Sea turtles undertake long migrations to feed, reproduce and nest. For this reason, they interact with many kinds of fisheries. The presence of stranded sea turtles on beaches may be used as an index of these interactions. The present study aimed to report sea turtles stranded along the coastline of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. GEMM-Lagos long-term monitoring programme has reported 57 stranded sea turtles since 1994, mostly of Chelonia mydas and Lepidochelys olivacea. None of them had tags or tag scars. Two individuals presented tumour-like growths. This kind of study and its continuity are very important due to the scarcity of published information on sea turtles in this area.

The present study demonstrates the influence of the time of the day and tide on the frequency of individuals and on the social and foraging behaviour of an equatorial population of Sotalia guianensis. A population of S. guianensis from enseada do Curral (6°13′00″S 35°3′36″W), north-eastern Brazil, was investigated from October 1999 to September 2003. Social and foraging activities oscillated significantly, being less intense at high tide in comparison to other analysed tides. Socialization was more intense between 1000 and 1300 hours and foraging was more intense in between tides, than at high tide. No diurnal or tidal fluctuation was found on the frequency of individuals, which remained constant throughout the day. These results demonstrate the influence of circadian factors on an equatorial population which is highly impacted by human activities and highlights a need for protective measures.

The predation of pinnipeds by sharks in tropical or temperate regions is a significant cause of mortality of this group and little is known about these interactions off the Brazilian coast, since the records of these species are occasional, mainly in the north-eastern region. The objective of this study is to report the predator–prey interactions between sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) and cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) off the coast of Bahia. The present study was based on numbers of pinnipeds stranded, where there had been observed two specimens of sub-Antarctic fur seal, A. tropicalis. The diagnostic identification of shark predators was through the analysis of the morphology and conditions of the wounds compared with specialized literature. The measures are fit in category III, to whose height and width they are similar, suggesting to have been inferred for I. plutodus. This study confirms the necessity for continuing to study the interactions between sharks and pinnipeds in order to better understand the predator–prey relations off the Brazilian coast, as well as to question the extent to which these interactions cause the hindrance of this group.

Three lessepsian fish immigrants—Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus and Fistularia commersonii—as well as two alien macroalgae—Stypopodium schimperi and Asparagopsis taxiformis—are reported for the first time from the Messiniakos Gulf (south-east Ionian Sea, Greece). Findings of S. schimperi and A. taxiformis correspond to their westernmost records from Greek waters. Direct field observations showed that S. luridus has established a permanent population, the first to be mentioned in the Ionian Sea taken as a whole. The results increase the total number of marine aliens of the studied area to 14 species, enhancing the assumption that the south-east Ionian Sea is a hot spot on the way of lessepsian species spreading to the west.

The first Mediterranean record of the African moonfish, Selene dorsalis, is reported, with the capture of a single female specimen by means of a trammel net from coastal waters off the Maltese Islands. The species is a non-indigenous one for the Mediterranean, being native of tropical and subtropical waters of the east Atlantic. The Mediterranean record of S. dorsalis could be indicative of a northward range expansion of the species, spurred in part by the recent warming trend observed in the Mediterranean Sea.

The fan mussel Pinna nobilis is a long lived species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and is considered one of the biggest bivalve molluscs of the Mediterranean. A multitude of threats has provoked a great reduction in P. nobilis populations. To increase the knowledge about the recruitment period and number of Pinna nobilis recruits, two types of recruitment devices were deployed in July 2007 on a Marine Protected Area of Palma Bay, Mallorca (western Mediterranean). A total of 614 juveniles of P. nobilis, with a mean length and width of 2.76±0.04 and 1.10±0.01 cm respectively, were collected inside the artificial microhabitat generated by the knots of ‘device Type I’. Similarly, 691 P. nobilis were recruited with a mean length and width of 5.38±0.08 and 2.10±0.04 cm respectively from ‘device Type II’. Moreover, in the year 2007, the present study determined that P. nobilis recruitment takes place between the last week of August and the first week of September. This study produces some crucial information for effective protection and conservation of the fan mussel. Moreover, a Pinna nobilis artificial recruitment with seed collectors would permit an alternative tool for field studies without compromising the concentration of the vulnerable populations of this mollusc.

