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Bride and groom slammed for “gift fishing”

A couple has been rinsed online for sending out the “worst wedding invitation ever” that quickly went viral on social media. The bride and groom decided they would tie the knot in a “private ceremony”, but still decided to send out invitations to those who weren’t actually invited to attend. The invitation asked people to “join us in spirit”, while the word “spirit” was spelled incorrectly. The bride claimed that she thought the cards would soften the blow for loved ones who weren't invited, but many online commenters say they have the opposite effect. The couple were quickly slammed as “patronising and rude” with hundreds of infuriated social media users claiming it was “nothing but a present grab”. “Great way to let people know they aren't invited but you'd still like a present,” one person wrote. “Not even a virtual wedding, this is just tacky,” said another. The view was universal, as one person joked, “We're having a wedding, you're not invited.” “If I got this, it would go straight in the trash,” another said, while someone else suggested, “I'd use it as kindling for the fire pit.” Some people also added that despite the couple’s alleged best intentions with the non-invites, they were bound to cause confusion among recipients. “She's going to get so many confused phone calls about this,” one person said. “People will be confused about where to buy tickets,” said another. Image credits: Shutterstock / Facebook

Relationships

"This is crazy": Teenager goes fishing and emerges a millionaire

A 19-year-old fisherman has reeled in a million-dollar barramundi as part of a years long fishing competition. Keegan Payne, a self proclaimed "mad keen" fisherman, caught the fish that had been tagged as part of a nine year long fishing competition in the Katherine River. When the teenager from the Norther Territory was told that he had taken home the prize, he said he planned to use his winnings to help his parents pay off their home loans. "This is crazy for us, we're a big family, there's eight of us. This is more money than we could ever ask for. This is just great," Payne said. "It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I'm happy, really happy." "I can buy what I want, maybe help Dad and Mum out with the home loans," he said. Payne was on a fishing trip with family and a friend at the Katherine River when he caught the prized barramundi, and quickly made a call to the hotline for the competition. The organisers confirmed he had caught the million-dollar fish, and invited him and his family to collect the prize. The competition has been running since 2015, but until now, nobody had reeled in one of the million-dollar barramundi. Every season, more than a hundred fish tagged with special markings are released in waterways across the Northern Territory, and while most of the fish are worth $10,000, some are worth the major prize of $1 million. Keegan chose charity partner Cancer Council NT to receive $10,000 from Sportsbet, a sponsor of the competition. NT Major Events Company chief executive Suzana Bishop said organisers were "so happy and excited for Keegan". "We guaranteed a winner this season and we're delighted to see the prize go off," said Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans. Image credits: Million Dollar Fish

Domestic Travel

Fishing town inundated by plague of rats

Communities along the Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland have been inundated by a plague of rats, with the rodents washing up along the shores in the thousands. Locals and tourists have shared videos of rats washing up on the beaches of Karumba, a popular fishing town that is struggling with the "plague". One local resident took to Facebook to share their experience, writing, “We headed down for our nightly fishing expedition to find the beach littered with washed-up rats.” “We are unable to fish off the beaches at the moment due to the number of them and the smell.” The same local described dead rats floating in the water or washing up on the shore, with those animals that survived looking a little worse for wear. Kerry D Fishing Charters owner Jemma Probert told <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/rat-plague-hits-fishing-town-in-queenslands-north-rocking-confidence-in-vital-tourism-industry-c-12652482" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> the smell of the dead and dying rats was “horrible”. “They are jumping into the water and trying to swim but end up drowning and washing back up on the beach leaving a horrible smell,” she said. Experts say that the influx of rats to the state is due to consistent rainfall, and the subsequent increased crop harvests, as the rodents have flocked to the area looking for food. According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the rat population has been steadily increasing since 2021, with the plague of mice and rats slowly heading north to more tropical climates. “Mouse populations have reached plague conditions not seen since 2011,” CSIRO researcher Steve Henry said. “This is largely due to favourable climatic conditions which have created optimal conditions for mice to breed.” Locals have also shared their theories on the influx of their rat visitors, with many speculating that ecent bushfires in the area may be causing the mass exodus of rats leaving burning bushland. “This happened back in the ’90s here in Karumba,” one local said. “They came ashore after (we) had fires in the area.” Locals are worried the unwelcome visitors may have a detrimental effect on the local tourism industry. “I have no idea why they are here but I hope they go quickly as this is not nice for tourists,” Probert said. “They have tried to crawl onto our boat while we are fishing with customers on board and we have had to flick them off with a stick.” Image credits: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Are fish oil supplements as healthy as we think? And is eating fish better?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/evangeline-mantzioris-153250">Evangeline Mantzioris</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, is promoted for a number of health benefits – from boosting our heart health, protecting our brain from dementia, and easing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. But what exactly are omega-3 fats and what does the evidence say about their benefits for keeping us healthy? And if they are good for us, does eating fish provide the same benefit as supplements? <h2>What are omega-3 fats?</h2> Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid. They are essential to consume in our diet because we can’t make them in our body. Three main types of omega-3 fats are important in our diet: <ul> <li> alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which is found in plant foods such as green leafy vegetables, walnuts, flaxseed and chia seeds </li> <li> eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), which is only found in seafood, eggs (higher in free-range rather than cage eggs) and breast milk </li> <li> docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is also only found in seafood, eggs (again, higher in free-range eggs) and breast milk. </li> </ul> Omega 3s are key to the structure of our cells, and help keep our heart, lungs, blood vessels, and immune system working. <h2>Eating fish vs taking a supplement</h2> The initial studies suggesting omega-3 fats may have health benefits came from <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.0954-6820.1976.tb08198.x">observational studies on people eating fish</a>, not from fish oil. So are the “active ingredients” from supplements – the EPA and DHA – absorbed into our body in the same way as fish? An <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523281484">intervention study</a> (where one group was given fish and one group fish oil supplements) found the levels of EPA and DHA in your body increase in a similar way when you consume equal amounts of them from either fish or fish oil. But this assumes it is just the omega-3 fats that provide health benefits. There are other <a href="https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/science/monitoringnutrients/afcd/pages/default.aspx">components of fish</a>, such as protein, vitamins A and D, iodine, and selenium that could be wholly or jointly responsible for the health benefits. The health benefits seen may also be partially due to the absence of certain nutrients that would have otherwise been consumed from other types of meat (red meat and processed meat) such as saturated fats and salt. <h2>So what are the benefits of omega 3 fats? And does the source matter?</h2> Let’s consider the evidence for heart disease, arthritis and dementia. Heart disease For cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and stroke), a <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003177.pub3/full">meta-analysis</a>, which provides the highest quality evidence, has shown fish oil supplementation probably makes little or no difference. Another <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/8/2278">meta-analysis</a> found for every 20 grams per day of fish consumed it reduced the risk of coronary heart disease by 4%. The <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/getmedia/f1d22267-7381-4513-834b-df317bed9a40/Nutrition_Position_Statement_-_DIETARY_FAT_FINAL-4.pdf">National Heart Foundation</a> recommends, based on the scientific evidence, eating fish rich in omega-3 fats for optimal heart health. <a href="https://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/17/3/385.pdf">Fish vary in their omega-3 levels</a> and generally the fishier they taste the more omega-3 fats they have – such as tuna, salmon, deep sea perch, trevally, mackeral and snook. The foundation says fish oil may be beneficial for people with heart failure or high triglycerides, a type of fat that circulates in the blood that increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. But it doesn’t recommend fish oil for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases (heart attack and stroke). Arthritis For rheumatoid arthritis, <a href="https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13075-022-02781-2">studies</a> have shown fish oil supplements do provide benefits in reducing the severity and the progression of the disease. Eating fish also leads to these improvements, but as the level of EPA and DHA needed is high, often it’s difficult and expensive to consume that amount from fish alone. <a href="https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/managing-arthritis/living-with-arthritis/complementary-treatments-and-therapies/fish-oils/">Arthritis Australia</a> recommends, based on the evidence, about 2.7 grams of EPA and DHA a day to reduce joint inflammation. Most supplements contain about 300-400mg of omega-3 fats. So depending on how much EPA and DHA is in each capsule, you may need nine to 14 capsules (or five to seven capsules of fish oil concentrate) a day. This is about 130g-140g of grilled salmon or mackeral, or 350g of canned tuna in brine (almost four small tins). Dementia <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0952327807001421?via%3Dihub">Epidemiological studies</a> have shown a positive link between an increased DHA intake (from diet) and a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a type of dementia. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0952327807001421?via%3Dihub">Animal studies</a> have shown DHA can alter markers that are used to assess brain function (such as accumulation of amyloid – a protein thought to be linked to dementia, and damage to tau protein, which helps stabilise nerve cells in the brain). But this hasn’t been shown in humans yet. A systematic review of <a href="http://betamedarts.gr/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/31Psychiatriki03_2020.pdf#page=58">multiple studies in people</a> has shown different results for omega-3 fats from supplements. In the two studies that gave omega-3 fats as supplements to people with dementia, there was no improvement. But when given to people with mild cognitive impairment, a condition associated with increased risk of progressing to dementia, there was an improvement. Another <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25446949/">meta-anlayses</a> (a study of studies) showed a higher intake of fish was linked to lower risk of Alzheimers, but this relationship was not observed with total dietary intake of omega-3 fats. This indicates there may be other protective benefits derived from eating fish. In line with the evidence, the <a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/risk-factors-and-prevention/omega-3-and-dementia#:%7E:text=This%20could%20suggest%20that%20taking,its%20own%20may%20not%20be.">Alzheimer’s Society</a> recommends eating fish over taking fish oil supplements. <h2>So what’s the bottom line?</h2> The more people stick to a healthy, plant-based diet with fish and minimal intakes of ultra-processed foods, the better their health will be. At the moment, the evidence suggests fish oil is beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis, particularly if people find it difficult to eat large amounts of fish. For dementia and heart disease, it’s best to try to eat your omega-3 fats from your diet. While plant foods contain ALA, this will not be as efficient as increasing EPA and DHA levels in your body by eating seafood. Like any product that sits on the shop shelves, check the use-by date of the fish oil and make sure you will be able to consume it all by then. The chemical structure of EPA and DHA makes <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224421005422">it susceptible to degradation</a>, which affects its nutritional value. Store it in cold conditions, preferably in the fridge, away from light. Fish oil can have some annoying side effects, such as fishy burps, but generally there are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3664575/">minimal serious side effects</a>. However, it’s important to discuss taking fish oil with all your treating doctors, particularly if you’re on other medication.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/212250/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/evangeline-mantzioris-153250">Evangeline Mantzioris</a>, Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-fish-oil-supplements-as-healthy-as-we-think-and-is-eating-fish-better-212250">original article</a>.

