xvii, 330 p. : ill., maps. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / This dissertation is a sociological study of the Sicilian bluefin tuna fishery. It will examine the social and ecological transformation of this fishery during the modern era. This will be analyzed utilizing a sociological framework that draws on theory from environmental sociology. The Sicilian fishery has been exploited for its abundant tuna for over a millennium, providing a major source of protein for Mediterranean civilizations. However, within the last half century there has been exponential expansion of industrialized methods of production and increasing capture efforts. This has culminated in the development of bluefin tuna "ranches," which have become a highly controversial method for supplying global markets. Escalating pressure on the fishery has contributed to a host of environmental and social concerns, including pushing this important fishery to the brink of collapse. Using a combination of primary and secondary source data such as interviews with local fishers and those in the tuna ranching sector, data compiled by international agencies such as the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as well as archival data on the Sicilian bluefin tuna fishery, I will employ sociological methods and analyze the recent changes in social life and the environment in Sicilian fishing communities. Subsequently, this project will shed light on the globalized and industrialized nature of the modern agri-food system and lead to a better understanding of its social and environmental impacts. / Committee in charge: Richard York, Chairperson, Sociology; John Foster, Member, Sociology; Yvonne Braun, Member, Sociology; Joseph Fracchia, Outside Member, Honors College

The Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is perhaps the most magnificent and most marvelous nomadic wild animal living in the world. It lives in the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the largest of the world’s fin fish and the largest of the 48 other species of tuna (Kuhn, 1996). It is a species that seems to have been designed and sculpted by an artist—sleek, smooth, and beautiful—instead of having been a product of an evolutionary process. Today, the existence and future of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is in question because of the constant overexploitation of the stocks for its flesh. The insanely high prices being paid for its flesh have resulted in a modern day gold rush for almost any person who has the ability and equipment to catch it. The movements of the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna take it through multiple jurisdictional, national, and international boundaries, spending part of its life in areas of the world’s commons, also known as the high seas. In each, the species is managed through complex, often cloudy and poorly enforced state, regional, and national laws and international treaties. For decades the terms overfished, under pressure, listing, and extinction have become synonymous with the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna because the scientific facts have, and continue to, indicate that it is in great peril and nearing the tipping point of no return in terms of viability as a species, all because of short-term economics and politics. This dissertation is rooted in complexity theory and public choice theory. The research design for this dissertation is based on the 5-component structure, interactive model, prescribed by Joseph A. Maxwell, Ph.D. (2004), and current policies were evaluated through the policy framework prescribed by Frank Fischer, Ph.D. (1995). Ten public policy steps are suggested to save the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from collapse.

Accurate fishery-independent methods for assessing the abundance of marine fish stocks are important tools for proper pelagic fisheries management. The review and improvement of standardized sampling methods used in fisheries-independent sampling, and the establishment of improved models of abundance and population dynamics utilizing novel statistical techniques for fisheries management will further improve our understanding of the way in which marine fish stocks vary spatially and temporally. One of the most important and longest running surveys of fisheries-independent data in the Southeastern United States is the spring ichthyoplankton survey conducted through the Southeast Area Mapping and Assessment Program (SEAMAP). These surveys of highly migratory pelagic fish larvae and eggs in the exclusive economic zone of the USA in the Gulf of Mexico have been conducted annually during spring spawning periods (March to June) since 1982 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). A primary focus of this survey is collecting the data used in a larval abundance index of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) for "tuning" population estimates for the western Atlantic stock of this species using virtual population analysis (VPA). As with many other forms of fishery independent data, there is statistical overdispersion of larval fish and high variability in catch rates related to non-static environmental conditions. This variability in catch rates, along with zero-inflated estimates of abundance, i.e. characterized by high numbers of stations with low or zero catches, present problems in deriving accurate and reliable stock assessments for western Atlantic bluefin tuna. The research presented here was conducted in an effort to improve the decision support system used in managing bluefin tuna in the western Atlantic, by improving catch rates of their larvae during spring ichthyoplankton cruises. A major focus of which was to overcome challenges related to reducing the variance of the larval index of abundance. The research presented here, explored the influence of sampling design and oceanographic conditions on an assemblage of commercially important taxa within the Gulf of Mexico. Such studies are necessary to evaluate differences in habitat utilization within a specific complex or among assemblages of closely related taxa. The spatial and temporal patterns of larval bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) were