The relationship between the skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) fishery and seasonal temperature variability in the south-western Atlantic

The spatio‐temporal distribution of tuna fishing effort has been related to oceanographic circulation and features in several seas of the world. Understanding the relationship between environmental variables and fishery resource dynamics is important for management decisions and to improve fishery yields. The relationship between sea temperature variability and the pole‐and‐line skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) fishery in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean was investigated in this work. Data from logbooks, satellite images (sea surface temperature), and oceanographic surveys were used in the analyses. Skipjack are caught in warm tropical waters of the Brazil Current (BC). The north–south displacement of fishing effort was strongly associated to seasonal variation of the surface temperature, which was coupled to the tropical BC flow. Oceanographic fronts from autumn to spring and a shallow thermocline in summer probably induces the aggregation of skipjack schools over the shelfbreak, favouring fishing operations. Hypotheses are proposed to explain the relationship between peaks of fishing events and the presence of topographic peculiarities of the shelfbreak.     

中西太平洋鲣鱼丰度的时空分布及其与表温的关系

中西太平洋是全球金枪鱼围网的主要海域,鲣鱼(Katsuwonus pelamis)是金枪鱼围网的主要作业对象。本研究利用1983～2007年中西太平洋金枪鱼围网渔获物数据,结合海洋表层温度(SST)数据,分析中西太平洋鲣鱼资源丰度在时间序列和空间位置上的分布规律。研究表明,1983～2002年,各年平均CPUE在时间序列上呈一定的上升趋势,1983～2002年,平均SST在一定范围内上下波动,平均CPUE和平均SST无显著相关性;2003～2007年,平均CPUE和平均SST均呈较大幅度上升,两者呈显著相关。从空间位置分析,鲣鱼资源量集中出现在SST为28～30℃之间的海域,在5°N和10°S附近海域CPUE反映的总体资源量较高,而在0°和5°S的资源量较低。鲣鱼资源量较大区域分布在冷暖水团交汇处。     

Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) distribution in relation to sea surface temperature fronts in the Gulf of Maine (1994–96)

Fishery‐linked aerial surveys for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) were conducted in the Gulf of Maine (GOM) from July through October, 1994–96. Each year, from 507 to 890 surface schools were detected and their locations examined in relation to oceanographic conditions. Correlations between bluefin tuna presence and environmental variables were explored for sea surface temperature (SST), distance to a SST front, frontal density (relative density of all SST fronts seen in a given 1 km area for 2 weeks prior to each tuna sighting), and bottom depth and slope. Mean SST associated with bluefin schools was 18.1°C (±2.8). Schools were located at a mean distance of 19.7 km (±19.6) from SST fronts, and in water masses with an average frontal density of 28.2 m km^?2 (±35.7). Mean bottom depth of detected schools was 139.0 m (±70.3), and mean bottom slope was 0.7% rise (±0.7). A binomial generalized linear model fit to these variables indicated that bluefin are seen closer to fronts than locations in which no tuna were seen. Using simple and partial Mantel tests, we investigated the spatial correlation between bluefin tuna presence and the environmental variables, controlling for spatial autocorrelation. For each day that schools were sighted, we performed 24 Mantel tests, on a combination of response and predictor variables. The spatial relationship between bluefin tuna and SST fronts was inconsistent. Our analysis identified significant spatial structure in the bluefin school locations that had no significant correlation with any of the measured environmental features, suggesting that other untested features, such as prey density, may be important predictors of bluefin distribution in the GOM.     

