There are few reliable estimates of post‐release mortality for sea turtle species because of the many challenges and costs associated with tracking animals released at sea. In this study, the likelihood of sea turtle mortality as a result of interactions with longline fishing gear was estimated based on satellite telemetry data, such as the number of days an animal was successfully tracked, or days at liberty (DAL) and dive depth data, as well as anatomical hooking locations. Pop‐up satellite archival tags were deployed on 29 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) caught by the North Pacific US‐based pelagic longline fishery operating from California and Hawaii between 2002 and 2006. Loggerhead turtles were catagorized by observers as shallow‐hooked (55%) if the animal was entangled in the line or the hook was in the flipper, jaw or mouth and could be removed, or deep‐hooked (45%) if the hook was ingested and could not be removed. The vertical movements of turtles were used to infer potential mortalities. Of the 25 tags that reported data, the DAL ranged from 3 to 243 days (mean = 68 days). The DAL was shorter (by nearly 50%) for shallow‐hooked (mean = 48 days, range: 3 to 127) compared to deep‐hooked turtles (mean = 94 days, range: 5 to 243), but these changes were not statistically significant (P = 0.0658). Although aspects of these analyses may be considered speculative, these data provide empirical evidence to indicate that deep‐hooking is not linked to shorter DAL. DAL, anatomical hooking location, and gear removal were evaluated with inferences about the extent of injuries and rates of infection to estimate an overall post‐release mortality rate of 28% (95% bootstrap CI: 16–52%). This range of estimates is consistent with those used to shape some US fisheries management plans, suggesting that conservation goals are being achieved at the expected level and ideally striking a balance between the interests of industry and those of protected species. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The applicability of a new enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for detecting ciguatoxin (CTX) in fish tissue was evaluated by testing three fish species commonly implicated in ciguatera fish poisoning in Hawaii. A total of 164 individual almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) and greater amberjack (S. dumerili) and a total of 175 individuals of the blue-spotted grouper (Cephalopholis argus) were caught at various locations in the Hawaiian Islands. Muscle tissue from each individual was assessed for the presence of CTX using two methods: a semi-quantitative ELISA that was recently developed for detecting picogram levels of CTX in fish extract and a neuroblastoma (NB) cell assay commonly used to screen for marine toxins in fish. Results of the tests were highly correlated, with the ELISA indicating the presence of CTX in 9.4% of all fish samples, and the NB assay indicating toxicity in 6.8% of the fish samples. We conclude that the ELISA produces reliable and accurate results that are consistent with those provided by the accepted NB assay and that the ELISA has potential for future applications in screening fish populations for CTX.

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect ciguatoxin (CTX) in fish tissue. The assay utilizes two antibodies, chicken immunoglobulin Y specific to the ABCD domain of CTX and a mouse monoclonal immunoglobulin G-horseradish peroxidase conjugate specific to the JKLM domain of CTX. The sensitivity, working range, cross reactivity, accuracy, precision, and reproducibility were examined.

Examination of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in the sera of patients clinically diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure demonstrated the presence of immunoglobulin M isotypes in 95% of CFS serum samples tested. The presence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A isotypes were also detected in a subset of the samples. Future studies will focus on elucidating whether alterations to mitochondrial inner membranes and/or metabolic functions play a possible role in the expression of ACAs.

The Peacock gouper (Cephalopholis argus) was introduced to Hawai'i in 1956 to establish a new fishery. It has become abundant, but the fishery failed due to concerns about ciguatera fish poisoning, a neurological disease in humans caused by ingestion of fish containing ciguatoxin. The aim of this study was to provide better understanding of geographic patterns of ciguatoxicity in C. argus and of the correlation of toxicity with morphometric characters of this species, with the goal to assess the possibility of a safe fishery. Overall, 18.2% of C. argus specimens from sites around O'ahu and Hawai'i Island contained ciguatoxin in concentrations potentially harmful to humans. This was higher than the rate of occurrence in Hawaiian reef fishes in general, and on the scale of ciguatoxicity in species banned from sale in fish markets. Toxicity was high around both analyzed islands. However, toxic individuals were significantly less common around O'ahu than around Hawai'i Island (8% versus 24%). Regular geographic patterns in toxicity within islands (e.g., gradients along coastlines) were not present, and variability in toxicity within each sample site was high. Toxicity was significantly but weakly positively correlated with C. argus length but not with fish condition (measured by length at weight). In conclusion, high prevalence of toxic individuals, variability in toxicity on all analyzed spatial scales, and low explanatory power of morphometric characters make the avoidance of ciguatoxic C. argus individuals difficult. A safe fishery for this species in Hawai'i therefore does not appear feasible at present.