Browsing by Author "Noyon, M."

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    Evidence of localised upwelling in Pemba Channel (Tanzania) during the southeast monsoon
    (ELSEVIER, 2020-12-07) Painter, S.C.; Sekadende, B.; Michael, A.; Noyon, M.; Shayo, S.; Godfrey, B.; Mwadini, M.; Kyewalyanga, M.
    Oceanographic and biogeochemical observations collected in Pemba Channel, a deep-water (800 m) channel separating Pemba Island from mainland Tanzania, during the South East monsoon indicate the presence of active upwelling along the western edge of Pemba Island. Surface salinity values, nutrient concentrations and the presence of coccolithophore species previously reported from the mid to lower euphotic zone all suggest up welling from at least 80–100 m depth. The surface waters of the channel were characterised with low NO3 − :PO4 3− (0.68:1) and NO3 − :Si (0.04:1) ratios far below the Brzezinski-Redfield ratio indicating the presence of N-limitation and the possibility that these waters may be susceptible to anthropogenic N inputs. Surface NO3 − concentrations averaged 0.09 ± 0.10 μmol L− 1 but increased to 0.5 μmol L− 1 in the centre of upwelling where coincidentally both integrated nutrient concentrations and surface POC/PON pools were approximately 2-fold higher than the channel average. Despite its significance for local productivity upwelling is tentatively estimated, via stoichio metric assumptions, to enhance local productivity by only 20%. The modest productivity response to upwelling may be explained by picoplankton (0.2–2 μm) dominance of the phytoplankton community with this size-class representing ~80% of total chlorophyll-a. Nevertheless, important spatial variability was identified in larger size fractions and supported by taxonomic analyses with indications that the distribution of Chaetoceros spp. alone may be particularly relevant for understanding the variability in larger (>20 μm) chlorophyll-a size fractions. The location of upwelling has previously been shown to host large concentrations of small pelagic fish thus management of this regionally important resource would benefit from additional investigation of the underlying physical mechanism driving upwelling and subsequently how trophic interactions and ecosystem productivity are influenced.
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    The small pelagic fishery of the Pemba Channel, Tanzania: What we know and what we need to know for management under climate change
    (ELSEVIER, 2020-08-20) Sekadende, B.; Scott, L.; Anderson, J.; Answani, S.; Francis, J.; Jacobs, Z.; Jebri, F.; Jiddawi, N.; Kamukuru, A.T.; Kelly, S.; Kizenga, H.; Kuguru, B.; Kyewalyanga, M.; Noyon, M.; Nyandwi, N.; Painter, S.C.; Palmer, M.; Raitsos, D.E.; Roberts, M.; Sailley, S.F.; Samoilys, M.; Saur, W.H.H.; Shayo, S.; Shaghude, Y.; Tailor, S.F.W.; Wihsgott, J.; Popova, E.
    Small pelagic fish, including anchovies, sardines and sardinellas, mackerels, capelin, hilsa, sprats and herrings, are distributed widely, from the tropics to the far north Atlantic Ocean and to the southern oceans off Chile and South Africa. They are most abundant in the highly productive major eastern boundary upwelling systems and are characterised by significant natural variations in biomass. Overall, small pelagic fisheries represent about one third of global fish landings although a large proportion of the catch is processed into animal feeds. Nonetheless, in some developing countries in addition to their economic value, small pelagic fisheries also make an important contribution to human diets and the food security of many low-income households. Such is the case for many communities in the Zanzibar Archipelago and on mainland Tanzania in the Western Indian Ocean. Of great concern in this region, as elsewhere, is the potential impact of climate change on marine and coastal ecosystems in general, and on small pelagic fisheries in particular. This paper describes data and information available on Tanzania's small pelagic fisheries, including catch and effort, management protocols and socio-economic significance. Then, incorporating the rapidly improving understanding of the region's oceanography resulting from the application of remote sensing and oceanographic modelling, the paper undertakes the most complete assessment to date of the potential impacts of climate change on the small pelagic fishery of the Pemba Channel. Pathways of climate change impact are explored and crucial knowledge gaps, both in terms of the fishery itself and the wider ecosystem, are identified in order to guide future research activities. Although we analyse small pelagics in the specific context of the Pemba Channel, the key challenges identified in the analysis are likely to be relevant to many small pelagic fisheries in coastal nations heavily dependent on living marine resources.