Scientists from the University of South Australia have created the world’s first guide to protecting octopuses from overfishing. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Marine and Freshwater Research (MFR).
It is estimated that global octopus production has doubled in the last few decades to meet the food needs of the growing global population. Today, approximately 400 thousand of these cephalopods are caught every year in 90 countries. Fishing volumes are expected to continue to increase in the future, threatening the stability of animal populations.
To preserve octopus numbers, the team developed a document that will allow fishermen to accurately determine the age of the creatures they catch.
The method is based on counting growth rings, which are formed in tissues such as tree rings in the inner shells of octopuses near their beaks and gills. In the case of molluscs, the method turned out to be a little more complicated, since their rings represent days, not years.
According to the researchers, their work will help preserve young and immature individuals, giving them a chance to grow and produce offspring.
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Source: Gazeta
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