Body

740,000km of fishing line and 14 billion hooks: we reveal just how much fishing gear is lost at sea each year

Two per cent of all fishing gear used worldwide ends up polluting the oceans, our <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq0135" target="_blank" rel="noopener">new research</a> finds. To put that into perspective, the amount of longline fishing gear littering the ocean each year can circle the Earth more than 18 times. We interviewed 450 fishers from seven of the world’s biggest fishing countries including Peru, Indonesia, Morocco and the United States, to find out just how much gear enters the global ocean. We found at current loss rates, in 65 years there would be enough fishing nets littering the sea to cover the entire planet. This lost fishing equipment, known as ghost gear, can cause heavy social, economic and environmental damage. Hundreds of thousands of animals <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11160-018-9520-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are estimated to die</a> each year from unintentional capture in fishing nets. Derelict nets can continue to fish indiscriminately for decades. Our research findings help highlight where to focus efforts to stem the tide of fishing pollution. It can also help inform fisheries management and policy interventions from local to global scales. <h2>14 billion longline hooks litter the sea each year</h2> The data we collected came directly from fishers themselves. They experience this issue firsthand and are best poised to inform our understanding of fishing gear losses. We surveyed fishers using five major gear types: gillnets, longlines, purse seine nets, trawl nets, and pots and traps. We asked how much fishing gear they used and lost annually, and what gear and vessel characteristics could be making the problem worse. This included vessel and gear size, whether the gear contacts the seafloor, and the total amount of gear used by the vessel. We coupled these surveys with information on global fishing effort data from commercial fisheries. Fishers use different types of nets to catch different types of fish. Our research found the amount of nets littering the ocean each year include: <ul> <li>740,000 kilometres of longline mainlines</li> <li>nearly 3,000 square kilometres of gill nets</li> <li>218 square kilometres of trawl nets</li> <li>75,000 square kilometres of purse seine nets</li> </ul> In addition, fishers lose over 25 million pots and traps and nearly 14 billion longline hooks each year. These estimates cover only commercial fisheries, and don’t include <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-97758-4_15" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the amount</a> of fishing line and other gear lost by recreational fishers. We also estimate that between 1.7% and 4.6% of all land-based plastic waste travels into the sea. This amount likely exceeds lost fishing gear. However, fishing gear is designed to catch animals and so is generally understood as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the most environmentally damaging</a> type of plastic pollution in research to date. <h2>Harming fishers and marine life</h2> Nearly 700 species of marine life <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X14008571?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are known to</a> interact with marine debris, many of which are near threatened. Australian and US <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002985#bib6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research in 2016</a> found fishing gear poses the biggest entanglement threats to marine fauna such as sea turtles, marine mammals, seabirds and whales. Other marine wildlife including sawfish, dugong, hammerhead sharks and crocodiles are also known to get <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2010.00525.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entangled in fishing gear</a>. Other <a href="https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/conl.12781" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key problematic items</a> include balloons and plastic bags. Lost fishing gear is not only an environmental risk, but it also has an economic impact for the fishers themselves. Every metre of lost net or line is a cost to the fisher – not only to replace the gear but also in its potential catch. Additionally, many fisheries have already gone through significant reforms to reduce their environmental impact and improve the sustainability of their operations. Some losses are attributable to how gear is operated. For instance, bottom trawl nets – which can get caught on reefs – are lost more often that nets that don’t make contact with the sea floor. The conditions of the ocean can also make a significant difference. For example, fishers commonly reported that bad weather and overcrowding contributes to gear losses. Conflicts between gears coming into contact can also result in gear losses, such as when towed nets cross drifting longlines or gillnets. Where fish are depleted, fishers must expend more effort, operate in worse conditions or locations, and are more likely to come in contact with others’ gear. All these features increase losses. <h2>What do we do about it?</h2> We actually found lower levels of fishing gear losses in our current study than in <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12407" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a previous review</a> of the historical literature on the topic. Technological improvements, such as better weather forecasts and improved marking and tracking of fishing gear may be reducing loss rates. Incentives can further reduce losses resulting in ghost gear. This could include buyback programs for end-of-life fishing gear, reduced cost loans for net replacement, and waste receptacles in ports to encourage fishers to return used fishing gear. Technological improvements and management interventions could also make a difference, such as requirements to mark and track gear, as well as regular gear maintenance and repairs. Developing effective fishing management systems can improve food security, leave us with a healthier environment, and create more profitable businesses for the fishers who operate in it. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/740-000km-of-fishing-line-and-14-billion-hooks-we-reveal-just-how-much-fishing-gear-is-lost-at-sea-each-year-192024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: CSIRO

Travel Trouble

3 recipes using tinned fish

Tinned fish has always been the friend of the impecunious, which hasn't done much for its reputation. But it can be luxurious too, as anyone who has been seduced by beautifully packaged French sardines that sell for more than five times' their budget supermarket counterpart will tell you. Whatever your financial situation, I like to think there's a tinned fish that suits everyone. Here are three ways to get you started. 1. Mackerel and kumara fishcakes (pictured above) These are not those strange, bouncy fishcakes of dubious origin that often turn up in Thai restaurants. These are superfood fishcakes, with gentle spice, nuggets of oily fish and sweet kumara. Serves: 3-4 as a light meal Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 medium kumara, peeled, cut into chunks</li> <li>1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for frying</li> <li>2 red onions, finely chopped</li> <li>2 cloves garlic, finely chopped</li> <li>1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger</li> <li>1½ teaspoons garam masala</li> <li>finely grated zest of 1 lemon</li> <li>½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley</li> <li>2 eggs</li> <li>420g can mackerel or smoked fish, well drained</li> <li>1 cup panko breadcrumbs</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Boil or steam the kumara until just soft, then drain and mash roughly. Tip into a large bowl and set aside.</li> <li>Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then add the onion, garlic and ginger. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, then add the garam masala, a pinch of salt and some cracked black pepper. Cook for a minute or two, then add to the kumara, along with the lemon zest, parsley, one of the eggs and the fish. Stir together gently, then shape into palm-sized cakes.</li> <li>Beat the remaining egg in a shallow dish and put the panko crumbs into another shallow dish. Dip the fishcakes into the egg, then into the crumbs, then set aside.</li> <li>Wipe out the frying pan, then set it over medium heat. Pour a couple of tablespoons of oil into the pan, then cook the fishcakes in batches, turning to ensure a crisp crust on all sides. Remove to a plate and keep warm in a low oven until they are all cooked. Serve immediately with salad greens and aioli.</li> </ol> 2. Sophie's pasta with tuna, currants and olives This recipe is probably the most lasting souvenir I have of a trip to England in 1999. I gleaned the basic idea from watching a cooking show featuring Sophie Grigson, who sported carrot-coloured hair and earrings made from miniature soup ladles. It's gradually evolved to this version, which makes a great fast dinner for two. Serves: 2 Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 red onion, finely chopped</li> <li>3 tablespoons red wine vinegar</li> <li>1 x 180g tin of good-quality tuna in olive oil</li> <li>⅔ cup currants</li> <li>⅔ cup roughly chopped toasted almonds (use sunflower seeds as a budget alternative)</li> <li>1 cup kalamata olives, stoned</li> <li>1 cup finely chopped fresh parsley</li> <li>250-300g dried spaghetti</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Put the onion and red wine vinegar in a small bowl and leave to steep while you get on with organising everything else.</li> <li>Put the water on to boil for the pasta, and add everything except the spaghetti to the onion mixture, including a tablespoon or so of the oil that the tuna came in. Toss together and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adding more olive oil if necessary.</li> <li>Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente and drain, then toss it through the sauce. Divide between two bowls and serve immediately.</li> </ol> 3. Creamy salmon and chilli dip If you have smoked-salmon tastes on a tinned-salmon budget, this dip is a godsend. I remember an old friend making something similar for her 21st birthday, daringly served with crostini and celery sticks. In a world of chips 'n' reduced cream dip, this was haute cuisine indeed. It's also good as a sandwich filling or piled on crusty toast for breakfast. Makes: About 2 cups Ingredients: <ul> <li>1 cup cream cheese, softened</li> <li>finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus some of the juice</li> <li>1-2 teaspoons hot chilli sauce (tabasco, sriracha etc)</li> <li>1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh mint</li> <li>1 cup (about a 200g tin) red salmon</li> </ul> Method: 1. Put the cream cheese, lemon zest and chilli sauce in a small bowl and beat with a fork until smooth. Flake the salmon, then gently fold it into the cream cheese mixture with the mint. Add a little lemon juice if it seems a bit stiff. Taste again for seasoning – add some salt and freshly cracked black pepper until the balance is right. Use immediately or cover and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Images: Getty

Food & Wine

Where is your seafood really from?

