Marine Fish Resources Research Articles

Species diversity of fish at the Wuzhizhou Island, South China Sea, based on environmental DNA.

Wuzhizhou Island (WZZ) is located in Haitang Bay in the northern region of Sanya, Hainan Island. The sea area surrounding WZZ represents a typical tropical marine ecosystem, characterised by diverse and complex habitats. Therefore, there is a rich variety of marine fish species at WZZ. The marine ecosystem of WZZ was seriously destroyed initially in the 1970s-1980s and recovered in the 1990s, then constructed as the first national tropical marine ranch demonstration area of China in 2019. As fish is an important high trophic vertebrate in the marine ecosystem, understanding the composition and distribution of fish species could help us to recognise the status of the ecosystem of WZZ and supply scientific data for construction of the national marine ranch demonstration area. This study used eDNA technology to investigate the composition of fish community surrounding WZZ and provided a scientific basis for realising and protecting the marine ecosystem of the South China Sea. The WZZ is an offshore island in the South China Sea, harbouring abundant marine fish resources. Although previous research investigated fish species of WZZ, the data were, however, still incomplete due to limitation of sampling methods and survey seasons. In this study, we intended to take advantage of eDNA and supplement data of fish species at WZZ as much as possible. Based on eDNA, this study provided the data on 188 fish species (including nine undetermined species denoted by genus sp.) belonging to 17 orders, 63 families and 124 genera and they were the more comprehensive records of fish species surrounding WZZ. In addition, the information on Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) for taxon identification was also provided, aiming to contribute to the establishment of a specific eDNA taxon database for fish of the South China Sea. This study included two datasets, which were occurrences of fish taxa at WZZ, as well as MOTUs sequences and geographical coordinate information of sampling sites. The "fish taxon occurrences" dataset presented records on taxonomic, distribution and habitat conditions of 188 fish species detected using eDNA, as well as the latitude and longitude information of the sampling sites, the "MOTUs information" dataset provided the MOTUs sequences, source of sequences, abundance of sequences for 188 fish species, also included the species matched in NCBI and the best NCBI BLAST sequence similarity.

A Metric-Based Few-Shot Learning Method for Fish Species Identification with Limited Samples.

Fish species identification plays a vital role in marine fisheries resource exploration, yet datasets related to marine fish resources are scarce. In open-water environments, various fish species often exhibit similar appearances and sizes. To solve these issues, we propose a few-shot learning approach to identifying fish species. Our approach involves two key components. Firstly, the embedding module was designed to address the challenges posed by a large number of fish species with similar phenotypes by utilizing the distribution relationships of species in the embedding space. Secondly, a metric function was introduced, effectively enhancing the performance of fish species classification and successfully addressing the issue of limited sample quantity. The proposed model is trained end to end on fish species public datasets including the Croatian fish dataset, Fish4Knowledge and WildFish. Compared with the prototypical networks, our method performs more effectively and improves accuracy by 2% to 10%; it is able to identify fish effectively in small samples sizes and complex scene scenarios. This method provides a valuable technological tool for the development of fisheries resources and the preservation of fish biodiversity.

Use of the raw material base of marine fish in Russian waters of the Far Eastern seas and adjacent areas of the open part of the Pacific Ocean in 2000–2020

The purpose of the work: characteristics of the raw material base of marine fish in the Far Eastern fishery basin and an assessment of the effectiveness of its use by domestic fisheries at the present stage (2000–2020).Methods used: to achieve this goal, data on biomass, catch and development of the main commercial marine fish were analyzed. Fish catches were reviewed based on operational information about the fishery based on daily ship reports from the industry monitoring system.Novelty: elements of novelty are generalized modern materials on biomass, catch and development of marine fish resources in the Far Eastern seas and adjacent waters of the Pacific Ocean. The current state of commercial fish stocks (walleye pollock, Pacific cod, saffron cod, Pacific herring, Righteye flounders, greenlings, Japanese pilchard, Chub mackerel, Pacific saury) in the Far Eastern fishing basin can be characterized as stable, and the distribution of the catch of these objects among individual fishing areas due to their significant volumes is practically determines the distribution of catch of both quota and non-quota species of marine fish. Scientific information support for the above-m entioned fish is at a high level, their biological condition is generally favorable, and the dynamics of their numbers is regulated mainly by habitat variability.Practical significance: the results of this study can be used in forecasting the dynamics of aquatic biological resources, and the results obtained on marine fish stocks and fisheries will improve the efficiency of using their raw material base.

