Comparison of the behavior of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye (T. obesus) tuna associated with drifting FADs in the equatorial central Pacific Ocean

We evaluated the behavior of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (T. obesus) associated with drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the equatorial central Pacific Ocean. A total of 30 skipjack [34.5–65.0 cm in fork length (FL)], 43 yellowfin (31.6–93.5 cm FL) and 32 bigeye tuna (33.5–85.5 cm FL) were tagged with coded transmitters and released near two drifting FADs. At one of the two FADs, we successfully monitored the behavior of all three species simultaneously. Several individuals remained around the same FAD for 10 or more days. Occasional excursions from the FAD were observed for all three species, some of which occurred concurrently for multiple individuals. The detection rate was higher during the daytime than the nighttime for all the species, and the detection rate for bigeye tuna was higher than for yellowfin or skipjack tuna. The swimming depth was deeper during the daytime than nighttime for all species. The fish usually remained shallower than 100 m, but occasionally dived to around 150 m or deeper, most often for bigeye and yellowfin tuna during the daytime. The swimming depth for skipjack tuna was shallower than that for bigeye and yellowfin tuna, although the difference was not large, and is probably not sufficient to allow the selective harvest of skipjack and yellowfin tuna by the purse seine fishery. From the detection rate of the signals, bigeye tuna is considered to be more vulnerable to the FAD sets than yellowfin and skipjack tuna.     

越南开发南海金枪鱼资源的历史和趋势

近十年来,越南将南海的金枪鱼资源作为其＂外向型＂渔业的重要支撑,不断增加捕捞强度,产量逐年升高。本文总结了越南发展南海金枪鱼渔业的过程,分析了南海金枪鱼资源的开发趋势。越南现代化的金枪鱼捕捞技术主要来自日本,使用的渔具主要有金枪鱼延绳钓、手钓、刺网和小型围网,捕捞的种类主要为鲣鱼、黄鳍金枪鱼和大眼金枪鱼,主要作业区域在西沙群岛南部海域和南沙群岛海域。越南2009年金枪鱼的产量已达到5.9×104t,计划2015年达到30×104t。根据越南海洋渔业研究所（RIMF）的评估,南海中西部的金枪鱼资源量为66~67×104t,可捕量23.3×104t,其中鲣鱼的可捕量21.6×104t,黄鳍金枪鱼和大眼金枪鱼的可捕量1.7×104t。随着全球金枪鱼捕捞配额的缩减和越南＂外向型＂渔业经济的发展,越南将继续加强对南海金枪鱼资源的开发。     

Food consumption of tuna in the Equatorial Atlantic ocean: FAD-associated versus unassociated schools

Since 1991, fishing operations on tuna schools associated with drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) have become widespread in the purse seine fishery in the Gulf of Guinea. In the offshore South Sherbro area (0–5° N, 10–20° W), FAD-associated catches represent about 75 % of the total catch. This FAD fishery exploits concentrations of skipjack mixed with a smaller amount of bigeye and yellowfin tuna of similar size (46 cm), and some large yellowfin. Catches on unassociated tuna schools are mainly composed of large yellowfin in breeding phase and skipjack. Here we studied tuna diet in relation with the aggregation mode (FAD-associated or unassociated tuna schools), species, and size. The stomach contents of around 800 fish were analysed. Numerous empty stomachs were found, especially in fish caught under FADs. Diets were similar for all small-size tuna sharing the same aggregation type. Small tuna mainly feed on Vinciguerria nimbaria (Photichthyidae), a mesopelagic fish of the micronekton, whereas large tuna mainly feed on Scombridae, mixed with Cubiceps pauciradiatus (Nomeidae) when they were caught in unassociated schools. The feeding habits of tuna are discussed with emphasis on the behavior of V. nimbaria. Estimations of the daily ration of similarly sized tuna with the same aggregation mode were very close. The low estimated rations for small, FAD-associated tuna show that logs do not have a trophic function, but rather are a refuge. In contrast, FADs seem to influence the diet of large tuna because of the Scombridae prey that probably is associated to the FAD.     

