The coastal fisheries sector in Sri Lanka is crucial for food security and nutrition, employment creation, poverty reduction, and foreign exchange earnings. Co-management, a participatory approach involving fishers, the government, and other stakeholders, is widely acknowledged as an effective strategy for sustainable fisheries management. This study investigates how existing co-management platforms in Sri Lanka contribute to addressing key challenges within the coastal fisheries sector. A field survey was conducted with 115 fishermen from six Fisheries Management Committees in two selected Fisheries Management Areas. The study examined issues within the fisheries sector based on four themes of the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization: responsible governance of tenure, sustainable resource management, social development, employment, and decent work, and gender equality. These issues were identified through a previous study conducted by the Sri Lanka Forum of Small-Scale Fisheries in 2019. Both descriptive statistics and parametric hypothesis tests were employed to assess the perceived contribution of co-management platforms. The findings indicate that Sri Lankan coastal fishers generally view co-management mechanisms approvingly. Existing platforms demonstrate a high degree of effectiveness in resolving issues related to the responsible governance of tenure. However, their contribution is moderate in addressing challenges pertaining to sustainable resource management, social development, employment, and decent work. Furthermore, the contribution of co-management platforms is deemed unsatisfactory in ensuring gender equality. The study recommends that government agencies should actively engage in building awareness and educating fishing communities on gender equality and emphasise the importance of sustainable resource management, leading to improved well-being of fishing communities.

This study sheds light on the business sustainability of the gillnet fishery for narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) and Indo-Pacific mackerel (Scomberomorus guttatus), locally called "Tenggiri" and "Kembung," respectively, undertaken by the Kelompok Usaha Bersama (KUB) Kampung Baru, a collective business group in Muara Kintap, Indonesia. Employing a descriptive approach, we analyse the fisher group's financial performance, profitability, marketing channels, gap and challenges. Key findings reveal a thriving operation. Over 327 tons of fresh and dried mackerel were procured across 216 fishing trips involving 18 vessels. Fish prices varied along the supply chain, with producers earning USD1–7 kg-1 and wholesalers fetching USD2–8 kg-1. This fisher group generated a substantial annual profit of USD488,346 year-1, translating to roughly USD43,882 vessel-1 year-1. Strong financial indicators further reinforce this success. A healthy return on investment (R/C ratio of 1.48) and a rapid payback period (0.63 years) demonstrate viability. Positive net present value (NPV) of USD1,417,004, net benefit-cost ratio (NetBCR) exceeding 1 (6.91), and an impressive internal rate of return (IRR) of 159 % confirm financial feasibility. Vessel owners enjoyed a substantial monthly income of USD2,438 trip-1 vessel-1, significantly exceeding the provincial minimum wage of USD172 month-1. The producer-wholesaler-consumer marketing channel functioned efficiently, with margins ranging from 9 to 40 % and fishers retaining a significant share (60–91 %). These findings also highlight the underexploited potential of the mackerel fishery to bolster fishery processing businesses. The fisher group’s success story exemplifies the potential for good profit margins, swift returns on investment, and the establishment of sustainable practices within the industry.

The giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis, is a high value fish which has been studied for spawning in captivity and domestication in the Philippines in view of its aquaculture potential. Initial larval rearing of the species encountered mortality issues, and this study attempts to address the problem to improve their survival. Hatchery-bred C. ignobilis larvae were reared for 40 days in nine units of 100 L conical fiberglass tanks at a stocking density of 500 larvae.tank-1 under three feed treatments with different combinations of rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis), brine shrimp (Artemia) and copepods (Pseudodiaptomus spp.): T1- Brachionus plicatilis + Artemia, T2- Brachionus plicatilis + Pseudodiaptomus spp., and T3-Brachionus plicatilis + Pseudodiaptomus spp. + Artemia fed at 0800 h and 1600 h. The results showed that the inclusion of copepods in the feeding regimen had positive effects on survival. Survival rate was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in T2 (23.47 ± 3.18 %) than T1 (11.67 ± 1.90 %) but was not statistically different from T3 (14.37 ± 3.88 %). Length increment was significantly different (P < 0.05) among treatments but with no statistical difference in specific growth rate (P > 0.05). The erratic swimming behaviour leading to mortality associated with insufficient levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids in Artemia was not observed in T2, thus, validating the assumption that the feeding with copepods will increase survival during larval rearing. The use of copepods for C. ignobilis larviculture is seen to play an important role in the success of the seed production protocol for this species. However, a sustainable supply of copepods through appropriate mass propagation techniques must be ensured to achieve higher production of C. ignobilis seeds in the hatcheries.