Fake foods are invading our supermarkets, as foods we love are substituted or adulterated with lower value or unethical <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JFC-09-2020-0179/full/html">goods</a>. Food fraud threatens human health but is also bad news for industry and sustainable food <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8791EN/">production</a>. Seafood is one of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X14003246">most traded food products</a> in the world and reliant on convoluted supply chains that leave the the door wide open for seafood <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-018-0826-z">fraud</a>. Our new <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12703">study</a>, published in the journal <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12703">Fish and Fisheries</a>, showcases a new approach for determining the provenance or “origin” of many seafood species. By identifying provenance, we can detect fraud and empower authorities and businesses to stop it. This makes it more likely that the food you buy is, in fact, the food you truly want to eat. <h2>Illegal fishing and seafood fraud</h2> Wild-caught seafood is vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing can have a devastating impact on the marine environment because: <ul> <li> it is a major cause of overfishing, constituting an estimated one-fifth of <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/faf.12462">seafood</a> </li> <li> it can destroy marine habitats, such coral reefs, through destructive fishing methods such as blast bombing and cyanide fishing </li> <li> it can significantly harm wildlife, such as albatross and turtles, which are caught as <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714003140">by-catch</a>. </li> </ul> So how is illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing connected to seafood fraud? Seafood fraud allows this kind of fishing to flourish as illegal products are laundered through legitimate supply <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I8791EN/">chains</a>. A recent <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2003741117">study</a> in the United States found when seafood is mislabelled, it is more likely to be substituted for a product from less healthy fisheries with management policies that are less likely to reduce the environmental impacts of fishing. One <a href="https://usa.oceana.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/fraud_gap_report_final_6_6_16.pdf">review</a> of mislabelled seafood in the US found that out of 180 substituted species, 25 were considered threatened, endangered, or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Illegal fishing and seafood fraud also has a human cost. It can: <ul> <li> adversely affect the livelihoods of law-abiding fishers and seafood <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128015926000048">businesses</a> </li> <li> threaten food security </li> <li> facilitate human rights abuses such as forced labour and <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-32811-5_127-1.pdf">piracy</a> </li> <li> increase risk of exposure to pathogens, drugs, and other banned substances in <a href="https://usa.oceana.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/fraud_gap_report_final_6_6_16.pdf">seafood</a>. </li> </ul> <h2>The chemical fingerprints in shells and bones</h2> A vast range of marine animals are harvested for food every year, including fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and <a href="https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9229en/">echinoderms</a>. However, traditional food provenance methods are typically designed to identify one species at a time. That might benefit the species and industry in question, but it is expensive and time consuming. As such, current methods are restricted to a relatively small number of species. In our study, we described a broader, universal method to identify provenance and detect fraud. How? We harnessed natural chemical markers imprinted in the shells and bones of marine animals. These markers reflect an animal’s environment and can identify where they are from. We focused on a chemical marker that is similar across many different marine animals. This specific chemical marker, known as “oxygen isotopes”, is determined by ocean composition and temperature rather than an animal’s biology. Exploiting this commonality and how it relates to the local environment, we constructed a global ocean map of oxygen isotopes that helps researchers understand where a marine animal may be from (by matching the oxygen isotope value in shells and bones to the oxygen isotope value in the map). After rigorous testing, we demonstrated this global map (or “isoscape”) can be used to correctly identify the origins of a wide range of marine animals living in different latitudes. For example, we saw up to 90% success in classifying fish, cephalopods, and shellfish between the tropical waters of Southeast Asia and the cooler waters of southern Australia. <h2 class="align-center zoomable" style="text-align: left;">What next?</h2> Oxygen isotopes, as a universal marker, worked well on a range of animals collected from different latitudes and across broad geographic areas. Our next step is to integrate oxygen isotopes with other universal chemical markers to gives clues on longitude and refine our approach. Working out the provenance of seafood is a large and complex challenge. No single approach is a silver bullet for all species, fisheries or industries. But our approach represents a step towards a more inclusive, global system for validating seafood provenance and fighting seafood fraud. Hopefully, this will mean ensure fewer marine species are left behind and more consumer confidence in the products we buy. Dr Jasmin Martino, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, contributed to this research and article.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/189471/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/zoe-doubleday-393169">Zoe Doubleday</a>, Marine Ecologist and ARC Future Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/where-is-your-seafood-really-from-were-using-chemical-fingerprinting-to-fight-seafood-fraud-and-illegal-fishing-189471">original article.</a> Image: Getty

Food & Wine

My fishing story: Kaye Sutton Wheeler

Over60 community member, Kaye Sutton Wheeler, shares her fishing story. I work at a remote Aboriginal school on a North-East Kimberley station that has some of the most spectacular fishing spots imaginable; with barramundi lying in wait to just leap onto your line. Places on the Dunham River (tributary of the Ord) with names given by the locals, such as Pandanus, Wilson's, Drop-off, Reef, Front Gorge, Back Gorge, Gullering. A really memorable day was when I went out with a local family. A mob sitting on mattresses on the back of the tray back, more crammed into the Toyota and me driving between them – about 70 kilometres through the bush on the station, heading for some far off landmark. After driving for about an hour, we pulled up at a sandy riverbank. All the women leapt off and ran to the water's edge, lines arcing into the water, reels looped over wrists. Large bream were caught at a frenetic pace and thrown onto the bank. When they gauged there were enough, all the fish were scooped up into T-shirts and thrown into the back of the Toyota, and on we drove off. A couple of hours later we stopped at a stunning gorge. Everyone go out of the car, dads, mums, teenagers, kids, babies, even grannies. The young men quickly gathered wood and started a fire, and then the blokes and kids claimed their fishing spots. Some women started chopping up potatoes, carrots and onions, while others washed and scaled the bream. All went into a camp oven with curry powder and other spices and left to cook. The babies were sleeping on a blanket in the shade, and then the women each found a fishing spot. No conversation, just fishing, while a myriad of multi-coloured rainbow honeyeaters flitted and twittered in and out of the overhead branches, accompanied by the occasional splash of a fish jumping up to grab an unsuspecting insect and the frantic splashing of the barramundi, bream and catfish as they were hauled in by these expert fisher-folk. Fish curry for lunch, a nana nap under the trees – I finally “get” fishing. Image: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Illegal fishers and wayward sharks are in the sights of new multispectral imaging

