emphasizing statistics on the catch of right whales, Eubalaena glacialis, the preferred targets. The earliest record of whaling in North Carolina is of a proposed voyage from New York in 1667. Early settlers on the Outer Banks utilized whale strandings by trying out the blubber of carcasses that came ashore, and some whale oil was exported from the 1660s onward. New England whalemen whaled along the North Carolina coast during the 1720s, and possibly earlier. As some of the whalemen from the northern colonies moved to NortbCarolina, a shore-based whale fishery developed. This activity apparently continued without interruption until the War of Independence in 1776, and continued or was reestablished after the war. The methods and techniques of the North Carolina shore whalers changed slowly: as late as the 1890s they used a drogue at the end of the harpoon line and refrained from staying fast to the harpooned whale, they seldom employed harpoon guns, and then only during the waning years of the fishery.The whaling season extended from late December to May, most successfully between February and May. Whalers believed they were intercepting whales migrating north along the coast. Although some whaling occurred as far north as Cape Hatteras, it centered on the outer coasts of Core, Shackleford, and Bogue banks, particularly near Cape Lookout. The capture of whales other than right whales was a rare event. The number of boat crews probably remainedfairly stable during much of the 19th century, with some increase in effort in the late 1870s and early 1880s when numbers of boat crews reached 12 to 18. Then by the late 1880s and 1890s only about 6 crews were active. North Carolina whaling had become desultory by the early 1900s, and ended completely in 1917.Judging by export and tax records, some ocean-going vessels made good catches off this coast in about 1715-30, including an estimated 13 whales in 1719, 15 in one year during the early 1720s, 5-6 in a three-year period of the mid to late 1720s, 8 by one ship's crew in 1727, 17 by one group of whalers in 1728-29, and 8-9 by two boats working from Ocracoke prior to 1730. It is impossible to knowhow representative these fragmentary records are for the period as a whole. The Carolina coast declined in importance as a cruising ground for pelagic whalersby the 1740s or 1750s. Thereafter, shore whaling probably accounted for most of the (poorly documented) catch.Lifetime catches by individual whalemen on Shackleford Banks suggest that the average annual catch was at least one to two whales during 1830·80, perhaps about four during the late 1870s and early 1880s, and declining to about one by the late 1880s. Data are insufficient to estimate the hunting loss rate in the Outer Banks whale fishery.North Carolina is the only state south of New Jersey known to have had a long and well established shore whaling industry. Some whaling took place in Chesapeake Bay and along the coast of Virginia during the late 17th and early18th centuries, but it is poorly documented. Most of the rigbt whales taken off South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida during the 19th century were killed by pelagic whalers. Florida is the only southeastern state with evidence of an aboriginal (pre-contact) whale fishery. Right whale calves may have been among the aboriginal whalers' principal targets. (PDF file contains 34 pages.)

Description: The commercially important species of penaeoid shrimps comprise 4 families, 12 genera, and 37 species in the Americas, This key is supported by 49 figures including lateral views of whole shrimps in 10 of the 12 genera and detailed figures of male (petasma) and female (thelycum) genital structures of the species. A glossary of terms used in shrimp taxonomy plus a bibliography of references useful in identifying shrimps are included. (PDF file contains 38 pages.)

Description: The procedure to conduct horizontal starch gel electrophoresis on enzymes is described in detail. Areas covered are (I) collection and storage of specimens, (2)preparation of tissues, (3) preparation of a starch gel, (4) application of enzyme extracts to a gel, (5) setting up a gel for electrophoresis, (6) slicing a gel, and (7)staining a gel. Recipes are also included for 47 enzyme stains and 3 selected gel buffers. (PDF file contains 26 pages.)

Description: This report summarizes (I) annual purse seine landings of Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, for 1972-84, (2) estimated numbers of fish caught by fishing area. (3) estimates of nominal fishing effort and catch-per-unit-effort, (4) mean fish length and weight, and (5) major changes in the fishery. During the 1970s stock size and recruitment increased and the age composition broadened. reversing trends witnessed during the fishery's decline in the 1960s. Landings steadily improved and by 1980 the total coast wide landings exceeded 400,000 metric tons.Nevertheless, the character of the fishery changed considerably. Eleven reduction plants processed fish at seven ports in 1972, but in 1984 only eight plantsoperated at live ports. Beginning in the mid-1960s the center of fishing aclivity shifted from the Middle Atlantic area to the Chesapeake Bay area, which has continued to dominate the fishery in landings and effort through the 1970s and 1980s. During this period the average size and age of fish in the catches declined. (PDF file contains 30 pages.)

Description: A stock assessment of the gulf menhaden. Brevoortia patronus, fishery was conducted with data on purse-seine landings from 1946 to 1985 and port sampling data from 1964 to 1985. These data were analyzed to determine growth rates,yield-per-recruit, spawner-recruit relationships, and maximum sustainable yield (MSY). Virtual population analysis was used to estimate stock size, year-classsize, and fishing mortality rates. During the period studied, an average of 27% of age-l fish and 55% of age-2 and age-3 fish were taken by the fishery, and 54% for age-I and 38% for age-2 and -3 fish were lost annually to natural causes.Annual yield-per-recruit estimates ranged from 6.9 to 19.3 g, with recent mean conditions averaging 12.2 g since 1978. Surplus production models produced estimates of MSY from 620 to 700 kilometric tons. Recruits to age-I ranged from 8.3 to 41.8 billion fish for 1964-82. Although there was substantial scatter about the fitted curves, Ricker·type spawner-recruit relationships were found suitable for use in a population simulation model. Estimates of MSY frompopulation simulation model runs ranged from 705 to 825 kilometric tons with F -multiples of the mean rate of fishing ranging from 1.0 to 1.5.Recent harvests in excess of the historical MSY may not be detrimental to the gulf menhaden stock. However, one should not expect long-term harvesting above the historical MSY because of the short life span of gulf menhaden andpossible changes from currently favorable environmental conditions supporting high recruitment.(PDF file contains 24 pages.)

Description: This document contains data concerning the proximate composition and energy, fatty acid, sodium, and cholesterol content of finfish, shellfish, and their products as listed in 228 articles published between the years of 1976 and 1984. Also included is a systematic index of the species as referenced in this document listed alphabetically by scientific name. (PDF file contains 60 pages.)

Description: The ecology and reproductive biology of the leatherback turtle (Dennochelys coriacea) was studied on a high-energy nesting beach near Laguna Jalova, Costa Rica, between 28 March and 8 June 1985. The peak of nesting was between 15April and 21 May. Leatherbacks here measured an average 146.6 cm straightline standard carapace length and laid an average 81.57 eggs. The eggs measured a mean 52.12 mm diameter and weighed an average of 85.01 g. Significant positive relationships were found between the carapace lengths of nesters and their clutch sizes and average diameter and weight of eggs. The total clutch weighed between 4.02 and 13.39 kg, and yolkless eggs accounted for an average 12.4% of this weight. The majority of nesters dug shallow (〈24 cm) body pits and spent an average81 minutes at the nest site. A significant number of c1utcbes were laid below the berm crest. In a hatchery 42.2% of the eggs hatched, while in natural nests 70.2%hatched. The average hatchling carapace length was 59.8 mm and weight was 44.6 g. The longevity of leatherback tracks and nests on the beach was affected by weather. One nester was recaptured about one year later off the coast ofMississippi, U.S.A. Egg poaching was intense on some sections of the Costa Rican coast. Four aerial surveys in four different months provided the basis for comparingdensity of nesting on seven sectors of the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The beach at Jalova is heavily used by green turtles (Chelonia mydJJs) after the leatherback nesting season. The role of the Parque Nacional Tortuguero in conserving the leatherback and green turtle is discussed.(PDF file contains 20 pages.)

Description: The food habits of 20 species of pelagic nekton were investigated from collections made with small-mesh purse seines from 1979-84 off Washington and Oregon. Four species (spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias; soupfin shark, Galeorhinus zyopterus; blue shark, Prionace glauca; and cutthroat trout, Salmo clarki) were mainly piscivorous. Six species (coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch; chinooksalmon, O. tshawytscha; black rockfish, Sebastes melanops; yellowtail rockfish, S. f1avidus; sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria; and jack mackerel, Trachurus symmetricus)consumed both nektonic and planktonic organisms. The remaining species (market squid, Loligo opalescens; American shad, Alosa sapidissima; Pacific herring, Clupea harengus pallasi; northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax; pinksalmon, O. gorbuscha; surf smelt, Hypomesus pretiosus; Pacific hake, Merluccius productus; Pacific saury, Cololabis saira; Pacific mackerel, Scomber japonicus;and medusafish, Icichthys lockingtom) were primarily planktonic feeders. There were substantial interannual, seasonal, and geographic variations in the diets ofseveral species due primarily to changes in prey availability. Juvenile salmonids were not commonly consumed by this assemblage of fishes (PDF file contains 36 pages.)

Description: This report describes the proximate compositions (protein, moisture, fat, and ash) and major fatty acid profiles for raw and cooked samples of 40 southeastern finfish species. All samples (fillets) were cooked by a standard procedure in laminated plastic bags to an internal temperature of 70'C (lS8'F). Both summarized compositional data, with means and ranges for each species, and individual sample data including harvest dates and average lengths and weights are presented. When compared with raw samples, cooked samples exhibited an increase in protein contentwith an accompanying decrease in moisture content. Fat content either remained approximately the same or increased due to moisture loss during cooking. Our results are discussed in reference to compositional data previouslypublished by others on some of the same species. Although additional data are needed to adequately describe the seasonal and geographic variations in the chemical compositions of many of these fish species, the results presented here should be useful to nutritionists, seafood marketers, and consumers.(PDF file contains 28 pages.)

Description: Routine biostatistical port sampling data and landings records collected from the gulf menhaden purse seine fishery between 1974 and 1985 are updated. During most of the period, a total of 11 menhaden reduction plants operated in Mississippi and Louisiana, and the number of vessels in the purse seine fleet varied from 71 to 82. Total annual landings ranged from 447,100 metric tons in 1977 to the record landings for the fishery of 982,800 metric tons in 1984. Age-I and -2 gulf menhaden annually comprised almost 96% of the landings. Estimated totalnumbers of menhaden landed varied from 4,510.5 million in 1975 to 11,154.9 million in 1985. Annual mean lengths and weights of sampled fish-at-age showed lillie variation. Nominal or observed fishing effort gradually increased through Ihe 1970s and 1980s, reaching 655,800 vessel-ton-weeks in 1983. (PDF file contains 14 pages.)

