<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>A global problem of today is the large amount of waste in the seas and oceans, primarily plastic waste. It is estimated that every year 1.25 to 2.41 million tons of plastic material is being carried by rivers into the seas and oceans. Waste is a major problem for marine organisms, causing entanglement, choking, strangulation, malnutrition and death. In 1972 the problems caused by microplastics, particles smaller than 5 mm, were first observed. Such particles bind pathogenic microorganisms on to their surface. Increasing quantities of microplastics have been found in the stomachs of fish, and also in shellfish that feed by filtering sea water. Ingested by marine organisms, such plastics may eventually pass through the food web and can end up ingested by humans. In addition, plastic releases chemical compounds whose effect on marine organisms and humans has still not been studied. Many international and state organizations offer solutions through recycling plastic waste, as well as reducing the production of plastic materials and informing the public about the problem.</abstract>

The Problem of Plastic Waste and Microplastics in the Seas and Oceans: Impact on Marine Organisms

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The objective of this review is to present current status of meagre aquaculture in Croatia. Meagre <italic>Argyrosomus regius</italic> (Asso, 1801) is a fast growing migratory fish species which used to be widespread along the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Today, it is very rare in fisheries catches and is considered highly endangered. Recently, meagre has become an increasingly important species in the Mediterranean aquaculture. In Croatia, meagre is a relatively new cultured species whose farming started after the year 2000. Since the European Commission identified species diversification as a top priority in the framework of the 2020 strategies for Aquaculture, and with recent studies revealing that meagre adapt easily to captivity and maintain a rapid growth rate, this species became an interesting candidate for Croatian as well as Mediterranean aquaculture.</abstract>

Meagre (<italic>Argyrosomus regius</italic> Asso, 1801) aquaculture in Croatia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The study assessed the adoption of improved aquaculture technologies among fish farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 90 fish farmers were sampled through the multistage sampling technique. A validated and pretested interview schedule was used to obtain primary information from the fish farmers. Obtained data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results obtained revealed that more than half and about one-third of the fish farmers sourced credit facilities from cooperative societies and Esusu, respectively, while almost all sold their fishes as smoked fish. Higher proportions of the fish farmers were aware, tried and adopted most of the improved aquaculture technologies with some of the fish farmers also discontinuing most of the previously adopted technologies. The findings of the study also reported that the fish farmers had positive attitude towards the adoption of improved aquaculture technologies. Results of regression analysis revealed that secondary occupation of the fish farmers (β=−0.324, p&lt;0.01), annual income level (β=−0.471, p&lt;0.05), cost of pond construction (β=0.477, p&lt;0.05) and total profit realized (β=−0.466, p&lt;0.05) were significant predictors of the adoption of improved technologies by the fish farmers with an R2 implying that 46.0% of the variability in the fish farmers’ adoption of improved aquaculture technologies is explained by the socio-economic and production characteristics of the fish farmers. The study concluded that the adoption of improved aquaculture technologies is dynamic and highly influenced by the socio-economic characteristics of the fish farmers which also change with time. It is therefore recommended that technologies that received low level of adoption or which discontinued after earlier adoption should be worked on so that the adoption of those technologies would translate to increased income level of fish farmers, reduced cost of pond construction and increased profit of the fish farmers.</abstract>

Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Center, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Dynamics of the adoption of improved aquaculture technologies among fish farmers in Lagos State, Nigeria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>A checklist of the freshwater fish fauna of Croatia is presented for the first time. It is based on 1360 publications of historical and recent data in the literature. According to the literature review, there were 137 fish species in 30 families and 75 genera recorded in Croatia. The checklist is systematically arranged and provides distributional data of the freshwater fish fauna as well as whether the species is endemic, introduced or translocated.</abstract>

A Review of Extant Croatian Freshwater Fish and Lampreys

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The taxonomic research of eight populations of <italic>Sabanejewia balcanica</italic> from the water catchment area of the river Sava included the analysis of the meristic characteristics and pigmentation of their bodies. The analyzed sample contained 98 specimens collected in the areas of the rivers Turija, Gostelja, Brka, Suturlija, Suha, Tinja and Trebačka. The aim of this paper was to specify the meristic and pigment characteristics of this species at the location of the water catchment area of the river Sava, which are frequently used in describing new taxa. The meristic traits investigation included the analysis of the number of rays in dorsal, ventral, pectoral, anal and caudal fins. In the analysis of body pigmentation, the number and arrangement of suborbital spines, blotches or spots were determined. The results of this research indicated that there were no intrapopulation differences in <italic>Sabanejewia balcanica</italic> from the water catchment area of the river Sava in terms of meristic characteristic and body pigmentation.</abstract>