Do drifting and anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) similarly influence tuna feeding habits? A case study from the western Indian Ocean

Anchored and drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) are intensively used in tropical tuna fisheries. In both small-scale and industrial fisheries, skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) are the main targets. The increasing development of this fishing practice by industrial purse seiners has raised the question of the impact of FADs on tuna communities, as they might act as an ecological trap. This study investigated the feeding habits of skipjack and yellowfin tuna associated with anchored and drifting FADs in the western Indian Ocean. The diet of 352 tunas was analysed taking into account the type of FAD, ontogenetic variations, and the resources richness of the area. Poor-food and rich-food areas were defined according to the abundance of stomatopod Natosquilla investigatoris, the main prey of tunas, on the fishing sites. Diet composition was expressed through functional groups of prey. Significant dietary differences were found between both FAD types, as well as an effect of individual size. Around anchored FADs tuna preyed on diverse assemblages of coastal fish and crustacean larvae and juveniles, whereas a low diversity of epipelagic prey dominated the tuna diet associated with drifting FAD. Compared to anchored FADs, the frequency of empty stomachs was significantly higher and the stomach content mass significantly lower among skipjack and small yellowfin tunas caught around drifting FADs. This was magnified in poor-food areas, where drifting FADs often evolved, suggesting that these FADs could negatively impact the growth of skipjack and small yellowfin tuna. Larger yellowfin tuna exhibited differences in their dietary habits between anchored and drifting FADs, and between poor-food and rich-food areas. However, drifting FADs did not impact them as strongly as juveniles of yellowfin or skipjack tunas. Our study gives new highlights on possible detrimental effects of FAD on tunas, and this has to be considered in future sustainable management strategies of tuna fisheries.     

Climatic oscillations and tuna catch rates in the Indian Ocean: a wavelet approach to time series analysis

We analysed the influence of climatic oscillations [based on the Indian Oscillation Index (IOI)] on monthly catch rates of two tropical tuna species in the equatorial Indian Ocean. We carried out wavelet analysis, an efficient method of time series analysis to study non‐stationary data. Catch per unit of effort (CPUE) of bigeye tuna was computed from Japanese longline statistics from 1955 to 2002 in the equatorial Indian Ocean and CPUE of yellowfin tuna was derived from industrial purse seine statistics from 1984 to 2003 in the Western Indian Ocean. Wavelet analyses allowed us to quantify both the pattern of variability in the time series and non‐stationary associations between tuna and climatic signals. Phase analyses were carried out to investigate dependency between the two signals. We reported strong associations between tuna and climate series for the 4‐ and 5‐yr periodic modes, i.e. the periodic band of the El Niño Southern Oscillation signal propagation in the Indian Ocean. These associations were non‐stationary, evidenced from 1970 to 1990 for bigeye, and from 1984 to 1991 and then from 1993 to 2001 for yellowfin. Warm episodes (low negative IOI values) matched increases of longline catch rates of bigeye during the 1970–1990 time frame, whereas the strong 1997–1998 warm event matched a decrease of purse seine catch rates of yellowfin. We discussed these results in terms of changes in catchability for purse seine and longline.     

中西太平洋金枪鱼围网渔获物组成分析

根据 2 0 0 4年 7月 2 8日至 9月 1日在中西太平洋海域的金枪鱼围网生产调查结果 ,以及“金汇 2号”2 0 0 3年全年的生产数据 ,对中西太平洋金枪鱼围网渔获物组成进行了初步分析。结果显示 ,渔获物种类有鲣鱼 (Katsuwonuspelamis)、黄鳍金枪鱼 (Thunnusalbacares)和大眼金枪鱼 (Thunnusobesus)等 19种 ;渔获物重量组成中鲣鱼占 70 .5 1% ,黄鳍金枪鱼占 2 6 .92 % ,其它鱼类占 2 .5 6 % ;鲣鱼的叉长范围为 2 7～ 81cm ,优势叉长组为 4 0～ 5 0cm ,占 4 1% ;黄鳍金枪鱼叉长范围为 32～ 16 5cm ,优势叉长组为 5 0～ 70cm ,占 33% ,另一优势叉长组为 110～ 130cm ,占 2 0 % ;渔获物重量组成存在海域差异 ,在 16 2°E以东海域鲣鱼比例高于以西海域 ,黄鳍金枪鱼则是在 16 2°E以西海域的比例较高。     

