Analysis of sinking death using video images of the swimming performance of Pacific Bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) larvae

In this study, we aimed to clarify the mechanism of sinking death during the larval stage of Pacific Bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis by investigating the effects of swimming performance on sinking death, using a behavioral approach. Swimming performance was examined 3–9 days after hatching (DAH) under day and night light conditions in cuboid experimental tanks. Swimming behavior variables such as swimming speed and swimming angle were measured under both light conditions. Larvae in the daytime experiment and larvae with inflated swim bladders at night were distributed on the surface layer of the water column. In contrast, larvae with uninflated swim bladders at night were frequently observed swimming vertically or sinking to the bottom of the tank. Larvae with inflated swim bladders at night were always distributed beneath the surface until the next morning (survival rates were 100 %). However, larvae with uninflated swim bladders at night swam upward repeatedly and later sank to the bottom of the tank (survival rates were 60 % and 38 % at 5 and 9 DAH, respectively). Larvae with uninflated swim bladders were not always able to maintain their swimming depth by swimming until the next morning. Additionally, their swimming speed and vertical swimming frequency (ratio) depended on the illumination and swim bladder conditions. Our findings show that larvae with uninflated swim bladders at night were associated with a higher risk of sinking death. The swimming energy capacity of Pacific Bluefin tuna larvae, which indicates the total amount of the energy that enables individuals to swim throughout the night without feeding, was found to be linked to sinking death.     

蛋白酶解对鲣鱼肉乳化特性的改善

天然鱼蛋白乳化性不佳,难以满足实际生产需求,但鱼蛋白的酶解改性可改善其功能特性,并拓展应用范围。以鲣鱼白色肉为原料,以水解度和乳化性为主要指标,比较了不同蛋白酶(胰蛋白酶、风味蛋白酶、木瓜蛋白酶)和水解时间对酶解液制备和鱼蛋白乳化性的影响,优化了酶解工艺参数。将鱼蛋白进行冷冻干燥后,分析鱼蛋白酶解前后溶解性、乳化性和起泡性等功能特性的差异。结果表明,当胰蛋白酶添加量2 000 U·g^-1,酶解10 min时,鱼蛋白水解度(DH)达到8.2%,此时鱼蛋白乳化特性最佳。与酶解前样品相比,酶解后鱼蛋白的乳化活性和乳化稳定性显著提高,其溶解度、起泡性和起泡稳定性均有一定程度的改善。酶解制备的鲣鱼蛋白在广泛pH范围内具有更好的功能性质,在食品工业具有更高的应用价值。     

A Comparison of the Effects of Two Prey Enrichment Media on Growth and Survival of Pacific Bluefin Tuna,Thunnus orientalis,Larvae

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the growth, survival, and standardized cohort biomass of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis, larvae fed nutritionally enhanced prey during the first week of feeding using two commonly used, commercially available enrichment media, AlgaMac Enrich and Marine Glos. T. orientalis larvae exhibited exponential growth in standard length and dry weight. The daily specific growth rates in length and weight are the first reported for T. orientalis larvae and the averages ranged from 3.8 to 4.1% and 27.5%, respectively, for larvae in the AlgaMac treatment and from 4.1 to 6.1% and 31.5%, respectively, in the Marine Glos treatment. Average daily growth rates in length ranged from 0.16 to 0.23 mm/d for larvae in the AlgaMac treatment and from 0.17 to 0.27 mm/d for those in the Marine Glos treatment. Daily growth rates in length were similar to those reported for other tuna larvae reared in the laboratory but slower than most published estimates for larval tunas in situ at similar water temperatures. Mean prey number per gut was positively associated with mean prey level in the tank. Both enrichment media appear to be good sources of nutritional improvement of planktonic prey for T. orientalis larvae.     

Toward an environmental predictor of tuna recruitment

Bigeye tuna are of global economic importance and are the primary target species of Hawaii's most valuable commercial fishery. Due to their high commercial value, bigeye tuna are relatively well studied and routinely assessed. Larval and adult bigeye surveys have been conducted for many years and are supported by ongoing research on their physiology and life history. Yet, modeling stock dynamics and estimating future catch rates remain challenging. Here, we show that an appropriately lagged measure of phytoplankton size is a robust predictor of catch rates in Hawaii's bigeye tuna fishery with a forecast window of four years. We present a fishery‐independent tool with the potential to improve stock assessments, aid dynamic fisheries management, and allow Hawaii's commercial longline fishing industry to better plan for the future.     

Non-Destructive Quantification of Lipid and Water in Fresh Tuna Meat by a Single-Sided Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Scanner

A portable single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) surface scanner was applied to the non-destructive quantification of lipid and water in meat block samples of farmed bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Proton NMR relaxation measurements of the fresh meat block samples were performed at room temperature in a laboratory. Totally, 34 tuna meat block samples were measured; the required measurement time was approximately 70 s for each sample. The results yielded estimation errors of 3.7 and 2.7 g/100 g for the lipid and water weight fractions, respectively. The investigation depth of the sensor was as deep as 3 cm, which enables the non-destructive quantification of the meat of the intact whole tuna beneath the thick scales, skin, and subcutaneous fat in markets and seafood factories.     