Body pigmentation and meristic characteristics of Balkan golden loach (<italic>Sabanejewia balcanica</italic>) from the water catchment area of the river Sava

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The reproductive cycle of the crustacean family Portunidae on the coast of the Pacific is not well known. Therefore, the reproductive cycle and the size at first maturity of brown crab <italic>Callinectes bellicosus</italic> and its relationship with environmental factors in the El Colorado Lagoon, Ahome, Sinaloa has been determined. A total of 360 females were collected from March 2012 to March 2013. The gonads were fixed in 10% formalin, histological cuts were made by the paraffin inclusion method and the hematoxylin and eosin staining technique. The diameter of oocytes was determined by stage. The size at first maturity was estimated by a logistic model. Females showed gametogenic activity during the entire study period. The maturity period was from March to November 2012, with two spawning peaks, in September 2012 and March 2013. Maturity was inversely influenced by temperature (r = -0.4454, P &lt; 0.05) and no influence by salinity was observed (P &gt; 0.05). The diameter of the oocytes showed significant differences between the development stages of the gonad (P = 0.001). The size at first maturity was 11.57 cm of carapace width for females of <italic>C. bellicosus</italic>.
</abstract>

Reproductive Cycle and Size at First Maturity in Females of Brown Crab <italic>Callinectes Bellicosus</italic> (Stimpson 1859) in the Southwestern Gulf of California, Mexico

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Huchen or Danube salmon <italic>Hucho hucho</italic> (Linnaeus 1758) is one of the largest salmonid species in the world and the largest species native to the Danube basin in Europe. In Serbia, this species inhabits the Drina river system, as well as the upper reaches of the River Ibar. It has already been introduced into the rivers Moravica and Đetinja, which are part of the Zapadna Morava catchment area. Most recently, huchen was stocked from its native habitat into the rivers Jerma and Nišava in the Južna Morava river system, and into the River Mlava which flows into the Danube. Huchen is listed as an endangered (EN) species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected in Serbia, and a Conservation Action Plan has already been adopted. In this report, we present the first record of this species in the River Grza, which is a part of the Velika Morava river system, outside its native range. The ichthyofauna of this recipient river consists of brown trout <italic>Salmo trutta</italic> L. and Eurasian minnow <italic>Phoxinus phoxinus</italic> L. In a small river of a fragile ecosystem such as this, the introduction of huchen as an apex predator can seriously harm the species of the native fish community, which warns of the illegal stocking measures currently in process.
</abstract>

First Record of Huchen <italic>hucho hucho</italic> (Linnaeus 1758) in the Grza River: Human-Caused Introduction from its Native Habitat in Serbia

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Carotenoids are naturally occurring pigments in plants, algae, fungi, insects, and crustaceans. Krill and prawns contain high levels of some value-added nutrients for the aquaculture industry, such as astaxanthin which is used as a colouring agent. In birds with ornamental plumage, such as canaries, the carotenoid-pigmented plumage and red hues are exclusively due to the diet. In this regard, our aim was to study the possibilities of using shrimp waste for feather colouring in canary <italic>Serinus canaria domestica</italic>. Shrimp <italic>Pandalus borealis</italic> dried waste was included in the feed of six female red lipochrome mosaic canaries <italic>Serinus canaria domestica</italic> for three months during their third molt. The basic diet consisted of a seed mixture (canary seed, sunflower seed without shell, linseed, and rapeseed), rearing food (Quiko®Bianco), and conditioning food (Quiko®Rusk) with the supplementation of an oil suspension of dried shrimp waste (3%). The <italic>ad libitum</italic>-fed birds had additional free access to pasta (Legazin® Procria White Morbida). To evaluate the effect of shrimp waste on feather colouring, covert feathers were taken from the tail in the region of the uropygial gland. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy of the most intensely coloured parts of the feathers was measured by a spectrophotometer. The chromaticity coordinates in a CIE xyY colour space were calculated from the measured spectroscopy. The results of the experiment showed that shrimp waste increased chromaticity and had no negative effect on the canaries. On this basis, the authors assumed that dried shrimp waste could be an alternative to synthetic dyes.
</abstract>

Carotenoids from Shrimp Waste as a Natural Dye for the Feather Colouring of Canary Birds <italic>Serinus canaria domestica</italic>

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
A study was conducted on the changes in sea surface temperature (SST) on the southwestern shelf of the Crimea between 2000 and 2020. The equations of trends in the change of SST were found. It is shown that the following three periods can be distinguished according to the nature of changes in the average annual sea temperature: 2000 - 2007, 2008-2013 and 2014 - 2020. The influence of changes in the average annual SST on the development of pelagic fish of the cold-water complex was considered (using the example of the Black Sea sprat). Changes in the main parameters of the populations and their relationship with the change in the average annual SST were determined. It was found that the increase in sea temperature negatively affected the development of the sprat population, and the average age of the population decreased by 1.3 times. In general, the population was rejuvenated, and the average size and weight of individuals decreased.
</abstract>