中国金枪鱼围网船队大眼金枪鱼渔获物的特征变化与人工集鱼装置禁渔期的关系

研究了2012-2015年中国金枪鱼围网船队大眼金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)渔获物的特征变化与人工集鱼装置(fish aggregation devices,FAD)禁渔期的关系,文章收集了2012-2015年中国大陆金枪鱼围网船队在中西太平洋的渔捞日志数据,对随附鱼群捕捞努力量与小体大眼金枪鱼和大体大眼金枪鱼的船均产量进行分析比较。结果显示:1)从2013年开始,对随附鱼群投网的次数占总投网次数的比例有所降低,均不超过50%;2)K-S检验显示研究期内禁渔期前后的船均随附鱼群网次存在显著差异(P0.05);3)2013-2015年大眼金枪鱼渔获量的平均水平明显低于2012年;4)从2013年开始,禁渔期结束后的第一个月(即11月)的船均产量都发生猛增;5)从捕捞努力量与渔获量的相关性结果看,不论是小体大眼金枪鱼还是全部大眼金枪鱼,2013年和2014年两者都呈现出显著的强正相关关系(P0.05)。这些结果表明2012年以后中国船队对大眼金枪鱼幼鱼的兼捕水平有所下降,延长FAD禁渔期的管理措施对于保护大眼金枪鱼幼鱼在某些年份可能具有一定的效果。     

中东太平洋金枪鱼延绳钓渔获物组成分析

根据2000年9月至2002年8月两年的中东太平洋金枪鱼延绳钓探捕调查结果，对延绳钓渔获物组成进行了初步分析。结果显示，延绳钓的主要渔获种类有肥壮金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)和黄鳍金怆鱼(Thunnus albacares)等15种大洋性鱼类，渔获物中金枪鱼类分别占重量和尾数的76．41％和76．91％，旗鱼类占11．05％和7．83％．鲨鱼类占10．80％和12．08％，其他鱼类占1．73％和3．18％。相对重要性指标(IRI)表明，延绳钓渔业以肥壮金枪鱼和黄鳍金枪鱼为目标鱼种，其他大型中上层经济鱼类为兼捕对象。各渔获种类的渔获重量组成比例月间变化和海域变化明显。     

Movement and vulnerability of bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in relation to FADs and natural aggregation points

In Hawaii, a variety of small- and medium-scale pelagic fisheries target fishing effort on a network of coastal moored FADs, natural inshore tuna aggregation points, offshore seamounts and offshore weather monitoring buoys. Large-scale longline vessels also operate in the Hawaii exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and beyond. These circumstances provide an ideal setting for tag-and-release experiments designed to elucidate the movement patterns, residence times, exchange rates and vulnerability of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) within the Hawaiian EEZ. Preliminary recapture data indicate that FADs, island reef ledges and seamounts exert an overwhelming influence on the catchability of tuna. Recapture rates from these locations vastly outweigh tag returns from open water areas. As of August 31, 1999, a total of l5 387 bigeye and, yellowfin tuna ranging in size from 29 to 133 cm fork length (FL) and from 26 to143 cm FL respectively (mean 59.8 ± 14.1 cm; 58.4 ± 17.3 cm) have been tagged and released throughout the Hawaii EEZ. Recapture rates for both species have been similar with an overall recapture rate of l0.3 %. The location of tag releases reflects the importance of associative behavior and schooling to the vulnerability of tuna; seamounts and FADs accounted for 72.4 % and 23.5 % of all tag releases. Within the main Hawaiian Island group (excluding the offshore seamounts and buoys), 83.1 % of all recaptures have been made on anchored FADs and 11.9 % of recaptures have come from ledges or tuna aggregation areas close to the islands where bigeye and yellowfin tuna become vulnerable to hook and line gear. As these studies continue, additional and longer-term recaptures will provide increasingly detailed information on the movement patterns and vulnerability of bigeye and yellowfin tuna as they grow, move and recruit to different fisheries.     

