Clupea Harengus Research Articles

Impacts of the match-mismatch hypothesis across three trophic levels—a case study in the North Sea

AbstractSustainable fishery practices require accurate predictions of fish recruitment—the abundance of a new year class entering a fishery. A key driver of recruitment is the impact predator-prey dynamics experienced during early life stages has on their survival at later stages, as in the Match-Mismatch Hypothesis (MMH). MMH states that predator survival depends on the match (or mismatch) between the timing of predator feeding and that of prey availability. This study aims to understand how predator-prey spatio-temporal overlap explains the variation in a pelagic fish population. We explore the predator-prey overlap between each pair of three trophic levels in the North Sea (NS) from 1982–2017: herring (Clupea harengus) larvae, zooplankton (Temora longicornis, Oithona sp.,Pseudocalanus spp., and Acartia spp.), and a phytoplankton index. We found that MMH explained 23% of recruitment (1-year-old) of NS autumn-spawning (NSAS) herring, performed similarly (21–26%) when using different trophic levels, and that there was a spatial pattern in both the overlap and the negative relationship between the overlap and recruitment, similar to the variation of habitat use of NS herring. Our results characterize how the MMH, including spatial variability, plays in controlling herring recruitment, while also considering unexplained variation for future study.

Veterinary and sanitary examination of salted pacific herring with Anisakidosis

Canning fish with table salt is one of the predominant processing methods that helps protect the product from decomposition by microorganisms and is used as disinfection for some invasive diseases. But the violation of manufacturing technologies and the use of stale fish as raw materials contributes to the development of defects and the preservation of the viability of parasites, which can pose a danger to human health.Anisakidosis is a helminthiasis caused by nematodes from the genus Anisakis simplex, localized in the muscle tissue and serous membranes of marine fish. This pathogen leads to intestinal invasions in many species of mammals, including humans.The purpose of our study was to conduct a parasitological study of samples of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) undivided salted of different brands.This article highlights the study of Atlantic herring of different brands sold in the retail chain of St. Petersburg. An external and internal examination of herring, a compressor study of muscle tissue and a study using the method of parallel muscle incisions were carried out. Among the studied samples, according to the results of the parasitological study, trademarks I and II account for 4 infected herring out of 10 (40%), and among the samples of trademark III, 7 out of 10 samples were affected by nematodes of the genus Anisakis simplex (70%).

Viral Haemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) Isolated from Atlantic Herring, Clupea harengus, Causes Mortality in Bath Challenge on Juvenile Herring.

Viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) has been demonstrated to cause high mortalities in a wide range of teleosts, farmed as well as wild. In Europe, VHSV of genotypes Ib, Id, II, and III have been detected in wild fish, including Atlantic herring Clupea harengus, but disease outbreaks have not been observed in Atlantic herring and the effects on wild stocks are not well documented. Here, we have tested two VHSV isolates from herring (genotypes Ib and III, from the western coasts of Norway and Denmark, respectively) in a challenge experiment with herring (mean weight 2.59 g, SD 0.71 g) caught on the west coast of Denmark. The Norwegian genotype Ib isolate (NO-F-CH/2009) showed an accumulated mortality of 47% compared to 6% mortality with the Danish genotype III isolate 4p168 and zero in the unchallenged control group. In both groups, we found positive rt-RT-PCR and positive immunohistochemistry of VHSV from days 6 and 8 onward. With both isolates, the organs mainly affected were the heart and kidney. The results demonstrate the susceptibility of Atlantic herring to VHSV, and both genotypes gave pathological findings in several organs. Genotype III showed a low mortality rate, and the importance of this genotype for herring is therefore not determined. Genotype Ib showed both high prevalence and mortality, and this genotype is therefore likely to have a negative effect on wild Atlantic herring stocks. Further examinations to determine how VHSV can affect wild Atlantic herring stocks are needed.