Description: Despite its wide acceptance in other fisheries, limited access remains a controversial topic among Pacific coast groundfish fishermen and fishery managers. It is controversial because it immediately opens a wide array of public policy issues. How should the public conservefish stocks, and who should benefit from harvesting thosefish? What are the costs and benefits to the public, the taxpayer, the fishing industry, and the coastal communities supporting the groundfish industry? Should the government push the industry to be economically efficient in harvesting; or should it discourage technical efficiency to conserve fish stocks? Should management preserve the economic status quo by protecting existing harvest shares? These are the broad issues occupying the discussions ofpolicy makers and academic writers concerned with resourcemanagement.The goal of this introductory section is to define limited access, to dispel some basic misunderstandings about limited access, to clarify the optional forms oflimited access, and to review the various resource management objectives addressed. This should set the stage for the following more lengthy discussions. By reducing the scopeof needless misunderstandings, it should also help to make future discussions of limited access more productive. (PDF file contains 52 pages.)

Description: The Cape Canaveral, Florida, marine ecosystem is unique. There are complex current and temperature regimes that form a faunal transition zone between Atlantic tropical and subtropical waters. This zone is rich faunistically andsupports large commercial fISheries for fish, scallops, and shrimp. Canaveral is also unique because it has large numbers of sea turtles year-round, this turtle aggregation exhibiting patterned seasonal changes in numbers, size frequency, and sex ratio. Additionally, a significant portion of this turtle aggregation hibernates in the Canaveral ship channel, a phenomenon rare in marine turtle populations. The Cape Canaveral area has the largest year-round concentration of sea turtles in the United States. However,the ship channel is periodically dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in order to keep Port Canaveral opento U.S. Navy vessels, and preliminary surveys showed that many sea turtles were incidentally killed during dredgingoperations. In order for the Corps of Engineers to fulfill its defense dredging responsibilities, and comply with theEndangered Species Act of 1973, an interagency Sea Turtle Task Force was formed to investigate methods of reducingturtle mortalities. This Task Force promptly implemented a sea turtle research plan to determine seasonal abundance, movement patterns, sex ratios, size frequencies, and other biological parameters necessary to help mitigate dredging conflicts in the channel. The Cape Canaveral Sea Turtle Workshop is a cooperative effort to comprehensively present research results of these important studies.I gratefully acknowledge the support of everyone involved in this Workshop, particularly the anonymous team of referees who painstakingly reviewed the manuscripts. The cover illustration was drawn by Jack C. Javech. (PDF file contains 86 pages.)

Description: Menlicirrhus americanus in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico mature at 150-220 mm TL and 12-14 months of age, with males maturing when 10-40 mm smaller than females. Spawning occurs within a broad period from February throughNovember with two discrete peaks which coincide with the periodicity of downcoast alongshore currents (towards Mexico) in spring and fall. This species occurs at depths of less than 5 to 27 m, being most abundant at 5 m or shallower. Young-of-the-year recruit primarily at 5-9 m or shallower and gradually expand their bathymetric range. Age determination by length frequency is feasible in M.americanus but not as simple as in species that spawn in one major period of the year. Only one or two spawned groups normally predominated at anyone time and no more than three co-occurred with few possible exceptions. Observed mean sizes were 138 mm TL at 6 months, and 192 and 272 mm at ages I and II, respectively. Typical maximum size was 296-308 mm and typical maximum age is probably 2-3 years. The largest fISh captured were 392 and 455 mm. Observed sex ratio was 1.2 females to 1 male. Weight, girth, and length-length regressions are presented.(PDF file contains 27 pages.)

Description: Techniques are described for preparing acetate peels of sectioned valves of ocean quahogs, Arctica islandica, for age determinations. The respective sequence of preparation begins by sectioning left valves oriented to include a single hinge tooth, bleaching to remove the heavy periostracum, embedding the valves in an epoxy resin, grinding and polishing the embedments to a high luster, etching the exposed cut valve surfaces, and applying sheet acetate with acetone. Annuli are clearly defined relative to growth increments in the peel preparations for all sizes and ages of ocean quahogs. (PDF file contains12 pages.)

Description: The 1984 International Symposium and Workshop on the Biologyof Fur Seals originated in informal talks in 1981. However, the scope and focus of the symposium remained unclear until an informal workshop was held in San Diego in June 1983. This meeting synthesised data on the foraging and pup attendance activities of six species of fur seals, and attempted to formulate a coherent framework for the adaptations associated with their maternal strategies (Gentry et al. 1986).During the workshop it was clear that comparative data on many key aspects of fur seal biology and ecology were missing. This absence of data applied not only to less well known species, for some of which considerable unpublished data existed, but also to better known species for which research in some areas had either been neglected or unreported. The value of applying the comparative method to seals, especially comparisons integrating physiology,ecology, and reproductive biology, was amply demonstrated by the results of the 1983 workshop (Gentry and Kooyman 1986). However, we were also aware that many other problems outside the area of maternal strategies could benefit from comparative data, such as recovery of populations from the effects of harvesting. Therefore, to accommodate the range of potential research, we organized this symposium to produce an up-to-date synthesis of relevant information for all species of fur seals.It was also clear that fur seal research could benefit from increased communication and collaboration among its practitioners. To foster the spread of ideas, we held oral presentations on some topics of current research and techniques and organized workshops on specific topics, in addition to providing opportunities for informal talksamong participants. Thanks to generous support from the British Antarctic Survey, the National Marine Fisheries Service of the United States, and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, the International Fur Seal Symposium was held at the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, England, 23-27 April 1984. The 36 participants are shown in Figure 1. A list of Symposium participants and authors is presented in Appendix 1 of the Proceedings. (PDF file contains 220 pages.)

Description: This workshop was organized because of the increase between 1978 and 1980 in coastwide landings of widow rockfish, from less than 1,000 mt to more than 20,000 mt, and because of scientists' concern with the lack of knowledge both of the fishery and biology of the species. Most scientists active in research on Pacific groundfish, as well as some members of the fishing industry and fishery managers, attended the workshop.These proceedings contain the report of the workshop discussion panel, status reports on California, Oregon, and Washington fisheries through 1980, and a collection of seven papers presented at the workshop. The status reports provide an historical perspective of the development of an important fishery. The papers present a fairly complete survey of biological knowledge of widow rockfish,economic status of the fishery, and fishery-independent methods for estimation of abundance. The papers also contain some information developed after the workshop.Since the workshop, the fishery has matured. Largest landings were made in 1981, when more than 28,000 mt were landed. Maximum sustainable yield (MSY) is estimated to be slightly less than 10,000 mt, and the stock appeared to be at about the MSY level in 1985. The Pacific Fishery Management Council and National Marine Fisheries Service have implemented regulations that have maintained landings since 1983 at approximately the maximum sustainable yield level. Fishery-dependent stock assessments are being made on an annual basis for the Pacific Fishery ManagementCouncil. While these assessments are considered to be the best possible with available data, scientists responsible for the assessment have chosen to delay their publication in the formal scientific literature until more data are obtained. However, the stock assessment reports are available from the Pacific Fishery Management Council.In addition to the papers in this collection, three papers have been published on widow rockfish since 1980. BoehIert, Barss, and Lamberson (1982) estimate fecundity of the species off Oregon; Gunderson (1984) describes the fishery and management actions; and Laroche and Richardson (1981) describe the morphology and distribution of juvenile widow rockfish off Oregon.During the past decade, the fishery for widow rockfish hasdeveloped from a minor fishery to one of the more important on the Pacific Coast. Our knowledge of the biology and dynamics of the species has progressed from minimal to relatively extensive for a groundfish species. It is our intention in preparing this collection of papers to make this knowledge readily available to the scientificcommunity. (PDF file contains 63 pages.)

Description: Fifteen fine-mesh (32-mm mesh) pelagic purse seine surveys were conducted between 1979 and 1984 off the Oregon and Washington coasts. Environmental conditions varied greatly among the years sampled, and even within years, due to variability in upwelling conditions and productivity and the effects of a strong El Nino from late 1982 to the middle of 1984. In the 843 sets made, a total of 115,891 specimens from 69 taxa was collected. Most individuals collected belonged to nine dominant taxa. Seasonal and interannual variations in the abundance and distribution patterns of these dominant taxa are presented in detail. A recurrent group analysis delineated four major groupings of nekton. (PDF file contains 91 pages.)

Description: The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the United States-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries.The UJNR was begun during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program includedesalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air pollution, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marineresources research, development, and utilization.Accomplishments include: Increased communication and cooperation among technical specialists; exchanges ofinformation, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a policy-coordinative body; administrativestaff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficialeffects on international relations. (PDF file contains 79 pages.)

Description: This report presents meristic data for nearly all of the known species of Sebasles. Rudimentary caudal ray counts tend to be higher in more active species. The number of caudal rays supported by the hypurals is consistently 14, whereas the number of branched caudal rays varies between 11 and 13. Vertebral counts and most fin-ray counts tend to be lower in species or populations in warmer latitudes,except for pectoral ray counts which tend to have an opposite geographic pattern. On the basis of the small magnitude of meristic and morphometric differences and the lack of other differences between northern and southern samples of "Sebasles caurinus," Sebaslichlhys vexillaris Jordan and Gilbert is regarded as a junior synonym of Sebasles caurinus Richardson. The patterns of bilateral variation in paired meristics are analyzed and their mechanism discussed. The frequency distribution of pectoral ray counts in their right-left combination is shownto be useful in species separation. No association was found between any combination of two meristic features in any species. The author proposes that intrasampleassociations between meristic features are evidence of sampling heterogeneity. (PDF file contains 21 pages.)

Description: Proliferation of water withdrawals and new pump intake and screen designs has occurred with the growth of irrigated agriculture along the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Concern for the protection of anadromous and resident fish populations resulted in formulation of a survey of the water withdrawal systems. The survey included distribution studies of juvenile fish near pump sites and field inspection of those sites to determine adequacy of screening for protection of fish. A total of 225 sites were inspected in 1979 and 1980, with a follow-up inspection of 95 sites in 1982. Results indicated a definite trend toward lack of concern for the condition of fish protective facilities. Only 4 out of 22 sites not meeting criteriain 1979 had been upgraded to acceptable conditions. Of more concern, 13 of the sites meeting criteria in 1979 were below criteria when reinspected in 1982. Some of the discrepancies included lack of protective screens, poorly maintained screens, and screens permitting excessive velocity that could result in impingement of larvae or small fish. A conclusion from these surveys is that if adequate protection for fish is to exist, screens for water withdrawals need to be properly installed, inspected, and maintained. (PDF file contains 40 pages.)

Description: A new method is described and evaluated for visually sampling reef fish community structure in environments with highly diverse and abundant reef fish populations. The method is based on censuses of reef fishes taken within a cylinder of 7.5 m radius by a diver at randomly selected, stationary points. The method provides quantitative data on frequency of occnrrence, fish length, abundance, and community composition, and is simple, fast, objective, and repeatable. Species are accumulated rapidly for listing purposes, and large numbers of samples are easily obtained for statistical treatment. The method provides an alternative to traditional visual sampling methods.Observations showed that there were no significant differences in total numbers of species or individuals censused when visibility ranged between 8 and 30 m. The reefs and habitats sampled were significant sources of variation in number of species and individuals censused, but the diver was not a significant influence. Community similarity indices were influenced significantly by thespecific sampling site and the reef sampled, but were not significantly affected by the habitat or diver (PDF file contains 21 pages.)