The seahills and seahills ecosystems in the nearshore of Thua Thien-Hue province (Central Vietnam)

At the seabed in the nearshore, Vietnam has sandbars, shoals, bedrock knobs, rock reefs, and other landforms with elevations a few to several tens of meters higher than the seabed, which is always under the lowest astronomical tide (chart datum) and material structure of diverse compositions such as sands, gravel, boulders, blocks, etc. They have determined and warned on the chart map for the safety of navigation and the navy. These areas are significant fishing grounds due to abundant fish, shrimp, and benthic organisms. However, until now, investigation, research, and knowledge regarding these landforms’ environment, biomes, and naturals have yet to be explored. This paper presents some initial results of natural features (morphology, genetic terrain, material compositions, and types), environmental features, ecological community features (diversity, major groups of organisms, marine fish resources), and their significance in marine biomes (distribution of organisms, ecological linkage, habitats of endemic species) of a sandbar, bedrock in the nearshore in Thuan An, Tu Hien - Chan May and Lang Co - Hai Van - Son Cha of Thua Thien Hue province in the framework project of Thua Thien Hue province and National Independent Project belongs to the National Program 562 with Code Number is ĐTĐLCN.78/22. Based on these findings, the authors proposed naming this terrain “seahill” and the accompanying ecosystem “seahill ecosystems” in the nearshore of Vietnam while continuing to investigation, survey, and research.

Fish species mislabelling in China: evidence from a survey of frozen, dried, and surimi-based fish products marketed as cod-related species

‘Cod’-related species are among the most appreciated marine fish resources around the world, but are also prone to species mislabelling. In the present study, a total of 76 frozen, dried, and surimi-based fish products, sold as ‘Cod’ (59 products), ‘Atlantic authentic Cod’ (11 products), and ‘Authentic Cod’ (6 products), were collected in China. A species-specific LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) method was used to screen for the presence of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Pacific cod (G. macrocephalus), Alaska pollock (G. chalcogrammus), Southern hake (Merluccius australis), which was cross-confirmed using real-time PCR and DNA sequencing methods. The results highlighted the greatest species diversity for ‘Cod’ products, and the identified species were from nine different families. It appears that the practice of assigning a specific type or category of species to the common name ‘Cod’ has not been widely advocated, and the misuse of this ambiguous common name has been a common practice for species adulteration, negatively impacting consumers’ rights and marine conservation. To rebuild consumers’ confidence, retail fish suppliers have differentiated their products by adding specific qualifiers in front of the common name ‘Cod’ on the label, such as ‘Authentic cod’ and ‘Atlantic authentic cod’. The endeavour is highly meaningful, since Gadus morhua was identified as the species for a significant majority of ‘Atlantic authentic cod’ and ‘Authentic cod’ products (64.7%, 11/17), with the remaining six products identified as Alaskan pollock (G. chalcogrammus), Pacific cod (G. macrocephalus) and North Pacific hake (Merluccius productus). Despite the positive effort to reverse species mislabelling from retail on-line fish suppliers, a standardized fish nomenclature stipulated by the responsible authorities remains crucial for enhancing transparency and continuing to reduce species mislabelling.

The Diversity of Fish Larvae in the Bons Sinais Estuary (Mozambique) and Its Role as a Nursery to Marine Fish Resources

The study of assemblages of fish in their early phases in estuaries is an essential approach to understanding the functioning of these types of ecosystems and their role as nursery grounds for some marine fish species. The main aim of this study was to analyze the ichthyoplankton assemblage in the Bons Sinais Estuary, specifically to clarify the use of this area by species of socio-economic interest. This study identified 22 fish larval taxa among families, genera, and species. Gobiidae (54%), a group of resident species, dominated the community. The larval taxa of socio-economic importance (Thryssa sp., Clupeidae, Sillago sihama, Johnius dussumieri, Pellona ditchela, Pomadasys kaakan, Cichlidae, and Mugilidae) accounted for 23% of the total abundance. Larval density (N°/100 m3) varied spatially and temporally, with higher density and diversity values both in the middle zone and in the wet season. Multivariate analyses revealed that salinity, temperature, and water transparency had a strong influence on larval abundance and density. While most fish larvae were in the post-flexion stage, there was a predominance of pre-flexion larvae in the lower estuary and in the post-flexion stage in the middle and upper zones, especially for marine fish resources, showing the role of this estuarine habitat as a nursery area.