analyzed in relation to mesoscale patterns of circulation, types of sampling gear used during fishery independent surveys, and in the context of common oceanographic variables associated with the spawning habitat of this iconic pelagic predator. Collaterally the relationship between the above factors on spatial and temporal patterns of the larvae of seven congeneric species of marine fish, whose larvae commonly occur with bluefin tuna, during the spring spawning season in the Gulf of Mexico (Auxis spp., Euthynnus alleteratus Corphaena spp., Katsuwonus pelamis, other Thunnus spp.: Thunnus albacares and Thunnus atlanticus, Istiophoridae, and Xiphias gladius) was investigated. The historical distribution of abundance in these eight taxa of larval epipelagic fish were analyzed in the context of mesoscale and large scale circulation features in the Gulf of Mexico between 1994 and 2008. Characterization of these features was conducted using concurrent, synoptic satellite altimeter, sea surface temperature (SST), and ocean color (OC) observations. Larval abundance among mesocale features was examined for the eight pelagic fish taxa using permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). All but one taxon, T. thynnus, showed differences in occurrence across features. Additionally only two taxa (X. gladius and Istiophoridae) did not show highest abundances in "Common Waters" of the Gulf of Mexico. The abundance of the eight taxa, when examined in aggregate or as an assemblage, differed significantly between circulation features. However, distributions of individual taxa among circulation features differed for only the other Thunnus spp. taxa, which incorporates Thunnus albacares and atlanticus. The results from this study indicated that for most of the individual taxa studied, and Thunnus thynnus in particular the distribution of spawning habitat in the Gulf of Mexico is not associated with specific patterns in circulation. To analyze the impact of sampling gear on larval epipelagic abundance, the collection methods of the eight taxa during spring surveys, including a new net sampling methodology tested in surveys between 2009 and 2011, were compared. This new sampling methodology consisted of a 1x2 m frame fitted with a 0.505 mm mesh net, towed in a yo-yo fashion between the surface and 10m depth, referred to as the S-10 net. Sampling effectiveness between gears was compared by examining the abundance and length of the eight taxa of larval fish. A PERMANOVA of net type and time of sampling (day/night) on abundance and mean body length (BL) indicated that net type was a significant factor in assessing abundance and BL for all taxa. Highest mean assemblage and individual taxa abundance for seven of the eight taxa were in S-10 samples. Depth discrete sampling of the upper 50 m indicated that highest abundances for all scombrid taxa were found in the upper 30 m and provided justification for the improved sampling efficiency of the S-10 net. These results indicate that distributions of these epipelagic fish are not truly neustonic and that sampling effectiveness for them strongly depends on depth range fished by the net. Finally, the results of two research cruises using the new sampling methodology (S-10 net) during the spring of 2010 and 2011 were investigated to explore larval fish assemblages. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP) was used to evaluate the horizontal distribution of eight taxa of epipelagic larval fish and to relate these distributions to a total of eight variables observed through in-situ and remotely obtained data. Larval assemblages were established for the CAP via unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) hierarchical clustering utilizing similarity profile analysis (SIMPROF) tests for stopping rules. Further refinement to five common assemblage groups was obtained using indicator species values (INDVALS) and percent composition of taxa abundance within groups. Total model accuracy was 54%, with highest classification success for the assemblage group characterized by T. thynnus and the other Thunnus spp. (64%), and lowest classification success for negative stations (22%). Changes in the assemblage of these larval fish were partially explained by the seasonal progression in day-length, and related changes in sea surface temperature. Depth, chlorophyll a concentration, salinity, and optical clarity were also important. Five assemblages of larval fish were identified, characterized by differences in the relative abundance of the five taxa of scombrids, and the Coryphaena spp. taxa, and indicated a high degree of shared spawning habitat. The differences in habitat utilization by these taxa is highly influenced by seasonal changes in sea surface temperature, and large scale differences in depth and water masses in the Gulf of Mexico. This results in a gradual shift from groups with smaller and more abundant coastally influenced taxa with protracted spawning seasons to the larger sub-tropical, more pelagic species across a large expanse of shared spawning habitat. This dissertation research provides a context to the historical assessment of abundance, evidence for the association of specific taxa with particular oceanographic conditions, and improved assessment capabilities for epipelagic larval fish. As this research shows the spawning habitat of these taxa in the Gulf of Mexico are largely shared, and the influence of environmental variables only partly addressed the spatial and temporal variance attributed to larval abundance in the Gulf of Mexico. The improved methods used in this study will be useful to researchers studying the factors impacting larval recruitment and survival of highly migratory species, and comprehensive ecosystem based resource management. The results will improve fisheries-independent sampling and management for highly migratory species, and provides new methods for evaluating larval fish assemblages within the framework of oceanographic conditions for large marine ecosystems.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Flinders University, School of Biological Sciences. / Typescript bound. Includes bibliographical references: (leaves 149-166) Also available online.