Description: Fishery scientists engaged in estimating the size of free-swimming populations have never had a technique available to them whereby all the parameters could be estimated from a resource survey and where no parameter values need to be assumed. Recognizing the need for a technique of this kind, the staff of the Coastal Fisheries Resources Division of the Southwest Fisheries Center (SWFC) devised an egg production method for anchovy biomass assessment. Previously, anchovy biomass was estimated by approximate methods derived from a long-time series and anchovy larval abundance, which required about 5 ma of shiptime each year to integrate the area under a seasonal spawning curve. One major assumption used in the larval abundance census method is that there is constant proportionality between larval numbers and spawning biomass. This has now proved to be erroneous. (PDF file contains 105 pages.)

Description: Information on the biology and fishery resources of two common species of western Atlantic porgies, Calamus areli/rons and C. proridens, is compiled, reviewed, andanalyzed in the FAO species synopsis style. (PDF file contains 25 pages.)

Description: Length-frequency data collected from inshore and offshore locations in the Gulf of Maine in 1966-1968 indicated that ovigerous female northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) first appeared offshore in August and September and migratedinshore in the fall and winter. Once eggs hatched, surviving females returned offshore. Juveniles and males migrated offshore during their first two years of life. Sex transition occurred in both inshore and oll'shore waters, but most males changed sex offshore during their third and fourth years. Most shrimp changed sex and matured as females for the first time in their fourth year. Smaller females and females exposed to colder bottom temperatures spawned first. The incidence of egg parasitism peaked in January and was higher for shrimp exposed to warmer bottom temperatures. Accelerated growth at higher temperatures appeared to result in earlier or more rapid sex transition. Males and non-ovigerous females were observed to make diurnal vertical migrations, but were not found in near-surface waters where the temperature exceeded 6°C. Ovigerous females fed more heavily on benthic molluscs in inshore waters in the winter, presumably because the egg masses they were carrying prevented them from migrating vertically at night.Northern shrimp were more abundant in the southwestern region of the Gulf of Maine where bottom temperatures remain low throughout the year. Bottom trawl catch rates were highest in Jeffreys Basin where bottom temperatures were lower than at any other sampling location. Catch rates throughout the study area were inversely related to bottom temperature and reached a maximum at 3°C.An increase of 40% in fecundity between 1973 and 1979 was associated with a decline of 2-3°C in April-July offshore bottom temperatures. Furthermore, a decrease in mean fecundity per 25 mm female between 1965 and 1970 was linearly related to reduced landings between 1969 and 1974. It is hypothesized that temperature-induced changes in fecundity and, possibly, in the extent of egg mortalitydue to parasitism, may provide a mechanism which could partially account for changes in the size of the Gulf of Maine northern shrimp population during the last thirty years. (PDF file contains 28 pages.)

Description: Histopathologic studies of lesions found in commercially important North Atlantic marine fishes are uncommon. As part of a comprehensive Northeast Fisheries Center program ("Ocean Pulse") to evaluate environmental and resource health on the U.S. Continental Shelf from Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia, grossly visible lesions of the gills, integument, muscle, and viscera of primarily bottom-dwellingfishes were excised and examined using light microscopy.Several gadid and pleuronectid fishes accounted for most of the lesions observed. Most pathological examinations were incidental to samples taken for age and growth determination and evaluation of predator/prey relationships.Several gadids, with either gill, heart, or spleen lesions, were sampled more intensively.Gill lesions principally affected gadids and were caused by either microsporidans or an unidentified oocyte-like cell. The majority of gastrointestinal lesions consisted of encapsulated or encysted larval worms or microsporidan-induced cysts. Few heart lesions were found. Integumental lesioos included ulcers, lymphocystis, and trematode metacercariae. Liver lesions almost always consistedof encapsulated or encysted larval helminths. Necrotic granulomata were seen in muscle and microsporidan-induced granulomata in spleen.Although not numerous, histologically interesting lesions were noted in integument, heart, liver, spleen, and muscle of several fish species. Histologic study of tissues excised from a variety of demersal and pelagic fishes from the eastern North Atlantic (France, Germany, Spain) revealed assorted integumental, renal, hepatic, and splenic lesions.Small sample size and non-random sampling precluded obtaining a meaningful quantitative estimate of the prevalence of the observed lesions in the populationat risk; however, a useful census has been made of the types of lesions present in commercially important marine fishes. (PDF file contains 20 pages.)

Description: The trawl fishery for pelagic annorhead, Pseuaopentaceros wheeleri(fonnerly referred to as Pentaceros richardsoni), and alfonsin, Beryx splendens, over the central North Pacific seamounts has a relatively short history. Before 1967, fishery scientists were generally unaware of the resources on seamounts; however, the discovery of commercial concentrations of pelagic armorhead on seamountsin the southern Emperor Seamounts by a Russian commercialtrawler in November 1967 led to almost immediate exploitation of the species by the Soviets. Unconfinned reports indicated that the schools of pelagic annorhead on the seamounts averaged 30 m thick and catches averaged from 3 to 50 metric tons on 10-20 min hauls (Sakiura 1972).Japanese trawlers entered the fishery in 1969. To assist in the development of this tishery, Japanese research vessels conducted extensive surveys in 1972 on the distribution and potential for development ofthe pelagic armorhead and alfonsin resources. The results of their surveys to the central North Pacific and mid-Pacific seamounts showed that many had summits that were too deep for trawling. Those found suitable were concentrated in the southernEmperor-northern Hawaiian Ridge. (PDF file contains 113 pages.)

Description: The commercial development of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) operations will involve some environmental perturbations for which there is noprecedent experience. The pumping of very large volumes of warm surface water and cold deep water and its subsequent discharge will result in the impingement, entrainment, and redistribution of biota. Additional stresses to biota will be caused by biocide usage and temperature depressions. However, the artificial upwelling of nutrients associated with the pumping of cold deep water, and the artificialreef created by an OTEC plant may have positive effects on the local environment.Although more detailed information is needed to assess the net effect of an OTEC operation on fisheries, certain assumptions and calculations are made supporting the conclusion that the potential risk to fisheries is not significant enough to deter the early development of IDEe. It will be necessary to monitor a commercial-scale plant in order to remove many of the remaining uncertainties. (PDF file contains 39 pages.)

Description: This atlas summarizes data on the crustaceans, molluscs, and fishes caught in a resource survey of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from October 1976 to September 1981. The geographical and depth distributions, size range, and thetype of gear used to catch all of the crustaceans, molluscs, and fishes are tabulated. Species accounts of 37 crustaceans, molluscs, and fishes of commercial potentialare presented. The geography, oceanography, and climate of the region are reviewed. (PDF file contains 38 pages.)

Description: This literature search identifies a majority of the publications in the period 1880-1980 concerned with the marine gastropod, Thais haemastomafloridmul (Conrad). The southern oyster drill is an economically important oyster predator in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico littoral. Major contributions of each paper to our knowledge of the drill's biology are briefly categorized. Hitherto unpublished research by the author on the snail's biology is documented. (PDF file contains 15 pages.)

Description: The echinoid fauna from littoral to abyssal depths off the northeastern United States (Cape Hatteras, NC, to northern Nova Scotia) comprises 31 species, in 26 genera and 19 families. An introduction to the external morphology, distribution, and natural history is given along with an illustrated key to the species, an annotated systematic list, and an index. The fauna Includes 17 species with wide-ranging distributions on continental slopes or abyssal plains. The remaining 14 species occur in shallower waters on the continental shelf or upper slope. Of these, eight are tropical in distribution with their northern range extending to the northeastern United States and threeare mainly boreal with the northeastern United States at the southern limit of their range. Two species occur only off the eastern United States and one species is cosmopolitan. (PDF file contains 33 pages.)

Description: Features of the valid nominal species of Aprionodon Gill (isodon Valenciennes) and Hypoprion Muller and Henle (hemiodon Valenciennes, macloti Muller and Henle, and signatus Poey), plus those of a previously unrecognizedspecies here described as Carcharhinus leiodon n.sp., are examined and compared with those of CarcharhinusBlainville. Features studied include morphometrics, vertebral numbers and other vertebral characteristics, toothnumbers, color pattern, and some other aspects of external morphology. It is concluded that on these featuresC. leiodon n.sp. is entirely encompassed within the parameters of Carcharhinus, and that, although A. isodon,H. hemiodon, H. macloti, and H. signatus each extend the range of diversity of Carcharhinus in one or more features,A. isodon is not uniquely different from Carcharhinus, and there is no common pattern of difference between the three species of Hypoprion and Carcharhinus. Accordingly, and because the nature of the teeth of Aprionodon and Hypoprion has been found insufficient to warrant generic distinction from Carcharhinus, the genera Aprionodon and Hypoprion are synonymised with Carcharhinus.A diagnosis and description are given for each of the above species. The descriptions include measurements, counts, and line illustrations that show the whole shark in lateral view, underside of head, nostril, and teeth. The geographic distribution is summarized, as are also the meager biological data available on number of embryos, size at birth, size at sexual maturity, and maximum size. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Description: In this report we describe the temporal and spatial distributions of inorganic nutrients over Georges Bankand in adjacent waters and discuss major features with respect to tbe nutrient environments of pbytoplankton.Nitrate and orthophosphorus were rapidly depleted from the surface layer of much of the study area in spring,but major differences were found between the shallow areas on Georges Bank and the surrounding stratified waters. In the "well-mixed" area of Georges Bank, the depletion encompassed the entire water column and ammonium became the dominant form of inorganic nitrogen throughout. Dissolved silicon was depleted slowly over central Georges Bank, reaching a minimum concentration in September while orthophosphorus gradually increased during the summer. The nutrient environment of phytoplankton over central Georges Bank may be described as vertically uniform but temporally changing in the relative availability of the various nutrients. In areas that undergo stratification (e.g., the central Gulf of Maine), a quasi-steady state was established as the surface water layer formed, consisting of declining nutrient gradients from below the euphotic layer to the top of the water column. These intergrading nutrient environments are relatively stable through time. Destratification reintroduced nutrients to depleted areas beginning in October; however, dissolved silicon was again depleted over shallow Georges Bank in late autumn though nitrate remained abundant. Slope water has been found toenter the bottom layer of the Gulf of Maine via the Northeast Channel. High nutrient concentrations observed inthe bottom water of the Northeast Channel are consistent with this mechanism being the nutrient source for theGulf of Maine. (PDF file contains 40 pages.)

Description: Thirteen hundred and seventy-three striped bass, Marone saxatilis, were collected from the San FranciscoBay-Delta area to correlate host diet with parasitic infections and to determine the prevalence, intensity, longevity, and persistence of larval Anisakis sp. nematodes and the metacestode Lacistorhynchus tenuis. There is an increase in the prevalence and intensity of Anisakis sp. and in the intensity of L. tenuis with increase of age of the host. These increases are probably related to the diet and the persistence of tbe parasites. The infections of bothspecies are overdispersed. San Francisco Bay striped bass are an incompatible host for both species of parasites.Degenerated Anisakis sp. will remain in lhe host for at least 8 months and L. tenuis metacestodes for 22 months.The occurrence of several other species of parasites and a tumor are also reported. (PDF file contains 10 pages.)

