title: Gut structure and diet adaptability of yellowbelly flounder: A step towards integrating Rhombosolea leporina into New Zealand aquaculture

authors: Thomson, Caitlin

subjects: gut structure

abstract: Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry as wild fish stocks decline due to overfishing, climate change, and increased seafood consumption. Flatfish, being highly prized, have faced significant declines in the wild, but several species are now being cultivated in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems to meet market demand. Flatfish are low-trophic feeders and thrive in relatively simple farming setups, making them viable candidates for sustainable aquaculture.
In New Zealand, the yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina), or pātiki, is a sought-after species in commercial and recreational fisheries. Introducing this species into aquaculture could support the local seafood market and aid in replenishing wild stocks. However, limited research exists on yellowbelly flounder compared to other flatfish, particularly regarding its digestive system and dietary needs. Feed costs are a significant challenge in aquaculture, especially when striving to reduce reliance on unsustainable ingredients like fishmeal and oil while maintaining low feed conversion ratios. Understanding the digestive tract structure and function of the yellowbelly flounder is critical for developing sustainable, species-specific diets.
This study examined the gut structure and function of wild-caught adult and juvenile yellowbelly flounder, as well as juveniles fed a mussel-based diet, a fishmeal-based pellet diet, or subjected to starvation. The histological analysis examined the muscularis externa, mucosal folds, and goblet cell distribution throughout the alimentary canal, while qPCR assessed the expression of the cholecystokinin hormone paralogs (ccka and cckb).
Unexpectedly, findings suggested that yellowbelly flounder may be agastric, differing from other flatfish. Consistent gut tissue patterns, goblet cell presence, and ccka and cckb expression throughout the canal supported this conclusion. The pellet diet did cause higher ccka expression compared to the mussel diet, but overall, the results suggested the yellowbelly flounder is adaptable to varying feeds. While limited by a small-scale study, these results provided a basis for further exploration of yellowbelly flounder digestive capabilities in hopes of facilitating this species into the New Zealand aquaculture industry.

text: Gut structure and diet adaptability of yellowbelly flounder: A step towards integrating Rhombosolea leporina into New Zealand aquaculture Aquaculture is a rapidly expanding industry as wild fish stocks decline due to overfishing, climate change, and increased seafood consumption. Flatfish, being highly prized, have faced significant declines in the wild, but several species are now being cultivated in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems to meet market demand. Flatfish are low-trophic feeders and thrive in relatively simple farming setups, making them viable candidates for sustainable aquaculture.
In New Zealand, the yellowbelly flounder (Rhombosolea leporina), or pātiki, is a sought-after species in commercial and recreational fisheries. Introducing this species into aquaculture could support the local seafood market and aid in replenishing wild stocks. However, limited research exists on yellowbelly flounder compared to other flatfish, particularly regarding its digestive system and dietary needs. Feed costs are a significant challenge in aquaculture, especially when striving to reduce reliance on unsustainable ingredients like fishmeal and oil while maintaining low feed conversion ratios. Understanding the digestive tract structure and function of the yellowbelly flounder is critical for developing sustainable, species-specific diets.
This study examined the gut structure and function of wild-caught adult and juvenile yellowbelly flounder, as well as juveniles fed a mussel-based diet, a fishmeal-based pellet diet, or subjected to starvation. The histological analysis examined the muscularis externa, mucosal folds, and goblet cell distribution throughout the alimentary canal, while qPCR assessed the expression of the cholecystokinin hormone paralogs (ccka and cckb).
Unexpectedly, findings suggested that yellowbelly flounder may be agastric, differing from other flatfish. Consistent gut tissue patterns, goblet cell presence, and ccka and cckb expression throughout the canal supported this conclusion. The pellet diet did cause higher ccka expression compared to the mussel diet, but overall, the results suggested the yellowbelly flounder is adaptable to varying feeds. While limited by a small-scale study, these results provided a basis for further exploration of yellowbelly flounder digestive capabilities in hopes of facilitating this species into the New Zealand aquaculture industry.

