DNA identification of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) in the New Zealand fishery

Muscle samples were collected from 69 specimens identified as Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) (Temminck and Schlegel, 1844) in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between 1990 and 2000. Identifications before 1996 were based on body size and colour of the caudal keel; later identifications were mostly based on the shape of abdominal cavity. The tissue samples were tested with a diagnostic mitochondrial DNA marker that distinguishes southern bluefin Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau, 1872) and Pacific bluefin tuna T. orientalis; 59 specimens were confirmed as T. orientalis and 10 as T. maccoyii. Specimens recorded as Pacific bluefin tuna by the shape of the abdominal cavity were correctly identified as T. orientalis, and this character can be used to identify large specimens landed on tuna vessels. Some specimens recorded as Pacific bluefin tuna on the basis of colour and size were T. maccoyii; and early records of T. orientalis in New Zealand waters, based on these characters, are unreliable. Unusual colour patterns were reported in some specimens of T. orientalis but not T. maccoyii. The Pacific bluefin tuna T. orientalis accounted for less than 0.3% of the bluefin tuna catch in the New Zealand EEZ during the 1990s.     

Preliminary model of nitrogen loads from southern bluefin tuna aquaculture

Farming of wild tuna in coastal areas is a relatively new aquaculture industry and little is known about the magnitude of nutrient discharges to the environment. In this work we present a preliminary model of nitrogen loads from southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) aquaculture in lower Spencer Gulf, South Australia. The model was developed based on feed inputs, estimates of fish metabolism and environmental data. Two pens were monitored over a full grow-out season to determine nitrogen sedimentation fluxes, remineralization at the sediment-water interface and accumulation in the sediments. The model suggests that the high metabolic rates of tuna lead to low retention of nitrogen in fish tissues (7-12% of feed inputs) and high environmental losses (260-502kg Ntonne(-1) growth). Considering Australian annual production of 4380tonnes over initial stocked biomass, total loads can reach 1137tonnes N per year, 86-92% lost as dissolved wastes. The nature of wastes suggests low localized impacts at current stocking densities and holding periods.     

Stock assessment for Atlantic yellowfin tuna based on extended surplus production model considering life history

The modern fishery stock assessment could be conducted by various models, such as Stock Synthesis model with high data requirement and complicated model structure, and the basic surplus production model, which fails to incorporate individual growth, maturity, and fishery selectivity, etc. In this study, the Just Another Bayesian Biomass Assessment (JABBA) Select which is relatively balanced between complex and simple models, was used to conduct stock assessment for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the Atlantic Ocean. Its population dynamics was evaluated, considering the influence of selectivity patterns and different catch per unit effort (CPUE) indices on the stock assessment results. The model with three joint longline standardized CPUE indices and logistic selectivity pattern performed well, without significant retrospective pattern. The results indicated that the stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing in 2018. Sensitivity analyses indicated that stock assessment results are robust to natural mortality but sensitive to steepness of the stock-recruitment relationship and fishing selectivity. High steepness was revealed to be more appropriate for this stock, while the fishing selectivity has greater influence to the assessment results than life history parameters. Overall, JABBA-Select is suitable for the stock assessment of Atlantic yellowfin tuna with different selectivity patterns, and the assumptions of natural mortality and selectivity pattern should be improved to reduce uncertainties.     

Evaluation of Three Harvest Control Rules for Bigeye Tuna（Thunnus obesus） Fisheries in the Indian Ocean

The stock of Bigeye tuna（Thunnus obesus） in the Indian Ocean supports an important international fishery and is considered to be fully exploited. The responsible management agency, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission（IOTC）, does not have an explicit management decision-making framework in place to prevent over-fishing. In this study, we evaluated three harvest control rules, i） constant fishing mortality（CF）, from 0.2 to 0.6, ii） constant catch（CC）, from 60000 to 140000 t, and iii） constant escapement（CE）, from 0.3 to 0.7. The population dynamics simulated by the operating model was based on the most recent stock assessment using Stock Synthesis version Ⅲ（SS3）. Three simulation scenarios（low, medium and high productivity） were designed to cover possible uncertainty in the stock assessment and biological parameters. Performances of three harvest control rules were compared on the basis of three management objectives（over 3, 10 and 25 years）： i） the probability of maintaining spawning stock biomass above a level that can sustain maximum sustainable yield（MSY） on average, ii） the probability of achieving average catches between 0.8 MSY and 1.0 MSY, and iii） inter-annual variability in catches. The constant escapement strategy（CE=0.5）, constant fishing mortality strategy（F=0.4） and constant catch（CC=80000） were the most rational among the respective management scenarios. It is concluded that the short-term annual catch is suggested at 80000 t, and the potential total allowable catch for a stable yield could be set at 120000 t once the stock had recovered successfully. All the strategies considered in this study to achieve a ‘tolerable＇ balance between resource conservation and utilization have been based around the management objectives of the IOTC.     