中西太平洋金枪鱼围网黄鳍金枪鱼产量的时空分布及与表温的关系

黄鳍金枪鱼是中西太平洋金枪鱼围网渔业中的重要捕捞种类之一。本文根据2003年中西太平洋金枪鱼围网生产统计及其表温数据,利用频次统计分析和地理信息软件Marine Explorer 4.0对黄鳍金枪鱼产量和单位日产量(CPUE)的时空分布进行分析,探讨其与海水表温的关系。结果显示,产量和CPUE最高的是2月份,其次是9月份,5月份为最低。高产量的范围为140~160°E、0°~5°S;CPUE高值区分布在130°E、0°~15°S,140°~160°E、0°~15°S和175°W、0°~15°S;产量经纬度重心分别为150°30′E和3°48′S。产量主要分布在海表温为28~31℃的海域,产量比重高达95.45%,其中29~30℃产量为最高,占69.54%。     

南海及临近海域黄鳍金枪鱼渔场时空分布与海表温度的关系

为得到南海及临近海域黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacores)渔场最适宜栖息海表温度(SST)范围,基于美国国家海洋大气局(NOAA)气候预测中心月平均海表温度(SST)资料,结合中西太平洋渔业委员会(WCPFC)发布的南海及临近海域金枪鱼延绳钓渔业数据,绘制了月平均SST和月平均单位捕捞努力量渔获量(CPUE)的空间叠加图,用于分析南海及临近海域黄鳍金枪鱼渔场CPUE时空分布和SST的关系。结果表明,南海及临近海域黄鳍金枪鱼CPUE在16℃~31℃均有分布。在春季和夏季(3~8月),位于10°~20°N的大部分渔区CPUE较高,其南北侧CPUE较低;而到了秋季和冬季(9月到次年2月),高产渔场区域会向南拓宽。CPUE在各SST区间的散点图呈现出明显的负偏态分布,高CPUE主要集中在26℃~30℃,最高值出现在29℃附近;在22℃~26℃范围内CPUE散点分布较为零散,但在这个范围也会出现相当数量的高CPUE;在22℃以下的CPUE几乎属于低CPUE和零CPUE;零CPUE的平均SST为26.7℃(±3.2℃),低CPUE的平均SST为27.8℃(±2.1℃),高CPUE的平均SST为28.4℃(±1.5℃),高CPUE在各SST区间的分布要比零CPUE和低CPUE更为集中。采用频次分析和经验累积分布函数计算其最适SST范围,得到南海及临近海域黄鳍金枪鱼最适SST为26.9℃~29.4℃。本研究初步得到南海及临近海域黄鳍金枪鱼中心渔场时空分布特征及SST适宜分布区间,可为开展南海及临近海域金枪鱼渔情预报工作提供理论依据和参考。     

热带大西洋金枪鱼延绳钓兼捕鲨鱼种类组成和渔获率及其与表温的关系

根据2007年12月~2008年3月采集的热带大西洋(05°37′~12°01′N、29°00′~36°51′W)金枪鱼延绳钓渔获物数据,分析了金枪鱼延绳钓兼捕鲨鱼的种类组成、渔获量、渔获率及其与表温的关系。本次调查共捕获鲨鱼8种,隶属3目7科7属,总渔获尾数为633 ind,总渔获量达26 837.4 kg,其中大青鲨为主要兼捕种类。各种鲨鱼渔获率平均值在0.003~1.524 ind/1 000 hooks之间,其中大青鲨最高,其值为1.524 ind/1 000 hooks,大眼砂锥齿鲨最低,其值为0.003 ind/1 000 hooks。各种鲨鱼渔获率月变化不明显(ANOVA,P=0.901)。鲨鱼总渔获率和大青鲨渔获率与表温都呈显著性负相关。大青鲨主要出现渔场的表温范围为24.6~25.8℃。     

卫星遥感速报北太平洋渔场海温方法研究

渔场海温速报是开展渔情分析和确定中心渔场的基础，卫星遥感技术可以快速提供大面积海洋环境参数分布图，由于大洋渔场超出了陆基卫星地面站的接收范围，发展船载遥感系统是提供远洋渔场海洋环境条件的有效途径。本研究介绍基于船载的北太平洋渔场海温速报系统、海表温度遥感反演算法和渔场海温速报产品制作等内容。海温精度分析结果表明，卫星遥感海表温度与船测温度具有良好的一致性，周平均偏差小于0．01℃，RMS平均值为0．7967℃。系统已业务试运行2年，完成北太平洋渔场海温速报产品制作33期，取得了预期目标。     