Tuna and swordfish catch in the U.S. northwest Atlantic longline fishery in relation to mesoscale eddies

To analyze the effects of mesoscale eddies, sea surface temperature (SST), and gear configuration on the catch of Atlantic bluefin (Thunnus thynnus), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the U.S. northwest Atlantic longline fishery, we constructed multivariate statistical models relating these variables to the catch of the four species in 62 121 longline hauls made between 1993 and 2005. During the same 13‐year period, 103 anticyclonic eddies and 269 cyclonic eddies were detected by our algorithm in the region 30–55°N, 30–80°W. Our results show that tuna and swordfish catches were associated with different eddy structures. Bluefin tuna catch was highest in anticyclonic eddies whereas yellowfin and bigeye tuna catches were highest in cyclonic eddies. Swordfish catch was found preferentially in regions outside of eddies. Our study confirms that the common practice of targeting tuna with day sets and swordfish with night sets is effective. In addition, bluefin tuna and swordfish catches responded to most of the variables we tested in the opposite directions. Bluefin tuna catch was negatively correlated with longitude and the number of light sticks used whereas swordfish catch was positively correlated with these two variables. We argue that overfishing of bluefin tuna can be alleviated and that swordfish can be targeted more efficiently by avoiding fishing in anticyclonic eddies and in near‐shore waters and using more light sticks and fishing at night in our study area, although further studies are needed to propose a solid oceanography‐based management plan for catch selection.     

Using historical fisheries data to predict tuna distribution within the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area,and implications for its management

1. Recently, several large marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established globally, and it is hoped that they will aid the recovery of populations of highly mobile, large pelagic species. Understanding the distribution of these species within MPAs is key to delivering effective management, but monitoring can be challenging over such vast areas of open ocean.
2. Historical fisheries data, collected prior to MPA establishment, can provide an insight into the past distributions of target species. We investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tuna catch using logbook data from the purse seine fishery in the British Indian Ocean Territory from 1996 to 2010, before it was established as an MPA in April 2010.
3. Generalized additive models were used to predict tuna presence and relative abundance from fishing records in relation to temporal and environmental variables. Significant variables included sea salinity, temperature, and water velocity.
4. Predictions from the models identified a distinct hotspot for large yellowfin tuna within the MPA, and areas of high predicted relative abundance of skipjack tuna. We recommend that these areas are used as focal points from which populations can be monitored and investigations into tuna residency time can occur, so that the effectiveness of the MPA in conserving highly mobile pelagic fish can be determined.

     

Exchange rates of yellowfin and bigeye tunas and fishery interaction between Cross seamount and near-shore FADs in Hawaii

Yellowfin and bigeye tunas (Thunnus albacores and Thunnus obesus) were tagged and released between August 1995 and December 1997 at Cross Seamount and NOAA weather buoys about 200 Nmi south of Honolulu. The release and recapture data were stratified into five sites, and a bulk transfer model was used to estimate natural mortality, fishing mortality and transfer rates between the five sites. Bigeye are much more persistent at Cross seamount and less vulnerable to the fishery than yellowfin. Fishing accounts for about 5 % of the total mortality of both bigeye and yellowfin at Cross Seamount. Yellowfin are a major component of catches at inshore FADs in Hawaii. The rate of immigration from Cross Seamount to the inshore FADs is very low for both species. The fishing mortality at Cross seamount is substantial but is not adversely impacting the populations either at Cross or the inshore FADs.     

Relationships among yellowfin and skipjack tuna, their prey-fish and plankton in the tropical western Indian Ocean

Stomach contents of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tuna caught by trolling and purse seining in the tropical western Indian Ocean, together with those of the prey-fish found in their stomachs, have been analysed. Epipelagic fish are the main prey of these tunas, whereas no vertically migrating fish, which inhabit subsurface layers at night, have been found in their stomachs. These tunas are thus considered day-feeders. Purse-seine-caught tunas, which belong to large schools, have a much higher number of prey-fish in their stomachs than tunas caught by trolling on small schools. Similarly, prey-fish from purse-seine tunas have a much higher number of plank-tonic prey in their stomachs than those from troll-caught tunas. Therefore, these tunas adopt a wandering strategy in small schools when food resources are scarce and form large schools when they are abundant. The planktonic organisms found in the stomachs of prey-fish are described by taxa and sizes; they represent the fraction of the planktonic biomass actually supporting the stock of tuna. Size ratios between the three links tuna-prey-fish-plankton are very high, suggesting that these tunas benefit from a short food chain which is probably efficient from the energetic point of view.     