Mixed-stock analysis of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus): a tool for identifying management units and complex migration dynamics

AbstractWe developed and validated a mixed-stock analysis (MSA) method with 59 single-nucleotide polymorphisms selected from genome-wide data to assign individuals to populations in mixed-stock samples of Atlantic herring from the North and Baltic seas. We analysed 3734 herring from spawning locations and scientific catches of mixed feeding stocks to demonstrate a “one-fits-all” tool with unprecedented accuracy for monitoring spatio-temporal dynamics throughout a large geographical range with complex stock mixing. We re-analysed time-series data (2002–2021) and compared inferences about stock composition with estimates from morphological data. We show that contributions from the western Baltic spring-spawning stock complex, which is under management concern, have likely been overestimated. We also show that a genetically distinctive population of western Baltic autumn spawners, ascribed low fisheries importance, contributes non-negligible and potentially temporally increasing proportions to mixed-stock aggregations, calling for a re-evaluation of stock definitions. MSA data can be implemented in stock assessment and in a variety of applications, including marine ecosystem description, impact assessment of specific fleets, and stock-rebuilding plans.

Study of quality indicators of processed cheese enriched with caviar and milt of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras) during storage

To study the hydrolytic and oxidative processes occurring in the lipids of the gonads (caviar and milt) of herring when stored in the freezer at a temperature of -18 °C, the dynamics of changes in acid, peroxide and thiobarbitur numbers were determined. The shelf life of frozen caviar and milt is 3 months. The technology of processed cheese with the addition of herring gonads (Baltic herring) is proposed. In order to make processed cheese with the addition of caviar and milt ideal, mathematical planning of the experiment was used, namely, an orthogonal central compositional plan of the second order for two factors: the content of caviar and the content of milt. The optimization parameters of the mathematical model are an aggregate dimensionless characteristic consisting of five particular responses: organoleptic evaluation, dynamic viscosity, yield strength and mass fraction of moisture. The technology of processed cheese enriched with caviar and herring milt is proposed. To analyze the main quality indicators, as well as to establish the shelf life of the developed processed cheese, the dynamics of changes in organoleptic, hydrolytic and oxidative processes occurring in the lipids of the salaki gonads, as well as in enriched processed cheese, were studied. The assessment was carried out by acid (KCH), peroxide (IF) and thiobarbitur (TBH) numbers.

Modelling PCB-153 in northern ecosystems across time, space, and species using the nested exposure model.

There is concern over possible effects on ecosystems and humans from exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and chemicals with similar properties. The main objective of this study was to develop, evaluate, and apply the Nested Exposure Model (NEM) designed to simulate the link between global emissions and resulting ecosystem exposure while accounting for variation in time and space. NEM, using environmental and biological data, global emissions, and physicochemical properties as input, was used to estimate PCB-153 concentrations in seawater and biota of the Norwegian marine environment from 1930 to 2020. These concentrations were compared to measured concentrations in (i) seawater, (ii) an Arctic marine food web comprising zooplankton, fish and marine mammals, and (iii) Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from large baseline studies and monitoring programs. NEM reproduced PCB-153 concentrations in seawater, the Arctic food web, and Norwegian fish within a factor of 0.1-31, 0.14-3.1, and 0.09-21, respectively. The model also successfully reproduced measured trophic magnification factors for PCB-153 at Svalbard as well as geographical variations in PCB-153 burden in Atlantic cod between the Skagerrak, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea, but estimated a steeper decline in PCB-153 concentration in herring and cod during the last decades than observed. Using the evaluated model with various emission scenarios showed the important contribution of European and global primary emissions for the PCB-153 load in fish from Norwegian marine offshore areas.