The oceans are warming. Reefs are dying. Fish are on the move. As a result, sharks and illegal fishers are scouring Australia’s coast in search of an increasingly elusive catch, and that, says ESpy Ocean founder Ian Dewey, is having an immense impact on everything from regional tourism to ocean ecologies. Illegal fishers, like sharks, are elusive predators. Their survival depends on being fast, silent and unexpected. They’re threatening a $1.6-billion regional Australia industry. Sharks also aren’t behaving the way they used to. They’re turning up in unexpected places, at unexpected times, which can result in tragedy. “Everyone says use drones or dirigibles to spot them,” Dewey says. “But everyone knows that when we’re on the beach in our string bikinis and Speedos, the last thing we want is a drone above us.” With dark fleets of illegal fishing boats turning off their tracking systems to breach international boundaries, time is of the essence in addressing the problem, just as it is with wayward sharks. “Both are increasing problems,” Dewey says. “I only know in terms of the illegal fishing missions that we’ve been involved in, but invariably there are people around protected areas on a daily basis”. Traditional spotter aircraft can’t cope, and using satellites to track vessels isn’t anything new. What is new is multispectral imaging. A regular camera captures an image on just three channels red, green and blue (RGB) – generating a crisp image of the visible spectrum if the weather is clear. A multispectral image has up to 110 different frequencies, ranging from ultraviolet to microwave. This imaging technology is nothing new. What is new is applying machine learning to identifying what it “sees”. “So it was a matter of working out what we can do through clouds in all kinds of weather, preferably right on dawn,” says Dewey. “I just started going through what frequencies can do what and – if we are looking for a boat – what the hell’s it gonna look like?” It’s a similar story for sharks – what multispectral signatures do different species give, at what depth, under what conditions, at what time? Dewey says the potential to extract such detail from hyperspectral imaging is enormous. It can identify what a boat is made from, what sort of paint has been used (and how old it is), and what equipment is on the deck. “All these things mean that your picture is different to every other boat in the ocean,” he says. “If we see you today, we can see you tomorrow, match those frequencies, and say – we got you!” ESpy demonstrated the potential of the technology for New South Wales Fisheries over the last Easter long weekend. Suitable satellites were identified, access to their hyperspectral cameras was secured, and patrol vessels were stationed in strategic locations waiting for a call to action. “Our system is incredibly fast, which gives us the edge,” Dewey says. “Generally, our system allows boats to be caught red-handed. That makes it so much easier where the courts are concerned.” The shark-spotting challenge is a more recent project. ESpy is in initial discussions with NSW Fisheries and the University of South Australia’s Industrial AI Research Centre to develop techniques to spot the predators first thing in the morning and use established behavioural patterns to predict where they could move during the day. While trespassing trawlers present a major issue, the deadliest offender is often someone much closer to home. One dragnet can strip an ecosystem of everything from algae and small crustaceans to dolphins and turtles, leaving damage that can take years to recover. “Our big problem in Australia is the little guy who throws out a net once or twice,” Dewey says. “He’s generally local, or at least from within 100-or-so kilometres. But he’s got a high risk of being caught, so he just wants to get in and take as much as possible as quickly as possible.” <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=195119&title=Illegal+fishers+and+wayward+sharks+are+in+the+sights+of+new+multispectral+imaging" width="1" height="1" />This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/oceans/espy-oceans-tracking-waters/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Jamie Seidel. Image: Shutterstock <div id="cosmos-link-back"></div>

Travel Trouble

Netflix and gill: TV for fish

If you are a fish and want to watch TV, this might be the invention for you. Researchers from the University of Queensland have developed an ultraviolet “television” display specially designed for fish. This could help them learn more about how fish and other animals see the world, they suggest in their paper, published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution. “We affectionately call it the ‘UV-TV’, but I doubt that anyone would want one in their home!” says study leader Samuel Powell. Display monitors such as TVs or computer screens have previously been used in animal studies to learn how subjects react to a visual stimulus. But these are suited to human eyes and not all animals see the same wavelengths. “Human TVs generally use three colours – red, green and blue – to create images, but our newly-developed displays have five, including violet and ultraviolet,” says Powell. “Using this display, it’s now possible to show animals simple shapes, or to test their ability to tell colours apart, or their perception of motion by moving dot patterns.” This is a big step forward to learning how fish and other animals react to particular patterns, but you won’t be watching Finding Nemo with your pet goldfish yet – the TV’s not just low res, it comes with a health warning. “You’d have to wear sunglasses and sunscreen while watching it, and the resolution is quite low – 8 by 12 pixels in a 4 by 5 centimetre area – so don’t expect to be watching Netflix in ultraviolet anytime soon,” says Powell. “This very low resolution is enough to show dot patterns to test fish perception in what’s known as an Ishihara test, which would be familiar to anyone who’s been tested for colour blindness. “In this test, humans read a number hidden in a bunch of coloured dots, but as animals can’t read numbers back to us, they’re trained to peck the ‘odd dot’ out of a field of differently coloured dots.” The tiny TV is sufficient to learn how fish react to colour patterns in nature. “There are many colour patterns in nature that are invisible to us because we cannot detect UV,” says fellow researcher Karen Cheney. “Bees use UV patterns on flowers to locate nectar, for example, and fish can recognise individuals using UV facial patterns.” They are using this to study recognition between particular marine life based on scale patterns, to establish who is the boss. “We’ve recently started studying the vision of anemonefish or clownfish – aka, Nemo – which, unlike humans, have UV-sensitive vision. “Our research is already showing that the white stripes on anemonefish also reflect UV, so we think UV colour signals may be used to recognise each other and may be involved in signalling dominance within their social group. “Who knows what other discoveries we can now make about how certain animals behave, interact and think?” This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/netflix-and-gill-tv-for-fish/">Cosmos Magazine</a>.

Meet the woman who’s been trapping lobsters since before World War II

Virginia Oliver, 101-year-old resident of Rockland, Maine, started trapping lobsters when she was just 8 years old, right before the Great Depression hit, and she’s been going ever since. She’s been a trailblazer her entire life: when she started, few women were trapping lobsters, and now she’s the oldest lobster fisher in the coastal northeastern state best known for its lobsters, and most likely one of the oldest lobster fishers in the world. She tends to her traps with her 78-year-old son Max, having learned about the business from her father, a lobster dealer. Lobsters, which used to be considered a cheap food primarily eaten by working class families, fetched 28 cents/pound when she started trapping; now, having become a delicacy, they fetch 15 times that. Perhaps most surprisingly, she isn’t sick of eating lobster yet – she enjoys a lobster dinner of her own roughly once a week. <img style="width: 500px; height: 332.79220779220776px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844167/gettyimages-1234361930.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/99b6ddc285094a56b437a724f25c8637" /> Oliver catches lobsters by loading small fish called menhaden, or ‘pogeys’ in lobster-speak, into wire traps, and drives a boat that once belonged to her late husband that bears her name, ‘Virginia’. She said she has no intention of stopping, but she is concerned about the health of Maine’s lobster population, which is subject to heavy fishing pressure. Of her decision to continue working, Oliver said, “I’ve done it all my life, so I might as well keep doing it.” Even after a scare where a crab snipped her finger, requiring seven stitches, she never considered retirement. According to family friend Wayne Gray, the doctor admonished her, asking, “Why are you out there lobstering?” with Oliver responding with a simple, “Because I want to.” “I like doing it, I like being along the water. And I’m going to keep on doing it just as long as I can.” Images: Joseph Prezioso/AFP

Retirement Life

How to choose the right fish oil

Omega-3 essential fatty acids are essential for optimum health. They promote a healthy immune response and can help optimise heart, brain, circulatory, metabolic and joint tissue health. Because our bodies cannot produce these nutrients, they must be consumed through diet or supplements. So, unless you’re eating an abundance of fatty fish (at least 2-3 times per week) you may want to consider getting your omega-3s through a quality fish oil supplement. But with so many options on the market, how are we possibly to know which one to choose? Here’s our top 6 tips on how to ensure you’re not wasting your money on ineffective or unethical products, and are also making the right choice for your individual needs. 1. Purity Ensure the oil has been purified, and stripped of heavy metals, pesticides, and environmental toxins. Also consider whether the fish has been sourced from clean or polluted waters. All quality manufacturers should employ a technique to ensure the purity levels of the final product meet the fish oil safety and purity standards as established by The European Pharmacopeia Standard. Even better if they are able to offer you a Certificate of Analysis for every batch of oil to prove the product’s purity levels. 2. Sustainability All fish oil brands should follow safe fishing practices, in specified locations, to avoid over-fishing and endangering species – unfortunately, not all companies do this. Whatever supplement you are considering, be sure that the way they source the product follows reputable sustainability practices. Check their website to ensure they are “Friend of the Sea” certified, which verifies the sustainability of fish oils. 3. Value for Money / Absorption Oils in the natural triglyceride molecular form enables optimal absorption, over the more easily available (and cheaper) synthetic ethyl-ester molecular form, which is determined by the manufacturing process. While most brands are made up of around 60% triglycerides, to ensure that you are receiving the maximum benefits and value of your chosen supplement, choose a brand that guarantees over 90% triglycerides, such as Nordic Naturals. 4. Freshness Your fish oil should be easy to take and have a great taste, proving its safety and freshness. For example, if you bite through a fish oil soft-gel, the oil inside should taste light and fresh. (Fishy-tasting oil means that it has gone rancid!) To maintain freshness, manufacturers should use pure nitrogen during all stages of handling to minimise any exposure to oxygen that might degrade the product. Nitrogen ensures that the fish and oil can be protected from the oxidative rancidity that causes an unpleasant fishy smell and taste (and is not good for the body). 5. Fish Oil or Arctic Cod Liver Oil? Both are excellent sources of the omega-3s, EPA and DHA, but in different ratios: Arctic cod liver oil (oil from the livers of Arctic Cod) has more DHA than EPA, whereas fish oil (oil from the bodies of fish, such as sardines and anchovies) provides more EPA than DHA. This makes Arctic Cod Liver Oil a good choice when it comes to brain and eye health, whereas fish oil may be a good choice for supporting a healthy heart. Another difference is that Arctic cod liver oil has small amounts of naturally occurring vitamins A and D, providing even greater immune supportive benefits. As with any supplement, it’s a good idea to talk with your health provider first to see if it’s right for you. 6. Liquid or Soft-gels? While some people prefer soft-gels, liquids can provide higher levels of EPA and DHA in a smaller dose, making them more cost-effective. If it is a quality brand of fish oil, the oils should always taste pure and fresh. Featured: Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil™ is made from 100% wild Arctic cod. Unlike other “cod liver oils” on the market, no fish body oils or synthetic vitamins or additives are ever used. Nordic Naturals award-winning Arctic Cod Liver Oil™ is made exclusively from wild Arctic cod, and is an ideal choice to support general health and wellbeing. Vertically integrated from catch to finished product, Arctic Cod Liver Oil far surpasses the strict European Pharmacopoeia Standard for fish oil purity and freshness. Simply put it’s some of freshest cod liver oil in the world. Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver oil comes in a variety of delicious flavours for taking right off the spoon or mixing into your favourite food and drink. Unlike the Cod Liver Oil products many of us were told to take in our youth, Nordic Naturals Arctic Cod Liver Oil™ is so fresh that you can’t even tell it’s from fish! Available from all good health stores. To find a store near you visit <a rel="noopener" href="https://bit.ly/3hX4Jlg" target="_blank">www.therahealth.com.au/store-locator/</a> This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a rel="noopener" href="https://bit.ly/3hX4Jlg" target="_blank">Thera Health</a>. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/tips/how-to-choose-the-right-fish-oil" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Surprise discovery of huge tropical fish on US beach

