SCIENTIFIC SESSION MENER 2006

CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES RESOURCES: METHODS OF STOCK ESTIMATION FROM BLACK SEA TO CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS
Ion NVODARU 1 , Georgel Petrior RZLOG 2 , Klaus Werner BATTES 3 , Ionel STAICU 4 , Valentin IORGA 5

Abstract: Open access to fisheries resources has conducted to catch declining and loosing of the biodiversity due to overfishing. Anthropical impact through damming, hydrotechnical works and pollution has conducted to habitat loosing and degradation. Sustainable use of biologic resources has become a prioritary objective for environment protection all over the world, especially after ratification in 1992 of Convention of Biological Diversity from Rio de Janeiro, adopted also by Romania. Sustainable use of fishery resources consist in biological regulations on fishing, input control (fishing effort quota) and output control (catch quota). Overall objective of project is Establishment of a excellence network for estimation, conservation and sustainable and responsible management of fisheries resources through attaining a critical integrated mass of research resources, for assisting and fundament of decision in sustainable use of fisheries resources, public property administrated by state, in order of sustainable development of poor regions depending by natural resources exploitation in harmony with conservation of biodiversity and habitats. Specific objective of project is Elaboration, development and validation of methodologies and tools for research, preservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources. Project objectives is included in research aria (6) Environment, (6.2) Sustainable use of resources Sustainable conservation and management of natural and man-made resources, research are included in CEEX Program of MEdC, Romania and FP6 program of EC, which will be developed future in FP7.

1. Introduction
Sustainable use of natural biological resources has become a prioritary objective for environment protection all over the world, especially after ratification in 1992 of Convention of Biological Diversity from Rio de Janeiro, adopted also by Romania. Sustainable use of fishery resources consist in biological regulations on fishing, input control (fishing effort quota) and output control (catch quota). Fish stock estimation, exploitation status, yield per

1. Danube Delta National Institute for Research & Development 2. University Dunarea de Jos from Galati 3. Bacau University 4. National Institute for Marine Research Grigore Antipa 5. Institute for Research-Develoment for Aquatic Ecology, Fishing and Aquaculture

recruit (Y/R), Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) are estimated through different models for exploitment simulation, using software recommended by FAO. The ecological study of Lower Danube River was done first time by Antipa (1910), who has noticed that fishery yields are direct related with level and duration of Danube flooding. Grigore Antipa (1895, 1905, 1916, 1935) in his publications treats biological, economical and social issues in administration of fisheries in valorisation and protection of fisheries resources. In condition in which anthropogenetic impact had less influence, research was oriented for knowing role of hydrologic and hydrobiologic factors for evolution of fish population. Some further research study has tried to evaluate population status on basis of catch and age structure, taking in consideration recruitment for freshwater and migratory species Leonte T.R. (1958) Nalbant,(1965) Niculescu-Duvz (1970), Papadopol & Mester (1980). A research team from INCDDD-Tulcea has been estimated freshwater fish stocks since 1984, using FAO models, determining exploitation parameters, mean exploitable biomass and sustainable yield in Razim-Sinoie lake, expanding after in whole Danube Delta. Results from 1996 had a great uncertainty due to lacking of monitoring of fish effort and catch statistic quality due to underreported catch, poaching and illegal trading. The estimation has a local application in Danube delta. New research proposed to improve estimation and will deliver to administrators the necessary tools (methodologies and data base) for planning the sustainable use of Romanian fisheries. In elaboration of mathematical theory in fish stock evaluation a great contribution was done by research of: Baranov (1918), Thompson and Bell (1934), Ricker (1954,1975), Beverton and Holt (1957), Bertalanffy (1934, 1938), Tiurin (1962,1972), Vibert and Lagler (1961), Pope (1972), Pauly (1983, 1984), Jones (1984), Schaefer (1954), Sparre (1989). Uncertainty, dynamics and choice in quantitative fisheries stock assessment was discussed by Hilborn and Walters (1992). Development of software has conducted to increasing efficiency of mathematic models. Fish stock estimation program was developed by ICLARM as LFSA and COMPLEAT ELEFAN, and other that was included in a pack software called FISAT (FAO/ICLARM Stock Assessment Tools) (Sparre & Venema 1992). Bio-economical analysis of fisheries is performed by BEAM1 and BEAM2 program (Copola, Garcia and Willmann 1992). The computer program RAPFISH gives a rapid estimation of fishery status and option for political indexes. Fishery management through ecosystem models are performed by ECOSIM, ECOSPACE, ECOPATH and ATLANTIS. The objectives of the project are as follow: - General objectives:

Establishment of a excellence network for estimation, conservation, sustainable and responsible management of fisheries resources through attaining a critical integrated mass of research resources, for assisting and fundament of decision in sustainable use of fisheries resources, public property administrated by state, for a sustainable development of poor regions depending by natural resources, exploitation in harmony with conservation of biodiversity and habitats. - Specific objective: Elaboration, development and validation of methodologies and tools for research, preservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources. Project objectives is included in research aria (6) Environment, (6.2) Sustainable use of resources Sustainable conservation and management of natural and man-made resources, research are included in CEEX Program of MEdC, Romania and FP6 program of EC, which will be developed future in FP7.

2.

Result and discussion

The project include 6 phases (Work Packages): evaluation of knowledge and gaps; development of methodologies; fishery estimation (validation of methodologies); GIS data base design and software; elaboration of strategy and action plan for sustainable use of fisheries resources; dissemination of results.

Complexity of project consists in elaboration of methodologies for fisheries estimation on four categories of aquatic basins (Danube delta DD, Black Sea BS, Danube River DR and Inland lakes and rivers LRI). Project innovation consists in adaptation of methodologies developed for marine fisheries for research of inland and costal fisheries. The project has an important impact on Romanian fisheries, both technical and socio economic: - technical impact consists in elaboration of methodologies and tools of research and sustainable management of fisheries. - socio-economic impact consists in sustainable development of rural communities dependent of fisheries resources from poor regions of Romania, through improvement of conservation and management of fisheries resources. Further, for each category of aquatic basin has been made an identification of fish stock following their value: commercial (plus biodiversity); commercial and recreative (plus biodiversity); recreative (plus biodiversity); biodiversity;

As a summary of observations we can mention the fishery resources of romanian waters noted by commercial value and level of exploation: a. Danube river and Danube Delta basin: Danube shad (Alosa pontica), exploited to the upper limits, partially protected within migration period; this species needs more research to obtain informations necessary for regulation of fishing in a sustainable manner. High commercial value. sturgeons (Huso huso, Acipenser guldenstaedti, A. stellatus and A. ruthenus), overexploited, now under restriction of fishing over 10 years period. High commercial value. Local species mainly belong Cyprinidae and Percidae, like common carp, bream, perch, pike perch, cat fish, etc. Some of them have a commercial and recreative value and the rest are important for biodiversity. The local species are affected by the loss of habitats and need more atention from the fishery managers.

b. The Danube tributories and lakes: Local species, mainly belong Salmonidae family, like rainbow trout, brown trout, etc, are species with great importance for aquaculture and in natural waters for angling. This species need more attention through fishing regulation and restocking. The Black Sea: marine fish species like spratt, horse mackrel and other smaal pelagics, turbot, shark, are poor as number of species and abundance, and under the presure of human activities such navigation, urban development, harbour activities, polution and of course fishing. They need more attention through fishing regulation and protection of habitats

c. -

3.

Expected result and users

The expected outputs of the project Elaboration of methodologies for fish stock assessment (Manual for fish stock assessment); Fish stock assessment of DD, BS, DR and LRI; GIS data base design for fisheries monitoring; Elaboration of Romanian Code of Conduct for responsible fisheries; Elaboration of strategy and action plan for conservation and sustainable management of fisheries resources; Establishment of Virtual research network of excellence for conservation and sustainable use of fisheries resources; Internet web page for dissemination and link with GIS data base for fishery monitoring. Potential users of the project outputs are: National Agency for Fishing and Aquaculture (ANPA), that has legal responsibilities for sustainable use of Romanian fisheries (politics, strategies, methodologies, regulation). Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority (ARBDD), with attribution in conservation and sustainable use of natural resources from Danube delta.

National Companies for Administration of Fishery Found (CNAFP), with attribution in sustainable administration of Romanian fisheries (others then Danube delta and mountain zone) ROMSILVA, that is responsible for administration of fishery resources from mountain zone Private fishers, Association & Organization of fish producers, which together with state authorities are responsible for conservation and sustainable management of fisheries.

4.

References

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