Opportunistic observation effort and seasonal-spatial fidelity: a qualitative approach, applied to an Orcinus orca first record

Abstract This study formulates a qualitative image-based approach to establishing cetacean sightings’ effort at an ecosystem scale in the Gulf of Maine. As a first step, I investigate a rare set of long-term sightings (2008–2017, the study period) of a male killer whale (Orcinus orca) representing unusually consistent occurrences, without considering observation effort. Largely unknown, killer whale populations in the NW Atlantic are tiny, travelling over vast areas, and at risk of human-caused extinction. The synthesis uses opportunistic observations, reported mainly by recreational mariners and commercial fishers incorporated into data manipulations anonymously. Adding an effort index using the qualitative image-based approach, I then investigate the hypothesis that the killer whale sightings constitute seasonal-spatial fidelity to the greater GoM, the first documentation of fidelity patterns in the western Atlantic hemisphere. The analysis includes comparisons to frequency distributions of single killer whales in the gulf in the historical past as a baseline, i.e. post mid 1940s. Finally, the fidelity analysis reveals a substantial spatial anomaly in the recent sightings data for the northeastern GoM. An explanation for the emergent anomaly is pursued by analyses of indicators of the availability of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) [fisheries landings, Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) chick diets] as potential prey in the NE gulf. With the development of complementary corroborative approaches to the analysis of incidental sightings, it is possible to chip away at impediments to the understanding of ecosystem attractants and deterrents with respect to cetacean distributions.

Modeling of Salt Gain Rate in the Herring (Clupea harengus) During Brining Process

Modeling of Salt Gain Rate in the Herring (Clupea harengus) During Brining Process

Modelo matemático para determinar a duração do processo de salgagem e a concentração de sal no peixe

Abstract The purpose of this scientific work is to build a diffusion model based on Fick's second law. The model is designed to determine the salting process duration and salt concentration in the fish muscle tissue (Atlantic herring). The method of photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) by a certified Photocor FC correlator device was used. The device operating principle is based on Rayleigh radiation scattering, which allows us to directly determine the effective diffusion coefficients, taking into account all factors, without singling out a specific one. This research presents the spatiotemporal distributions of effective diffusion coefficients in a herring sample during brine salting. Formulas for calculating the salting duration and the average salt concentration in the thickness of fish muscle tissue are presented, and the time of reaching the sample center by salt and the average salt concentration in it were estimated. These parameters could be widely used for the finished product quality and the technical and economic indicators of production improvement. The average effective diffusion coefficient De through the sample thickness was used for calculation. The salting duration for a 30 mm thick herring sample with a saturated salt solution was 8.74 hours until the average salinity of the sample was 4.7%.

Improved bycatch reduction in the mixed demersal trawl fishery for Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii)

In this study, we compared the bycatch reduction capacity of a trawl fitted with a standard rigid sorting grid with that of a trawl fitted with a newly developed, flexible system called the Excluder. We conducted the fishing trials in the Norway pout (Trisopterus esmarkii) small-meshed trawl fishery in the North Sea. Catch data were analysed by species and length using the catch comparison and catch ratio method. The Excluder significantly reduced the bycatch (in weight) relative to the standard grid for blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) (−35.6%), mackerel (Scomber scombrus) (−93.3%), horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) (−99.3%), herring (Clupea harengus) (−89.9%), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), (−98.6%), whiting (Merlangius merlangus) (−99.3%), cod (Gadus morhua) (−97.1%), European hake (Merluccius merluccius) (−98.0%), and greater argentine (Argentina sphyraena) (−24.5%). For Norway pout there was a marginal decrease in the overall catch efficiency of −1.4%. The observed bycatch reduction efficiency is explained by the larger sorting area of the Excluder relative to the grid's area and by the differences in behaviour between Norway pout and the bycatch species. While it contributes to reduce bycatch of quota regulated species, the Excluder also can potentially affect the profitability of the fishery.

Drivers of Atlantic herring decline and evidence basis for fisheries closures and rebuilding plans

Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus) are economically and ecologically significant but have been in decline in Atlantic Canada due to an uncertain combination of environmental recruitment controls, predation, and fishing (commercial fishery and poorly documented bait removals). Fisheries and Oceans Canada partially closed Atlantic mackerel ( Scomber scombrus) and herring fisheries in March 2022 amid controversy and disagreement. Here, we develop a conceptual model for natural and anthropogenic controls on herring abundance centered on the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL) and evaluate the likely importance of each. We provide the first estimates of the magnitude of bait fishery withdrawals in the sGSL. The decline in sGSL herring is likely driven by natural predation exacerbated by fishing. Bait fishery removals were 182 tonnes in 2021, suggesting that previous estimates for removals of spring-spawning herring were ∼30% too low. Fisheries closure is consistent with a precautionary approach given uncertainties and irreversibility of stock collapse. Ecosystemic models are needed but will be difficult to develop given the incomplete understanding of prey substitutability and net effect of interacting environmental processes.