A large colourful fish has washed ashore on the US coast, with aquarium officials describing it as a rare occurrence. The 45-kilogram opah fish, also called a moon fish, was found on Sunset Beach in Seaside, a city in northwest Oregon. “While rare this far north it is not unheard of,” Seaside Aquarium said of the unusual appearance of the fish in the area in a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/SeasideAquarium/posts/6224256220917665" target="_blank">Facebook post</a>. Keith Chandler, the general manager of Seaside Aquarium, told CNN that finding an opah on the Oregon coast is “uncommon” and that the fish was “in such great shape”. “They’re pretty cool fish, and we don’t normally see them on the shore,” said Mr Chandler. “It was pretty exciting for locals.” Due to the condition of the fish, Mr Chandler believes it had been on the beach for less than an hour before aquarium staff were notified. “Unfortunately, it washed up not living, but we got to it before the birds,” he said. Mr Chandler said the opah is being stored in a large freezer, and that one lucky school group would get the chance to dissect the fish once the school year starts. According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/opah#overview" target="_blank">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a>, little is known about the opah since they live deep in the ocean. The species is usually found in temperate and tropical waters. The NOAA describes the opah as having a silvery-grey, round body, with a rose red belly, red fins, and eyes encircled with gold. Image: Seaside Aquarium / Facebook

International Travel

Panicked sea lions almost sink fishing boat

A fishing crew in southern Chile had a surprising catch, after dozens of sea lions tried to board their boat en masse to escape a pack of hunting killer whales. Fisherman Antonio Zapata said he had never experienced anything like it in his four decades at sea, despite the fact that encountering hunting orcas was a relatively common experience. Though the crew were sympathetic to the plight of the sea lions, they feared the boat would be damaged or sink even lower into the water under the combined weight of the animals and a full haul of sardines. “They were trying to climb on board and we had to spread ourselves around the vessel to try to get them off with sticks because the ones that were getting on were making us sink,” he said. “It was a dangerous situation because we couldn’t get the sea lions to go away or make the killer whales leave either.” Footage captured on a mobile phone showed the water around the boat filled with thrashing sea lions. Though the 10-man crew could be heard joking in the video, Mr Zapata said they were also genuinely worried they could end up in the water too. <iframe width="600" height="338" src="https://rudo.video/vod/bLSQN9/skin/simple/o/MjAyMS8wNi9sb2Jvcy1tYXJpbm9zLTc1MHg0MDAuanBlZw==" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; fullscreen"></iframe> “There were so many sea lions around the hull that we couldn’t move much - every time we did they got caught up in the propellers and I was worried they could break them altogether,” he said. The crew attempted to approach a nearby island so the sea lions could take refuge there instead, but the whales blocked them from nearing the shore. Once the whales finally drifted away, the sea lions were able to swim for cover as the boat neared the Talcahuano port. “Some of the sea lions came with us into port. We couldn’t get rid of them,” Mr Zapata said. Image: ABC news

International Travel

Million dollar fish released into Sydney Harbour

A giant kingfish will be released into Sydney Harbour with $1 million on the line for the lucky fisherman who ends up catching it. Harbour of Life festival organisers have announced plans to release a tagged fish into the western side of the harbour, spanning from Barangaroo to Pyrmont. The only way the giant fish can be caught is with a net as it cannot be fitted with a tracker, like the ones used on sharks, because they only reveal a location when he fish surfaces and kingfish stay submerged. The competition, designed by the Western Harbour Alliance, is part of an effort to kick-start Sydney after coronavirus. “The $1 million kingfish is going to cause a lot of excitement among the millions of anglers across NSW and Australia,” Bob Baldwin, chairman of the Australian Fishing Trade Association, told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-harbour-festival-1m-to-angler-who-catches-tagged-kingfish/news-story/7b02117ccdd55048b01a96d537168873" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph</a>. “I can't think of a better place in the world to wet a line and maybe catch a fortune right in the heart of our magnificent city.” Organisers are hopeful that the festival will rival Vivid, which attracts millions of tourists to the harbour every year and generates $172 million. The festival would begin with a 'sculptures in the sea' exhibition, similar to Hong Kong's annual aquatic art festival.

Domestic Travel

Don’t count your fish before they hatch: experts react to plans to release 2 million fish into the Murray Darling

The New South Wales government <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/two-million-fish-to-be-released-into-murray-darling-system-20200608-p550gu.html">plans to release</a> two million native fish into rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin, in the largest breeding program of its kind in the state. But as the river system recovers from a string of mass fish deaths, caution is needed. Having suitable <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquaculture/publications/species-freshwater/collecting-finfish-broodstock">breeding fish</a> does not always guarantee millions of healthy offspring for restocking. And even if millions of young fish are released into the wild, increased fish populations in the long term are not assured. For stocking to be successful, fish must be released into <a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/Strategies-to-improve-post-release-survival-of-hatchery-reared-threatened-fish-species_0.pdf">good quality water, with suitable habitat and lots of food</a>. But these conditions have been quite rare in Murray Darling rivers over the past three years. We research the impact of human activity on fish and aquatic systems and have studied many Australian fish restocking programs. So let’s take a closer look at the NSW government’s plans. Success stories <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/two-million-fish-to-be-released-into-murray-darling-system-20200608-p550gu.html">According to</a> the Sydney Morning Herald, the NSW restocking program involves releasing juvenile Murray cod, golden perch and silver perch into the Darling River downstream of Brewarrina, in northwestern NSW. Other areas including the Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Macquarie and Murray Rivers will reportedly also be restocked. These species and regions were among the hardest hit by recent fish kills. Fish restocking is <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233194500_Stocking_Trends_A_Quantitative_Review_of_Governmental_Fish_Stocking_in_the_United_States_1931_to_2004">used worldwide</a> to boost species after events such as fish kills, help threatened species recover, and increase populations of recreational fishing species. Since the 1970s in the Murray-Darling river system, <a href="https://www.bnbfishing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Assessment-of-stocking-effectiveness-of-Murray-cod-and-golden-perch.pdf">millions of fish</a> have been bred in <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/science-and-research/centres/narrandera-fisheries-centre">government</a> and <a href="https://www.murraydarlingfisheries.com.au/">private</a> hatcheries in spring each year. Young fish, called fingerlings, are usually released in the following summer and autumn. There have been success stories. For example, the endangered <a href="https://www.fishfiles.com.au/media/fish-magazine/FISH-Vol-23-2/Back-from-the-brink">trout cod</a> was restocked into the Ovens and Murrumbidgee Rivers between <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235774467_Reintroduction_success_of_threatened_Australian_trout_cod_Maccullochella_macquariensis_based_on_growth_and_reproduction">1997 and 2006</a>. Prior to the restocking program, the species was locally extinct. It’s now re-established in the Murrumbidgee River and no longer requires stocking to maintain the population. In response to fish kills in 2010, the Edward-Wakool river system <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/aec.12424">was restocked</a> to help fish recover when natural spawning was expected to be low. And the threatened Murray hardyhead is now increasing in numbers thanks <a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/water/wetlands/publications/wetlands-australia/national-wetlands-update-february-2020/murray-hardyhead#:%7E:text=In%20November%202018%2C%20around%20800,fish%20to%20NSW%20river%20systems.">to a successful stocking program</a> in the Lower Darling. After recent fish kills in the Murray Darling, breeding fish known as “broodstock” were <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/worldtoday/mass-fish-rescue-gets-underway-in-darling-river/11492042">rescued from the river</a> and taken to government and private hatcheries. Eventually, it was expected the rescued fish and their offspring would restock the rivers. Words of caution Fish hatchery managers rarely count their fish before they hatch. It’s quite a challenge to ensure adult fish develop viable eggs that are then fertilised at high rates. Once hatched, larvae must be transported to ponds containing the right amount of plankton for food. The larvae must then avoid predatory birds, be kept free from disease, and grow at the right temperatures. When it comes to releasing the fish into the wild, careful decisions must be made about how many fish to release, where and when. Factors such as water temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen levels must be carefully assessed. Introducing hatchery-reared fish into the wild does <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848610004540?casa_token=NbFwq0hZLSgAAAAA:SntmSZkoWH387KKTDvXn-rHg-I6P0P0Q-OfgI6hvb6gp_Hxy82Y9AMIndcMYR3yarSkeFOY_cWE">not always deliver</a> dramatic improvements in fish numbers. Poor water quality, lack of food and <a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/A-review-of-domestication-effects-on-stocked-fish-in-the-MDB.pdf">slow adaptation to the wild</a> can reduce survival rates. In some parts of the Murray-Darling, restocking <a href="https://researchers.cdu.edu.au/en/publications/contribution-of-stocked-fish-to-riverine-populations-of-golden-pe">is likely to</a> have slowed the decline in native fish numbers, although it has not stopped it altogether. Address the root cause Fish stocking decisions are sometimes motivated by economic reasons, such as boosting species sought by anglers who pay licence fees and support tourist industries. But stocking programs must also consider the underlying reasons for declining fish populations. Aside from poor water quality, fish in the Murray Darling are threatened by being sucked into irrigation systems, cold water pollution from dams, dams and weirs blocking migration paths and invasive fish species. These factors must be addressed alongside restocking. Fish should not be released into areas with unsuitable habitat or water quality. The Darling River fish kills were caused by <a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/managing-water/drought-murray-darling-basin/fish-deaths-lower-darling/independent-assessment-fish">low oxygen levels</a>, associated with drought and water extraction. These conditions could rapidly return if we have another hot, dry summer. Stocking rivers with young fish is only one step. They must then grow to adults and successfully breed. So the restocking program must consider the entire fish life cycle, and be coupled with good <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-08-28/more-fish-kills-expected-as-nsw-government-announces-rescue-plan/11457826">river management</a>. The Murray Darling Basin Authority’s <a href="https://www.mdba.gov.au/sites/default/files/pubs/Native%20Fish%20Emergency%20Response%20Plan%20-%20October%202019_0.pdf">Native Fish Recovery Strategy</a> includes management actions such as improving fish passage, delivering environmental flows, improving habitat, controlling invasive species and fish harvest restrictions. Funding the strategy’s implementation <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-good-plan-to-help-darling-river-fish-recover-exists-so-lets-get-on-with-it-110168">is a key next step</a>. Looking ahead After recent rains, parts of the Murray Darling river system are now flowing for the first time in years. But some locals say the flows are <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-11/lower-darling-flows-hit-pooncarie-first-time-in-18-months/12137306">only a trickle</a> and more rain is urgently needed. <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/rainfall/median/weekly/0">Higher than average rainfall</a> is predicted between July and September. This will be needed for restocked fish to thrive. If the rain does not arrive, and other measures are not taken to improve the system’s health, then the restocking plans may be futile. Written by Lee Baumgartner, Jamin Forbes and Katie Doyle. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-count-your-fish-before-they-hatch-experts-react-to-plans-to-release-2-million-fish-into-the-murray-darling-140428">The Conversation.</a>