Spatial segregation of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) by size in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) is an epipelagic fish distributed in oceanic and coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. This species is usually found in warm and coastal waters with high primary productivity. The main goal of this study was to describe the spatial segregation of striped marlin by average Eye‐Fork length (EFL) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and its relationship with environmental variables using EFL data obtained from tuna purse‐seining and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The model suggested that larger individuals of striped marlin were more likely to be found in waters with high Chlorophyll‐a concentration (>2 mg/m³) and with temperatures lower than 25°C, within a region known as the “cold tongue” and the Humboldt current system, while smaller individuals were more likely to be found in warmer and low productive areas within a region known as the “warm pool of the EPO.” We observed that set type caused a large variation on average EFL of striped marlin; larger fish were captured in sets associated with floating objects (natural and manmade), while smaller fish were captured in sets associated with dolphins. Despite this, our findings suggest that striped marlin has a latitudinal gradient in average EFL; larger individuals occurred predominantly south of 10°N, while smaller ones occurred predominantly in coastal waters between 10°N and 20°N, thus demonstrating a spatial segregation of the species affected by its maturity stage.     

Effect of water temperature on the feeding activity and the resultant mercury levels in the muscle of cultured bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis (Temminck and Schlegel)

Tuna muscle often contains high levels of mercury, and fish samples with mercury concentrations ten times higher than the specified safety standards have been reported. Here, we report on the relationship between water temperature and the concentration of mercury in the tail muscle tissue of cultured bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis. The fish used in this study were cultured at Fisheries Laboratory of Kinki University (Amami Experimental Station, Kagoshima, Japan). One hundred fish weighing 26.2–89.4 kg were selected for analysis between February 2007 and January 2008. Water temperature during rearing ranged from 21 to 29 °C. The total mercury levels were measured using the reduction vaporizing atomic absorption method after acid digestion. Body weight increased approximately 1.5 times that observed in a previous study, despite feeding activity either being the same or less than that observed previously. The average mercury concentration in white muscle was 0.353 mg kg^?1, remaining almost constant and independent of body growth. Unlike previous studies, seasonality was not observed in this study. Based on these findings, water temperatures within a certain range were considered to stabilize feeding activity and increase feeding efficiency. Consequently, water temperature is considered to have a moderating effect on seasonal fluctuations in muscle mercury concentrations in cultured bluefin tuna.     

金枪鱼围网沉降特性

根据沿围网下纲缚扎的10只温度深度计(TDR-2050型)自动记录的23网次有效数据,对中国中西太平洋金枪鱼围网的下纲沉降速度、沉降深度及其与时间的关系进行了研究。结果表明:(1)网具未达到理论沉降深度,网具中部平均沉降深度为160 m,为最大拉紧高度(311.1 m)的51.4%;(2)网具中部沉降深度与时间的关系为h=–0.000 2t2+0.3663 t;(3)网具各部位的沉降速度不同,取鱼部最慢,网具中部次之,后网头最快;(4)下纲各部位沉降速度均随着深度的增加而减小,沉降速度波动幅度随深度增加按大—小—大的规则变化;(5)网具中部沉降速度与时间的关系为:v=3×10–7t2–7×10–4 t+0.418 9。本研究结果可为改善金枪鱼围网沉降性能提供基础数据,并为海上生产提供指导性参考。     

金枪鱼延绳钓船机电混合动力系统节油效果分析

金枪鱼延绳钓渔业是远洋渔业的重要组成部分。金枪鱼延绳钓作业过程包括航行、作业两种完全不同的工况。航行工况时要求航速较高,作业工况时要求航速较低。为了满足这两种工况,采用柴电独立运行(PTH)方式机电混合动力系统。机电混合动力系统由柴油机推进系统与电力推进系统两部分组成。高航速时使用大功率的柴油机模式,低航速时使用小功率的电力推进模式。上海远洋渔业有限公司近两年先后两批次建造了5条装备了PTH方式机电混合动力系统金枪鱼延绳钓船。根据实船测试,在作业期间,不同船型起钩阶段节油25%和8%,航行节油均达14%。通过计算分析,使用PTH方式,机电混合动力系统增加的初始投资成本可通过节油方式在4年内回收。综合节油效果显示,使用电力推进比使用柴油机推进可以节油15%~20%,达到了良好的节能减排、降低运营成本的效果。     

Age‐dependent distribution of juvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) on the continental shelf off southwest Australia determined by acoustic monitoring

Juvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, SBT) were monitored in nearshore waters off southwest Australia using acoustic tagging and monitoring over five austral summers (2002/2003–2006/2007) to determine patterns in age‐based distribution of SBT. A total of 20–70 receivers were deployed in early December along one to three cross‐shelf transects and at three inshore topographic features (lumps) where SBT are known to occur; and a total of 59–84 juvenile SBT (41–90 cm fork length) were tagged and released each year. After several months, receivers were recovered, and data extracted. In 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, 2‐yr‐old SBT were detected more frequently in nearshore areas than did 1‐yr old fish. Similarly in 2004/2005 and 2006/2007, it was the larger 1‐yr‐old SBT that were detected more frequently at inshore lumps (>85% of detections) while small 1‐yr‐old SBT were detected more widely over the study area. In 2005/2006, although large 1‐yr‐old SBT were still detected more frequently at inshore lumps than small 1‐yr old SBT, the percentage of all detections at lumps was lower at 31.5%, indicating wider distribution of both small and large age‐1 fish. The observed age‐dependent distribution pattern may be enhanced by the distribution of prey, which disperse or concentrate depending on the local oceanography.