Risk equivalence in data‐limited and data‐rich fisheries management: An example based on the ICES advice framework

AbstractFisheries management needs to ensure that resources are exploited sustainably, and the risk of depletion is at an acceptable level. However, often uncertainty about resource dynamics exists, and data availability may differ substantially between fish stocks. This situation can be addressed through tiered systems, where tiers represent different data limitations, and tier‐specific stock assessment methods are defined, aiming for risk equivalence across tiers. As case studies, we selected stocks of European plaice, Atlantic cod and Atlantic herring, where advice is provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). We conducted a closed‐loop simulation to compare risk equivalence between the data‐rich ICES MSY rule, based on a quantitative stock assessment, and the revised data‐limited empirical management procedures of the ICES advice framework. The simulations indicated that the data‐limited approaches were precautionary and did not lead to a higher risk of depletion than the data‐rich approach. Although the catch based on generic data‐limited approaches was lower, stock‐specific optimisation improved management performance with catch levels comparable with the data‐rich approach. Furthermore, the simulation indicated the ICES MSY rule can fail to meet management objectives due to increased depletion risk when management reference points are set suboptimally. We conclude that the recent revisions of the ICES system explicitly account for risk equivalence for data‐limited fisheries management and are a major step forward. Finally, we advocate further consideration of simple empirical management procedures irrespective of data limitations due to their ability to meet fisheries management objectives with greater simplicity.

Heavy metals determination and microbial assessment of some species of frozen fish sold at Utako Market, Abuja, Nigeria

This work assessed heavy metals [Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn) and Lead (Pb)] concentrations and microbial load in the tissue (skin, fillet and gills) of some frozen fishes [Clupea harengus (herring), Scomber scombrus (Mackerel), Urophycis tenuis (White hake)] sold in Utako market using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and standard microbiological procedures. The results obtained revealed that the concentrations of all the heavy metals determined except Zinc (Zn) were above the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits in fresh water fish and fishery products. The total aerobic plate count (APC) was between 2.15×103 cfu/g and 47.6×103 cfu/g, total coliform count ranged from 1.85 × 103 cfu/g to 2.03 × 103 cfu/g and fungal counts ranged between 6.02x102 cfu/g and 18.3x102 cfu/g. The microbiological study showed that the skin had more load compared to other studied tissues and in all, the microbial load except APC also exceeded the FAO/WHO acceptable limits for frozen fish products. This study indicated that the products were not ideal for consumption due to bioaccumulation of these heavy metals and the issue of post-harvest contaminants that can multiply in case of defrosting which may impact negatively on the consumers. It is recommended that there should be proper handling and examination of frozen foods and they should be properly cooked before consumption.

Understanding factors influencing Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) recruitment: From egg deposition to juveniles

AbstractRecruitment is a critical component of population dynamics and variability in recruitment underpins large fluctuations in population abundances of commercially valuable marine fishes. Marine pelagic fishes such as Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) experience relatively high variability in recruitment that is driven by a wide range of biotic and abiotic factors. The relative importance and interaction of each factor for determining recruitment is poorly understood, and consequently, recruitment estimates are one of the largest uncertainties in fisheries management and predictions of future population sizes. Poor recruitment of Atlantic herring has been identified as a major issue and bottleneck for the species; therefore, factors influencing successful recruitment are of great interest to fisheries managers. Here we review studies that have examined the factors influencing survival at the egg stage, early larval stage, late larval stage, and juvenile stage to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the recruitment of Atlantic herring and provide recommendations to guide future research. We identified nine biotic and eight abiotic factors that have been found to substantially impact the recruitment of Atlantic herring, with temperature, prey availability, and predation being the most commonly investigated factors. We conclude it is not one factor that primarily determines recruitment, but rather a collection of many factors that vary temporally and spatially that drive the large variation observed in Atlantic herring recruitment year over year. A holistic approach is required to better understand recruitment and improve fisheries management decisions regarding Atlantic herring.