Coastal sea surface temperature and coho salmon production off the north-west United States

A time series of mean weekly sea surface temperature (SST) images was used to investigate the relationship between fluctuations in the marine survival of hatchery-reared coho salmon and coastal ocean dynamics off the north-western United States (51° to 37°N) between 1985 and 1996, using univariate and nonlinear bivariate regression analysis. Ocean conditions were matched against survival for a number of different annual time frames according to the sum of negative or positive weekly SST anomalies. From the univariate analyses, the sum of negative anomalies from April to June, when the juvenile salmon first enter the ocean, was found to have an R ² of 0.88 against survival with 1991 excluded as an outlier. The bivariate multiple regressions used the sum of negative anomalies from April to June as the first independent variable. When the sums of positive anomalies from the following periods during the fishes' second calendar year in the ocean were each used as the second independent variable, the R ² values were all greater than or equal to 0.92 (with no data points excluded): January to June, February to June, April to June, March to June. These results are discussed within the context of coastal ocean processes. It is concluded that the analysis of SST image time series might allow management to make reasonable forecasts of hatchery-reared coho salmon survival.     

Operational oceanography applied to skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) habitat monitoring and fishing in south‐western Atlantic

Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) ranks third among marine resources that sustain global fisheries. This study delimits the spatiotemporal habitat of the species in the south‐western Atlantic Ocean, based on operational oceanography. We used generalized additive models (GAMs) and catch data from six pole‐and‐line fishing vessels operating during 2014 and 2015 fishing seasons to assess the effect of environmental variables on catch. We also analysed Modis sensor images of sea surface temperature (SST) and surface chlorophyll‐α concentration (SCC) to describe fishing ground characteristics in time and space. Catch was positively related to thermocline depth (24–45 m), SST (22–24.5°C), SCC (0.08–0.14 mg/m³) and salinity (34.9–35.8). Through SST images, we identified that thermal fronts were the main surface feature associated with a higher probability to find skipjack. Also, we state that skipjack fishery is tightly related to shelf break because bottom topography drives the position of fronts in this area. Ocean colour fronts and plankton enrichment were important proxies, accessible through SCC, used to delineate skipjack fishing grounds. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was higher towards summer (median 14 t/fishing day) due to the oceanographic characteristics of the southern region. High productivity in this sector of the Brazilian coast defines the main skipjack feeding areas and, as a consequence, the greatest abundance and availability for fishing.     

西北太平洋公海秋刀鱼渔场分布与海表温度锋的相关关系

西北太平洋公海秋刀鱼渔业是我国重要的经济渔业之一,其渔场分布与海表温度及温度变化息息相关。本研究通过海表温度（SST）的遥感数据计算海表水平温度梯度（SSTG）,根据2013—2015年中国（不含中国台湾省）北太平洋公海秋刀鱼渔业生产数据,分析海表温度锋与秋刀鱼资源丰度和渔场时空分布的关系。结果显示,秋刀鱼作业渔场主要分布于37°~49°N,145°~165°E;SST为10~14 ℃时,单位捕捞渔获量（CPUE）与SST呈负相关,SST为14~17 ℃时呈正相关,最适宜SST为12.5~14.5 ℃。当SSTG为0.01~0.06 ℃/km时,CPUE与SSTG呈显著线性正相关,最适宜SSTG为0.01~0.05 ℃/km。作业海域温度锋与CPUE呈显著正相关,相关系数为0.81;CPUE作业点到锋面的距离（DIST）表现出明显的季节特征,在夏季6—8月,当DIST为0~100 km范围内时,CPUE与DIST呈线性正相关,在秋季9—11月,CPUE与DIST呈对数负相关,90%以上的作业点出现在DIST为0~50 km范围内。研究表明,海表温度影响着秋刀鱼洄游渔场分布,亲潮黑潮交汇区形成冷水楔,海表温度锋集聚,进而秋刀鱼鱼群集群,形成高产渔场。     

