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.     

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.     

Effects of open- and closed-system temperature changes on blood O2-binding characteristics of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

We investigated the effects of open- and closed-system temperature changes on the O₂ affinity of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) blood using in vitro methods essentially identical to those previously employed on tropical tuna species. Bluefin tuna blood has a general O₂ affinity (P ₅₀ = 2.6–3.1 kPa or 19–23 mm Hg at 0.5% CO₂) similar to that of skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and kawakawa blood (P ₅₀ = 2.8–3.1 kPa at 0.5% CO₂) but significantly above that of bigeye tuna blood (P ₅₀ = 1.6–2.0 kPa at 0.5% CO₂). We therefore hypothesize that bluefin tuna are less tolerant of hypoxia than bigeye tuna. Further, we found the P ₅₀ of bluefin tuna blood to be slightly reduced by a 10°C open-system temperature increase (e.g., from 4.83 kPa at 15°C to 3.95 kPa at 25°C) and to be completely unaffected by a 10°C closed-system temperature change. Bluefin tuna blood, therefore, had a significantly reduced Bohr effect when subjected to the inevitable changes in P CO ₂ and plasma pH that accompany closed-system temperature shifts (0.04–0.09 Δlog P₅₀ΔpH⁻¹) compared with the effects of changes in plasma pH accomplished by changing P CO ₂ alone (0.81–0.94 Δlog P₅₀ Δ pH⁻¹). This response is similar to that of skipjack tuna blood, but different from yellowfin or bigeye tuna blood. During closed-system temperature changes at oxygen levels above P ₅₀, however, bluefin tuna blood showed a reversed temperature effect (i.e., P O ₂ decreased in response to an increase in temperature). Unlike in other tuna species, temperature effects on O₂ affinity of bluefin tuna whole blood were similar to those previously reported for hemoglobin solutions, suggesting that red cell-mediated ligand changes are not involved.     

Phospholipase A<Subscript>1</Subscript> activity of crude enzyme extracted from the ovaries of skipjack tuna

The phospholipid class composition, fatty acid composition and phospholipase A₁ (PLA₁) activity from the ovaries of skipjack tuna were compared with those of six other species of marine fish. In the skipjack ovaries, the lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) proportion for the phospholipid, the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) percentage for the total fatty acids of the phospholipids and the PLA₁ activity of the crude enzyme were the highest among those of the seven species. The optimum pH and temperature for the PLA₁ activity of the crude enzyme from the skipjack ovaries were in the range of pH 6–7 and 20–30°C, respectively, and calcium ions were not required. As a substrate, phosphatidylcholine was more easily hydrolyzed than phosphatidylethanolamine by this enzyme, and the plasmalogen-type phospholipid was much lower than the acyl-type phospholipid. After a 6-h hydrolysis reaction of the purified phospholipid extracted from the mixed ovaries of skipjack and yellowfin tuna by this enzyme, the LPC ratio of the phospholipid increased from 20 to 72.6% and the percentage of DHA for the total fatty acids of the phospholipid also increased. Thus, skipjack ovaries might possibly be used as a source of PLA₁.     

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。     

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

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Habitat analysis of the commercial tuna of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

We have extracted information on the habitats of bigeye (Thunnus obesus), skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) and yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean by matching the spatial‐temporal distribution of catch and effort of purse seine and longline fleets collected by the Inter‐American Tropical Tuna Commission with oceanographic conditions and subjecting the matched data to Quotient Analysis and General Additive Models (GAMs). These analyses yielded the following results. The habitats defined by the GAM analysis of young fish differ significantly between two periods, one before and one after the introduction of fish aggregation devices (FADs). This was not true for the older fish caught by longline. We speculate that these changes were caused by the extensive use of FADs. Younger bigeye and yellowfin caught by the purse seine fleet have a different preference of environmental variables compared to older fish caught by longline. This is to be expected since tuna of different age groups have different sizes, metabolic capabilities and swimming skills. Moreover, as revealed by GAMs, the habitats of young fish differ between species to a much larger degree than those of older fish. Our results indicate the fundamental differences between fishing methods, targeted species, and operating region of the two fisheries. Specifically, young bigeye occupy equatorial waters farther from the coast and where the hypoxic layer is deeper, young skipjack occupy more productive waters associated with equatorial and coastal upwelling, and young yellowfin occupy broad areas where waters are underlain by a shallow hypoxic layer.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Standardized catch and survival rates,and effect of a ban on shark retention,Palau pelagic longline fishery

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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。     

Molecular evidence for cosmopolitan distribution of platyhelminth parasites of tunas (Thunnus spp.)

