Untitled

Abstract

Sprat is one of the fish species with special commercial importance in the Romanian marine area, but its share in the catches of the recent years has significantly diminished. The paper is a synthesis of long-term observations on catches of sprat in the Romanian area considering the evolution of fishing effort by both active and passive gears and considering the state of environmental conditions in the period. The main elements analysed are: dynamics of sprat catches and its share on fishing gears; evolution of fishing effort; sprat stock status and fishing agglomerations biomass; environmental conditions influence on the status and distribution of fishing agglomerations; evolution of biological parameters of the sprat.

Summer Biomass Variability and Spatial Interactions between European Sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) in the Western Part of the Black Sea

“…Moon jellyfish, which is currently the predominant gelatinous plankton species in the Black Sea, displays significant biomass variation in the region [52,53]. This species has a complex life cycle involving free-swimming jellyfish and benthic polyps, which explains the high level of variability in biomass [79].…”

“…This species has a complex life cycle involving free-swimming jellyfish and benthic polyps, which explains the high level of variability in biomass [79]. Rocky shelf areas create a favorable environment for jellyfish development, and the influx of nutrients from large rivers supports the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton, which could potentially affect the biomass of higherlevel consumers in the food web [52,53]. In the Bulgarian Black Sea sector, the total jellyfish biomass varied from 689 to 4563 t, with a maximum level in 2019, whereas the total biomass was below 1400 t in most summers.…”

“…Both species are zooplanktivorous predators [48][49][50][51]; but their dietary overlap has not been completely explored. Observations in the North-western Black Sea suggest that moon jellyfish development can impede the formation of sprat agglomerations during the spring and summer [52,53]. However, the role of jellyfish in sprat distribution has not been fully elucidated.…”

Falling Through Statutory Gaps: Can Indiana Protect Endangered Species Without the Federal Endangered Species Act?

“…Listing Species as Endangered and Interagency Consultation.-The true beginning of the endangered species protection process is "listing," considered the "cornerstone of the ESA." 40 To provide protection, the ESA first establishes how to distinguish whether a species is endangered, and the threshold requirements to qualify for listing. 41 The ESA directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary)-which is further delegated to the FWS 42 -to maintain "a formal list of endangered and threatened species."…”

“…44 In doing so, the ESA effectively broadens its coverage. 45 16 U.S.C. § 1533 establishes the listing determination for endangered species.…”