No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Integrating biological research, fisheries science and management of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) across the North Pacific Ocean
... Untapped "blue" resources for various uses are abundant in marine environments. Greenland halibut may be a new alternative to provide collagen for conventional cosmetic applications because skins from halibut species are a very abundant by-product in fisheries due to its high volume of fishing [37,38].In this study, the collagen isolated from the skin of the Greenland halibut was used as a raw material for a cosmetic formulation. Our work intends to fully recycle wastes from the fish plant industry and reconvert them in high added value. ...
The industrial processing of fish for food purposes also generates a considerable number of by-products such as viscera, bones, scales, and skin. From a value-added perspective, fish by-products can act also as raw materials, especially because of their collagen content (particularly in fish skin). Interestingly, the potential of marine collagen for cosmetic applications is enormous and, remarkably, the extraction of this protein from fish skins has been established for different species. Using this approach, we investigated the integration of marine collagen (COLRp_I) extracted from the skin of the Greenland halibut as an active ingredient in a cosmetic hydrogel formulation. In this study, extracts of marine collagen at concentrations up to 10 mg/mL showed a non-cytotoxic effect when cultured with fibroblast cells for 3 days. In addition, marine collagen extract, when incorporated into a cosmetic hydrogel formulation, met criterion A of ISO 11930:2019 regarding the efficacy of the preservative system (challenge test). In addition, the cosmetic formulations based on marine collagen at dosages of 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5% were tested in a clinical study on the skin of the forearms of 23 healthy volunteers, showing a sightly hydration effect, suggesting its potential for beauty applications. Moreover, this work illustrates that the circular economy concept applied to the fish processing industry can represent important benefits, at innovation, environmental and economic levels.
Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) are a large-bodied species of flatfish that are important culturally, economically, and as a key predator in marine systems in the USA and Canada. The species has a wide distribution, and complex life history including large-scale migrations to spawn and feed, making it potentially susceptible to climate change impacts. We examined the potential changes in halibut distribution and relative abundance that may arise from changing temperature and dissolved oxygen concentrations using species distribution models (SDMs) and future climate scenarios downscaled by two regional ocean models. SDMs were fit with both environmental variables (depth, near-bottom temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration) and spatial random field components (representing unknown habitat-related variables). The best-fitting models, trained on data from 2009 to 2013, were able to account for 33 % and 53 % of the variation in small and large halibut catch-per-unit-effort in the annual set-line survey data from 2014 to 2020. The results suggest that the response of Pacific halibut to climate change in British Columbia and Washington waters is likely to depend on changes in dissolved oxygen concentration. Pacific halibut appear sensitive to changes in dissolved oxygen, yet relatively tolerant to increases in temperature. Projections for 2046–2065 period suggest that future decreases in near-bottom dissolved oxygen in shallow waters that small halibut inhabit are likely to result in moderate decreases in relative abundance. Projected changes in relative abundance are less certain for large Pacific halibut, due to disagreement in the regional ocean models near-bottom dissolved oxygen projections at mid depths (300–600 m) where large Pacific halibut are more common. Overall, the relative abundance of Pacific halibut is expected to decrease in most areas of British Columbia. Future management strategies will need to account for the projected changes in distribution and abundance and their uncertainty.
The Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is a key species in the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea ecosystems, where it also supports important fisheries. However, the lack of genomic resources limits our understanding of evolutionary, environmental and anthropogenic forces affecting key life history characteristics of Pacific halibut and prevents the application of genomic tools in fisheries management and conservation efforts. In the present study, we report on the first generation of a high‐quality chromosome‐level assembly of the Pacific halibut genome, with an estimated size of 602 Mb, 24 chromosome‐length scaffolds that contain 99.8% of the assembly and a N50 scaffold length of 27.3 Mb. In the first application of this important resource, we conducted genome‐wide analyses of sex‐specific genetic variation by pool sequencing and characterized a potential sex‐determining region in chromosome 9 with a high density of female‐specific SNPs. Within this region, we identified the bmpr1ba gene as a potential candidate for master sex‐determining (MSD) gene. bmpr1ba is a member of the TGF‐β family that in teleosts has provided the largest number of MSD genes, including a paralog of this gene in Atlantic herring. The genome assembly constitutes an essential resource for future studies on Pacific halibut population structure and dynamics, evolutionary history and responses to environmental and anthropogenic influences. Furthermore, the genomic location of the sex‐determining region in Pacific halibut has been identified and a putative candidate MSD gene has been proposed, providing further support for the rapid evolution of sex‐determining mechanisms in teleost fish.