Snakehead fish protein concentrate (SFC) shows promising recovery of excellent protein content that has broad potential applications, including the future use of its albumin content as a sperm capacitation promoter. However, the quantity of snakehead fish albumin recovered depends on several variables, including the habitat in which the fish thrives, extraction procedures, and the assay employed. To optimise the albumin content retrieved from snakehead fish flesh with more reliable results, multiple protein extraction methods were undertaken through the protein concentrate preparation and analysed using the Bromocresol purple (BCP) albumin assay. Total soluble protein (TSP), albumin level, and albumin proportion were recovered at a significant reduction in an acid solvent when exposed to up to 50 °C heating compared to extractions undertaken without heating. Moreover, the small number of protein bands identified indicates that the combination of acid solvent and heating treatment was similarly damaging. In this study, we detected the presence of albumin in SFC at 32 %, the highest percentage ever recorded employing the BCP assay, following extraction with water solvent without thermal treatment. Using SDS-PAGE and densitometric analysis, the identified putative albumin-related bands from the two major bands at 40 kDa and 47 kDa, containing respective proportions of 57 % and 16 % of the total protein loaded. Although this exploratory work requires additional analysis and purification steps, further research employing the SFC is worth identifying its ability and how this alternative albumin source can replace serum albumin to modulate the capacitation process in mammalian sperm.

The high fishing pressure may cause species evolutionary changes toward smaller maturation sizes. In this context, the fishing practices of mackerel scad, Decapterus macarellus (Cuvier, 1833), in tropical eastern Indonesia provide an excellent opportunity to examine this hypothesis. Two distinct fishing grounds, the Sulawesi Sea and Maluku Sea, were selected to explore this phenomenon. Samples of D. macarellus caught by purse seine fishers operating were sourced from the two fishing grounds. Analysing the total length and maturity stage of each D. macarellus specimen from the two stocks were made to estimate key parameters such as the length at first maturity (Lm) and total mortality (Z). The results revealed that total mortality, used as an indicator of fishing pressure, was higher in the Maluku Sea (5.3 year-1) than in the Sulawesi Sea (3.7 year-1) and other areas. Additionally, the Lm of D. macarellus in the Maluku Sea was remarkably lower (22.9 cm) than in the Sulawesi Sea (23.9 cm), which can be attributed to the higher fishing pressure. These findings support the fisheries-induced evolution hypothesis, particularly within Indonesian tropical fish stocks and their respective regions, adding new growing evidence that fishing pressure affects fish reproductive biology. The length at first maturity may serve as a valuable proxy for assessing the intensity of fishing pressure on fish stocks.

In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spread across Bangladesh, affecting various sectors, including aquaculture. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects on aquaculture production and profitability in the country. The present study addresses this gap and investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic using a convenience questionnaire survey utilising face-to-face and telephonic interviews with 499 fish farmers from five prominent fish-culture regions (Satkhira, Khulna, Madaripur, Bhola, and Mymensingh) in Bangladesh from April to August 2020. The results show aquaculture production losses averaging 29.1 % during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the farmers reported a profit of USD3813 per hectare, which turned into a loss of USD2565.4 per hectare during the pandemic period. The standard multiple linear regression analysis indicated that large farms experienced a more significant impact on aquaculture production loss and economic loss during the pandemic period compared to small farms [β = 0.15, P = 0.029]. The causes for the production loss were identified by rank based quotient (RBQ), indicating that increased fish transportation costs and prices of seed and feed dominated during the lockdown. The lockdown and movement restrictions also reduced selling prices because of fewer buyers. The government provided financial support to the fish farmers, but only onethird (36 %) of the respondents received financial aid. The study suggests implementing medium and long-term measures, such as strengthening communication networks, digital marketing strategies and developing strategic planning initiatives to improve disaster management and resilience to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.