Cruising

Dinner to die for: how fish use their spines to fend off hungry seals

What price are you willing to pay for food? For most of us, that’s a question about money. But what if the cost were actual pain, injury and death? For some seals and dolphins, this a real risk when hunting. We took a <a href="https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03473">close look</a> at a New Zealand (or long-nosed) fur seal that stranded at Cape Conran in southeastern Australia, and discovered it had numerous severe facial injuries. These wounds were all caused by fish spines, and they show the high price these animals are willing to pay in pursuit of a meal. Victim or perpetrator? When the unfortunate seal was first spotted dead on the beach, it was clear something was amiss: the animal was emaciated, and had a large fish spine stuck in its cheek. A team of scientists from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Museums Victoria and Monash University decided to investigate, and took a CT scan of the seal’s head. The results were striking: fish spines had penetrated not just both cheeks, but also the nose and jaw muscles. On closer examination, we also found ten stab wounds, likely from further fish spines that had been pulled out. The wounds were spread all over the face and throat, and at least some appear to have festered. They may have made feeding difficult, and ultimately may have caused the animal to starve. These wounds were likely not the result of unprovoked attacks. They were probably inflicted by prey that simply did not want to be eaten. How to fight off a hungry seal … or at least teach it a lesson Many fish species have evolved elaborate defence systems against predators, such as venomous spines that can inflict painful wounds. Our seal appears to have been done in by two species of cartilaginous fish. One was the elusive <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_ghostshark">Australian ghostshark</a> (also known as elephant fish), a distant relative of true sharks that has a large serrated spine on its back. The other was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urolophidae">stingaree</a>: a type of small stingray with a venomous tail barb that can be whipped around like a scorpion’s tail. Its sting is normally aimed at would-be predators, but sometimes also catches the feet of unwary humans. How to eat a spiky fish Until recently, most of what we knew about the diet New Zealand fur seals was based on bony remains left in their poo. This technique largely overlooks cartilaginous fish, whose skeletons are made of cartilage instead of bone. As a result, we didn’t realise fur seals target these creatures. New <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12686-016-0560-9">studies of the DNA of devoured prey</a> in the seals’ scats now suggest they commonly feed on ghostsharks. Stingarees and other rays are less common, but evidently still form part of their diet. So how do the seals handle such dangerous prey on a regular basis? It all comes down to table manners. Ghostsharks and rays are too large to be swallowed whole, and hence must be broken into smaller chunks first. Fur seals achieve this by violently shaking their prey at the water’s surface, largely because <a href="https://theconversation.com/sharp-claws-helped-ancient-seals-conquer-the-oceans-92828">their flippers are no longer capable of grasping and tearing</a>. Fur seals can eat small fish whole, but need to tear large prey into edible chunks. Shaking a fish in the right way (for example by gripping it at the soft belly) may allow seals to kill and consume it without getting impaled. Nevertheless, some risk remains, whether because of struggling prey, poor technique, or simply bad luck. The wounds on our seal’s cheeks suggest that it may accidentally have slapped itself with a ghostshark spine while trying to tear it apart. Fish spines – a common problem? One of the challenges we face as scientists is knowing how to interpret isolated observations. Are fish spines a common problem for fur seals, or was our individual just particularly unlucky? We don’t know. New techniques like analysing DNA from scats means that we are only just beginning to get a better idea of the full range of prey marine mammals target. Likewise, medical imaging techniques such as CT scanning are rarely applied to marine mammal strandings, and injuries like the ones in our seal may often go unnoticed. Nevertheless, fish spine injuries have been observed in other ocean predators, including dolphins, killer whales, and rays. One wedgefish described in <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.170674">another recent study</a> had as many as 62 spines embedded in its jaw! Now that we know what to look for, we may finally get a better idea of how common such injuries really are. For now, this extraordinary example vividly demonstrates the choices and dangers wild animals face as they try to make a living. For our seal, the seafood ultimately won, but we will never know if the fish that killed it got away, or if the wounds they left are evidence of the seal’s last meal. Written by David Hocking, Felix Georg Marx, Silke Cleuren and William Parker. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/dinner-to-die-for-how-fish-use-their-spines-to-fend-off-hungry-seals-133627">The Conversation.</a>