Developing a robust understanding of Pacific halibut reproductive biology is essential to understanding the different components (e.g. maturity) that determine the reproductive output of the species and, therefore, for estimating the relative female spawning biomass. With these, effective and proactive management strategies can be designed and implemented to face the large-scale environmental changes to which high-latitude spawning fish are particularly vulnerable. To date, reproductive studies of Pacific halibut have mainly focused on population or regional scales, leaving the specific details of organism-level reproductive development unexamined. The work described here aimed to address information gaps in Pacific halibut reproductive biology by conducting a detailed histological examination of temporal changes in ovarian development over an annual reproductive cycle with special attention to the use of biological indicators (e.g. oocyte diameter, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, Fulton’s condition factor, somatic fat) in characterizing female developmental stages and reproductive phases. Our results provide a foundation for future studies directed at improving current maturity estimations by histological assessment and explore models that test the utility of biological indicators to predict maturity in this important fish species.
Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) supports one of the most valuable groundfish fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean and the north American component has been managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission since 1923. From its establishment, IPHC’s work has been focused on data collection and research programs to better understand stock dynamics, extent, and behavior across its range. In this review we summarize the 100 years of migration research available for Pacific halibut, with a focus on tagging experiments. A visual representation of all tags deployed and recovered is included, and all of the information available from different research (e.g. genetic analyses, oceanographic models, catch trends, IBM) has been unified into a conceptual model of Pacific halibut movement from southern California through the Bering Sea. From spawning grounds in the Gulf of Alaska, eggs and larvae are transported westward, some crossing Aleutian Island passes into the Bering Sea. Once settled, there is compensatory migration as some juveniles move back into the Gulf of Alaska. In the Gulf of Alaska, juveniles and adults exhibit net migration eastward and southward along the continental shelf of the US and Canadian coasts. Adults undertake seasonal migrations from feeding grounds to spawning grounds. While little information is available for the western side of the Pacific halibut range, research suggests a constant exchange across the Bering Sea between the eastern and western grounds. The hypothesis of multiple migratory behaviors is suggested. This review will serve as a guide for current modeling efforts and future research planning.
Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is managed as a single stock throughout the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and eastern Bering Sea (BS), but biogeographical barriers and the potential for differential impacts of climate change may alter habitat use and distributions, and restrict connectivity between these ecosystems. To improve our understanding of larval dispersal pathways and migrations of young fish within and between GOA and BS, we (a) examined potential pelagic larval dispersal and connectivity between the two basins using an individual‐based biophysical model (IBM) focusing on years with contrasting climatic conditions and (b) tracked movement of fish up to age‐6 years using annual age‐based distributions and a spatiotemporal modeling approach. IBM results suggest that the Aleutian Islands constrain connectivity between GOA and BS, but that large island passes serve as pathways between these ecosystems. The degree of connectivity between GOA and BS is influenced by spawning location such that an estimated 47%–58% of simulated larvae from the westernmost GOA spawning location arrived in the BS, with progressive reductions in connectivity from spawning grounds further east. From the results of spatial modeling of 2‐ to 6‐year‐old fish, we can infer ontogenetic migration from the inshore settlement areas of eastern BS toward Unimak Pass and GOA. The pattern of larval dispersal from GOA to BS, and subsequent post‐settlement migrations back from BS toward GOA, provides evidence of circular, multiple life stage, connectivity between these ecosystems, regardless of climatic variability or year‐class strength.
