Characteristics Fishing Areas of Bigeye Tuna (Thunnus Obesus) in Depth of 155 m Based on Remotely Sensed Data

Abstract

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) is one of the commercially important pelagic species that caught mostly in the eastern Indian Ocean. This species prefers to stay close, and is usually below the thermocline layer. Remotely sensed data was used to determine the characteristics of Bigeye tuna fishing areas at a depth of 155 meter. Fishing vessels for Bigeye tuna were obtained from vessel monitoring systems (VMS) from January through December, 2015-2016. Daily data on sub-surface temperature (SST), sub-surface chlorophyll-a concentration (SSC), and sub-surface salinity (SSS) were obtained from the INDESO Project website. All oceanographic parameter data were selected at a depth of 155 m. The position of Bigeye tuna and oceanographic data were then grouped into 2 group monsoon, southeast monsoon (April – September) and northwest monsoon (October – March). The results showed that, during the southeast and northwest monsoon, Bigeye tuna mostly found in SSC of 0.03 – 0.05 mg/m3, SST of 16° - 18°C and salinity of 34 psu. These results showed that at depth of 155 m, Bigeye Tuna prefers to stay in small chl-a (0.03 – 0.04 mg/m3), low SST (16° - 18°C) and salinity of 34 psu. These information were essential and could be used to support fisheries management decisions especially for Bigeye Tuna in the eastern Indian Ocean.