Cruising

Can I go fishing or bushwalking? Coronavirus rules in Western Australia

According to Google Trends, some of the top coronavirus searches nationally in the past few days include “can I visit my parents coronavirus Australia?”, “can I go fishing during coronavirus?” and “can I go for a drive during coronavirus Australia?” “Can I visit my boyfriend during coronavirus Australia?” was also a common one. We asked legal experts in Western Australia – Natalie Skead and Michael Douglas from the University of Western Australia – to help shed some light on what the new rules might mean for residents of their state. Can I visit my parents? If you’re a child with parents who live apart, and you move between each of your parent’s homes, then you can keep doing that. Aside from that, you can’t organise a prohibited gathering, which includes more than two people in “a single undivided indoor space” like a room or even a patio, unless you maintain 4m² distancing. So, yes, you can visit your parents if you each stay sufficiently far from one another, but you can’t hug mum! Sunday family dinner is off the cards for now. There is an exception “for the purposes of providing care or assistance … to a vulnerable person or providing emergency assistance”. The terms “care” and “vulnerable person” are not defined. If one of your parents has a disability or a health condition, and you want to look after them, then visiting them is okay. It also depends on where your parents live. The parents of one of the authors (Michael) live down south, while he lives in Perth. It was his dad’s birthday on Wednesday. The intra-state travel restrictions meant he could not visit the elder Douglas. They all had a FaceTime birthday dinner instead. The <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Prohibition%20on%20Regional%20Travel%20Directions.pdf">Prohibition on Regional Travel Directions</a> say you cannot enter another “region” in WA unless certain exceptions apply. “Regions” are defined in the <a href="https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_42251.pdf/%24FILE/Planning%20and%20Development%20Act%202005%20-%20%5B04-h0-01%5D.pdf">Planning Act</a>. But there’s an exemption for “compassionate grounds” — like one of your parents is seriously ill, or an immediate family member has died. Visiting a parent on their birthday is not enough. If your parents live in certain parts of the Kimberley, or a remote Aboriginal community, visiting may require quarantine under <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/restrictions-access-the-kimberley-and-remote-aboriginal-communities">restrictions made by both the state and federal governments</a>, if it is permissible at all under the Prohibited Regional Travel Directions. The situation there <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/kimberley-coronavirus-spike-sees-shire-borders-closed/12115580">is not good</a> and by the time you read this, visiting may be prohibited. If your parents are interstate and you are in WA, then the answer is more complicated. Seek legal advice. Can I go fishing or bushwalking? The <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Restriction%20of%20Activities%20Direction_1.pdf">Preventative Restriction of Activities Directions</a> do not specifically address fishing or bushwalking. But doing either with more than two people would be a <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/200331%20Prohibited%20Gatherings%20Direction.pdf">prohibited gathering</a>. That means you can only walk in the bush with the people who you are currently living with or one other person you don’t live with, but even then stay appropriately socially distanced. Fishing is a bit murkier. Western Australia appears to have taken some guidance from a since deleted Facebook post, by the Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, who attempted to <a href="https://www.racq.com.au/Living/Articles/Coronavirus-impacts-how-you-can-go-fishing">clarify the boating and fishing rules</a> as permitting boaters to fish for food to travel locally in their community. The latest advice from the WA government is the social distancing rules for gatherings of no more than two in public places apply on the land and the sea, meaning they apply to both boat- and land-based fishing. So, you can fish for food with one friend, or those you live with. If you’re going out on a boat, though, it will need to be a biggish one to accommodate the 1.5m/4m² distancing rule. It also depends on where you propose to fish or bushwalk. You can’t do either outside your “<a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Prohibition%20on%20Regional%20Travel%20Directions.pdf">region</a>”. Can I go for a drive? The Australian government’s <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others-from-coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing-for-coronavirus-covid-19">Department of Health says</a> “all Australians are required to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside”. This means you can only go for a drive to buy essential food, to attend to health needs (visiting a doctor or a pharmacy), or on compassionate grounds (for example, to care for a vulnerable person). So you should not go for a leisurely drive just to get out the house. You can’t drive outside your <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Prohibition%20on%20Regional%20Travel%20Directions.pdf">region</a>. Can I visit my boyfriend/girlfriend? Under the <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/200331%20Prohibited%20Gatherings%20Direction.pdf">directions</a>, a gathering of two people indoors is not permitted “where there is not at least 4m² of space for each person at the gathering”. This means you can visit your girlfriend or boyfriend provided the room you’re in is big enough, but you cannot touch them! One might argue spending time with the girlfriend or boyfriend falls under the “care for vulnerable person” exception. That’s a weak argument. An important exception applies where the “gathering” is with a member of the same household, meaning two or more persons who usually reside at the same place, irrespective of whether those persons are related to each other. So if you immediately move in to your partner’s place, and then stay there, you may be okay to touch them, legally speaking. But you may be putting each other at unnecessary risk. If your partner lives in another “<a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Prohibition%20on%20Regional%20Travel%20Directions.pdf">region</a>”, then you cannot visit them (even to move in). Can I go for a walk around my neighbourhood or sit on a park bench? A walk around your neighbourhood — or on the beach — to get some fresh air or catch up with a friend, is not currently covered by state restrictions provided you limit it to a walk with only <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/200331%20Prohibited%20Gatherings%20Direction.pdf">one friend or those with whom you live</a>. That said, given your walk would flout the federal <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others-from-coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing-for-coronavirus-covid-19">Department of Health</a> requirement we all “stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside”, we suggest you think twice before heading out. Sitting outdoors on a park bench or other public space with members of your household or one other person observing the social distancing rules, is not prohibited by WA’s <a href="https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/200331%20Prohibited%20Gatherings%20Direction.pdf">restrictions against public gatherings</a>. But, again, the federal government cautions strongly against hanging out in public, so you probably shouldn’t. Written by Michael Lund and Wes Mountain. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-i-visit-my-boyfriend-or-my-parents-go-fishing-or-bushwalking-coronavirus-rules-in-western-australia-135544">The Conversation.</a>

Cruising

What we learn from a fish that can change sex in just ten days

The bluehead wrasse is a fish that lives in small social groups in coral reefs in the Caribbean. Only the male has a blue head – signalling his social dominance over a harem of yellow-striped females. If this male is removed from the group, something extraordinary happens: the largest female in the group changes sex to become male. Her behaviour changes within minutes. Within ten days, her ovaries transform into sperm-producing testes. Within 21 days she appears completely male. But how does the wrasse change sex, and why did evolution select this system? Also, given that fish share sex-determining genes with mammals, would an understanding of this provide new insight into how sex works in humans and other animals? How does the transformation happen? The trigger for sex change in the bluehead wrasse and some other species <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29304633">is social</a>. When the male fish is removed, the largest female immediately senses his absence and adopts full male breeding behaviours the same day. How this social cue translates into molecular action remains a bit of a mystery, but it probably involves stress. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28890443">are associated with</a> temperature-based sex determination in other fish and reptiles. Cortisol probably alters reproductive function by impacting sex hormone levels. Stress could be the unifying mechanism that channels environmental information into a change in sex. Our <a href="https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/7/eaaw7006">research</a> traced changes in the activity of all 20,000-odd bluehead wrasse genes during the female to male transformation. Unsurprisingly, we found the gene that produces the female hormone (estrogen) rapidly shuts off, and genes responsible for making male hormones (androgens) are turned on. Hundreds of other genes required for being female (including genes that make egg components) also progressively shut down, while genes required for maleness (including genes that make sperm components) turn on. Epigenetics We also noticed changes in the activity of developmentally important genes whose roles in sex determination remain unknown. This included genes known to “epigenetically” regulate the activity of other genes. Epigenetics refers to regulation “above the gene”. For example, there are many fish and reptile species in which the sex of developing embryos is determined <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28804140">by environmental cues</a>, such as the temperature at which eggs are incubated. The sex is not determined by different genes, but by the environment impacting the activity of these genes. Similar mechanisms regulate adult sex change in fish, so this may be important in translating the social cue into molecular action. Surprisingly, we saw the turn-on of some powerful genes that are active in embryos and stem cells. These genes keep cells in a neutral embryo-like state, from which they can mature (differentiate) into any tissue type. They can also revert differentiated cells to an embryo-like state. This suggests that transitioning from ovaries to testes in wrasse involves reversing the cell differentiation process – something scientists have argued about for decades. What are the advantages? <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2007.00266.x">Researchers have identified</a> more than 500 fish species that regularly change sex as adults. Clown fish begin life as males, then change into females, and kobudai do the opposite. Some species, including gobies, can change sex back and forth. The transformation may be triggered by age, size, or social status. Sex change is an <a href="https://ourblueplanet.bbcearth.com/blog/?article=incredible-sex-changing-fish-from-blue-planet">advantage</a> when an individual’s reproductive value is greater as one sex when it is small, and greater as the other sex when it grows bigger. If females benefit more than males from being larger (because they can lay more eggs), male-to-female sex change is most advantageous. But if (as for wrasse) males gain more from being large, because they can better defend their breeding territories and mate with many females, female-to-male sex change is optimal. Sex change might also <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/esoa-tao011320.php">advantage</a> a population recovering from overfishing, which often targets larger fish and leaves the population deficient in one sex. Thus, a mechanism for replacing the missing sex would be an advantage. Why can’t humans change sex naturally? Male and female wrasse differ in size, colour, behaviour, but especially in their reproductive organs – the ovary and testes. Sex change in the wrasse involves complete remodelling of the gonad from an ovary producing eggs to a testis producing sperm. This differs from other fish that routinely change sex when they get big enough. Their gonads contain both male and female tissues, and sex change occurs when one outgrows the other. So, fish employ all sorts of strategies to get the most out of sex. In contrast, humans and other mammals determine sex via a gene on the male-only Y chromosome. This gene triggers the formation of testes in the embryo, which unleash male hormones and direct male development of the baby. The human sex system is nowhere near as flexible as that of fish or reptiles. There is no evidence any environmental factors influence the sex determination of mammalian embryos, let alone cause sex change in adults. That said, humans share with all vertebrates (including fish) about 30 genes that control ovary or testis differentiation. Mutation in any of these genes can tilt development toward male or female, resulting in atypical sexual development, but never sex change. Perhaps an understanding of epigenetic changes in fish sex can offer us valuable insight, as we wrestle with new ideas about human sex and gender.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129063/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jenny-graves-91614">Jenny Graves</a>, Distinguished Professor of Genetics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/erica-todd-802431">Erica Todd</a>, Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neil-gemmell-502734">Neil Gemmell</a>, Professor of Reproduction and Genomics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-otago-1304">University of Otago</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-we-learn-from-a-fish-that-can-change-sex-in-just-10-days-129063">original article</a>.