金枪鱼延绳钓钓具的最适浸泡时间

根据2010年10月—2011年1月金枪鱼延绳钓海上调查数据,分两种起绳方式,建立每次作业每一根支绳的浸泡时间计算模型。将钓具的浸泡时间以1 h为间隔分别统计每个区间的支绳数量及大眼金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)、黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacores)的渔获尾数,并计算其钓获率(CPUE)。结果表明:1)大眼金枪鱼和黄鳍金枪鱼的CPUE都随浸泡时间的增加呈现先增后减的趋势,这是由于饵料的诱引效果变化及渔获的丢失引起的;2)二次曲线可拟合浸泡时间与大眼金枪鱼和黄鳍金枪鱼CPUE的关系;3)大眼金枪鱼和黄鳍金枪鱼CPUE最高的浸泡时间分别为9.9 h和10.1 h。建议:1)今后在金枪鱼延绳钓作业中,保证每一根支绳在水中的浸泡时间为9.5~10.5 h,以提高捕捞效率并减少副渔获物;2)可把延绳钓钓具的浸泡时间作为有效捕捞努力量,并用于CPUE的标准化。研究结果可用于提高捕捞效率并减少副渔获物的技术方案制订,并为渔业生产和CPUE的标准化提供科学参考。     

Primary structure and thermostability of bigeye tuna myoglobin in relation to those of other scombridae fish

ABSTRACT:   In the present study, the cDNA encoding myoglobin (Mb) of bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus was cloned and its amino acid sequence deduced in order to investigate the relationship between the primary structure and thermostability of scombridae fish Mb. An open reading frame of bigeye tuna Mb cDNA contained 444 nucleotides encoding 147 amino acids. The primary structure of bigeye tuna Mb was highly conserved when compared with those of bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna Mb, the sequence identity being 95.2–100.0%. It also showed relatively high identity (82.3–89.1%) with the counterparts of scombridae fish. Myoglobin was then isolated from the dark muscle of four scombridae fish including bigeye tuna. Differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism measurements on these Mb revealed that the thermostability of bigeye tuna Mb was lowest and that of skipjack Katsuwonus pelamis Mb highest among the scombridae fish Mb examined. The α-helical contents of scombridae fish Mb at 10°C were in the range of 39.8–44.8%, clearly lower than that of horse Mb (55.3%), suggesting instability of fish Mb. The melting temperatures of these Mb fell in the range of 75.7–79.9°C, lower than that of horse Mb (84.2°C). These results strongly suggest the instability of fish Mb.     

Habitat preferences of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) is an epipelagic species distributed in tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean. In the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, it is captured principally in commercial longline fisheries, and in small artisanal fisheries, however, it is also taken throughout its range in this region as an incidental catch of the tuna purse‐seine fishery. Previous studies suggest that overexploitation and climate change may reduce abundance and cause changes in spatial distributions of marine species. The main objective of this study was to describe the habitat preferences of striped marlin and the changes in its distribution in response to environmental factors. Habitat modeling was conducted using a maximum entropy model. Operational level data for 2003–2014, collected by scientific observers aboard large purse seine vessels, were compiled by the Inter‐American Tropical Tuna Commission and were matched with detailed (4 km) oceanographic data from satellites and general circulation models. Results showed that the spatial distribution of habitat was dynamic, with seasonal shifts between coastal (winter) and oceanic (summer) waters. We found that the preferred habitat is mainly in coastal waters with warm sea surface temperatures and a high chlorophyll‐a concentration.     

