Proposed Migrations of Albacore, Thunnus alalunga, in the Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

Abstract An analysis of Japanese longline catch and effort data from the Atlantic Ocean, 1957 through 1965, reveals seasonal migrations of albacore, Thunnus alalunga. In the North Atlantic albacore concentrate on the western side of the ocean in the summer. In winter they are abundant between 30° to 40° N and 25° to 45° W. Small albacore that support the North Atlantic surface fishery in the Bay of Biscay probably migrate westward in the fall and winter to form part of the recruitment to the winter longline fishery. Albacore are abundant in the South Atlantic off the coast of Brazil in the southern summer. In southern winter they migrate eastward and concentrate off Angola and Southwest Africa. A group of small albacore is present off the tip of South Africa almost year around. Spawning is probably in spring and summer and takes place in the western North and South Atlantic. The North and South Atlantic groups of albacore are believed to be separate, and intermingling across the equator is nil.