Relationships between CPUE fluctuation of southern bluefin tuna and ocean temperature variability in the Central Indian Ocean

In this study, catch and effort data of southern bluefin tuna (SBT) from Taiwan longliners operating in the Central Indian Ocean (CIO) during 1982 to 2003 were compiled and their catch per unit effort (CPUE) was standardized using the generalized linear model (GLM). The GLM includes factors such as year, season, by-catch, latitude, sea surface temperature (SST) and the interactive effects among factors. The standardized CPUE and its relationship with SST fluctuation were then analyzed to understand the effects of fishing ground SST variations on CPUE of SBT, as well as their connection to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The standardized CPUE in the CIO seemed to oscillate with the sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) between 30 and 50°S where SSTA fluctuations were prolonged and slower than the ENSO cycle. It is then very likely that fishing conditions at the CIO fishing ground were influenced by the expansion of the cold water mass from the Southern Ocean, and the colder SST is beneficial to increasing SBT catch rate.     

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.     

大西洋中部大眼金枪鱼垂直分布与温度、盐度的关系

根据2001年7月4日至10月27日3艘在大西洋中部公海海域作业的中国金枪鱼延绳钓船上随机观测到的大眼金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)的上钩钩号,应用悬链线钩深计算公式,分别计算出各钩号的钩深;根据STD仪测得的温度、盐度的垂直分布以钩深为引数,查出该尾鱼捕获时的温度和盐度数据。根据大眼金枪鱼的取样数据,利用频度统计的方法,推算出各水层、水温、盐度范围的渔获率。渔获率最大的水层、水温、盐度范围为大眼金枪鱼的最适水层、水温和盐度范围;渔获率为前3位的水层、水温、盐度范围为大眼金枪鱼活动较频繁的水层、水温和盐度范围。结果表明：大西洋中部,大眼金枪鱼的最适水层为240．00～269．99m水深、最适水温为12．00～12．99℃、最适盐度为35．00～35．09;大西洋中部渔场大眼金枪鱼活动较频繁的水层为240．00～329．99m水深、水温为10．00～12．99℃、盐度为35．00～35．29。     

Assessing the end-point temperature of heated fish and shellfish meats

ABSTRACT: Attempts have been made to assess the end-point temperature (EPT) of heated fish and shellfish meats by using the coagulation method together with sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis and enzyme activity determination. Unfrozen and frozen fish and shellfish meats were heat-treated at different selected temperatures with 0, 15 or 30 min holding times. Proteins were extracted with NaCl solution. The coagulation method was able to determine EPT of heated fish and shellfish meats between 60 and 67°C. SDS-PAGE patterns of the filtrates from heated meats were closely related to the results of the coagulation method and enzyme activity determination. Two proteins responsible for producing coagulum of fish meat extracts seem to be lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). End-point temperatures determined by these methods were not significantly different between unfrozen and frozen samples. On the contrary, a highly thermostable protein with a molecular mass of 35 kDa was detected in heated shellfish meats up to 108°C. In scallop adductor muscle, this highly thermostable protein was found to be the tropomyosin subunit from its amino acid composition and their partial sequences. Tropomyosin could be used as an EPT indicator up to 108°C for heated shellfish meats.     