Family & Pets

High-tech fishing gear could help save endangered right whales

Many fish, marine mammals and seabirds that inhabit the world’s oceans are critically endangered, but few are as close to the brink as the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis). <a href="https://www.narwc.org/uploads/1/1/6/6/116623219/2018report_cardfinal.pdf">Only about 411 of these whales exist today</a>, and at their current rate of decline, they could become extinct within our lifetimes. From 1980 through about 2010, conservation efforts focused mainly on protecting whales from being struck by ships. Federal regulations helped <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/reducing-ship-strikes-north-atlantic-right-whales">reduce vessel collisions</a> and supported a slight rebound in right whale numbers. But at the same time, growing numbers of right whales died after becoming entangled in lobster and crab fishing gear, and the population has taken a significant downward turn. This may have happened because fishing ropes became stronger, and both whales and fishermen shifted their ranges so that areas of overlap increased. In research that is <a href="https://www.int-res.com/prepress/d03376.html">currently in press</a>, we show that 72% of diagnosed mortalities between 2010-2018 occurred due to entanglements. This comes after a millennium of whaling that decimated the right whale population, reducing it from perhaps between <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12664">10,000 to 20,000</a> to a few hundred animals today. And entanglement deaths are <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/230653">much more inhumane</a> than harpoons. A whaler’s explosive harpoon kills quickly, compared to months of drawn-out pain and debilitation caused by seemingly harmless fishing lines. We believe these deaths can be prevented by working with the trap fishing industries to adopt <a href="https://ropeless.org/">ropeless fishing gear</a> – but North Atlantic right whales are running out of time. Deadly encounters Whalers pursued right whales for centuries because this species swam relatively slowly and floated when dead, so it was easier to kill and retrieve than other whales. By the mid-20th century, scientists assumed they had been hunted to extinction. But in 1980, researchers from the New England Aquarium who were studying marine mammal distribution in the Bay of Fundy off eastern Canada were stunned when they <a href="https://www.canadianwhaleinstitute.ca/habitats">sighted 26 right whales</a>. Conservation efforts led to the enactment of regulations that required commercial ships to <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/reducing-ship-strikes-north-atlantic-right-whales">slow down</a> in zones along the U.S. Atlantic coast where they were highly likely to encounter whales, reducing boat strikes. But this victory has been offset by rising numbers of entanglements. Adult right whales can produce up to an estimated <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12230">8,000 pounds of force</a> with a single stroke of their flukes. When they become tangled in fishing gear, they often break it and swim off trailing ropes and sometimes crab or lobster traps. Lines and gear can wrap around a whale’s body, flukes, flippers and mouth. They impede swimming and feeding, and cause chronic infection, emaciation and damage to blubber, muscle and bone. Ultimately these injuries weaken the animal until it dies, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsu008">which can take months to years</a>. One of us, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=DQ-fD1QAAAAJ">Michael Moore</a>, is trained as a veterinarian and has examined many entangled dead whales. Moore has seen fishing rope embedded inches deep into a whale’s lip, and a juvenile whale whose spine had been deformed by the strain of dragging fishing gear. Other animals had flippers nearly severed by swimming wrapped in inexorably constricting ropes. Entanglement injuries to right whales are the worst animal trauma Moore has seen in his career. Even if whales are able to wriggle free and live, the extreme stress and energy demands of entanglement, along with inadequate nutrition, are thought to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2615">preventing females from getting pregnant</a> and contributing to record low calving rates in recent years. Solutions for whales and fishermen The greatest entanglement risk is from ropes that lobster and crab fishermen use to attach buoys to traps they set on the ocean floor. Humpback and minke whales and leatherback sea turtles, all of which are federally protected, also become entangled. Conservationists are looking for ways to modify or eliminate these ropes. Rock lobster fishermen in Australia already use <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeeieRr7sTw">pop-up buoys</a> that ascend when they receive sound signals from fishing boats. The buoys trail out ropes as they rise, which fishermen retrieve and use to pull up their traps. Other technologies are <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/innovations-fishing-gear-could-change-lobster-industry-help-endangered-right-whale">in development</a>, including systems that <a href="https://ropeless.org/november-6th-2018-presentations/">acoustically identify traps on the seafloor</a> and mark them with “virtual buoys” on fishermen’s chart plotters, eliminating the need for surface buoys. Fishermen also routinely use a customized hook on the end of a rope to catch the line between traps and haul them to the surface when the buoy line goes missing. Transitioning to ropeless technology will require a sea change in some of North America’s most valuable fisheries. The 2016 U.S. lobster catch was worth <a href="https://www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/commercial-fisheries/commercial-landings/annual-landings/index">US$670 million</a>. Canadian fishermen landed <a href="http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/commercial/land-debarq/sea-maritimes/s2016av-eng.htm">CA$1.3 billion</a> worth of lobster and <a href="http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/commercial/land-debarq/sea-maritimes/s2016av-eng.htm">CA$590 million</a> worth of snow crab. Just as no fisherman wants to catch a whale, researchers and conservationists don’t want to put fishermen out of business. In our view, ropeless technologies offer a genuine opportunity for whales and the fishing industry to co-exist if they can be made functional, affordable and safe to use. Switching to ropeless gear is <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/lobster-trap-aims-protect-endangered-whalesand-fishers-livelihoods-180971208/">unlikely to be cheap</a>. But as systems evolve and simplify, and production scales up, they will become more affordable. And government support could help fishermen make the shift. In Canada, the federal and New Brunswick provincial governments recently awarded CA$2 million to Canadian snow crab fishermen to <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/snow-crab-right-whale-fishing-gear-research-1.5143321">test two ropeless trap designs</a>. Converting could save fishermen money in the long run. For example, California Dungeness crab fishermen closed their 2019 season three months ahead of schedule on April 15 to settle a lawsuit over whale entanglements, leaving crab they could have caught still in the water. Under the agreement, fishermen using ropeless gear will be <a href="https://www.nationalfisherman.com/west-coast-pacific/dungeness-drag/">exempt from future early closures</a>. A rebound is possible The <a href="https://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/">Endangered Species Act</a> and <a href="https://www.fws.gov/international/laws-treaties-agreements/us-conservation-laws/marine-mammal-protection-act.html">Marine Mammal Protection Act</a> require the U.S. government to conserve endangered species. In Congress, the pending <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1568/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22H.R.+3729%22%5D%7D">SAVE Right Whales Act of 2019</a> would provide $5 million annually for collaborative research into preventing mortalities caused by the fishing and shipping industries. And an advisory committee to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently recommended <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/team-reaches-nearly-unanimous-consensus-right-whale-survival-measures">significant fishing protections</a>, focused primarily on reducing the number of ropes in the water column and the strength of the remaining lines. Consumers can also help. Public outcry over dolphin bycatch in tuna fisheries spurred passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and led to <a href="https://swfsc.noaa.gov/textblock.aspx?Division=PRD&ParentMenuId=228&id=1408">dolphin-safe tuna labeling</a>, which ultimately reduced dolphin mortalities from half a million to about 1,000 animals annually. Choosing lobster and crab products <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsy194">caught without endangering whales</a> could accelerate a similar transition. North Atlantic right whales can still thrive if humans make it possible. The closely related southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), which has faced few human threats since the end of commercial whaling, has rebounded from just 300 animals in the early 20th century to an <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/resource/document/southern-right-whale-eubalaena-australis-5-year-review-summary-and-evaluation">estimated 15,000 in 2010</a>. There are real ways to save North Atlantic right whales. If they go extinct, it will be on this generation’s watch. Editor’s note: This article was updated on May 28, 2019 to correct the number of North Atlantic right whale deaths in recent years that were caused by entanglements.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/115974/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-moore-652534">Michael Moore</a>, Senior Scientist, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/woods-hole-oceanographic-institution-954">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hannah-myers-726400">Hannah Myers</a>, Guest Investigator, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/woods-hole-oceanographic-institution-954">Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution</a> This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/high-tech-fishing-gear-could-help-save-critically-endangered-right-whales-115974">original article</a>.

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Bride and groom slammed for “gift fishing”

"This is crazy": Teenager goes fishing and emerges a millionaire

Fishing town inundated by plague of rats

Are fish oil supplements as healthy as we think? And is eating fish better?

740,000km of fishing line and 14 billion hooks: we reveal just how much fishing gear is lost at sea each year

3 recipes using tinned fish

Where is your seafood really from?

My fishing story: Kaye Sutton Wheeler

Illegal fishers and wayward sharks are in the sights of new multispectral imaging

Netflix and gill: TV for fish

Meet the woman who’s been trapping lobsters since before World War II

How to choose the right fish oil

Surprise discovery of huge tropical fish on US beach

Panicked sea lions almost sink fishing boat

Million dollar fish released into Sydney Harbour

Don’t count your fish before they hatch: experts react to plans to release 2 million fish into the Murray Darling

Dinner to die for: how fish use their spines to fend off hungry seals

Can I go fishing or bushwalking? Coronavirus rules in Western Australia

What we learn from a fish that can change sex in just ten days

High-tech fishing gear could help save endangered right whales

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