Five cuts from herring (Clupea harengus): Comparison of nutritional and chemical composition between co-product fractions and fillets.

Weight distribution, proximate composition, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals and vitamins were investigated in five sorted cuts (head, backbone, viscera+belly flap, tail, fillet) emerging during filleting of spring and fall herring (Clupea harengus). The herring co-product cuts constituted∼60% of the whole herring weight, with backbone and head dominating. Substantial amounts of lipids (5.8-17.6% wet weight, ww) and proteins (12.8-19.2% ww) were identified in the co-products, the former being higher in fall than in spring samples. Co-product cuts contained up to 43.1% long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) of total FA, absolute levels peaking in viscera+belly flap. All cuts contained high levels of essential amino acids (up to 43.3%), nutritional minerals (e.g., iodine, selenium, calcium, and iron/heme-iron), and vitamins E, D, and B12. Co-products were, in many cases, more nutrient-rich than the fillet and could be excellent sources for both (functional) food and nutraceuticals.

Combined effects of exploitation and environmental change on life history: a comparative analysis on Atlantic herring

Abstract The consequences of fisheries-induced evolution on stock productivity and yield depend, to a large extent, on the general prospects for growth and survival. Here, we compare the selection pressures imposed by two distinct patterns of exploitation—principally targeting spawning or non-spawning aggregations—on age at maturity among 15 Canadian stocks of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) that have exhibited a consistent pattern of length-at-age responses to common large-scale environmental drivers since the 1960s. In accordance with expectations for maturity-dependent harvesting, the establishment of a spawner-targeted fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence coincided with a shift towards delayed maturity in both resident stocks, whereas stocks elsewhere subject to fisheries that also exploited juveniles more commonly exhibited trends towards earlier maturity. Despite these differences, we find that environmentally driven changes in length at maturation, combined with total mortality, may overwhelmingly determine lifetime reproductive success and possibly fitness. By linking phenotypic changes experienced in the juvenile period to simple correlates of egg production in mature age classes, our study highlights the importance of managing fisheries in the context of ubiquitous but contrasting environmental constraints on life histories.

Health risk assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in edible tissue of seafood.

Fish is one of the most valuable foods with high-quality animal protein. However, aquaculture, or ingesting contaminated food, allows organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) to enter the fish's body, and therefore, it negatively impacted public health. One-hundred and twenty random samples of Clupea harengus (C. harengus), Mugil cephalus (M. cephalus), Sardinella aurita (S. aurita), Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus), Neptunus pelagicus (N. pelagicus) and Sepia savigngi (S. savigngi) (n = 20 each) were collected from local markets in Mansoura city, Egypt. Samples were checked to see whether any residues of OCPs with the application of risk assessment due to their consumption by Mansoura citizens. The findings indicated that summation hexachlorocyclohexane (∑HCH) in examined seafood samples ranged from 0.27 ± 0.13 in N. pelagicus to 61.61 ± 52.03 μg.kg-1 in S. aurita. Also, the γ-HCH isomer was considered the more prominent among isomers. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was found in five different species, with mean values of 2.03 ± 1.85, 1.5.7 ± 1.17, 0.94 ± 0.87, 0.35 ± 0.06, and 0.18 ± 0.06 μg.kg-1 in C. harengus, S. aurita, M. cephlaus, O. niloticus, and S. savigngi. Moreover, summation of Heptachlors (∑HPTs) was 10.19 ± 7.63, 1.27 ± 0.26, 2.58 ± 0.11, 0.95 ± 0.12, 0.21 ± 0.11 and 0.32 ± 0.03 μg.kg-1 of wet weight in examined C. harengus, M. cephlaus, S. aurita, O. niloticus, N. pelagicus, and S. savigngi. Aldrin and dieldrin residues were 3.75 ± 1.31 and 4.86 ± 1.33 μg.kg-1 in C. harengu, meanwhile they were 1.61 ± 0.77 and 0.78 ± 0.04 μg.kg-1in M. cephalus. Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (pp-DDE) was dominant in all examined species within different concentrations 5.08 ± 4.12, 0.98 ± 0.10, 3.07 ± 0.91, 0.93 ± 0.27, 0.08 ± 0.01 and 0.35 ± 0.02 μg.kg-1 in C. harengus, M. cephlaus, S. aurita, O. niloticus, N. pelagicus and S. savigngi, respectively. We concluded that all examined seafood samples were lower than the recommended maximum residue limit. Also, the estimated daily intake was less than the permitted daily intake. Non-carcinogenic indices of target hazard quotient and hazard index for OCPs in all examined species were less than 1.