Description: Information on geographical variation is reviewed for Stenella attenuata, S. longirostris, S. coeruleoalba, andDelphinus delphis in the eastern tropical Pacific, and boundaries for potential management units are proposed.National Marine Fisheries Service and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission sighting records made from 1979 to 1983 which were outside boundaries used in a 1979 assessment were examined for validity. Tagging returns and morphological data were also analyzed. Several stock ranges are expanded or combined. Three management units are proposed for S. attenuata: the coastal, northern offshore, and southern offshore spoiled dolphins. Four management units are proposed for S. longirostris: the Costa Rican, eastern, northern whitebelly, and southern whitebelly spinner dolphins. Two provisional management units are proposed for S. coeruleoalba: the northern and southern striped dolphins. Five management units (two of which are provisional) are proposed for D. delphis: the Baja neritic, northern, central, southern, and Guerrero common dolphins. Division into management units was based on morphological stock differences and distributional breaks. (PDF file contains 34 pages.)

Description: (PDF file contains 28 pages.)

Description: Information on the biology and fishery resources of a common western Atiantic serranid, Diplectrum formosum, is compiled, reviewed, and analyzed in the FAO species synopsis style. (PDF file contains 27 pages.)

Description: This synopsis of the literature was designed to summarize the biological and biochemical studies involving Pandalus borealis as well as to provide a summary of the literature regarding the fisheries data published before early 1984. Included are many unpublished observations, drawn from studies at the State of Maine Department of Marine Resources Laboratory in West Boothbay Harbor, Maine. (PDF file contains 63 pages.)

Description: The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the UnitedStates-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries.The UJNR was started by a proposal made during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program are desalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air pollution, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marine resources research, development, and utilization.Accomplishments include: Increased communications and cooperation among technical specialists; exchanges of information, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a policy coordinative body; administrative staff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficial effects on international relations. (PDF file contains 108 pages.)

Description: Expendable bathythermograph data collected by the Ships of Opportunity (SOOP) - Ocean Monitoring Program are analyzed for seasonal and inter-annual variations of the cold pool. Two major SOOP transects within the Middle Atlantic Bight (Southern New England and New York) have been analyzed for the years common to both (1977-81). During the years 1977-81, over 200 transects were occupied, and almost 3,000 XBT's were dropped.Results show that the cold pool is formed with the onset of spring warming and persists until fall overturn, is consistent year to year in both area and weighted average annual temperature, and advects water from the northeast to the southwest. Results also show a 100-d lag in minimum temperature between the Southern New England and New York transects. DitTerences in bathymetry between the two transects and their influence on the cold pool are also discussed. Plots of average (1977-81) bottom temperature for both transects are discussed and show consistent annual weighted mean temperature and areas. Bottom temperature plots for individual years, as well as maximum and minimum bottom temperature plots, are presented as Appendix figures. (PDF file contains 28 pages.)

Description: This study indicates that 13 species of congrid larvae belonging to 8 genera occur in the eastern Pacific. Thespecies are: Ariosoma gilberti; Paraconger californiensis; Paraconger sp.; P. dentatus; Chiloconger labiatus;Taenioconger digueti; T. canabus; Gorgasia punctata; G. obtusa; Gnathophis catalinensis; Hildebrandia nitens;Bathycongrus macrurus; and B. varidens. The morphological and anatomical changes undergone during metamorphosis are useful in the identification of the larvae. Larvae are distributed closer to the coastal waters, and are more common from January to May than from June to December. A key to the larvae was developed based on the myotomal counts, adult vertebral counts, pigmentation patterns, and the nature of the teeth and tail tip to distinguish the genera and species. This study shows that Garman's unidentified larvae, Atopichthys acus and A. cingulus, are two different larval stages of Ariosoma gilberti, and points out that Atopichthys dentatus and A. obtusus belong to Paraconger and Gorgasia, respectively. (PDF file contains 25 pages.)

Description: The Symposium in which the communications, as they were called during the meeting, comprising this volume were presented was held at the Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R. in Leningrad during 13 to 16 October 1981. Conducted as part of the cooperative program of the U.S.A.-U.S.S.R. Working Group on Biological Productivity and Biochemistry of the World Ocean, the Leningrad meeting was sponsored by the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R. (the Zoological Institute) and the Ministry of Fisheries of the U.S.S.R. (The Scientific Council on Fish Diseases of the Ichthyological Commission). It was an extremely interesting and successful Symposium, offering allparticipants the opportunity to describe the results of their studies and reviews during the course of the formal presentations and direct interchange between scientists during breaks in the program and the organized and casual social activities. The facilities provided by the Zoological Institute were quite adequate and the assistance offered by its Director, O. A. Scarlato and his staff in organization,logistics, and translation was excellent. Several of our Soviet colleagues presided over the proceedings, as did I. All were businesslike and efficient, yet graceful and accommodating. To O. N. Bauer Jell the brunt of programmatic detail and follow-up. He bore his burdens well and, with Director Scarlato and his staff, including A. V. Gussev and others of the professional and technical staffs of the Zoological Institute, helped make our stay pleasant and the Symposium productive. These organizations and individuals deserve much credit and praise as well as the thanks of their American and British colleagues. (PDF file contains 141 pages.)

Description: This bibliography contains 73 annotated references from publications and reports concerning hypoxia, .,;2.0 ppm dissolved oxygen concentration, in the Gulf of Mexico. Instances of hypoxia from similar habitats andthe effects of low oxygen levels on marine or estuarine organisms are also included. (PDF file contains 15 pages.)

Description: This illustrated manual is a guide to the distribution and identification of the 6 genera and 28 species of benthicand planktonic Chaetognatha known to occur in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexlco, the Florida Straits, and the southwestern North Atlantic Ocean. As background, previous studies of chaetognaths in these areas are reviewed, gross morphology of the different forms is described, and instructions on methods of preserving and handling specimens preparatory to identification are provided. The key to genera and species is preceeded by a discussion of chaetognath taxonomy. A description of each species, consisting of an abbreviated synonymy, a summary of taxonomically important morphological features, and horizontal and vertical distribution follows the key. The occurrence of species in relation to water masses in the Caribbean and adjacent areas is noted. (PDF file contains 39 pages.)

Description: Information on the biology and resources of the pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides (Pisces: Sparidae), is compiled,reviewed, and analyzed in the FAO species synopsis style. (PDF file contains 38 pages.)

Description: The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the UnitedStates-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries.The UJNR was started by a proposal made during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program are desalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air pollution, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marine resources research, development, and utilization.Accomplishments include: Increased communications and cooperation among technical specialists; exchanges of information, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a policy coordinative body; administration staff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficial effects on international relations. (PDF file contains 98 pages.)

Description: Species composition, biomass, density, and diversity of benthic invertebrates from six bard-bottom areas were evaluated. Seasonal collections using a dredge, trawl, and suction and grab samplers yielded 432, 525, and 845 taxa, respectively. Based on collections wltb the different gear types, species composition of invertebrates was found to change bathymetrically. Inner- and mlddle-shelf sites were more similar to each other in terms of invertebrate species composition than they were to outer-shelf sites, regardless of season. Sites on the inner and outer shelf were grouped according to latitude; however, results suggest that depth is apparently a more important determinant of invertebrate species composition than either season or latitude. Sponges generally dominated dredge and trawl collections in terms of biomass. Generally, cnidarians, bryozoans, and spongesdominated at sites In terms of number of taxa collected.The most abundant smaller macrofauna collected in suction and grab samples were polychaetes, amphipods, and mollusks. Densities of the numerically dominant species changed botb seasonally and bathymetrically, with very few of these species restricted to a specific bathymetrlc zone.The high diversity of invertebrates from hard-bottom sites is attributed to the large number of rare species. No consistent seasonal changes in diversity or number of species were noted for individual stations or depth zones. In addition, H and its components showed no definite patterns related to depth or latitude. However, more species were collected at middle-shelf sites than at inner- or outer-shelf sites, which may be related to morestable bottom temperature or greater habitat complexity in that area. (PDF file contains 110 pages.)

Description: A method of identifying the beaks and estimating body weight and mantle length of 18 species of cephalopodsfrom the Pacific Ocean is presented. Twenty specimens were selected from each of the following cephalopod species: Symplectoteuthis oualaniensis, Dosidicus gigas, Ommastrephes bartramii, S. luminosa, Todarodes pacificus, Nototodarus hawaiiensis, Ornithoteuthis volalilis, Hyaloteuthis pelagica, Onychoteuthis banksii, Pterygioteuthis giardi, Abraliopsis affinis, A. felis, Liocranchia reinhardti, Leachia danae, Histioteuthisheteropsis, H. dofleini, Gonalus onyx, and Loligo opalescens. Dimensions measured on the upper and lower beakare converted to ratios and compared individually among the species using an analysis of variance procedure with Tukey's omega and Duncan's multiple range tests. Significant differences (P =0.05) observed among thespecies' beak ratio means and structural characteristics are used to construct artificial keys for the upper andlower beaks of the 18 species. Upper and lower beak dimensions are used as independent variables in a linearregression model with mantle length and body weight (log transformed). (PDF file contains 56 pages.)

Description: Information on the biology and populations of the shortnose sturgeon, Acipenser brevirostrum, is compiled, reviewed, and analyzed in the FAO species synopsis style. New information indicates this species exhibits biological and life-cycle differences over its north-south latitudinal range and that it is more abundant than previously thought. (PDF file contains 51 pages.)

Description: Eleven ichthyoplankton surveys were conducted (1 in 1972 and 10 between 1977 and 1979) in the northeastern Pacific Ocean over the continental shelf off Kodiak Island, Alaska. In the 677 neuston and 632 bongo tows, eggs or larvae of more than 80 fish taxa were found. They were present in every season and throughout the survey area, although more taxa and more individuals were found in summer than in other seasons. Among the more abundant species were the gadid Theragra chalcogramma and several hexagrammids and pleuronectids. The hexagrammids and several coUids were abundant in the neustonic layer, where they spent close to a year as larvae and prejuvenlles. Although the seasonal and geographic distribution of most taxa was complex, two patterns emerged: Late summer-fall spawners produce demersal eggs and have neustonic larvae that remain pelagicfor several months (hexagrammids and some cottlds), and spring-summer spawners have pelagic eggs and larvaethat spend several weeks in the plankton but are not closely associated with the surface (Theragra chalcogramma,pleuronectlds). (PDF file contains 95 pages.)

Description: Taxonomic descriptions, line drawings, and references are given for the 30 named and 5 unnamed species of North American fish Eimeriidae. In addition, a key was developed based on available morphologic data to distinguish between similar species. Taxa are divided into two genera: Eimeria (27 species) which are tetr&sporocystic with dizoic, nonbivalved sporocysts, and Goussia (3 species) which are tetrasporocystic with dizoic, bivalved sporocysts that lack Stleda bodies and have sporocyst walls composed of two longitudinal valves. (PDF file contains 24 pages.)