State Sovereignty Law Politics in Handling Illegal Fishing Crime in Indonesia (Case Study of Natuna Islands Sea Territory)

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic nation in the world which shares border countries with many countries. Indonesia has serious problem concerning maritime security in their territorial waters, such as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU). The IUU activities done by foreign-flagged fishing vessels and bringing their catch abroad is very detrimental to state finances, namely the loss of potential income for local and central govermennt. The Natuna Islands are one of the Indonesia’s outermost border islands that are rich in marine fish resources. This research aims to anaylisis the effectiveness of foreign-flagged fishing vessels burning or sinking policies based on Article 69 of Law Np. 45 of 2009 that were implemented in Natuna Sea territory. The research method used in this study is normative juridical method using literature and online data search.

A Machine Learning Strategy for the Quantitative Analysis of the Global Warming Impact on Marine Ecosystems

It is generally observed that aquatic organisms have symmetric abilities to produce oxygen (O2) and fix carbon dioxide (CO2). A simulation model with time-dependent parameters was recently proposed to better understand the symmetric effects of accelerated climate change on coastal ecosystems. Changes in environmental elements and marine life are two examples of variables that are expected to change over time symmetrically. The sustainability of each equilibrium point is examined in addition to proving the existence and accuracy of the proposed model. To support the conclusions of this research compared to other studies, numerical simulations of the proposed model and a case study are investigated. This paper proposes an integrated bibliographical analysis of artificial neural networks (ANNs) using the Reverse-Propagation with Levenberg–Marquaradt Scheme (RP-LMS) to evaluate the main properties and applications of ANNs. The results obtained by RP-LMS show how to prevent global warming by improving the management of marine fish resources. The reference dataset for greenhouse gas emissions, environmental temperature, aquatic population, and fisheries population (GAPF) is obtained by varying parameters in the numerical Adam approach for different scenarios. The accuracy of the proposed RP-LMS neural network is demonstrated using mean square error (MSE), regression plots, and best-fit output. According to RP-LMS, the current scenario of rapid global warming will continue unabated over the next 50 years, damaging marine ecosystems, particularly fish stocks.

Conservation of coral reef fishes: a field-hardy method to cryopreserve spermatogonial cells

The biodiversity of marine fishes is threatened globally by climate change and other anthropogenic activities, particularly in coral reef ecosystems. We present a simple, field-hardy method to cryopreserve marine fish gonads, targeting spermatogonial cells (undifferentiated diploid germ cells) with the ultimate goal of permitting recovery of threatened species and populations via gonadal diploid germ cell transplantation technologies. The use of a simplified cryopreservation extender based on L-15 medium resulted in minimal decline in spermatogonial cell viability post-thaw. Moreover, we compared post-cryopreservation viability of sperm and spermatogonial cells from gonads cryopreserved with freshly prepared cryoprotectant and with cryoprotectant prepared in advance and stored at −20 °C. We found no significant difference, suggesting that these solutions may be prepared in advance and frozen, ready for later use. We urge conservation, academic, and regulatory agencies to cryobank fish gonads as part of their sample collection processes to support the biodiversity and security of valuable marine fish resources, alongside other restoration efforts.

Fisheries Subsidies and the World Trade Organization: A Concise History

Abstract Fisheries play a critical role in global food security. Unfortunately, marine fish resources are significantly depleted, and widespread use of fisheries subsidies contribute to this depletion. Multilateral negotiations on fisheries subsidies began at the World Trade Organization in 2001 as part of the Doha Round. They have continued to this day with recent renewed emphasis. A successful wto agreement on fisheries subsidies will be necessary for sustainable fisheries, food security, and the continued relevance of the wto. Unfortunately, despite years of negotiations and a stable draft text, an agreement remains somewhat elusive.

Intention of coastal communities to support climate change mitigation policies for fish and marine ecosystem preservation

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the willingness of individuals living in coastal communities affected by climate change to financially support mitigation policies towards the preservation of marine ecosystems and fish resources and to identify the key drivers of their behaviour.Design/methodology/approachA survey was carried out involving 994 people living in three main Italian coastal communities. To investigate the main factors affecting Italian coastal communities’ willingness to pay (WTP) to support climate change mitigation measures to protect the marine ecosystem and fishery resources, a Tobit regression model was implemented.FindingsThe results show that these communities are likely to pay to safeguard fish resources and the marine ecosystem, owing to their social and economic importance for these communities. In particular, this study’s findings highlight that the individuals’ attitudes towards climate change, social pressures and their perception of the phenomenon play a significant role on their intention to support mitigation policies. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that the communities most threatened by the negative effects of climate change are more willing to contribute financially to protect fish resources and the marine ecosystem.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation is related to the adopted methodology. In particular individuals’ intention to adopt pro-environmental behaviours does not always translate into real WTP through additional taxes.Originality/valueThe value of the research stems from its unique collective cross-communal comparison of attitudes and intentions, its parallel identification of behavioural drivers at the individual level and its prescriptive conclusions of both scholarly and practical worth.