Commercial capture-based aquaculture of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT), Thunnus thynnus (L.), has been prominent in the Mediterranean for over a decade. Owing to several limitations encountered in working with the species, including its high commercial value, there has been little research carried out relating to this species. The objective of this study was to examine several health parameters of captive ABT. These included an examination of coronary artery lesions, haematology, plasma biochemistry, assessment of immune function and changes in fatty acid (FA) flesh content through the on-growing period. Arteriosclerosis in fish is a pathologic condition of uncertain etiology and involves the main coronary artery in teleosts. Apart from reports of their widespread occurrence in salmonids, they have been described from a restricted number of wild ABT specimens but have not received further attention. This investigation analysed the effect of size and period of net-pen rearing on the prevalence and severity of arteriosclerotic lesions in ABT. Coronary arteries from wild and captive fish were investigated and prevalence was 100 %, but increasing structural degradation was observed with increasing fish size, suggesting that lesions progress throughout the life of the fish. Due to the limited availability of wild specimens, the effect of captivity on arteriosclerosis in ABT could not be adequately quantified, although observations suggest that the farming process has no major effect on arteriosclerotic lesions in ABT. Studies on the haematology, plasma biochemistry and immunology of ABT are limited. Haematological and plasma biochemical indices are useful in animal health assessment but use of these requires the establishment of species-specific ranges. Blood was collected from captive ABT specimens of varying weight (61-361 kg) and the major haematological (n = 45), plasma biochemical (n = 30) and immunological parameters (n = 45) were quantified. Size-based differences were found in haematological indices between experimental sub-groups including increased erythrocyte number and haemoglobin level in smaller ABT. No differences were found in immunological parameters except for total IgM levels, which were higher in the smaller individuals. Preliminary investigations indicated that disease prevalence in captive ABT is very low. Epidermal mucus is an important interface between fish and their environment and comprises immunological components which act as a first barrier against pathogen entry or colonisation. Mucus was collected from captive ABT and analysed for innate immune components. The presence of IgM was detected in the mucus of ABT by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and several different enzymes were detected with an API-ZYM kit assay. Zymography experiments confirmed the presence of protease-like enzymes in the mucus, while enzyme assays quantified alkaline phosphatase, protease, esterase and cathepsin B activities. Lysozyme levels were high. The mucus agglutinated sheep erythrocytes but did not demonstrate complement or bacteriolytic activity. There is restricted information on the fatty acid composition of farmed ABT or how this is influenced when the fish are held under commercial aquaculture conditions. This study investigated the FA composition of farmed ABT, its variation by dorsal muscle region and the correlation between dietary FA composition with that of the fish. Analysis of flesh samples retrieved from farmed ABT did not reveal significant differences in the FA composition of experimental sub-groups irrespective of size, time held in captivity or diet. These results indicate that FA metabolism in ABT is substrate-selective. Gene expression measurements from several organs of ABT showed that expression of Δfad5 and elovl5, genes involved in FA metabolism, were highest in the brain followed by the liver but no expression of these genes was detected in the spleen. The findings of this research address aspects of health evaluation and nutritional status in farmed ABT and are discussed in terms of farming practice. Conclusions from some of these studies suggest that the practice of holding wild-captured stock in cages for periods of up to 18 months does not result in significant impact on ABT.

