On the Dynamics of Albacore Population in the Indian Ocean

Abstract

Albacore has ever been the first target of Taiwan tuna fishery and about 25-35% of total albacore production is made from the Indian Ocean. Up-to-date, based on the catch statistics and scientific population studies, the Indian Ocean albacore population is assessed and managed by Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. The Indian Ocean albacore population studies have been elapsed over three decades and a number of results have been obtained, however, also a lot of uncertainties have remained in future study. This attempt is to find the topics of importance and to suggest some appropriate approaches to assess scientifically and to ensure biologically sustainability of the Indian Ocean albacore stock. The Indian Ocean albacore stock has been exploited since 1950s and appeared in a heavy exploitation status in two periods, 1986-1991 by gillnet fishery and 1998 afterward by longline fishing. During the long period exploitation, Japanese and Taiwanese scientists have been working on biological and population dynamics studies. Meanwhile the maximum sustainable yield was estimated and its healthy full-exploited status was prospected. The responsible fishery motivates stock users to collect catch data accurately and join the scientific researches, particularly in using various age-structured population models to evaluate and manage the stock in advance.