​An Annotated Checklist of Elasmobranchs Along the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, Southeast Coast of India

Background: Elasmobranch is one of the largest marine fish resources, consisting of sharks, sawfishes, rays and skates. A worldwide estimate of elasmobranch diversity reveals 815 species coming under 9 orders, 42 families and 164 genera, of which 359 species are sharks and 456 are skates and rays. Hence, it has been planned to investigate the biodiversity and fishery of elasmobranchs along the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu, Southeast India. Methods: Elasmobranch specimens were collected during June 2019 to March 2020 from three main landing centres of Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu viz Royapuram (Chennai), Cuddalore and Nagapattinam Fishing Harbours. Sampling was done fortnightly in the above three landing centres. The specimens were collected from the catches of trawl nets, bottom set gillnets and hook and lines. The specimens were identified morphologically in the landing centres itself based on the valid taxonomic keys. Result: In the present study, 67 species of elasmobranch belonging to 7 orders, 21 families and 46 genera were recorded. Of the 7 orders, Carcharhiniformes had the largest number of species (27). Among the 25 families, Carcharhinidae (21) had the largest representation.

Preface

During the Covid-19 Pandemic, all the activities including seminars, symposiums, and other academic events have been affected. All the meeting has to be conducted virtually using digital technology and was broadcasted entirely online. The International Conference on Biodiversity Conservation hosted by Pattimura University also has to be conducted online and was held on 14 November 2020 in Ambon. The keynote and invited speakers come from many different parts of the world, some from Indonesia, some from French, Netherland, England, Japan, Australia with a different time zone. Adjust have to be made to accommodate this time difference, luckily all running well.The Keynote speaker, Prof. Jatna Supriatna, M.Sc. Ph.D., from the Department of Biology and also the Chairman of Research Center for Climate Change of the University of Indonesia led the speak on Biodiversity Conservation emphasizing on Wallacea Biodiversity Hotspot. Wallacea hotspot as the islands in the Indonesian archipelago and Timor-Leste between the Sunda and Sahul continental shelves. This region covers an area of 33.8 million hectares and comprises three biogeographic subregions: Maluku, Lesser Sundas, and Sulawesi. This area is high in biodiversity but under threaten at the same time. The loss of biodiversity is eminent and accelerating despite the recognition that it is a key element of the environment. The Keynote speaker was given 30 minutes time presentation and 20 minutes for discussion in the plenary session. The invited speaker either from Indonesia, Netherland, England, French, Australia, Japan delivered their topics covering many interesting topics such as fisheries management, E-DNA, coral reef management, marine protected area. Each invited speaker was given 15 minutes talk and 10 minutes for Q&A. A questionnaire list was delivered electronically to participants to write down their question and send it back to the moderator to read the question.During the parallel session, 25 presenters from different parts of Indonesia gave their talk. The parallel session was divided into three groups. Each presenter was given 10 minutes talk and 5 minutes for discussion. During the Q&A session, the questionnaire sheet was delivered electronically to each person to write down their question and send it back to the moderator that will read the question. Diverse issues were raised during the parallel session covering the vulnerability of some marine fish resources, the health condition index of coral reef, the conceptual model in fisheries management, the productivity of the marine environment, the coral reef diversity in the small island, sustainability of the capture-based fishery, community participation on mangrove management, water pollution and many more. It is realized that integrated and collaborative research covering many different topics has to be done concerning biodiversity conservation.List of Committee, International Scientific Board, Local Editor And Reviewer, Organizing Committee are available in this pdf.