Some biological parameters of Jenyns' sprat Ramnogaster arcuata in Bahía Blanca estuary, Argentina, were evaluated during a survey conducted on a monthly basis between September 2005 and August 2006. Jenyns' sprat specimens were observed in the estuary all through the year. Total length (TL; N = 721) ranged from 33 to 131 mm. No significant differences between the length–weight relationships of males and females were detected (P > 0.10). Positive allometric growth was observed in juveniles, males, females and sexes combined. Whole otolith analysis revealed four age groups (0–3), 1-year age being the most abundant. Gompertz growth parameters were L∞: 102.75 mm, k = 0.46 and t0 = 0.98 for males (r = 0.80), and L∞: 125.45 mm, k = 0.33 and t0 = 0.68 for females (r = 0.76). Males and females reached 50% sexual maturity (TL50) at 76 and 77 mm TL (age 1 year), respectively, and all individuals were sexually mature at a 110 mm-length at the age of 3 years. Macroscopic gonad inspection, gonadosomatic index and the high percentage of fish of the smallest size-class captured during spring and summer samplings indicate that the spawning season began in spring. Taken together, our results indicate that the biology of R. arcuata is fairly consistent with the biology of other temperate clupeoids.

On 15 and 17 September 2008 two sightings of blue whales were recorded (with photographic confirmation of species identity) on the continental shelf slopes to the west of Ireland. Blue whale sightings within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm limit) are extremely rare with only three reported sightings since the closure of the Irish/Norwegian whaling stations in 1922, none of which were confirmed by photo-identification. These new records are considered to be of two separate animals due to the distances between sightings and fluking behaviour being exhibited by only one of the animals. Evidence suggesting that these animals were feeding was collected during both sightings, with northern krill thought to be the prey species. Photographs taken on 15 September allowed for photo-identification comparison with the North Atlantic blue whale catalogue, however no match was found. Together these sightings may indicate a previously unrecorded feeding area for blue whales in the north-east Atlantic.

During the summer of 2008, juveniles of the Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus were found in association with the hydromedusae Aequorea forskalea in north-western Spain. This is the first report of association for this pair of species in the world.

One specimen of Platycephalus indicus (Platycephalidae) and one of Saurida undosquamis (Synodontidae) have been found stranded on the shore of Cape Peloro, Strait of Messina, Italy, at the end of the 1970s. The descriptions of these two lessepsian fish, previously unrecorded in Italian seas, are reported and their findings discussed.

Following the discovery of the newly introduced red alga Heterosiphonia japonica in Loch Sunart, West Scotland in 2008, its local distribution, abundance and dominance within the algal community was examined by in situ observations and algal collections at sites in Loch Sunart and Loch Creran. It was found to be common in both lochs at semi-exposed and sheltered locations, where it was generally one of the dominant species attaining 12% coverage of the seabed below a Laminaria saccharina forest canopy and 28% cover in the shallow circalittoral, where it formed a virtual macroalgal monoculture. Possible vectors for its spread in the area are discussed. The presence of Sargassum muticum is also reported at one of the sites, representing the most northerly UK record of this species in the literature.

Of 929 piked spurdogs, Squalus megalops, collected in south-eastern Australia, one individual was hermaphrodite. This individual presents a rare case of abnormal hermaphroditism in sharks where the female reproductive tract (left side) possessed a mature yolky ovarian follicle but completely undeveloped uterus and oviducal gland, and the male reproductive tract (right side) was fully developed. The hermaphrodite was found schooling with mature males. The morphological and behavioural characteristics suggest that this individual would function as a normal male.

Information on at-sea sightings of beaked wholes are rare from the Indian and Sri-Lankan waters because of the relative rarity of vessels working in deep oceans where these species are encountered. A recent survey onboard FORV ‘Sagar Sampada’ brought out the first confirmed sighting of live animals of Longman's beaked whole. Indopacetus pacificus from the southern Bay of Bengal. The details of the sighting, illustrated with photographs are presented in this note.

Recent sampling surveys (1995–2001) of the shallow (3–136 m) soft-bottom communities along the Algerian coast in nine bays and gulfs and twelve harbours have allowed 206 species of marine amphipod to be recorded. Among the species recorded, 45 species appear to be new in terms of the inventory of the marine amphipod fauna of Algeria (Bakalem & Dauvin, 2005). This note reports on the number of specimens sampled for each of these 45 species and provides data on sediment type and depth at which they were sampled. Sixteen of these species are considered to be endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, twenty-six are north-eastern Atlantic species, and the last three have a wide geographical distribution in the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. The sampling also permitted the confirmation of the presence of five other Atlantic amphipod species not already reported in the inventory of the Mediterranean amphipod fauna (Bellan-Santini et al., 1998). The total number of marine amphipod fauna in Algeria is now 298.

