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Tyler Grix Fall 2013 Article 1:00 pm Evelyn Galvez Biology 1010 Lab 30 August 2013 Blue Sharks Article read: Generalized additive model and regression tree analyses of Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) catch rates by the Hawaii-based commercial longline fishery by William A. Walsh and Pierre Kleiber. Fisheries Research 53 (2001) pg. 115-131. The article is about Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) catch rates as reported by National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) observers stationed aboard vessels of the Hawaiian-based commercial longline fleet and how commercial fishing is declining the population. The hypothesis of the report is the deeper the fishing lines are, the more sharks get caught on them. The Hawaii-based commercial longline fishery primarily targets bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius), as do most commercial fishing operations. The highest Blue Shark incidental catch rates are usually associated with swordfish-directed activity. The tuna or swordfish are caught on the fishing hooks, and the Blue Sharks grab on to the dead fish and eat them. Several environmental and operational variables provided in the observer data were tested to assess their influences on Blue Shark catch rates. The objective was to relate catch rates to readily-measured or computed variables.

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Observers were present on 190 trips, performing duties that included gathering data concerning fishing effort and obtaining species-specific tallies of catches and discards. Blue Sharks are mostly found in cold waters, between 18 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. They comprised approximately one-third of the catches throughout the study. Sea surface temperature (which controls the sharks metabolism, exerting strong effects on energetic demands) was the most influential environmental factor for Blue Shark catch rates. The most prominent feature was a steady decline from ca. 18 degrees Celsius to lower levels of ca. 25 degrees Celsius and an increase at 27-30 degrees Celsius. Geographic location was the predominant influence on Blue Shark catch rates. Latitude provided the largest reduction in the deviance. Longitude exerted the greatest effect on Blue Shark catch rates when adjusted for all other factors. Most of the time, in the northern latitude or longitude, the sharks are more populated because the waters are colder. Thus, the farther north in the Northern Hemisphere, the more Blue Sharks they found in the Pacific Ocean because the waters more north are colder. If you decrease the population of bigeye tuna, swordfish or Blue Shark, one ecosystem becomes unbalanced. Blue Sharks are very important in controlling the balance in the marine environment. Conclusion is that most Blue Sharks could be protected by commercial vessels fishing warm waters and using less fishing lines less deep for them to be caught on. Also, if fishing hooks were made out of magnetic material or positive electromagnetic hooks, sharks would sense the magnetic field and stay away from them because underneath the sharks mouth, they have sensors that sense magnetic field ions in the water. We should conserve or limit commercial fishing lines to protect the environment so others can study or see these miraculous Blue Sharks for generations to come.

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Tyler Grix Fall 2013 Article 1:00 pm Evelyn Galvez Biology 1010 Lab 30 August 2013 Blue Sharks Introduction: Modern statistical methods currently used in fisheries biology to identify, characterize, and estimate the relationships between extrinsic factors and catch rates include generalized additive models (GAMs) and regression trees. The paper presents the results of GAM and regression tree analysis of blue shark, Prionace glauca, catch rates as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) observers stationed aboard vessels of the Hawaii-based commercial longline fleet.

Purpose of Article: To present the findings of the catch rates of the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) as reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) observers stationed aboard vessels of the Hawaiian-based commercial longline fleet and to reveal how commercial fishing is declining the blue shark population.

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What the article talks about: The article talks about how the Hawaii-based commercial longline fishery primarily targets bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius), as do most commercial fishing operations, and how the highest Blue Shark incidental catch rates are usually associated with catching swordfish.

Problems: Several environmental and operational variables (water temperature and geographic location) provided in the observer data were tested to assess their influences on Blue Shark catch rates. The objective was to relate catch rates to readily-measured or computed variables. If you decrease the population of bigeye tuna, swordfish or Blue Shark, one ecosystem becomes unbalanced. Blue Sharks are very important in controlling the balance in the marine environment.

Conclusion: Most Blue Sharks could be protected by commercial vessels fishing warm waters and using less fishing lines less deep for them to be caught on. Also, if fishing hooks were made out of magnetic material or positive electromagnetic hooks, sharks would sense the magnetic field and stay away from them.