Feeding habits of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and other tuna Thunnus spp. juveniles in the tropical western Pacific

ABSTRACT: The feeding habits of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis juveniles (8.5–66.8 mm standard length) were examined, collected from the tropical western Pacific in October to December 1994, and their habits were compared with those of the other tuna Thunnus spp. juveniles (9.8–55.3 mm standard length). The indices, frequency of occurrence of each food item in the total number of stomachs examined (% F ), percentage of number of each food item to the total number of all food items identified (% N ), percentage of wet weight of each food item to the total wet weight of all food items identified (% W ), and relative importance of each food item ( IRI ) were estimated in the north equatorial current (NEC) and the north equatorial countercurrent (NECC) areas. The most dominant prey item of skipjack juveniles in the two areas was fish larvae. Other major prey items in the NEC area were Euphausiacea, Amphipoda, and Copepoda; whereas those in the NECC area were Copepoda, Cephalopoda, Euphausiacea, and Amphipoda. In the other tuna juveniles, the IRI of fish larvae in the two areas was remarkably high. Other prey, Euphausiacea and Cephalopoda in the NEC area only and Cephalopoda in the NECC area, were also found. These results indicate that the skipjack juvenile is primarily a piscivorous feeder although they also depend on various other prey organisms, whereas the other tuna juveniles are stronger piscivorous feeders.     

Inclusion of prey data improves prediction of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) distribution

We examined the distribution of Atlantic bluefin tuna ( Thunnus thynnus ) in the Gulf of Maine, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, from 17 to 23 August 1995, in relation to physical and biological parameters. Specifically, we fit a binomial GLM to the bluefin tuna presence–absence data and predictor variables that include: sea surface temperature (SST), ocean depth, distance to an SST front, time-lagged density of SST fronts, and an interpolated surface of Atlantic herring ( Clupea harengus ) density. In addition, we use simple and partial Mantel tests to examine whether bluefin tuna presence–absence data are significantly associated with these predictors, once spatial autocorrelation is accounted for. Results suggest that the distribution of bluefin tuna significantly correlated with herring density ( z  =   3.525, P  =   0.000424), and that inclusion of biological variables results in a more parsimonious model. Mantel tests results indicate that bluefin tuna abundance is significantly correlated with herring density after the effect of spatial structure is removed (Mantel r  =   0.043, P  <   0.019).     

Seasonal increase in sea temperature triggers pancreas disease outbreaks in Norwegian salmon farms

Pancreas disease (PD) is a viral disease causing negative impacts on economy of salmon farms and fish welfare. Its transmission route is horizontal, and water transport by ocean currents is an important factor for transmission. In this study, the effect of temperature changes on PD dynamics in the field has been analysed for the first time. To identify the potential time of exposure to the virus causing PD, a hydrodynamic current model was used. A cohort of salmon was assumed to be infected the month it was exposed to virus from other infective cohorts by estimated water contact. The number of months from exposure to outbreak defined the incubation period, which was used in this investigation to explore the relationship between temperature changes and PD dynamics. The time of outbreak was identified by peak in mortality based on monthly records from active sites. Survival analysis demonstrated that cohorts exposed to virus at decreasing sea temperature had a significantly longer incubation period than cohorts infected when the sea temperature was increasing. Hydrodynamic models can provide information on the risk of being exposed to pathogens from neighbouring farms. With the knowledge of temperature‐dependent outbreak probability, the farmers can emphasize prophylactic management, avoid stressful operations until the sea temperature is decreasing and consider removal of cohorts at risk, if possible.     

Improving light-based geolocation by including sea surface temperature

An approach to integrate sea surface temperature (SST) measurements into estimates of geolocations calculated by changes in ambient light level from data downloaded from pop‐up satellite archival tags (PSAT) is presented. The model is an extension of an approach based on Kalman filter estimation in a state‐space model. The approach uses longitude and latitude estimated from light, and SST. The extra information on SST is included in a consistent manner within the milieu of the Kalman filter. The technique was evaluated by attaching PSATs directly on thermistor‐equipped global positioning system drifter buoys. SSTs measured in the PSATs and drifter buoy were statistically compared with SSTs determined from satellites. The method is applied to two tracks derived from PSAT‐tagged blue sharks (Prionace glauca) in the central Pacific Ocean. The inclusion of SST in the model produced substantially more probable tracks with lower prediction variance than those estimated from light‐level data alone.