Accurate characterization of oocyte development is essential to understanding foundational aspects of reproductive biology and successful management of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis). Here this study provides complete histological descriptions for eight oocyte developmental stages in addition to postovulatory follicles and demonstrates the potential for oocyte size frequency distribution to act as a proxy for ovarian developmental stage and future maturity assessments. Importantly, it provides the first histological evidence that Pacific halibut have a group‐synchronous ovarian developmental pattern with determinate fecundity and support for their batch‐spawning strategy.
Monitoring distributional shifts in Arctic and subarctic fish species as environmental conditions change can be difficult due to sparse or infrequent surveys. Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) are found as far north as the Bering Strait, and future changes in sea temperatures and prey distribution may lead to an expanded range. For this and other species, it is therefore important to use as much survey data as is available when estimating density indices and other quantities of interest. Setline and trawl surveys in the eastern Bering Sea provide partial coverage each year, but the two gear types capture different size distributions of fish. We apply a calibration method to data from the setline and trawl surveys to produce consistent, spatially indexed estimates of indices of local density. The resulting estimates are then combined through spatiotemporal models that can incorporate environmental covariates to provide reliable density indices and to map the dynamic distribution of Pacific halibut. Such approaches may become increasingly important as climate change affects species distribution relative to historical survey footprints, and scientists must adapt to the use of new and variable data sources.
Climate change is driving changes in the physical and chemical properties of the ocean that have consequences for marine ecosystems. Here, we review evidence for the responses of marine life to recent climate change across ocean regions, from tropical seas to polar oceans. We consider observed changes in calcification rates, demography, abundance, distribution, and phenology of marine species. We draw on a database of observed climate change impacts on marine species, supplemented with evidence in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. We discuss factors that limit or facilitate species' responses, such as fishing pressure, the availability of prey, habitat, light and other resources, and dispersal by ocean currents. We find that general trends in species' responses are consistent with expectations from climate change, including shifts in distribution to higher latitudes and to deeper locations, advances in spring phenology, declines in calcification, and increases in the abundance of warm-water species. The volume and type of evidence associated with species responses to climate change is variable across ocean regions and taxonomic groups, with predominance of evidence derived from the heavily-studied north Atlantic Ocean. Most investigations of the impact of climate change being associated with the impacts of changing temperature, with few observations of effects of changing oxygen, wave climate, precipitation (coastal waters), or ocean acidification. Observations of species responses that have been linked to anthropogenic climate change are widespread, but are still lacking for some taxonomic groups (e.g., phytoplankton, benthic invertebrates, marine mammals).
The fish otolith (earstone) has long been known as a timekeeper, but interest in its use as a metabolically inert environmental recorder has accelerated in recent years. In part due to technological advances, applications such as stock identification, determination of migration pathways, reconstruction of temperature and salinity history, age validation, detection of anadromy, use as a natural tag and chemical mass marking have been developed, some of which are difficult or impossible to implement using alternative techniques. Microsampling and the latest advances in beam-based probes allow many elemental assays to be coupled with daily or annual growth increments, thus providing a detailed chronological record of the environment. However, few workers have critically assessed the assumptions upon which the environmental reconstructions are based, or considered the possibility that elemental incorporation into the otolith may proceed differently than that into other calcified structures. This paper reviews current applications and their assumptions and suggests future directions. Particular attention is given to the premises that the elemental and isotopic composition of the otolith reflects that of the environment, and the effect of physiological filters on the resulting composition. The roles of temperature, elemental uptake into the fish and the process of otolith crystallization are also assessed. Drawing upon recent advances in geochemistry and paleoclimate research as points of contrast, it appears that not all applications of otolith chemistry are firmly leased, although others are destined to become powerful and perhaps routine tools for the mainstream fish biologist.
The economic effects of changes to harvest levels can be far-reaching. Fisheries management policies that alter catch limits have a direct impact on harvesters, but at the same time, there is a ripple effect through the economy. To bring a better understanding of the magnitude of this multiplier effect, this paper applies multiregional economic impact assessment to the case study of Pacific halibut commercial fishing in Alaska.