Description: More than a decade has passed since the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. During that time the U.S. tuna purse seine neet reduced its incidental porpoise mortality rate more than 10-fold. This was made possible through the development of gear and techniques aimed at reducing the frequency of many low probability events that contribute to the kill.Porpoise are killed by becoming entangled or entrapped in folds and canopies of the net and suffocating. The configuration of the net, both before and during the backdown release procedure, is a major determinant ofthe number of porpoise killed. Speedboats can be used to tow on the corkllne to prevent net collapse and also toadjust the net configuration to reduce net canopies prior to backdown. Deepening a net can reduce the probability of porpoise being killed by prebackdown net collapse. The effects of environmental conditions and mechanicalfailures on net configuration can result in high porpoise mortality unless mitigated by skilled vessel maneuvers orprevented by the timely use of speedboats to adjust the net.The backdown procedure is the only means to effectively release captured porpoise from a purse seine. It isalso the time during the set when most of the mortality occurs. The use of small mesh safety panels and aprons inthe backdown areas of nets reduces porpoise entanglement, and Increases the probability of an effective release.The tie-down points on the net for preparing the backdown channel must be properly located in order to optimize porpoise release. A formula uses the stretched depth of the net to calculate one of these points, making it a simple matter to locate the other. Understanding the dynamics of the backdown procedure permits a thorough troubleshooting of performance, thus preventing the repetition of poorly executed backdowns and thereby reducing mortality.Porpoise that cannot be released must be rescued by hand. A rescuer in a rigidly inflated raft can rescue porpoiseeffectively at any time during a net set. Hand rescue can make the difference between above average kill and zero kill sets. In all circumstances, the skill and motivation of the captain and his crew are the final determinants in the prevention of incidental porpoise mortality in tuna seining. (PDF file contains 22 pages.)

Description: The United States and Japanese counterpart panels on aquaculture were formed in 1969 under the UnitedStates-Japan Cooperative Program in Natural Resources (UJNR). The panels currently include specialists drawn from the federal departments most concerned with aquaculture. Charged with exploring and developing bilateral cooperation, the panels have focused their efforts on exchanging information related to aquaculture which could be of benefit to both countries.The UJNR was started by a proposal made during the Third Cabinet-Level Meeting of the Joint United States-Japan Committee on Trade and Economic Affairs in January 1964. In addition to aquaculture, current subjects in the program are desalination of seawater, toxic microorganisms, air pollution, energy, forage crops, national park management, mycoplasmosis, wind and seismic effects, protein resources, forestry, and several joint panels and committees in marine resources research, development, and utilization.Accomplishments include: Increased communications and cooperation among technical specialists; exchanges of information, data, and research findings; annual meetings of the panels, a policy coordinative body;' administration staff meetings; exchanges of equipment, materials, and samples; several major technical conferences; and beneficial effects on international relations.(PDF file contains 37 pages.)

Description: Some 25 to 30 yr ago, when we as students were beginning our respective careers and were developing for the first time our awareness of marine mammals in the waters separating western North America from eastern Asia, we had visions of eventually bridging the communication gap which existed between our two countries at that time. Each of us was anxious to obtain information on the distribution,biology, and ecological relations of "our" seals and walruses on "the other side," beyond our respectivepolitical boundari~s where we were not permitted to go to study them. We were concerned that the resource management practices on the other side of the Bering and Chukchi Seas, implemented in isolation, on a purely unilateral basis, might endanger the species which we had come to know and were striving to conserve. At once apparent to both of us was the need for free exchange of biological information between our two countries and, ultimately, joint management of our shared resources. In a small way, we and others made some initial efforts to generate that exchange by personal correspondence and through vocal interchange at the annual meetings of the North Pacific Fur Seal Commission. By the enabling Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection, reached between our two countries in 1972, our earlier visions at last came true. Since that time, within the framework of the Marine Mammal Project under Area V of that Agreement, we and our colleagues have forged a strong bond of professional accord and respect, in an atmosphere of free intercommunication and mutual understanding. The strength and utility of this arrangement from the beginning of our joint research are reflected in the reports contained in this, the first compendium of our work.The need for a series of such a compendia became apparent to us in 1976, and its implementation was agreed on by the regular meeting of the Project in La Jolla, Calif., in January 1977. Obviously, the preparation and publication of this first volume has been excessively delayed, in part by continuing political distrust between our governments but mainly by increasing demands placed on the time of thecontributors. In this period of growing environmental concern in both countries, we and our colleagues have been totally immersed in other tasks and have experienced great difficulty in drawing together the works presented here. Much of the support for doing so was provided by the State of Alaska, through funding for Organized Research at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. For its ultimate completion in publishable form we wish to thank Helen Stockholm, Director of Publications, Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska, and her staff, especially Ruth Hand, and the numerous referees narned herein who gave willingly oftheir time to review each ofthe manuscripts critically and to provide a high measure of professionalism to the final product. (PDF file contains 110 pages.)

Description: Atlantic menhaden, Brrvoortia tyrannus, the object of a major purse-seine fishery along the U.S. east coast,are landed at plants from northern Florida to central Maine. The National Marine Fisheries Service has sampledthese landings since 1955 for length, weight, and age. Together with records of landings at each plant, thesamples are used to estimate numbers of fish landed at each age. This report analyzes the sampling design in terms of probablity sampling theory. The design is c1assified as two-stage cluster sampling, the first stage consistingof purse-seine sets randomly selected from the population of all sets landed, and the second stage consistingof fish randomly selected from each sampled set. Implicit assumptions of this design are discussed with special attention to current sampling procedures. Methods are developed for estimating mean fish weight, numbers of fish landed, and age composition of the catch, with approximate 95% confidence intervals. Based on specific results from three ports (port Monmouth, N.J., Reedville, Va., and Beaufort, N.C.) for the 1979 fishing season, recommendations are made for improving sampling procedures to comply more exactly with assumptions of the sampling design. These recommendatlons include adopting more formal methods for randomizing set and fish selection, increasing the number of sets sampled, considering the bias introduced by unequal set sizes, and developing methods to optimize the use of funds and personnel. (PDF file contains 22 pages.)

Description: Diets of 76 species of fish larvae from most oceans of the world were inventoried on the basis of information in 40 published studies. Although certaln geographlc, size- and taxon-specific patterns were apparent, certain zooplankton taxa appeared in the diets of larvae of a variety of fish species in numerous localities. Included were six genera of calanoid copepods (Acartia, Calanus, Centropages, Paracalanus, Pseudocaianus, Temora), three genera of cyclopoid copepods (Corycaeus, Oilhona, Oncata), harpacticoid copepods, copepod nauplii, tintinoids,cladocerans of the genera Evadne and Podon, barnacle nauplii, gastropod larvae, pteropods of the genus Limacina, and appendicularians. Literature on feeding habits of these zooplankters reveals that most of the copepods are omnivorous, feeding upon both phytoplankton and other zooplankton. Some taxa, such as Calanus, Paracalanus, Pseudocalanus, and copepod nauplii appear to be primarily herbivorous, while others, such as Acartia, Centropages, Temora, and cyclopoids exhibit broad omnivory or carnivory. The noncopepod zooplankters are primarily filter-feeders upon pbytoplankton and/or bacterioplankton. Despite the importance of zooplankters in larval fish food webs, spectic knowledge of the feeding ecology of many taxa is poor. Further, much present knowledge comes only from laboratory investigations that may not accurately portray feeding habits of zooplankters in nature. Lack of knowledge of the feeding ecology of many abundant zooplankters,which are also important in larval fish food webs, precludes realistic understanding of pelagic ecosystemdynamics. (PDF file contains 34 pages.)

Description: Quarterly ichthyoplankton sampling was conducted at 16 estuarine and 24 inshore stations along the FloridaEverglades from May 1971 to February 1972. The area is one of the most pristine along lhe Florida coast. Thesurvey provided the first comprehensive information on seasonal occurrence, abundance (under 10 m' of surfacearea), and distribution of fish eggs and larvae in this area. A total of 209,462 fish eggs and 78,865 larvae wascollected. Eggs were identified only as fish eggs, but among the larvae, 37 families, 47 genera, and 37 specieswere identified. Abundance of eggs and larvae, and diversity of larvae, were greatest in the inshore zone. The 10 most abundant fish families which together made up 90.7% of all larvae from the study area were, in descendingorder of abundance: Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Gobiidae, Sciaenidae, Carangidae, Pomadasyidae, Cynoglossidae,Gerreidae, Triglidae, and Soleidae. Clupeidae, Engraulidae, and Gobiidae made up 59.9% of all larvae. The inshore zone (to a depth of about 10 m) was a spawning ground and nursery for many fishes important to fisheries. The catch of small larvae (〈〉3.5 mm SL) indicated that most fishes identified from the 10 most abundant families spawned throughout the inshore zone at depths of 〈〉 10 m, but Orthopristis chrysoptera, Gerreidae, and Prionotusspp. spawned at depths 〉 10 m, with offshore to inshore (eastward) larval transport. Salinity was one of severalenvironmental factors that probably limited the numbers of eggs and larvae in the estuarine zone. Abundance ofeggs and larvae at inshore stations was usually as great as, and sometimes greater than, the abundance of eggs and larvae at offshore stations (due west of the Everglades). (PDF file contains 81 pages.)

Description: Common shrimp trawl designs employed in the southeastern United States shrimp fishery are the flat, balloon, semiballoon, jib, and super X-3. Recent innovations in trawl design and rigging, including the twin trawl rigging and tongue trawl design, have improved the efficiency of shrimp trawling gear. A description of the construction techniques for the different designs indicate differences which affect gear performance. Measurements of horizontal spread and vertical opening for 76 trawl configurations indicate the relative efficiencies of the different designs. Maximum horizontal spreading efficiency was achieved by the "twin" and "tongue" trawl designs followed by the super X-3, jib, balloon, and semiballoon designs. Designs having the greatest vertical openings were the tongue and flat trawl designs followed by the semiballoon. Maximum total gape dimension was demonstrated by the "Mongoose" tongue trawl. Comparison of trawl spreading efficiency and door area to headrope length ratio indicates that a range of 70-80 in square (per door) of door area is required for each foot of trawl headrope length for maximum efficiency with conventional trawl designs and 66-75 in square per foot of headrope for tongue trawl designs. (PDF file contains 18 pages.)