The Influence of the Temperature Factor on the Changes in the Growth Parameters of Sprat (2000 - 2020)

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<italic>Litopenaeus vannamei</italic>, a highly adaptable shrimp species known for its growth, thrives in environmental conditions with proper water quality. However, salinity stress poses a significant challenge, compromising shrimp survival and growth. To optimize shrimp feed, the inclusion of alginate and <italic>Spirulina</italic> sp. offers benefits such as enhanced growth and resistance to environmental stress. This research aims to assess the impact of adding <italic>Spirulina</italic> sp., alginate, and their combination on the survival rate, resistance to the salinity shock test, and growth of <italic>L. vannamei</italic>. In this study, a completely randomized design (CRD) method with nine different feed doses was used. The treatments included control, supplementation of Alg 1 (alginate 1 g/kg feed), Alg 3 (alginate 3 g/kg feed), Alg 5 (alginate 5 g/kg feed), Sp 3 (spirulina 3 mg/kg feed), Sp 6 (spirulina 6 mg/kg feed), Sp 9 (spirulina 9 mg/kg feed), AS 1+1 (alginate 1 g/kg feed + spirulina 1 mg/kg feed), AS 2+3 (alginate 2 g/kg feed + spirulina 3 mg/kg feed), and AS 3+5 (alginate 3 g/kg feed + spirulina 5 mg/kg feed). The supplementation of feed was given during the fourteen-day rearing period. The results of the study show that the supplementation of Sp 9 (spirulina 9 mg/kg feed) led to a significant growth (<italic>α</italic> = 0.05). All treatments supplemented with alginate and/or <italic>Spirulina</italic> sp. water extract had a significant effect (<italic>α</italic> = 0.05) on the resistance to the salinity shock test. The different treatments in <italic>L. vannamei</italic> feed supplementation significantly influenced (<italic>α</italic> = 0.05) shrimp survival. Polysaccharides and antioxidant properties in alginate and <italic>Spirulina</italic> sp. have an important role in increasing the growth and resistance to salinity shock of <italic>L. vannamei</italic>.
</abstract>

Benefits of Alginate and Spirulina Supplementation to the Growth and Resistance Against Salinity Exposure in <italic>Litopenaues vannamei</italic> Post-Larvae

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Nile tilapia <italic>Oreochromis niloticus</italic> is one of the most important fishery resources and a valuable fish species for aquaculture programmes. It is found in almost all waters and is widely dispersed. Several natural populations of this species have been impacted by genetic pollution despite their significant economic relevance. Understanding population structure is a crucial first step in protecting this species in its native habitats as well as in choosing which wild stocks to use in hatchery initiatives. To demonstrate the genetic-population structure of this species, genetic differences among three geographically secluded populations of <italic>O. niloticus</italic> were investigated utilizing mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene sequences. The results were used to estimate the levels of genetic variability within and among the populations. The 56 cyt b (821 bp) sequences analysis revealed 21 haplotypes, with a nucleotide diversity of 0.0510 and a haplotype diversity of 0.881. In each of the populations, seven (7) singleton variable sites and 19 informative-parsimony sites, genetic diversity could be identified and few population haplotypes were found, indicating a minor genetic distinction between them. For the purpose of conservation and/or Nile tilapia breeding programmes, this information would assist in choosing the fish populations that maintain greater genetic variation in <italic>O. niloticus</italic>.
</abstract>

Genetic Analysis of Three Geographically Secluded Populations of Nile Tilapia <italic>Oreochromis niloticus</italic> (Cichlidae)

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
<italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp. and <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp. are plankton genera that can be used to determine the level of balance in the aquatic environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the abundance of plankton <italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp. and <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp. and its relation to the clinical performance of red tilapia in silvofishery ponds. The research method used is an <italic>ex post facto</italic> causal design with random sampling. The results showed that the water quality in the silvofishery ponds was very good, except for the nitrate parameters of 0.00-1.50 mg/L and salinity of 2-11 gr/L, which exceeded the quality standards. In the silvofishery ponds, 5 plankton classes were found, namely Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Protozoa, and Dinophysis, consisting of 15 genera. The dominant class Chlorophyceae had an abundance of 2.88E+06 cells/ml. The class Chlorophyceae is dominated by <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp. (2.63E+06 cells/ml) and <italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp. (2.20E+05 cells/ml). The abundance of <italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp. in silvofishery ponds is closely related to phosphate solubility (0.988). Based on observations of clinical symptoms on the eyes, gills, and fins of fish, no disease infections or physical abnormalities were found in the fish cultured in silvofishery ponds. Fish tend to live well with a growth rate of 0.44 g/day. The aquatic ecosystem of the silvofishery pond, which is dominated by the plankton <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp. and <italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp., had a good effect on the performance and condition of the farmed fish. This study concludes that the abundance of <italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp. and <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp. was very dominant compared to other plankton genera. The presence of <italic>Chlamydomonas</italic> spp. and <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp. illustrates good and stable environmental conditions in silvofishery ponds, followed by no clinical signs of disease infection in the fish reared during the study period.
</abstract>