The results suggest that the revenue generated by Pacific halibut at the harvest stage accounts for only a fraction of economic activity that would be forgone if the resource was not available to fishermen. However, the adoption of a multiregional approach to the economic impact assessment highlights that a myriad of economic benefits in this case are realized far from where the resource is harvested. This results from strong economic ties the Alaskan fishing activities have to the economy of the rest of the United States, be it through trade, nonresident workforce or out-of-state investment in production factors such as fishing quotas.
Identifying the nursery origins of individual Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) is critical to a refined understanding of regional productivity, the effects of environmental forcing on population dynamics, and the spatial impacts of mortality and bycatch. Otolith microchemistry may provide a tool for identifying fish origins, but a precursor to using microchemistry-based assignment models is to evaluate the extent to which there exists detectable spatial structure in these natural tags. Here, we examined assignment accuracy as a function of spatial scale using canonical discriminant function analyses (DFA) applied to microchemical data from age-2 Pacific halibut in the western Gulf of Alaska (GOA) and southeastern Bering Sea (SEBS). Element:calcium ratios were assayed for fourteen trace elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry; δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O were determined via isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Substantial assignment success (∼75–90 %) was observed at spatial scales that are consistent with stock management. Elemental signatures were defined primarily by δ¹⁸O, δ¹³C, and ⁸⁸Sr:⁴⁸Ca, with a minor contribution from ⁵⁵Mn:⁴⁸Ca. Individuals were most commonly mis-assigned to adjacent locations. However, discontinuities were observed within the western GOA that suggest that elemental signatures do not vary along strictly longitudinal and latitudinal clines. These results highlight the need to exercise caution when attempting to use otolith microchemistry to assign fish to their origins when the baseline elemental data are unable to resolve missing nursery sources from the locations that are included in the discrimination models.
The Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) stock in the waters of the exclusive economic zones of Canada and the United States of America has been actively managed by the International Pacific Halibut Commission since its formation in 1923. Fisheries accessing this resource have become increasingly varied over time and among geographical areas, and more than capable of utilizing the entire yield available each year, which has averaged 34,000 mt since 1992. In recent years, 69.5 % of the mortality has come from the directed commercial fishery landings, 15.4 % from non-directed commercial fisheries (legally restricted from retaining any halibut) and 15.1 % from all other sources combined (commercial discards, recreational, subsistence). Understanding the relative effects on the stock and potential yield of allocation among fishery sectors is a high priority for managers and participants in these fisheries. This analysis used the 2019 stock assessment for Pacific halibut and three analytical methods to compare the directed and non-directed commercial fisheries. We found that potential yield to the directed fishery was generally larger than a simple reallocation from non-directed discards (115 % on average), that the rate of exchange is variable over time (range of 86-139 %), and that the effect of the directed commercial fishery on the spawning biomass has also changed over time. We conclude that managers should be aware that no simple 'conversion rate' exists for translating mortality among fisheries that differ appreciably when operating on a stock with dynamic biology.
In the U.S. West Coast groundfish bottom trawl fishery, Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) bycatch can impact some fishers' ability to fully utilize their quota shares of groundfishes. In this study, we compared the catch efficiency for Pacific halibut and four commercially important groundfish species between an illuminated and non-illuminated trawl. The illuminated trawl caught significantly fewer Pacific halibut and sablefish than the non-illuminated trawl. For Dover sole (Microstomus pacificus), petrale sole (Eopsetta jordani), and lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus), the illuminated trawl caught fewer individuals than the non-illuminated trawl. However, this catch difference was not statistically significant. Physiological data collected on Pacific halibut caught in illuminated and non-illuminated trawls show blood levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, were significantly higher in fish caught in the illuminated trawl than in the non-illuminated trawl in the absence of differences in condition factor or fat content. While our results have obvious implications for the West Coast groundfish bottom trawl fishery, our findings could also have potential applications in Alaska and British Columbia, Canada trawl fisheries where Pacific halibut bycatch occurs.
Pacific halibut multiregional economic impact assessment (PHMEIA)
- B Hutniczak
Assessment of the Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) stock at the end of 2021
- I J Stewart
- A C Hicks