Evaluation of three harvest control rules for Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus obesus) fisheries in the Indian Ocean

The stock of Bigeye tuna(Thunnus obesus) in the Indian Ocean supports an important international fishery and is considered to be fully exploited. The responsible management agency, the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission(IOTC), does not have an explicit management decision-making framework in place to prevent over-fishing. In this study, we evaluated three harvest control rules, i) constant fishing mortality(CF), from 0.2 to 0.6, ii) constant catch(CC), from 60000 to 140000 t, and iii) constant escapement(CE), from 0.3 to 0.7. The population dynamics simulated by the operating model was based on the most recent stock assessment using Stock Synthesis version Ⅲ(SS3). Three simulation scenarios(low, medium and high productivity) were designed to cover possible uncertainty in the stock assessment and biological parameters. Performances of three harvest control rules were compared on the basis of three management objectives(over 3, 10 and 25 years): i) the probability of maintaining spawning stock biomass above a level that can sustain maximum sustainable yield(MSY) on average, ii) the probability of achieving average catches between 0.8 MSY and 1.0 MSY, and iii) inter-annual variability in catches. The constant escapement strategy(CE=0.5), constant fishing mortality strategy(F=0.4) and constant catch(CC=80000) were the most rational among the respective management scenarios. It is concluded that the short-term annual catch is suggested at 80000 t, and the potential total allowable catch for a stable yield could be set at 120000 t once the stock had recovered successfully. All the strategies considered in this study to achieve a ‘tolerable' balance between resource conservation and utilization have been based around the management objectives of the IOTC.     

南海大眼金枪鱼和黄鳍金枪鱼生物学特性及其分布

利用2010年3月—2013年2月南海金枪鱼延绳钓探捕与渔业生产监测取得的生物学数据和生产数据,对南海的大眼金枪鱼(Thunnus obesus)和黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacres)的生物学特性和渔场分布进行了研究。结果表明:(1)南海大眼金枪鱼叉长范围50—169cm,平均为111.8cm,体重范围2.45—87kg,平均为33.2kg,叉长(FL)体重(W)关系:W=1.74×10–5FL3.01,性腺成熟度Ⅱ期居多,占总尾数的45.27%。绝对怀卵量109.46—456.95万粒,摄食强度以0—2级为主。大眼金枪鱼延绳钓渔场春夏季分布于南沙西北部和南沙中西部海域;秋冬季分布于西、中沙和南沙西北部海域。渔获水深90%集中在150—400m。(2)南海黄鳍金枪鱼叉长范围41—180cm,平均为107.9cm,体重范围1.2—77.5kg,平均为27.9kg,叉长体重关系:W=2.19×10–5FL2.94,性腺成熟度以Ⅱ—Ⅳ期居多,占总尾数的89.01%,绝对怀卵量15—154万粒,摄食强度以1—2级为主。黄鳍金枪鱼延绳钓渔场春夏季分布于南沙西北部和南沙中西部海域;秋冬季分布于西、中沙、南沙西北部、南沙中西部海域。渔获水深93.75%集中在50—350m。西沙西部和南沙西北部海域是灯光围网和灯光罩网捕捞金枪鱼的重要渔场。研究认为:(1)在南海可发展小型冷海水延绳钓船,在每年10月末—次年5月初在西沙东北海域开展浅水延绳钓作业;(2)在南海的岛礁附近设置PAYAO群,开展金枪鱼灯光罩网或围网捕捞。(3)目前取得的资料仍然有限,未来仍需进一步调查,以掌握南海金枪鱼种群动态,为渔业开发和养护提供建议。     