Relationship Between Abundance of <italic>Clamydomonas</italic> spp and <italic>Chlorella</italic> spp on Clinical Performance of Red Tilapia <italic>Oreochromis niloticus</italic> in Silvofishery Ponds

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The objective of the present study was to examine the length-weight relationships and condition factors of snapper <italic>Lutjanus russellii</italic>, ponyfish <italic>Aurigequula fasciata</italic> and white-spotted spinefoot <italic>Siganus canaliculatus</italic> harvested from Ulelhee Bay, Banda Aceh City, Indonesia. These species are the predominant fishes caught by traditional beach trawl in Ulelhee Bay, Banda Aceh City, Indonesia. The sampling was conducted for three months from April to June 2015 at one-week interval. A total of 900 fish samples (300 individuals for each species) were measured for the total length and body weight. The length-weight relationships were calculated using Linear Allometric Model (LAM), while the relative weights (Wr) and Fulton’s condition (K) factors were calculated to assess the condition of the fish samples. The results showed that the <italic>b</italic> value of 3.04 in snapper indicates isometric growth pattern, while ponyfish and white-spotted spinefoot fish had the b values of 1.41 and 1.75, respectively, and these species display an allometric growth pattern. The average Fulton’s condition factor (K) of snapper was 3.01 for male and 2.49 for female; female ponyfish has the K value of 2.92 and 2.92 for male. In addition, the average K value of whitespotted spinefoot was 2.61 and 2.59 for female and male, respectively. The relative weight condition factor ranges from 58.73 to 166.09 for snapper, from 70.55 to 129.65 for ponyfish, and from 71.63 to 133.53 for white-spotted spinefoot. In general, the relative weight condition factors tendedto be 100. It is concluded that snapper has isometric growth pattern, while ponyfish and white-spotted spinefoot display the negative allometric growth pattern. The condition factors are in excellent condition and indicate a balance of prey and predator.</abstract>

Length-Weight Relationships and Condition Factors of the Three Dominant Species of Marine Fishes Caught by Traditional Beach Trawl in Ulelhee Bay, Banda Aceh City, Indonesia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> We have limited knowledge of determinants of consumer preferences for wild-caught versus farmed-raised fish, so this work aims to investigate the impact of sociodemographics, habits and frequency of fresh fish consumption, such as involvement in cooking, on the preferences for wild versus farmed fish. A survey was done on a sample of 1151 fish consumers in Croatia. Results showed that female, older consumers, consumers with higher income and those living in coastal parts of Croatia give higher preferences for wild fish and they detect differences between the taste of wild and farmed fish. Consumers with higher levels of habits of fresh fish consumption, who eat fresh fish often and are more involved in cooking, prefer wild-caught fish. These findings provide valuable information for the aquaculture sector, especially for planning marketing strategies for the promotion of farmed fish.</abstract>

Wild-Caught Versus Farmed Fish – Consumer Perception

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Croatian Journal of Fisheries

Ribarstvo

 The Croatian Journal of Fisheries was established in 1938 and today possesses a long-term tradition of publishing papers that deal with both freshwater and marine...

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 The Croatian Journal of Fisheries was established in 1938 and today possesses a long-term tradition of publishing papers that deal...

Croatian Journal of Fisheries

Ribarstvo

First Record of Huchen hucho hucho (Linnaeus 1758) in the Grza River: Human-Caused Introduction from its Native Habitat in Serbia

Carotenoids from Shrimp Waste as a Natural Dye for the Feather Colouring of Canary Birds Serinus canaria domestica

The Influence of the Temperature Factor on the Changes in the Growth Parameters of Sprat (2000 - 2020)

Benefits of Alginate and Spirulina Supplementation to the Growth and Resistance Against Salinity Exposure in Litopenaues vannamei Post-Larvae

Genetic Analysis of Three Geographically Secluded Populations of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (Cichlidae)

Relationship Between Abundance of Clamydomonas spp and Chlorella spp on Clinical Performance of Red Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in Silvofishery Ponds