Global distribution of platyhelminth parasites and their host specificities are not well known. Our hypothesis was that platyhelminth parasites of large pelagic fishes are common around the world. We analysed molecular variation in three different taxa of platyhelminth parasites infecting four species of tunas: yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares, Scombridae) from Western Australia, southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, Scombridae) from South Australia, Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis, Scombridae) from Pacific Mexico and northern bluefin tuna (T. thynnus, Scombridae) from two localities in the Mediterranean (Spain and Croatia). Comparisons of ITS2 and partial 28S rDNA demonstrated two congeneric species of blood flukes (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from multiple hosts and localities: Cardicola forsteri from southern bluefin and northern bluefin tunas, and Cardicola sp. from Pacific bluefin and northern bluefin tunas; and a gill fluke, Hexostoma thynni (Polyopisthocotylea: Hexostomatidae), from yellowfin, southern bluefin and northern bluefin tunas. Partial 28S rDNA indicates that a second type of fluke on the gills, Capsala sp. (Monopisthocotylea: Capsalidae), occurs on both southern bluefin and Pacific bluefin tunas. This appears to be the first report of conspecific platyhelminth parasites of teleosts with a wide‐ranging geographical distribution that has been confirmed through molecular approaches. Given the brevity of the free‐living larval stage of both taxa of flukes on the gills (H. thynni and Capsala sp.), we conclude that the only feasible hypothesis for the cosmopolitan distribution of these flatworms is migrations of host tunas. Host migration also seems likely to be responsible for the widespread occurrence of the two species of blood flukes (Cardicola spp.), although it is also possible that these were translocated recently by the spread of infected intermediate hosts.     

Assessment of plastic ingestion by pole-caught pelagic predatory fish from O'ahu,Hawai'i

1. Although the frequency of occurrence of plastic ingestion in the large-sized dolphinfish and tunas taken by the Hawai'i longline fishery is very low (frequency of occurrence < 5% of sampled individuals), the ingestion of plastic in smaller-sized specimens caught with pole-and-line gear by commercial and recreational fishers has not been investigated.
2. This study examined ingestion of >0.25 mm marine plastic debris (MPD) by four predatory fish species caught by commercial fishers around the Main Hawaiian Islands, and documented ingestion in three species: 85.7% of albacore tuna (n = 7), 40.0% of skipjack tuna (n = 10) and 12.5% of dolphinfish (n = 8).
3. Yellowfin tuna (n = 10) did not contain any MPD, probably owing to the high proportion of empty stomachs (60%).
4. For skipjack tuna, the frequency of occurrence of MPD ingestion was significantly higher for the smaller-sized specimens caught with pole-and-line (40%), compared with the larger-sized specimens caught with longlines (0%).
5. For dolphinfish, the frequency of occurrence of MPD ingestion was similar for the similar-sized specimens caught with pole-and-line and with longlines.
6. The ingested MPD items were micro–meso plastics, between 1 and 25 mm. While most ingested items were fragments, albacore also ingested line and skipjack also ingested sheets.
7. The predatory fishes ingested light MPD items that float in sea water, but there were species-specific differences in their polymer composition: albacore contained more polypropylene and polyethylene, and skipjack contained more elastomers, characterized by a high percentage of ester plasticizers.
8. Altogether, these results suggest that albacore and skipjack tunas ingest plastic of different types and polymers. Yet more research is needed to understand how differences in vertical distribution, foraging ecology and diet influence the MPD sampled by these predatory fish species.

     

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.     

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。     

Movements,behavior, and habitat utilization of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in waters surrounding the Revillagigedo Islands Archipelago Biosphere Reserve,Mexico

The movements, behavior, and habitat utilization of yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, following capture and release with archival tags in the Revillagigedo Islands Archipelago Biosphere Reserve (RIABR), Mexico, are described from analyses of 16 578 days of time‐series data, downloaded from 52 archival tags recovered from yellowfin (78–173 cm in length and 1.7–8.0 yr of age) at liberty from 93 to 1773 days ( = 411 days), collected during 2006–2012. An unscented Kalman filter model with sea‐surface temperature measurements integrated (UKFsst) was used to process the archival tag data sets to obtain improved estimates of geographic positions, most probable tracks (MPTs), and movement parameters. The MPTs indicate restricted movements, low levels of dispersion, and fidelity of yellowfin tuna to the RIABR. The median parameter estimates from the UKFsst model for errors in longitude (σ_x) and latitude (σ_y) were 0.46° and 1.84°, respectively, for directed movements (u and v) –0.05 NM day^?1 and –0.05 NM day^?1, respectively, and for dispersive movement (D) 117.99 NM² day^?1. Analyses of daily timed depth and temperature records resulted in the classification of the data into four distinct behaviors. There are significant differences among ages in the durations of Type I and Type II diving behaviors and in the daytime and nighttime vertical habitat utilization distributions. The oceanography surrounding the RIABR appears to have a profound influence on the movements, behavior, and habitat utilization of yellowfin in this area.     

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.     

Standardizing catch and effort data of the Taiwanese distant-water longline fishery in the western and central Pacific Ocean for bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus

Catch per unit effort (CPUE) is often used as an index of relative abundance in fisheries stock assessments. However, the trends in nominal CPUE can be influenced by many factors in addition to stock abundance, including the choice of fishing location and target species, and environmental conditions. Consequently, catch and effort data are usually ‘standardized’ to remove the impact of such factors. Standardized CPUE for bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus, caught by the Taiwanese distant-water longline fishery in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) for 1964–2004 were derived using three alternative approaches (GLM, GAM and the delta approach), and sensitivity was explored to whether catch-rates of yellowfin tuna and albacore tuna are included in the analyses. Year, latitude, and the catch-rate of yellowfin explained the most of the deviance (32–49%, depending on model configuration) and were identified consistently among methods, while trends in standardized catch-rate differed spatially. However, the trends in standardized catch-rates by area were found to be relatively insensitive to the approach used for standardization, including whether the catch-rates of yellowfin and albacore were included in the analyses.     

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.