Vietnamese illegal fishing in foreign waters is a prominent issue that has led to a yellow card warning from the European Commission (EC) on 23 October 2017. Although Vietnam has made considerable efforts to halt illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and clear this yellow card, the results were insufficient to remove the yellow card as of the beginning of 2022. The present study analyses why addressing this issue has been so challenging. Specifically, the following questions are addressed: i) how do local fisheries authorities implement central regulation policies against IUU fishing and ii) what are the bottlenecks in legal enforcement for both fisheries agencies and fishers? The secondary data analysis and the findings from interviews with government officials and fishers are presented. The authorities have implemented various approaches to prevent illegal fishing in foreign waters. These include an improved policy framework, law enforcement, fishing vessel management and supervision with vessel monitoring system (VMS), and increased responsibilities attached to the local fisheries authorities. Despite the several measures taken, illegal fishing in foreign waters continues. There are several reasons for the failure to control illegal fishing, including exhausted local marine resources, too many fishing boats operating in the same areas, unclear responsibilities of stakeholders, and lack of coordination among implementing authorities. Several recommendations are suggested for addressing the problem of IUU fishing of Vietnamese vessels in foreign waters to meet the criteria set by the EC to remove the yellow card and ensure that the results are long-lasting and substantive.

There is an increasing need to understand the interaction of marine fauna with line fishing, both recreational and commercial, particularly in regions where shark depredation has become an increasing issue. The dynamic nature of the fishing requires underwater filming techniques that can move with the fishing activity and capture high-resolution footage enabling the identification of fauna species. In the case of shark depredation, the development of deterrent devices specifically designed for use while line fishing will require underwater footage to determine the effectiveness of those devices designed to invoke avoidance behaviours in sharks that approach hooked fish. Two new and inexpensive mounting systems were developed, enabling a range of “action” cameras to be attached to fishing lines to capture underwater footage while line fishing. Using these mounting systems with GoProTM cameras, high-resolution video was obtained during line fishing trials in which the effectiveness of shark deterrents was investigated. The video footage enabled the identification of fish and shark species and recorded any avoidance behaviours of sharks, in response to the presence of deterrents.

Inadequate availability and unreasonable prices made fish meal an unreliable feed ingredient in aquaculture. Consequently, researchers have tested different plant and animal-derived protein sources as an option over the fish meal. The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), larva, has been identified as a reliable protein source for fish meal replacement. Many studies have revealed the growth and microbiological impacts of H. illucens larvae as a protein source in finfish culture. However, a review of knowledge on histopathology, haematology and microbial changes modulated by H. illucens larvae when incorporated as a feed ingredient in finfish aquaculture is not available. Therefore, this study reviews the effects on the histopathology, haematology and gut-microbial properties of finfish fed diet incorporated with H. illucens larvae. A review of different finfish species tested up to 100 % inclusion of H. illucens larvae meal in their diets revealed mixed results in blood chemistry, gut microbiota, and gut histology. Most studies stated common positive effects such as reduced plasma cholesterol levels, increased microbial diversity, and increased intestinal absorption up to 50 % incorporation level. Despite the possibility of incorporating H. illucens larvae meal without any negative impacts on some carnivore fish species, most studies disclosed adverse effects beyond 50 % fish meal replacement due to high chitin and crude fat levels in H. illucens larval diets.

This review provides an account of fish species contaminated with microplastics (MPs) across the globe (seven continents). A total of 887 fish species were found contaminated with MPs based on MPs in the gastrointestinal tract/GI. The most MPs contaminated-fish species found were marine and demersal species. Globally 45 % of fish ingested MPs with an average concentration of 5.93 MPs particles per fish species. Among all the countries, China had the highest number of fish species contaminated with MPs in the followingorders: China (176 species), Brazil (84), the USA (48), India (35), the Atlantic Ocean (31), Iran (30), Bangladesh (28), Turkey (26), Indonesia (25), the UK (23), Saudi Arabia (23), Thailand (21), Portugal (20), Australia (20), Italy (18), South Africa (18), Argentina (15), Chile (14), Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) (14), the North Pacific Gyre (14), Samoa (13), Malaysia (12), Colombia (11), New Zealand (11), Fiji (10), Spain (10), the North Sea (09), South Korea (09), Tahiti (09), Vanuatu (09), Ghana (08), Canada (07), Japan (07) and Nigeria (07) and others. MPs ingestion in fishes varied (high, medium, and low) among the locations/countries. In several locations/countries, MPs ingestion/contamination occurred in up to 100 % of fish samples. Because of MPs contamination, seafood fisheries, and the livelihoods of people associated with fishing, aquaculture, and seafood business, can be threatened. It may also increase health risks to seafood fish consumers since there is a probability that high risks pollutants adsorbed in MPs can be transferred to humans via the food chain.