The first record of Gobius couchi for the Ligurian Sea and the second record of this rare gobiid fish for the western Mediterranean are reported.

The present study reports on a range extension of the suctorian species Praethecacineta halacari to the region of He-Ping-Dao, north-east of Taiwan (West Pacific Ocean), Matemwe, the east coast of Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania (West Indian Ocean) and Nova Scotia, Canada (West Atlantic Ocean). Praethecacineta halacari is reported here for the first time from Taiwan, Tanzania and Canada. Earlier records include the Caspian Sea, Western Australia, Brazil, India, and various coastal sites in Europe.

Community structure and biodiversity of polychaetes of the intertidal sandy beach at Chabahar Bay, the largest bay in the north-east of Oman Gulf, were studied for ten months in 2007. A total of 16 polychaete species belonging to 15 families were identified. The results showed that densities were influenced by the monsoon season so that maximum density (1370 ind m−2) was observed at pre monsoon while minimum density (117 ind m−2) was obtained during monsoon. Two species, Synelmis albini and Magelona cornuta, were the most abundant species. The highest and lowest values of diversity and richness indices were obtained at pre monsoon and during monsoon, respectively. Also, multivariate analysis separated monsoon season from pre and post monsoon clearly. Our results show that the monsoon can be the most important factor on community structure and biodiversity of polychaetes at Chabahar Bay and the intertidal of this bay is not a favourable environment for polychaete development.

Between 2004 and 2007, tournament editions and the recreational fishery for the broadnose seven-gill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus, were monitored in Natural Reserves of Ría Deseado (RD, a breeding area for the Patagonian smooth hound) and Peninsula de San Julian (SJ), southern Patagonia, Argentina. Sharks' catch composition by sex; total length (TL) and weight (W) were recorded. Reproductive status was assessed from the literature. Juvenile females dominated the catches in both areas during the 4-year period.

Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, distribution was compared to acoustic backscatter observations in the Gulf of California. Forty-three sperm whale groups, totalling 813 individuals, were encountered during 28 observation days. Sperm whales occurred over deep waters (mean depth = 659 m, range: 300–1800 m). A significant correlation was found between the whales' maximum depth of dive and depth of the acoustic scattering layer (N = 36, r2 = 0.944, P = 0.000). We observed sperm whales dive to the scattering layer and then surface with prey in their jaws: jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas (10 events) and unidentified fish (one event). The average depth of sperm whale foraging dives to the scattering layer was 342 m, the average diving time was 23 minutes, and the average surface interval between foraging dives was 6 minutes. Sperm whales spent 75% of their time diving and 25% on the surface. Swimming speed at the surface was slower when whales reached scattering layers during a dive (2.4 km/h) compared to dives when no scattering layer was reached (8.9 km/h). Our results establish a direct link between sperm whale distribution and presence of its prey in the Gulf of California.

To quantitatively assess the fecundity of female Caprella mutica (Crustacea: Amphipoda), an invasive caprellid species in numerous regions of the world, I reared pairs of adult C. mutica under four different temperature regimes (5, 10, 15 and 20°C) and measured the moulting interval, oviposition interval, oviposition–hatch period, and oviposition–juvenile emergence period. Concurrently, I examined changes in the number of eggs per oviposition and hatching success at the different temperatures, and clarified the timing of events from oviposition to juvenile emergence at all temperatures. The findings showed that this species reproduces at temperatures ranging from 5 to 20°C. Moulting interval was closely correlated with oviposition interval, becoming longer at lower temperatures. Similarly, the mean oviposition–juvenile emergence period was also longer at lower temperatures. Eggs developed normally at 15 and 20°C but showed decreased viability at 5 or 10°C. The number of eggs produced per oviposition did not vary with rearing temperature. These findings indicated that reproduction in female C. mutica in the field was frequent with short intervals between oviposition events when temperatures exceeded 15°C. Conversely, at temperatures below 10°C, reproduction was less frequent, resulting in markedly reduced reproductive rate and an increased probability of unusual egg development.