Abstract: Broodmare imminence of ovulation and reproductive competence may be determined by collecting blood, serum or plasma samples from a mare over two or more days in such mare's estrous cycle; obtaining a set of concentration measurements of one or more peptide hormones of the TGF-? superfamily in such samples over such two or more days; detecting an onset of a change in the relative magnitude or slope of successive concentration measurements of such one or more peptide hormones during such cycle; and coordinating live cover or artificial insemination of such mare to occur no later than three days after such onset. The disclosed method may be performed using an associated system that measures, processes and stores the measurements. The system may detect and optionally provide notification of the onset of such change.

Abstract: Velvet disease infestation is detected using rmAbs that are cross-reactive with one or more A. ocellatum or P. pillulare antigens. The analysis may be performed shipboard, dockside, in an aquaculture or aquarium setting, otherwise in situ at the point of sample collection or elsewhere. The results may be used to monitor health and disease of captured or cultured fish species or the safety of water to be introduced into an aquaculture facility.

Abstract: Fish sexual characteristics are determined by measuring the concentration in fish serum, plasma or whole blood of one or more peptide hormones of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily (TGF-? superfamily). The disclosed method and an accompanying field test kit may be used in sturgeon aquaculture to cull out young male fish so that increased time and resources may be devoted to the further rearing of female fish for caviar production. The method and test kit may also be used for wild fish life history studies.

Abstract: Fish sexual characteristics are determined by measuring the concentration in fish serum, plasma or whole blood of one or more peptide hormones of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily (TGF-? superfamily). The disclosed method and an accompanying field test kit may be used in sturgeon aquaculture to cull out young male fish so that increased time and resources may be devoted to the further rearing of female fish for caviar production. The method and test kit may also be used for wild fish life history studies.

Abstract: Fish sexual characteristics are determined by measuring the concentration in fish serum, plasma or whole blood of one or more peptide hormones of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily (TGF-? superfamily). The disclosed method and an accompanying field test kit may be used in sturgeon aquaculture to cull out young male fish so that increased time and resources may be devoted to the further rearing of female fish for caviar production. The method and test kit may also be used for wild fish life history studies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making quantitative measurements of the amounts of optical brighteners in water samples using fluorescence measurements at multiple wavelengths. First and second emission wavelength raw measurements are corrected for sample absorption to provide absorption-corrected first emission wavelength and second emission wavelength fluorescence emission values. The absorption-corrected first emission wavelength value is compared to the absorption-corrected second emission wavelength value and to similarly-determined and similarly absorption-corrected emission wavelength values or a ratio thereof obtained from a comparison water sample in which optical brighteners are not present or are only minimally present, to provide a quantitative optical brightener measurement. The apparatus and method may be field-based or laboratory-based, and may operate on a flow-through basis or on discrete samples.

Abstract: A fishing buoy for reducing injury or premature mortality in target fish species and endangered or protected bycatch includes: a multi-axis swivel having first and second attachment points arrayed along a central first axis and a third attachment point arrayed along a distinct second axis; an anchor or other underwater restraining device; a ballast, float and a transmitter having a transmission state; a leader and at least one baitable hook; a fish strike trigger connected to the transmitter and temporarily coupled to the leader, or connected to the leader and temporarily coupled to the transmitter. After a fish or bycatch strike the trigger changes the transmitter state to provide an indication that a strike has occurred, the leader and transmitter are decoupled, and the leader is free to rotate around the central axis without entangling the anchor or other underwater restraining device.