Description: This paper includes information about the Pribilof Islands since their discovery by Russia in 1786 and the population of northern fur seals, Cailorhinus ursinus, that return there each summer to bear young and to breed. Russia exterminated the native population of sea Oilers, Enhydra lulris, here and nearly subjected the northern fur seal to the same fate before providing proper protection. The northern fur seal was twice more exposed to extinctionfollowing the purchase of Alaska and the Pribilof Islands by the United States in 1867. Excessive harvesting wasstopped as a result of strict management by the United States of the animals while on land and a treaty betweenJapan, Russia, Great Britain (for Canada), and the United States that provided needed protection at sea. In 1941,Japan abrogated this treaty which was replaced by a provisional agreement between Canada and the United Statesthat protected the fur seals in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. Japan, the U.S.S.R., Canada, and the United Statesagain insured the survival of these animals with ratification in 1957 of the "Interim Convention on the Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals," which is still in force. Under the auspices of this Convention, the United States launched an unprecedented manipulation of the resource through controlled removal during 1956-68 of over 300,000 females considered surplus. The biological rationale for the reduction was that production of fewer pups would result in a higher pregnancy rate and increased survival, which would, in turn, produce a sustained annual harvest of 55,000-60,000 males and 10,000-30,000 females.Predicted results did not occur. The herd reduction program instead coincided with the beginning of a decline in the number of males available for harvest. Suspected but unproven causes were changes in the toll normally accounted for by predation, disease, adverse weather, and hookworms. Depletion of the animals' food supply by foreign fishing Heets and the entanglement of fur seals in trawl webbing and other debris discarded at sea became a prime suspect in altering the average annual harvest of males on the Pribilof Islands from 71,500 (1940-56) to 40,000 (1957-59) to 36,000 (1960) to 82,000 (1961) and to 27,347 (1972-81). Thus was born the concept of a research control area for fur seals, which was agreed upon by members of the Convention in 1973 and instituted by the United Stateson St. George Island beginning in 1974. All commercial harvesting of fur seals was stopped on St. George Islandand intensive behavioral studies were begun on the now unharvested population as it responds to the moratoriumand attempts to reach its natural ceiling. The results of these and other studies here and on St. Paul Island areexpected to eventually permit a comparison between the dynamics of unharvested and harvested populations, which should in turn permit more precise management of fur seals as nations continue to exploit the marine resources of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. (PDF file contains 32 pages.)

Description: This synopsis reviews taxonomy, morphology, distribution, life history, commercial hard and soft shell crab fisheries, physiology, diseases, ecology, laboratory culture methodology, and influences of environmentalpollutants on the blue crab, Callinecles sapidus. Over 300 selected, published reports up to and including 1982are covered. (PDF file contains 45 pages.)

Description: Larvae of Oxylebius pictus, Zaniolepis sp., Ophiodon elongatus, Hexagrommos stelleri, H. decagrammus, H.lagocephalus, H. octogrammus, and Pleurogrammus monopterygius are described and illustrated from field collections which were supplemented by laboratory reared specimens of some species. Larvae hatch at a rather large size (3-9 mm), are heavily pigmented, and undergo direct development to an epipelagic prejuvenile stage. Larvae or the five genera are separable on the basis of body shape, pigmentation, and meristic characters. Larvae or the four species of Hexagrammos, which are quite similar in appearance, are separable on the basis of a combination of several pigmentation characters. Developmental evidence indicates that Oxylebius and Zaniolepis are similar to each other and are more similar to presumed primitive coUids than the other included genera. Ophiodon is dissimilar to the other four genera. Pleurogrammus and Hexagrommos have similar appearing larvae. Among the species of Hexagrammosa progression or increasing larval pigmentation can be seen from H. stelleri to H. decagrammus, H. lagocephalus, and H. octogrammus. (PDF file contains 50 pages.)

Description: Accurate and precise estimates of age and growth rates are essential parameters in understanding the population dynamics of fishes. Some of the more sophisticated stock assessment models, such as virtual population analysis, require age and growth information to partition catchdata by age. Stock assessment efforts by regulatory agencies are usually directed at specific fisherieswhich are being heavily exploited and are suspected of being overfished. Interest in stock assessment of some of the oceanic pelagic fishes (tunas, billfishes, and sharks) has developed only over the last decade, during which exploitation has increased steadily in response to increases in worldwide demand for these resources.Traditionally, estimating the age of fishes has been done by enumerating growth bands on skeletal hardparts, through length frequency analysis, tag and recapture studies, and raising fish in enclosures. However, problems related to determining the age of some of the oceanic pelagic fishesare unique compared with other species. For example, sampling is difficult for these large, highly mobile fishes because of their size, extensive distributions throughout the world's oceans, and for some, such as the marlins, infrequent catches. In addition, movements of oceanic pelagic fishes often transect temperate as well as tropical oceans, making interpretation of growth bands onskeletal hardparts more difficult than with more sedentary temperate species. Many oceanic pelagics are also long-lived, attaining ages in excess of 30 yr, and more often than not, their life cycles do not lend themselves easily to artificial propagation and culture. These factors contribute to the difficulty of determining ages and are generally characteristic of this group-the tunas, billfishes, and sharks. Accordingly, the rapidly growing international concern in managing oceanic pelagic fishes, as well as unique difficulties in ageing these species, prompted us to hold this workshop.Our two major objectives for this workshop are to: I) Encourage the interchange of ideas on this subject, and 2) establish the "state of the art." A total of 65 scientists from 10 states in the continental United States and Hawaii, three provinces in Canada, France, Republic of Senegal,Spain, Mexico, Ivory Coast, and New South Wales (Australia) attended the workshop held at the Southeast Fisheries Center, Miami, Fla., 15-18 February 1982.Our first objective, encouraging the interchange of ideas, is well illustrated in the summaries of the Round Table Discussions and in the Glossary, which defines terms used in this volume. The majority of the workshop participants agreed that the lack of validation of age estimates and themeans to accomplish the same are serious problems preventing advancements in assessing the age and growth of fishes, particularly oceanic pelagics. The alternatives relating to the validation problem were exhaustively reviewed during the Round Table Discussions and are a major highlight of this workshop. How well we accomplished our second objective, to establish the "state of the art" on age determination of oceanic pelagic fishes, will probably best be judged on the basis of these proceedings and whether future research efforts are directed at the problem areas we have identified.In order to produce high-quality papers, workshop participants served as referees for the manuscripts published in this volume. Several papers given orally at the workshop, and included in these proceedings, were summarized from full-length manuscripts, which have been submitted to or published in other scientific outlets-these papers are designated as SUMMARY PAPERS. In addition, the SUMMARY PAPER designation was also assigned to workshop papers that represented very preliminary or initial stages of research, cursory progress reports, papers that weredata shy, or provide only brief reviews on general topics. Bilingual abstracts were included for allpapers that required translation.We gratefully acknowledge the support of everyone involved in this workshop. Funding was provided by the Southeast Fisheries Center, and Jack C. Javech did the scientific illustrations appearing on the cover, between major sections, and in the Glossary. (PDF file contains 228 pages.)

Description: Results are given of monthly net phytoplankton and zooplankton sampling from a 10 m depth in shelf, slope, and Gulf Stream eddy water along a transect running southeastward from Ambrose Light, New York, in 1976, 1977, and early 1978. Plankton abundance and temperature at 10 m and sea surface salinity at each station are listed. The effects of atmospheric forcing and Gulf Stream eddies on plankton distribution and abundance arc discussed. The frequency of Gulf Stream eddy passage through the New York Bight corresponded with the frequency of tropical-subtropical net phytoplankton in the samples. Gulf Stream eddies injected tropical-subtropical zooplankton onto the shelf and removed shelfwater and its entrained zooplankton.Wind-induced offshore Ekman transport corresponded generally with the unusual timing of two net phytoplanktonmaxima. Midsummer net phytoplankton maxima were recorded following the passage of Hurricane Belle (August 1976) and a cold front (July 1977). Tropical-subtropical zooplankton which had been injected onto the outer shelf by Gulf Stream eddies were moved to the inner shelf by a wind-induced current moving up the Hudson Shelf Valley. (PDF file contains 47 pages.)

Description: In Tomales Bay, 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, comprised 83% by number of the 1988-89 season's gill net catch.Recruitment of the 1985 year class (4-yr-olds) was relatively good, comprising 22% of the gill net catch by number.Average length of the Tomales Bay gill net catch decreased to 197 mm BL because the percent of 3- and 4-yr-olds in the catch doubled over the 1987-88 season.Average weight of 4- through 8-yr-olds returned to normal this season, reversing a downward trend.The origin of the Tomales Bay catch this season changed to Bodega Bay, and the possibility that the catch may be from a different stock must be considered.In San Francisco Bay, 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old herring comprised 81% by number of the gill net catch; average length of the catch stabilized at 195 mm BL.A subtle gear change this season is believed to have resulted in very little change in the San Francisco Bay catch characteristics. A lighter monofilament that stretches easily was used in gill nets this season. This type gear effectively lowered the mesh size of many gill nets to 2 in. These gill nets technically were legal (2 1/8 in.) whenmeasured because they stretched easily. (18pp.)

Description: The Tomales-Bodega Bay catch during the past two seasonshas been from the northern part of outer Bodega Bay, dueto the closure of the Tomales Bay fishery.In the Tomales-Bodega Bay area, 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-oldherring, Clupea pallasi, comprised 84% by number of the1991-92 season's gill net catch.The number of 4-yr-olds increased to 26% of the gill netcatch, the second consecutive year that the percentage of 4yr-olds has increased. Four-yr-olds are completely recruited into the gill net fishery, and thus are a good indicator of relative year class strength.Average length of herring in the Tomales-Bodega Bay areagill net catch decreased due to a shift to younger herringin the catch.Herring age and size data obtained from Tomales Bay with avariable-mesh research gill net were similar to data fromSan Francisco Bay obtained with the same net. Herring over7-yrs-old were absent from the Tomales Bay variable-meshgill net and the outer Bodega Bay commercial gill net samples.In San Francisco Bay, the age composition of the gill netcatch was again 4-, 5-, and 6-yr-old herring, whichcomprised 87% of the catch. In the round haul fishery, 3and4-yr-old herring dominated, comprising 63% of the catch.Recruitment of 2-yr-old herring was poor.The average length of herring in the San Francisco Bay gillnet catch was the lowest on record, 189 mm body length (BL).The average length of herring in the round haul catchincreased to 179 mmBl due to poor recruitment of youngherring. (25pp.)

Description: The spawning biomass of Pacific herring, Clupea harenguspallasi, in San Francisco Bay and Tomales Bay was estimatedto be 59,000 tons and 11,200 tons, respectively during the1982-83 season. This represents a 40% decline in SanFrancisco Bay and a 50% increase in Tomales Bay populations.Unusually high ocean temperatures and record rainfall inCalifornia are believed to have affected the distributionand/or survival of herring and caused changes in spawning habits. (26pp.)

Description: The Tomales Bay gill net fishery was dominated by 5-, 6-, and 7-yr-old herring, Clupea harengus pallasi, which combined for 82% of the catch in the 1982-83 season. The San Francisco Bay gill net fishery was dominated by 5- and 6-yr-old herring, which combined for 64% of the catch. The San Francisco Bay roundhaul fishery was dominated by 3-, 4-,and 5-yr-old herring that combined for 72% of the catch. Two-year-olds composed only 14% of the catch in San Francisco Bay, indicating poor recruitment of the 1981 yr class. The mean length of herring in the Tomales Bay catch declined to 208 mm BL, but the mean length of the San Francisco Bay gill net and roundhaul fisheries increasedto 203 mm BL and 183 mm BL, respectively. (13p.)