La modélisation de la dynamique des populations de thons et grands pélagiques pour l'évaluation des stocks est confrontée à deux enjeux majeurs. (1) L'hypothèse forte de proportionnalité entre Captures Par Unité d'Effort de pêche (CPUE) et l'abondance des stocks. Les CPUE des pêcheries commerciales sont en effet les seules mesures relatives de biomasse utilisées pour l'évaluations des stocks de thons et grands pélagiques, malgré leur manque de représentativité de l'abondance de ces populations. (2) Le manque de données informatives pour modéliser la relation Stock-Recrutement (SR) ce qui conduit à utiliser des contraintes sur la "steepness" de cette fonction. Nous examinons comment l'introduction d'informations indépendantes des pêcheries commerciales dans les modèles pour l'évaluation des stocks thoniers permet de lever l'hypothèse de capturabilité constante et de mieux justifier le choix de la steepness de la relation SR. Le cadre statistique bayésien autorise la prise en compte d'informations supplémentaires via des distributions a priori informatives (priors). Cette thèse examine donc les possibilités d'élicitation de priors informatifs pour des paramètres démographiques et des paramètres liés à la capturabilité des engins de pêche, ainsi que l'utilisation de ces priors dans un modèle global. Les cas d'études sont les stocks de thon rouge (Thunnus thynnus) et d'albacore (Thunnus albacares) de l'Atlantique. La grande variabilité naturelle des taux de mortalités pré-recrutement pose des limites à l'utilisation des seuls traits d'histoire de vie pour l'élicitation de priors pour des paramètres démographiques. Par ailleurs, la relation SR pour les thonidés est remise en question par une valeur de steepness proche de 1. Il apparait que des priors informatifs sur la capturabilité dans un modèle hiérarchique global permettent de réduire les incertitudes dans le diagnostic sur l'état d'un stock thonier. Nous montrons ainsi que le diagnostic sur le stock Atlantique d'albacore est plus pessimiste qu'attendu la tendance à la hausse des capturabilités des principaux engins de pêche est prise en compte. L'élicitation de priors présente donc un fort intérêt pour utiliser des informations supplémentaires et extérieures aux CPUE et améliorer la perception de l'état des stock thoniers. / Modelisation of the population dynamics of tunas and tuna like species for stock assessment is facing two issues. (1) The hypothesis of proportionality between Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) and abundance (constant catchability). CPUEs from commercial fisheries appear to be the only relative measure of abundance in spite of their lack of representativity of the abundances of the populations. (2) The lack of informative data for the modelisation of the Stock-Recruit (SR) relationship, which leads to constraint this function on its steepness. The introduction of fisheries-independent sources of information is investigated in order to relax the assumption of constant catchability and to provide better justification of steepness choice for the SR relationship. The Bayesian statistical framework allows the consideration of additional information a priori via informative distributions (priors). This work investigate the elicitation of informative priors for demographic parameters and parameters related to the catchability of fishing gear, as well as the use of these priors into a surplus production model. The cases of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and of the yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares}) were taken as examples. The large natural variability of pre-recruits mortality rates limits the use of life history traits for eliciting priors for demographic parameters. In addition, the SR relationship for tuna is challenged by a steepness value close to 1. It appears that informative priors on catchability parameters, in a hierarchical surplus production model, reduce uncertainties in the diagnosis on the status of tuna stocks. We show that the status of the Atlantic yellowfin tuna stock is more critical taking into account upward trends in the main fishing gears catchabilities. We conclude that prior elicitation is a reliable tool to take into account additionnal information and to improve tunas stock assessment.

No description available.