year: 2025

title: Values, ethics and empowering the self through cooperative education

authors: Campbell, Matthew

subjects: professional ethics

abstract: Following the recent global financial crisis and the collapse of major organisations such as Lehman Brothers, and the earlier corporate failings of Enron and HIH, there has been a shift of focus towards the role of ethics education in the formation of business professionals. In other professional settings, such as policing and medicine, similar major crises have highlighted the significance of the early development of ethical practice in emerging professionals. This paper considers the nature of professional ethics for an emerging professional, arguing that professional ethics should be a key factor in cooperative education programs. The paper considers the role of values and ethics education in empowering the emerging professional to shape and change their workplace. Building on this argument, the paper suggests foundational elements of an approach to professional ethics in cooperative education programs concluding with a suggested research path for further exploration of the content and nature of such an approach.

text: Values, ethics and empowering the self through cooperative education Following the recent global financial crisis and the collapse of major organisations such as Lehman Brothers, and the earlier corporate failings of Enron and HIH, there has been a shift of focus towards the role of ethics education in the formation of business professionals. In other professional settings, such as policing and medicine, similar major crises have highlighted the significance of the early development of ethical practice in emerging professionals. This paper considers the nature of professional ethics for an emerging professional, arguing that professional ethics should be a key factor in cooperative education programs. The paper considers the role of values and ethics education in empowering the emerging professional to shape and change their workplace. Building on this argument, the paper suggests foundational elements of an approach to professional ethics in cooperative education programs concluding with a suggested research path for further exploration of the content and nature of such an approach.

year: 2011

title: Ngā Pakanga mō Wāhi Tapu: Battles over sacred places

authors: Joseph, Robert

abstract: Wāhi tapu are the sacred places of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. All cultures have sacred sites such as cemeteries, significant battlefields, and places of spiritual significance. Standout examples internationally include the ‘Weeping Wall’ in the Holy Land, Stonehenge in Britain, Maraeātea in the Pacific, and Intihuatana at Macchu Picchu in Peru. But unlike these sites, wāhi tapu are rarely a visible structure but rather a site or area within the landscape with values so significant that restrictions are warranted. In law, wāhi tapu are defined as a ‘place of special significance according to tikanga Māori’
 and ‘a place sacred to Māori in the traditional, spiritual, religious, ritual, or mythological sense’.
As the aphorism above emphasises, Māori historically were willing to die for land (and for women of course!), and wāhi tapu are the most sacred of places. Many battles have been fought over actual or proposed transgressions of their sacredness. In earlier years, blood was shed and men did die; today battles tend to occur in the Environment Court, but are just as passionate. Recent decades have seen conflicts where wāhi tapu were threatened by new highways, railroads, airports, prisons, residential and commercial developments, wind farms, power stations and waste dumps.
In this chapter, I discuss a number of the battles that have been fought over the development or preservation of wāhi tapu from first European contact up until the present time. I highlight the growing legal recognition of tikanga Māori in relation to these sacred landscapes, and conclude with a proposed pragmatic solution for all New Zealanders when negotiating developments over wāhi tapu. Having a
background in law and tribal affiliations, I discuss these tensions from both legal and kaupapa Māori perspectives.

text: Ngā Pakanga mō Wāhi Tapu: Battles over sacred places Wāhi tapu are the sacred places of Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. All cultures have sacred sites such as cemeteries, significant battlefields, and places of spiritual significance. Standout examples internationally include the ‘Weeping Wall’ in the Holy Land, Stonehenge in Britain, Maraeātea in the Pacific, and Intihuatana at Macchu Picchu in Peru. But unlike these sites, wāhi tapu are rarely a visible structure but rather a site or area within the landscape with values so significant that restrictions are warranted. In law, wāhi tapu are defined as a ‘place of special significance according to tikanga Māori’
 and ‘a place sacred to Māori in the traditional, spiritual, religious, ritual, or mythological sense’.
As the aphorism above emphasises, Māori historically were willing to die for land (and for women of course!), and wāhi tapu are the most sacred of places. Many battles have been fought over actual or proposed transgressions of their sacredness. In earlier years, blood was shed and men did die; today battles tend to occur in the Environment Court, but are just as passionate. Recent decades have seen conflicts where wāhi tapu were threatened by new highways, railroads, airports, prisons, residential and commercial developments, wind farms, power stations and waste dumps.
In this chapter, I discuss a number of the battles that have been fought over the development or preservation of wāhi tapu from first European contact up until the present time. I highlight the growing legal recognition of tikanga Māori in relation to these sacred landscapes, and conclude with a proposed pragmatic solution for all New Zealanders when negotiating developments over wāhi tapu. Having a
background in law and tribal affiliations, I discuss these tensions from both legal and kaupapa Māori perspectives.

year: 2011