基于神经网络的印度洋长鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus alalunga)时空分布与海洋环境关系研究

长鳍金枪鱼(Thunnusalalunga)是主要的经济性金枪鱼鱼种之一,其空间分布与环境因子存在着密切联系。利用2012—2019年印度洋长鳍金枪鱼生产数据和海洋环境数据,包括海表面温度(sea surface temperature, SST)、叶绿素浓度(chlorophyll a, chl a)和海表面盐度(sea surface salinity, SSS)构建印度洋长鳍金枪鱼时空分布神经网络模型。以空间(经度,纬度)、环境因子(SST, chl a, SSS)为解释变量,局部渔获量为因变量,变化隐含层节点数,构建了18个BP空间分布模型,并采用10×10交叉验证模型稳定性,以均方误差(meansquareerror,MSE)、平均相对方差(averagerelativevariance,ARV)以及拟合优度(R~2)作为不同模型精度与稳定性的评判标准,最终选取5-18-1(隐含层节点18)模型为最佳模型,其平均MSE值为0.02232,平均ARV值为0.511。利用最优模型预测结果与同期实际捕捞产量进行叠加对比发现两者具有一致性。环境因子敏感性分析表明海表温度显著影响印度洋长鳍金枪鱼渔场分布,其贡献率达到0.2。印度洋长鳍金枪鱼高精度BP神经网络时空分布模型为其资源的可持续开发与动态管理提供了一种新思路。     

Will American consumers pay more for eco-friendly labeled canned tuna? Estimating US consumer demand for canned tuna varieties using scanner data

This study estimates consumer demand for eco-friendly labeled canned tuna products in two distinct US marketing channels, conventional and natural supermarkets, to evaluate market-based incentives for conservation measures that affect fishing costs and retail prices. Using retail scanner data, this paper finds that US consumer demand for canned tuna varies depending on the species of tuna, what gear type was used, whether the can is sold in natural food or conventional supermarkets, and whether canned product is or is not certified as eco-friendly. The paper's main conclusions are that retail price premiums for eco-friendly products face upper limits due to consumer responses to higher prices, and are most effective when coupled with: (1) inelastic own-price elasticity of demand; (2) price premium signals that are transmitted from retail markets to raw material producers; and (3) limited retail consumption substitution possibilities with lower-priced conventional products that help maintain price premiums and that otherwise create conservation disincentives by increasing conventional supply. Results from this paper not only have unique implications for various forms of international tuna fisheries policy that incorporates or anticipates change in market behavior, but also could serve as a scientific reference to clarify the trade disputes.     

长江口涨潮与落潮流速和悬沙输运不对称性研究

为了量化比较海表层环境及温跃层环境对南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼渔场分布的影响程度;本研究采用2010-2012年南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼延绳钓渔船实际生产统计数据;结合卫星遥感所获取的海表面温度（sea surface temperature;SST）和海表面高度（sea surface height;SSH）数据以及Argo浮标所获取的温跃层上、下界水温和深度数据;运用外包络法分别构建了基于海表层环境变量、温跃层上界环境变量以及温跃层下界环境变量的3种栖息地适应性指数（habitat suitability index;HSI）模型。模型验证结果显示;基于海表层环境变量的HSI模型;HSI>0.6时所占产量比重为70.04%;投钩数量比重为70.86%;HSI>0.8时所占产量比重为24.92%;投钩数量比重为25.79%;基于温跃层上界环境变量的HSI模型;HSI>0.6时所占产量比重为82.17%;投钩数量比重为80.95%;HSI>0.8时所占产量比重为33.24%;投钩数量比重为32.69%;基于温跃层下界环境变量的HSI模型;HSI>0.6时所占产量比重为81.01%;投钩数量比重为81.54%;HSI>0.8时所占产量比重为43.51%;投钩数量比重为43.73%。研究发现;基于温跃层上界和下界环境变量的两个HSI模型预报精度明显高于基于表层环境变量的HSI模型;且基于温跃层下界环境变量的HSI模型预报精度高于基于温跃层上界环境变量的HSI模型。研究结果表明;相较于海表层环境;温跃层环境;尤其是温跃层下界环境特征对南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼资源分布的影响更为显著。