Ancient DNA sequence quality is independent of fish bone weight

The field of ancient DNA (aDNA) typically uses between 50 and 200 mg of minimum input weight of bone material for the extraction of DNA from archaeological remains. While laboratory and analysis techniques have focused on improved efficiency of extracting useable sequence data from older and poorer quality remains, bone material input requirements have rarely been critically evaluated. Here, we present the aDNA analysis of 121 size-constrained Atlantic herring remains – weighing between <10 and 70 mg – that were individually sequenced to explore the capacity of successful aDNA retrieval from small archaeological remains. We statistically evaluate the relationship between bone weight and several response variables, including library success, endogenous DNA content, and library complexity, i.e., the number of unique molecules that are obtained. Remarkably, we find no relationship between bone weight and library success, levels of endogenous DNA, or library complexity. Our results imply that – at least in the case of fish bone – even minute bones can yield positive results and that the presumed minimum sample size required should be re-evaluated. Archaeological site, instead of bone size, is the primary driver of DNA sequence quality. Our work expands the number of specimens considered suitable for aDNA analyses, and therefore facilitates efforts to minimize the destructive impact of aDNA research and mediate some of the ethical concerns surrounding destructive analysis.

Effect of temperature and CO2 concentration on the morphogenesis of sagittal otoliths in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae

Otoliths are very useful biomarkers especially for fish growth. Climate change with the associated global changes in warming and acidification could affect the calcification and the shape of otoliths during the crucial larval period in teleost fish. To evaluate this predicted combined effect of temperature and CO2, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) embryos and larvae were reared from hatching to respectively 47 and 60 days post-hatching (dph), under present day conditions and a scenario predicted for the year 2100 (IPCC RCP8.5). Otolith morphogenesis was tracked by analyzing area and normalized Elliptical Fourier coefficients. We found that otolith area for fish of similar size increased under the predicted 2100 climate change scenario compared to the present day. Climate change does not, however, seem to directly affect the otolith shape. Finally, the onset of otolith morphogenesis is hardwired, but the relationship between otolith and fish size is environment-dependent.

Spatial and temporal genetic stock composition of river herring bycatch in southern New England Atlantic herring and mackerel fisheries

Anadromous river herring (alewife and blueback herring) persist at historically low abundances and are caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries, potentially preventing recovery despite conservation efforts. We used newly established single-nucleotide polymorphism genetic baselines for alewife and blueback herring to define fine-scale reporting groups for each species. We then determined the occurrence of fish from these reporting groups in bycatch samples from a Northwest Atlantic fishery over four years. Within sampled bycatch events, the highest proportions of alewife were from the Block Island (34%) and Long Island Sound (22%) reporting groups, while for blueback herring the highest proportions were from the Mid-Atlantic (47%) and Northern New England (24%) reporting groups. We then quantified stock-specific mortality in a focal geographic area (∼3500 km2, including Block Island Sound) of high bycatch incidence and sampling effort, where the most accurate estimates of mortality could be made. During this period, we estimate that bycatch took about 4.6 million alewife and 1.2 million blueback herring, highlighting the need to reduce bycatch mortality for the most depleted river herring stocks.