Description: The spawning biomass of Pacific herring, Clupeapallasi, estimated from spawning-ground surveys inSan Francisco Bay declined to 41,000 tons this season.This was the second consecutive year that the SanFrancisco Bay herring population estimate has declined.In Tomales Bay, the 1991-92 season spawning biomassestimate, including the catch of 24 tons from Bodega Bay,was 1,238 tons. This was the third consecutive seasonthat the Tomales-Bodega area herring population hasincreased.The 1991-92 Humboldt Bay herring spawning biomass estimateof 225 tons, was nearly half of last season's estimate of400 tons.December and January were the peak months of spawningactivity in all areas surveyed.In San Francisco Bay, the first major spawn since the 1981-82 season occurred in the Sausalito area, and the Oakland-Alameda area accounted for 50% of all spawning activity.A total of 3.5 million m2 of eelgrass, Zostera marina,was measured in Tomales Bay this season. The eelgrassdensity declined in most beds this season. (46p.)

Description: There were approximately 20 vessels active in the 1992 Monterey Bay squid fishery. The size of the fleet has not changed since the early 1970's when 15 to 20 vessels participated in the fishery.Since 1977, eleven steel hulled vessels have been addedto the fleet, replacing smaller wooden hulled vessels that were in use during the 1960's. The hold capacity of the new fleet remains about 800 tons, because the new larger vessels replaced small vessels that used lighters (20 - 25 ton capacity non-motorized barges).Purse seines were legalized in 1989 and have replacedlamparas which were in use during the 1960'S and 1970's.Seines used in the squid fishery are small and shallow,ranging from 120 to 200 fm in length with most lessthan 25 fm deep.Crew size has been reduced nearly 50% by the addition of net reels, power blocks, submersible fish pumps, and vacuum pumps used for unloading at dockside.In the 1970's flasher type fathometers were used by the fleet and few vessels had navigational aids. Today mostof the fleet have sonar, radar, and loran C. Three vessels carry global positioning systems.In 1988 squid attracting lights were legalized and theentire fleet used lights during the 1992 season. (21pp.)

Description: During the Quarter we surveyed seven permanent and 48 random subtidal stations. In addition a new study was undertaken with the surveying of one random subtidal station in Diablo Cove where counts were made of small invertebrates within four 1/4-m quadrats. Red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, numbers continued to decrease at random as well as permanent stations in Diablo Cove. Bull kelp, Nereocystis lustkeana, more than doubled in density in Diablo Cove. Permanent stations showed a decline in giant red sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, numbers while random stations indicated an increase in abundance. (14pp.)The commercial sea urchin fishery was inactive. Commercial abalone fishermen were observed infrequently in the Pecho Rock area.

Description: During the period January 1 - March 31, 1975 we relocatedand remarked five permanent subtidal stations and surveyed 28 random and two permanent intertidal stations. We failed to find a single giant red sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus, around station 16 during a dive in March. Abalone, Haliotis spp., numbers decreased at random intertidal stations in North Diablo Cove and the North Control Area.The commerical sea urchin fishery was inactive, while the commerical red abalone, H. rufescens, fishery continued to operate around Pecho Rock.Counts of sea otters south of Point Buchon increased significantly, 20 to 30 otters are now feeding just north of Pecho Rock.Eight random fishery stations in Diablo Cove, Lion Rock Cove and the North Control Area yielded a substantial increase in catch-per-unit-of-effort. (15pp.)

Description: The Tomales-Bodega Bay catch this season was from northernBodega Bay, and the possibility that this season's catchmay be from a different stock must be considered.In the Tomales-Bodega Bay area, 5- through 8-yr-old herring, Clupea pallasi, comprised 89% by number of the 1989-90 season's gill net catch.Recruitment of the 1986 year class (4-yr olds) was relatively poor, comprising only 9% of the gill net catch by number.Average length of the Tomales-Bodega Bay area gill netcatch increased to 204 mm BL because the number of 3- and4-yr olds in the catch decreased to 11%, the lowest levelsince the 1982-83 season.The average weight at age of 4-through 8-yr-old herring didnot change significantly this season.In San Francisco Bay, for the first time since the 1982-83season, 5-, 6-, and 7-yr-old herring were the dominant agegroups comprising 79% by number of the gill net catch. Thisreverses a trend toward younger and smaller herring in thegill net catch.The average length of herring in the San Francisco Bay gillnet catch increased to 196 mm BL.The change in the size and age composition is attributed tobetter enforcement of the 2 1/8 in. gill net mesh regulation.The sex ratio of the gill net catch also improved.Females comprised 53% of the catch in both San Francisco and Tomales bays. (19pp.)

Description: Field work during the quarter included surveys of permanentand random subtidal and intertidal stations. At permanentsubtidal stations densities of the brown algae Laminaria and Nereocystis decreased as did densities of giant red sea urchins, Strongylocentrotus franciscanus.Counts of small invertebrates within one-quarter meter square (1/4-m2) quadrats at random subtidal stations were begun. A total of 32 quadrats was completed. Balanophyllia elegans was the most abundant and most common animal encountered. The annual surface count of bull kelp (Nereocystis) was not possible because of the increased density; instead we utilized subtidal counts toestimate the surface canopy. An estimate of 33,000 plants was made for this year's canopy; this compares with a count of 18,000 plants last year. Sampling of random intertidal stations for the Davidson period began; 15 stations were surveyed. In addition, permanent intertidal stations 1, 2 and 3 were surveyed for abalone densities.The sea otter, Enhydra lutris, herd continued to occupy the area around Point Buchon.In November daily observations were initiated on foam location and abundance in Diablo Cove. (13pp.)

Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Cooperative Research Agreement 5-11-75

Description: The 1989-90 spawning biomass estimate of Pacific herring,Clupea pallasi, from spawning-ground surveys in SanFrancisco Bay was 71,000 tons, a 5,000 ton increase over the 1988-89 biomass estimate of 66,000 tons. The San Francisco Bay herring biomass has been on an upward cycle since 1984, and results from spawning-ground surveys indicated that the population was at its highest level in eight years.In Tomales Bay the 1989-90 herring spawning biomass estimate was 345 tons. This was the third consecutive poor season. Herring have nearly abandoned Tomales Bay, and reduced freshwater in flows due to the current drought condition in California were the probable cause for the change in spawning behavior.An additional 445 tons were found in Bodega Bay byhydroacoustic surveys. The total herring biomass estimatefor Tomales-Bodega area was 790 tons.January was the month of peak spawning activity in SanFrancisco Bay, with 30,000 tons of herring spawning duringthe month. In Tomales there was only one spawning run; itoccurred on January 31, 1990.In San Francisco Bay, 67% of all spawning occurred along the San Francisco waterfront, and only 6% of all spawningactivity was in the northern part of the bay. No spawningwas found near Tiburon, Belvedere, Richmond, Berkeley,Candlestick Point, Sierra Point, Oyster Point, or CoyotePoint.A total of 3.5 million m2 of eelgrass, Zoster marina, wasmeasured in Tomales Bay this season, a decline of about10% over the past two seasons.Eelgrass density kg/m2 did not change significantly thisseason. (34pp.)

Description: The spawning biomass of Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi,estimated from spawning-ground surveys in San Francisco Baydeclined to 45,850 tons this season, following a peak of71,000 tons in the 1989-90 season. This is the first majordecline since the 1983-84 El Nino.In Tomales Bay the 1990-91 spawning biomass more thandoubled to 779 tons. The spawning biomass has increasedthe past two seasons, while the fishery has been closed.There was no biomass estimate for Bodega Bay, but anadditional 95 tons of herring were caught in Bodega Baythis season. The total herring biomass for the Tomales-Bodega area is a minimum of 874 tons.Humboldt Bay was surveyed by the Department for the firsttime this season, and spawning biomass was estimated to be400 tons.January was the month of peak spawning activity in allspawning areas surveyed.In San Francisco Bay, 62% of all spawning occurred alonqthe San Francisco waterfront; for the first time therewas no significant spawninq in the northern part of the bay. Nearly 70% of the spawning activity in San Francisco Bay occurred on January 3-6, 1991.A total of 3.5 million m2 of eelgrass, Zostera marina,was measured in Tomales Bay this season. The change ineelgrass density this season varied from bed to bed, however the overall density of eelgrass in Tomales Bay declined. (44pp.)

Description: In 1992 fishery technicians sampled 230 commercial passenger fishing vessel (CPFV) trips targeting rockfish and lingcod from the port areas of Fort Bragg, Bodega Bay, San Francisco, Monterey, and Morro Bay. The skippers of 44 vessels, and 2,190 anglers, cooperated in the study. Species composition by port area and month, catch-per-unit-effort, mean length, and length frequency of lingcod and the 18 most frequently observed rockfish species are presented, as well as fishing effort relative to time, depth, and distance from port. Total catch estimates based on unadjusted and adjusted logbook records are summarized.Average catch of kept fish per angler day was 12.6 and average catch of kept fish per angler hour was 4.0. A continuing trend of an increasing frequency of trips to deep (〉 40 fm) locations was observed in the Bodega Bay, San Francisco, and Monterey areas. Bodega Bay and San Francisco showed the highest frequency of trips to distant locations.Sixty species comprised of 29,731 fish were observed caught during the study. Rockfish comprised 93.5% by number of the total observed catch. The five most frequently observedspecies were blue, yellowtail, widow and rosy rockfishes, and bocaccio, with lingcod ranking eighth.CPFV angler success, as determined by catch per angler hour, generally increased in all ports in 1992 compared to previous 1988-91 data (Reilly et al. 1993). However, port-specific areas of major concern were identified for chilipepper, lingcod, and black rockfish, and to alesser extent brown, canary, vermilion, yelloweye, widow and greenspotted rockfishes. These areas of concern included steadily declining catch rate, steadily declining mean length, and/or a high percentage of sexually immature fish in the sampled catch.Recent sampling of the commercial hook-and-line fishery in northern and central California indicates that most rockfishes taken by CPFV anglers are also harvested commercially. (105pp.)