Composition of types fishing gear in Barru regency waters in the pandemic time of Covid-19

The potential of marine fish resources in Districts Barru is multi-species, especially pelagic fish. Therefore, in the management and utilization of fishery resources it is very possible for the community to be able to operate various fishing gear. This study aims to determine the composition of the types of fishing gear operated by fishermen in Barru Districts waters of during the pandemic Covid 19. Data collection was carried out from September to October 2020 in around the waters and coastal areas in Barru Districts. This study used a descriptive survey method, by collecting available data (secondary data) in the form of: categories of types and numbers of fishing gears. besides that, field observations will also be carried out. During the pandemic Covid-19, the operation of fishing gear in Barru Districts waters was 13 types of fishing gear, with a composition consisting of four types of fishing gears that were predominantly used, namely 622 drifting gill nets (28.4%), hand lines (21, 7%), Bottom gill nets (19.9%), trolling line (9.6%). Meanwhile, the least used fishing gear was 8 Bagan Tancap (lift net) (0.4%).

Preparation of aminated fish scale collagen and oxidized sodium alginate hybrid hydrogel for enhanced full-thickness wound healing

Acute full-thickness wounds require a more extended healing period, thus increasing the risk of infection. Severe infection frequently resulted in wound ulceration, necrosis, and even life-threatening complications. Here, a hybrid hydrogel comprising aminated collagen (AC), oxidized sodium alginate (OSA), and antimicrobial peptides (polymyxin B sulfate and bacitracin) was developed to enhance full-thickness wound healing. The AC with low immunogenicity and high biocompatibility was made from marine fish scales, which are eco-friendly, low-cost, and sustainable. The cross-linked hydrogel was formed by a Schiff base reaction without any catalysts and additional procedures. As expected, the presented hybrid hydrogel can effectively against E. coli and S. aureus, as well as promote cell growth and angiogenesis in vitro. In addition, the hydrogel can promote full-thickness wound healing in a rat model through accelerating reepithelialization, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis. Our work demonstrated that the hybrid hydrogel has promising applications in the field of wound healing, which would prompt the utilization of marine fish resources during food processing.

해양환경영향평가에 따른 어류 및 수산자원 항목의 평가실태 분석 및 개선방안

본 연구에서는 해역이용·개발사업에 따른 어류 및 수산자원 평가항목(난 · 자치어 포함)의 작성실태를 중점적으로 파악하기 위해 최근 2년간(2017년~2018년) 검토한 해역이용협의서를 분석하였다. 공유수면매립과 바다골재채취 등 개발사업으로 인한 최종적인 영향과 피해 및 갈등은 어장환경과 수산자원분야에 집중되지만, 다른 조사항목에 비해 어류 및 수산자원과 관련된 평가는 매우 부족하였다. 어류 및 난 · 자치어의 경우, 대상해역의 기본적인 현황파악이 미흡할 뿐만 아니라 조사시기 및 정점과 조사어구 및 분석방법이 적절하지 못한 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 예측은 근거가 매우 부족하며 저감대책은 오탁방지막 설치 등의 단편적인 방안을 제시하고 있고, 사후모니터링은 대부분 수협 계통판매자료를 활용하는 등 평가결과의 수용성이 낮은 것으로 분석되었다. 이러한 문제점을 개선하고 향후 합리적인 영향평가를 유도하기 위해서는 직접 현황조사의 강화, 조사시기 및 채집방법의 개선, 적정 조사정점의 선정, 조사결과의 신뢰성 향상 및 대책의 실효성 강화, 평가서 작성규정의 개선과 조사결과의 검증에 활용되는 정보시스템의 구축 등 제도개선이 필요하였다.

Development of Moving Equipment for Fishermen’s Catches using the Portable Conveyor System

Indonesia is an archipelago that has a wealth of marine fish resources, and the country with the second-longest coastline in the world. The improvement witnessed in the economy of Indonesia in recent years, is as a result of the growth experienced in various sectors, among which is the fisheries and marine. To overcome this problem, a portable conveyor system of moving equipment for fishermen’s catches was designed. It can be placed at the dock or port where the fishermen are anchored and unloading the fishermen’s catches from the sea. It designed to have the ability to move up and down in the moving frame, making this conveyor system can be used both in high tides and low tides of seawater level conditions. The advantage of this portable conveyor system is could be done continuously with a little human power. Other than that, from the results of the calculations, known that with increasing motor rotation, the required traveling time will only become shorter. The resulting conveyor capacity shows an increase. Also, it can use drive motors that are available on the market with a power capacity of 0.37 kW. Therefore, the process of this portable conveyor system can be more efficient.

Synergistic Gelation Effects in Surimi Mixtures Composed of Nemipterus virgatus and Hypophthalmichtys molitrix.