Goussia auxidis (Dogiel, 1948) (Apicomplexa: Calyptosporidae) from tuna (Pisces: Scombridae) in the South Pacific

Abstract. A coccidian identified as Goussia auxidis (Dogiel, 1948) is recorded for the first time from the liver and spleen of albacore, Thunnus alalunga; the liver of slender tuna, Allothunnus fallai , skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis and yellowfin tuna, T. albacares: and in the spleen of Scomber australasicus. All host fish were caught in the western and central South Pacific Ocean. Coccidian spores were not found in the liver of southern bluefin tuna, T. maccoyii , or butterfly tuna, Gasterochisma melampus.     

Metabolic biochemistry of cardiac muscle in three tuna species (bigeye, Thunnus obesus ; yellowfin, T. albacares ; and skipjack, Katsuwonus pelamis ) with divergent ambient temperature and oxygen tolerances

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) have much greater vertical mobility than yellowfin (T. albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tunas, due to an apparent greater tolerance of the changes in ambient temperature and oxygen occurring with depth. In an attempt to identify physiological processes (e.g., effects of temperature on cardiac function) responsible for these behavioral differences, we examined enzyme activities (at 12 °C, 17 °C, and 25 °C) of cardiac muscle in all three species. Contrary to our expectations, we found few differences and no clear explanatory patterns in maximum enzyme activities (V_max) or enzyme activity ratios. For example, citrate synthase (CS) activity was the same in bigeye and skipjack tunas, but 40% lower in yellowfin tuna, whereas carnitine palmotoyltransferase (CPT) activity in skipjack tuna was approximately double that in the other two species. The ratio of CPT to pyruvate kinase (PK) activity, a measure of the tissues preference for fatty acids as metabolic substrates, was the same in bigeye and yellowfin tunas, but elevated skipjack tuna. The ratios of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to CS activity and of PK to CS activity (anaerobic–aerobic enzyme activity ratios – taken as measures of the tissues ability to tolerate hypoxia) were both elevated in yellowfin tuna cardiac tissue relative to the other two species. We also found no differences in temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀ values) when comparing cardiac enzyme activities across species, nor effects of temperature on the substrate affinity (K_m) of LDH. In sum, our results do not suggest any clear metabolic difference in the cardiac muscle that would explain the apparent greater tolerance of bigeye tuna to acute hypoxia and ambient temperature changes or their substantially greater vertical mobility.     

Do habitat models accurately predict the depth distribution of pelagic fishes?

Habitat models are used to correct estimates of fish abundance derived from pelagic longline fishing gear. They combine information on hook depth with the species’ preferences for ambient environmental conditions to adjust the gear's catchability. We compare depth distributions of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) catch predicted by a habitat model with distributions derived from data collected by observers on longliners in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Our analyses show that the habitat model does not accurately predict the depth distribution of bigeye tuna; its predictions are worse than those from models that assume no effect of depth on catches. Statistical models provided superior fits to the observed depth distribution. The poor performance of the habitat model is probably due to (1) problems in estimating hook depth, (2) fine‐scale variations in environmental conditions, (3) incomplete knowledge of habitat preferences and (4) differences between the distribution of bigeye tuna and their vulnerability to longline gear.     

Catch trend of bigeye tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus obesus</Emphasis> by purse seine using fish aggregating devices,by flag states and area of operation in tropical regions of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Seventeen members and cooperating non-members (CCMs) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) were responsible for 86% of the total catch of bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus by purse seine fishing from 2012 to 2014. We categorize the CCMs into an eastern, western and “other” group based on their main fishing areas. We found significant differences in the bigeye tuna catch per fish aggregating device (FAD) between the eastern group and the western group. We also estimated that the eastern group achieved a higher catch of bigeye tuna because of their increased fishing effort using FAD in the eastern area where there is a higher catch per unit effort for FAD. The regression analysis found significant correlations between the annual catch of bigeye tuna and the number of FAD sets. The average catch of bigeye tuna per single FAD set, estimated from the slope of the regression line, was 7.1 t in the eastern area and 2.7 t in the western area. An impact and risk plot composed of the slope of the regression line and the catch of bigeye tuna by each individual CCM was developed to improve management measures. Appropriate measures for the sustainable use of tuna resources in the region are discussed.