Description: The Central California Marine Sport Fish Project has been collecting angler catch data on board Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels (CPFVs) fishing for rockfish or lingcod since 1987. The program depends on the voluntary cooperation of CPFV owners and operators. This fifth report in a series presents data collected in 1995, refers to historical data from 1987 to 1994, and documentstrends in species composition, angler effort, catch per unit effort (CPUE), and, for selected species, mean length, and length frequency.Angler catches on board central and northern California CPFVs were sampled from 12 ports, ranging from Fort Bragg in the north to Port San Luis (Avila Beach) in the south. Technicians observed a total of 1829 anglers fishing on 218 CPFV trips. These observed anglers caught 26,197fish of which samplers determined 22,888 were kept. Over 62% of these fish were caught at Monterey or Morro Bay area ports. Only 18 of 55 species comprised at least one percent of the catch. The top ten species in order of abundance were yellowtail, blue, olive, and rosy rockfishes, lingcod, and canary, widow, gopher, starry, and vermilion rockfishes. Blue and yellowtail rockfishes together comprised approximately 47% of the observed catch. Overall, rockfishes represented 35 species or 64% of the 55 identified species. By number, rockfishes comprised 91.9 % of the observed catch.All CPUE and length data collected since 1987 were partitioned into six location groups for each port area, based on a combination of location, bottom depth, and distance from the nearest port. This allowed examination of indicator trends without potential biases due to non-random trip selection or ontogenetic changes in depth distribution for certain rockfishes. Results indicate thatthe two primary species in the northern and central California CPFV fishery, blue and yellowtailrockfishes (accounting for 47% of all observed fish in 1995), are in reasonably good condition with no steady declines in either average catch per angler hour or mean length during the last 8 years. The primary species of concern are mainly shallow-water species impacted by a recently expanded commercial hook-and-line fishery or deep-water species (chilipepper and bocaccio) which are fished intensively by the commercial industry and have experienced recent statewide stock declines.Estimated total rockfish catch, adjusted by logbook compliance rates and on board sampling data, has declined significantly in all port areas since 1992. This is largely attributable to increased recreational fishing effort for salmon as well as coast-wide stock declines in several important commercially fished species. (112pp.)

Description: The Central California Marine Sport Fish Project has been collecting angler catch data on board Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessels (CPFVs) fishing for rockfish or lingcod since 1987. The program depends on the voluntary cooperation of CPFV owners and operators. This third report in a series presents data collected in 1993, refers to historical data from 1987 to 1992, and documents trends in species composition, angler effort, catch per unit effort (CPUE), and, for selected species, mean length and length frequency.Angler catches on board central and northern California CPFVs were sampled from 15 ports, ranging from Crescent City in the north to Port San Luis (Avila Beach) in the south.Technicians observed a total of 2385 anglers fishing on 248 CPFV trips. These observed anglers caught 29,622 fish of which Technicians determined 27,421 were kept. Over 60% of these fish were caught at Monterey or Morro Bay area ports. Only 18 of the 58 species each comprised at least one percent of the catch. The top ten species in order of abundance were blue, yellowtail, chilipepper, rosy, widow, canary, greenspotted, bocaccio, and vermilion rockfishes and lingcod. Blue and yellowtail rockfishes, and chilipepper, together comprised over 50% of the observed catch. Overall, rockfishes represented 35 species or 59% of the 58 identified species.In general, 1993 data indicated that in all port areas CPFV fishery resources, with a few exceptions, were in a viable and sustainable condition, similar to the previous 6 years. This study identified nine species, lingcod and eight rockfishes, with areas of concern which were primarilyport-specific. Six of these ranked among the 10 most frequently observed species, five were schooling or migratory species, two were nearshore species, and three were offshore species. Trends of most concern continue to be declining catch per angler hour (CPAH) - of yellowtailrockfish in the Bodega Bay area, lingcod in shallow locations near the Monterey area, and yelloweye rockfish in the San Francisco area, as well as decreasing mean lengths of canary rockfish in the Monterey area and brown rockfish in the Morro Bay area. Populations of black rockfish, the species presently of greatest concern in the CPFV fishery, showed some positive signs this year. Also on the positive side, the Monterey and Morro Bay areas experienced anincreased availability of newly-recruited smaller, juvenile vermilion rockfish in observed catches. Total catch estimates were within values observed in previous years. (132pp.)

Description: From May 1987 to June 1990 and from August to December 1991Fishery Technicians sampled catches on board 690 CommercialPassenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV) trips targeting rockfish and lingcod from the general port areas of Fort Bragg, Bodega Bay, San Francisco, Monterey, and Morro Bay. Data are presented for species composition by port area, year, and month, for catch-per-unit-effort, mean length, and length frequency of lingcod and the 18 most frequently observed rockfish species, and for trends in fishing effort related to fishing time, depth, and distance from port. Total catch estimates are presented based on unadjusted logbook records, logbook records adjusted by sampling data and compliance rates, and effort data from a marine recreational fishing statistics survey. Average catch of kept fish per angler day was 11.8 and average catch of kept fish per angler hour was 3.7. A trend of an increasing frequency of trips to deep (〉40 fm) locations was observed in the Bodega Bay, San Francisco, and Monterey areas from 1988 to 1990-91. No trend was evident relative to trip frequency and distance from port.A total of 74 species was observed caught during the study.Rockfishes comprised 88.5% to 97.9% by number of the observed catch by port area. The five most frequently observed species were chilipepper, blue, yellowtail, and widow rockfishes, and bocaccio, with lingcod ranking seventh.In general, mean length and catch-per-angler-hour of sportfishes caught by CPFV anglers varied considerably and did not show steady declines during the study period. However, port-specific areas of major concern were identified forchilipepper, lingcod, and black rockfish, and to a lesserextent brown, canary, vermilion, yelloweye, olive, and widow rockfish. These areas of concern included steadily declining catch rate, steadily declining mean length, and a high percentage of sexually immature fish in the sampled-catch.Recent sampling of the commercial hook-and-line fishery innorthern and central California indicated that most species of rockfishes taken by CPFV anglers are also harvested commercially. (261pp.)

Description: A preoperational ecological study of a proposed nuclear power plant site on the Mendocino County coast was initiated in September 1971. The study resulted from an agreement between the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the California Department of Fish and Game signed in July 1971. In the agreement, Pacific Gas and Electric Company provided funds for the Department's studies of the site.Studies of the subtidal animal and plant communities were conducted by divers from September 1971 through March 1973; intertidal animal and plant populations were surveyed from November 1971 through February 1973. Sportfisheries for abalone and finfish were surveyed during 1972 and Spring of 1973. Stomach contents of many of the more abundant subtidal and intertidal fishes were examined. All of these studies were designed to determine the dominant species of plants, invertebrates and fishes in the various communities, their relative abundance, and where applicable, size composition, predators and competitors.The parameters developed from these studies would be used for comparison with similar studies conducted after the proposed plant went into operation to determine what effect construction and operation of the plant might have on the various plants and animals studied. (291pp.)

Description: We continued surveys of permanent and random subtidal stations, completing surveys of 13 permanent stations and 28 random stations during the year. Red abalone numbers continued to decline in Diablo Cove and Control Areas. Giant red sea urchins declined at permanent stations. The bull kelp canopy increased noticeably in Diablo Cove.Most of our time was spent surveying intertidal stations andprocessing algae samples. Both red and black abalone showeda decrease in numbers in Diablo Cove as well as the ControlArea.Sea otters moved north of Diablo Cove to the Pt. Buchon areain the fall of 1974. In the spring of 1975 the rafts movedsouth again to the vicinity of Pecho Rock.The commercial sea urchin fishery was inactive during most of the year, while the commercial abalone fishery operated at a very low level.Several miscellaneous studies were continued or initiated during the period. 112pp.)

Description: Surveys of 39 random 30-m2 subtidal stations and 56 random1/4-m2 subtidal stations in Diablo Cove and the North Control were completed.The mean density of red abalones, Haliotis rufescens, inDiablo Cove was greater this year (0.02/m2) than last year(0.005/m2). This difference probably reflects sampling variation rather than density change.A total of 29 sportfish catch-per-unit-of-effort stations was sampled in Diablo Cove and 12 in the North Control.Foam observations in Diablo Cove were continued. The coolingwater pumps were not in operation. The amounts of foamappeared to be about the same during certain weather conditions as those when the pumps are in operation, although not as thick.The number of sea otters, Enhydra lutris, decreased substantially between Pt. Buchon and Pecho Rock. This was due to their annual migration (or "pulling back") into the more central parts of their range.Random surveys of the intertidal areas during the upwellingperiod were completed. (11pp.)

Description: In 1974, the State Legislature directed the Department of Fish and Game to investigate causes of a long-term decline in Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, commercial fishery landings in central California. The Departmentestablished the Dungeness Crab Research Program which conducted investigations on crab life history, pollution, and oceanography.Genetic studies to determine if there were different stocks along the coast were inconclusive. Early larval stages (zoeae) drifted progressively offshore as they developed. The last stage larvae (megalopae) were foundin nearshore waters. San Francisco Bay was determined to be an important nursery ground for juvenile crabs which contribute substantially to the local coastal adult stock. Many species of fish were found to prey upon larval and juvenile crabs. Silver salmon preyed heavily upon megalopae.Chlorine-treated sewage wastes slowed responses of juvenile crabs but present waste treatment practices (dechlorination before discharge) apparently are not harmful. No harmful effects of other pollutants (traceelements, pesticides, PCB's, and oil) were detected at levels which were found in crab tissues and the Bay environment.A long-term oceanographic change, characterized by increased ocean temperatures and stronger northward-flowing winter currents was found to coincide with the crab decline. These conditions appear to have biologicaleffects on crabs. San Francisco crabs were found, on the average, to have smaller ovaries than Eureka crabs. In the laboratory, crab egg mortality was greater in increased seawater temperatures.Overall conclusions are that the primary factors responsible for the crab decline are long-term changes in ocean conditions which have affected egg production and survival, and distribution of larvae.(16pp.)

Description: Permanent subtidal stations 6, 11 and 16 were surveyed. Appreciable increases in densities of one species of brown algae and five species of macroinvertebrates were noted at station 6.Winter surveys of random and permanent intertidal stations were completed. There was little or no change in black and red abalone, Haliotis cracherodii and H. rufescens, densities at the various random study areas. There was a noticeable increase in black abalone numbers at permanent station 2A located in North Diablo Cove. Three new permanent stations were established and counts of abalone completed.Approximately 100 sea otters, Enhydra lutris, have moved from the Point Buchon area to the area around Pecho Rock.We fished at 13 random stations in Diablo Cove and five stations in North Cove and North Control to determine the catch rate of common sport fishes.A good percentage of the 1975 bull kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, population weathered the winter storms. We calculated an approximate 18% over-wintering survival rate.Daily observations of foam in Diablo Cove continued; large amounts of piled-up foam have been observed during low tides in the South Diablo intertidal during periods of northwesterly winds. On a recent reconnaissance dive in Intake Cove, fish numbers appeared to be on the increase and visibility appeared to be improving. (15pp.)

Description: California's 1971 ocean shrimp landings totaled 3,074,540 pounds, a decrease of nearly a million pounds from 1970. The decrease resulted primarily from the failure of Area A vessels to reach the quota, and the lack of significant landings in the remaining permit areas.

Description: 9pp.

Description: During the period January 1 - March 31, 1974, winter surveys of the permanent subtidal stations were initiated. Three stations were surveyed.We completed our winter random intertidal surveys; a total of 14 stations in Diablo Cove and the North Control Area were visited.The commercial sea urchin fishery resumed and we began interviewing fishermen again.Very little commercial abalone fishing occurred due to theone-month closed season and winter storms.We observed a sea otter in North Cove for the first time and harbor seals were also observcd on the eastern end of the south breakwater for the first time since we began our studies. (17pp.)