Mixtures of marine fish surimi and freshwater fish surimi might have synergistic gelation effects under certain conditions. Here, various mixtures of Nemipterus virgatus surimi and Hypophthalmichtys molitrix surimi were analyzed, with respect to gelation characteristics, rheological properties, protein conformations, and microstructure. When the ratio of N. virgatus surimi to H. molitrix surimi was 3:1, gel strength was increased by 3.08% and 92.13%, while cooking loss was reduced by 7.64% and 33.94%, as compared to pure N. virgatus surimi and pure H. molitrix surimi, respectively. In the mixed surimi as compared to the pure surimi, brightness and whiteness were improved, while water holding capacity, the elasticity modulus (G'), and the β-sheet content were increased. Three-dimensional (3D) network structure of the mixed surimi gel was more compact and uniform than that of either pure surimi gel. In a word, the elasticity modulus and β-sheet content of mixtures surimi were significantly increased, and the 3D structure was more compact and uniform; all these led to synergistic gelation effects in surimi mixtures composed of N. virgatus and H. molitrix. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: With the accelerated pace of life, the demand quantity of surimi products has increased year by year, but the main raw materials of marine fish resources are increasingly scarce. On the contrary, freshwater fish that can be used for surimi processing resources are very rich, and the price of them is low. Gel properties of freshwater fish surimi is worse than marine fish surimi, and how to improve it is one of the bottlenecks in the development of freshwater fish surimi. We and others have been found that the blended surimi from freshwater fish with marine fish could produce gel synergies under the proper conditions. So, Nemipterus virgatus (marine fish) surimi and Hypophthalmichtys molitrix (freshwater fish) surimi were used as raw materials, and the synergistic effects of the mixed surimi were explored.

Seasonal Variation in Species Composition of Ichthyoplankton in Northern Jinhae Bay, Korea

Fish eggs and larvae were collected in July and November of 2013 and January and May of 2014 to determine sea sonal variation in the species composition of ichtyoplankton. Samples were classified based on morphological char acteristics. Fish eggs were identified as belonging to five taxa; the most dominant species of fish eggs was Engraulis japonicus (62.05%) followed by Sardinops melanostictus (21.02%) and Leiognathus nuchalis (13.71%). These three species accounted for 96.8% of the total number of fish eggs collected. Larvae of 17 species in six families, and six orders were collected. The most dominant species of fish larvae was E. japonicus (51.79%), followed by L. nuchalis (12.59%) and Omobranchus elegans (12.08%). These three species accounted for 76.46% of the total number of larvae collected. Jinhae Bay was identified as a major spawning and nursery ground for fish species inhabiting in the south coast of Korea, such as E. japonicus, L. nuchalis, S. melanostictus, and Omobranchus elegans. Therefore, management of marine fish resources in the South Sea should necessarily include the ecological management of Jinhae Bay.

War, fish, and foreign fleets: The marine fisheries catches of Sierra Leone 1950–2015

In countries like Sierra Leone, where stock assessments based on fisheries-independent data and complex population models are financially and technically challenging, catch statistics may be used to infer fluctuations in fish stocks where more precise data are not available. However, FAO FishStat, the most widely-used time-series data on global fisheries ‘catches’ (actually ‘landings’), does not account for Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) catches and relies on statistics provided by the national agencies of each member country. As such, reported FishStat data is vulnerable to changes in monitoring capacity, governmental transitions, and budgetary constraints, and may substantially underestimate the measure of extracted marine resources. In this report, Sierra Leone's total catches by all marine fishing sectors were estimated for the period 1950–2015, using a catch reconstruction approach incorporating national data, expert knowledge, and both peer-reviewed and grey literature. Results demonstrate that a substantial amount of marine resource exploitation is not represented in official statistics, and reconstructed catches represent more than 2.25 times the recorded FAO Fishstat values. Notably, foreign fleets take the vast majority of industrial catch in Sierra Leone's EEZ, indicating that most of the resource catch and revenue is diverted to foreign companies and export markets. While foreign actors dominate the industrial sector, the small-scale sector represents the majority of domestic catch. Illegal fishing is also a substantial challenge in Sierra Leone, and extracts a large amount of the country's marine fish resources. Reconstructing catches in Sierra Leone also highlights the impacts of various historical events such as Sierra Leone's civil war and post-war reconstruction on the development of the fisheries sector. The results found in the reconstruction present a large discrepancy from FishStat data, with considerable implications for assessment of stocks and management of Sierra Leone's marine resources.