This thesis reports the development, testing, and application of computer programs for simulating Lagrangian-Stochastic particle dispersion in coastal seas, with particular application to tide and storm induced dispersion in South Australian seas. The three-dimensional tidal equations are briefly discussed for the two types of surge models used, and finite-difference methods for numerically solving these equations are considered. Different methods of simulating flows at open sea boundaries are investigated. The method of particle tracking and the development of the particle tracking model is also described. Various tests are conducted to investigate both the advective and diffusive aspects of dispersion, and a number of scenarios for the simulation of open (ocean) and closed (coastal) boundaries are considered. Various aspects of the particle tracking routine are given specific characteristics according to the nature of the particle being considered. Application of the tide and storm surge model to the Great Australian Bight is described. This uses spherical polar co-ordinates to account for the curvature of the earth, and an oblique boundary element to increase accuracy of the coastline representation. The effect of a low pressure system moving from west to east across the Bight and the resulting significant observed surge at Thevenard during the storm of April 1996 is simulated. This storm resulted in a significant number of deaths in aquaculture farms containing southern bluefin tuna (Thunnas maccoyii) within the Boston Bay region to the extreme east of the Bight due to the agitation of almost neutrally buoyant organic sediments at the sea floor. The effects of this storm are further considered using a Cartesian co-ordinate fine-grid local model of Boston Bay, in Spencer Gulf, South Australia, where both tidal and storm (wind and outside surge) induced flows are simulated. The dispersion of suspended neutrally buoyant sediment throughout the region is considered, and compared with the mortalities of tuna at various farms within the region. Tidal and storm induced currents in the Gulf St. Vincent region, South Australia, have also been modelled using Cartesian co-ordinates. Detailed consideration has been given to the modelling of tides, winds, atmospheric pressures and outside surges from the two open boundaries in Investigator Strait and Backstairs Passage. The information obtained has enabled the modelling of a number of storm surge scenarios. Further to this, various simulations of the dispersion of the larvae of the western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus) have been driven using the storm surge model developed. These incorporate currents near the surface and the sea floor, as well as the consideration of changes in behaviour during the life history of the larvae. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, 2000.

This thesis reports the development, testing, and application of computer programs for simulating Lagrangian-Stochastic particle dispersion in coastal seas, with particular application to tide and storm induced dispersion in South Australian seas. The three-dimensional tidal equations are briefly discussed for the two types of surge models used, and finite-difference methods for numerically solving these equations are considered. Different methods of simulating flows at open sea boundaries are investigated. The method of particle tracking and the development of the particle tracking model is also described. Various tests are conducted to investigate both the advective and diffusive aspects of dispersion, and a number of scenarios for the simulation of open (ocean) and closed (coastal) boundaries are considered. Various aspects of the particle tracking routine are given specific characteristics according to the nature of the particle being considered. Application of the tide and storm surge model to the Great Australian Bight is described. This uses spherical polar co-ordinates to account for the curvature of the earth, and an oblique boundary element to increase accuracy of the coastline representation. The effect of a low pressure system moving from west to east across the Bight and the resulting significant observed surge at Thevenard during the storm of April 1996 is simulated. This storm resulted in a significant number of deaths in aquaculture farms containing southern bluefin tuna (Thunnas maccoyii) within the Boston Bay region to the extreme east of the Bight due to the agitation of almost neutrally buoyant organic sediments at the sea floor. The effects of this storm are further considered using a Cartesian co-ordinate fine-grid local model of Boston Bay, in Spencer Gulf, South Australia, where both tidal and storm (wind and outside surge) induced flows are simulated. The dispersion of suspended neutrally buoyant sediment throughout the region is considered, and compared with the mortalities of tuna at various farms within the region. Tidal and storm induced currents in the Gulf St. Vincent region, South Australia, have also been modelled using Cartesian co-ordinates. Detailed consideration has been given to the modelling of tides, winds, atmospheric pressures and outside surges from the two open boundaries in Investigator Strait and Backstairs Passage. The information obtained has enabled the modelling of a number of storm surge scenarios. Further to this, various simulations of the dispersion of the larvae of the western king prawn (Penaeus latisulcatus) have been driven using the storm surge model developed. These incorporate currents near the surface and the sea floor, as well as the consideration of changes in behaviour during the life history of the larvae. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences, 2000.