Simultaneous behavior of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), bigeye (Thunnus obsesus), and yellowfin (T. albacares) tunas, within large multi-species aggregations associated with drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the equatorial eastern 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.

The influence of multiple anchored fish aggregating devices (FADs) on the spatial behavior of yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (T. obesus) was investigated by equipping all thirteen FADs surrounding the island of Oahu (HI, USA) with automated sonic receivers (“listening stations”) and intra-peritoneally implanting individually coded acoustic transmitters in 45 yellowfin and 12 bigeye tuna. Thus, the FAD network became a multi-element passive observatory of the residence and movement characteristics of tuna within the array. Yellowfin tuna were detected within the FAD array for up to 150 days, while bigeye tuna were only observed up to a maximum of 10 days after tagging. Only eight yellowfin tuna (out of 45) and one bigeye tuna (out of 12) visited FADs other than their FAD of release. Those nine fish tended to visit nearest neighboring FADs and, in general, spent more time at their FAD of release than at the others. Fish visiting the same FAD several times or visiting other FADs tended to stay longer in the FAD network. A majority of tagged fish exhibited some synchronicity when departing the FADs but not all tagged fish departed a FAD at the same time: small groups of tagged fish left together while others remained. We hypothesize that tuna (at an individual or collective level) consider local conditions around any given FAD to be representative of the environment on a larger scale (e.g., the entire island) and when those conditions become unfavorable the tuna move to a completely different area. Thus, while the anchored FADs surrounding the island of Oahu might concentrate fish and make them more vulnerable to fishing, at a meso-scale they might not entrain fish longer than if there were no (or very few) FADs in the area. At the existing FAD density, the ‘island effect’ is more likely to be responsible for the general presence of fish around the island than the FADs. We recommend further investigation of this hypothesis.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate a fishing captain's ability to predict species composition, sizes, and quantities of tunas associated with drifting fish-aggregating devices (FADs), before encirclement with a purse-seine net. Operating in the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean, during 11 May–23 July 2011, Captain Ricardo Diaz detected small quantities of bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin (Thunnus albacares) tunas within large FAD-associated aggregations dominated by skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). The captain's predictions were significantly related to the actual total catch and catch by species, but not to size categories by species. His predictions of species composition were most accurate when estimates of bigeye and yellowfin tuna were combined. If purse-seine captains are able to make accurate predictions of the proportion of bigeye and yellowfin tunas present in mixed-species aggregations associated with FADs, managers may wish to consider incentives to fishers to reduce the fishing mortality on those species.

Do drifting and anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) similarly influence tuna feeding habits? A case study from the western Indian Ocean

The tuna fisheries in the Philippines are based on anchored FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices). These are auxiliary fishing devices deployed by a purse seine or ringnet fishing vessel in the fishing ground at depths that range from 200 m to more than 5000 m. Anchored FADs support the coastal operation of artisanal fishers that capture small pelagics and including neritic and oceanic tunas. Although this has increased the unintentional catch of juvenile tunas that include yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) as well as skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) together with other small-pelagics such as roundscad (Decapterrus spp.), bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus), bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), frigate tuna (Auxis thazard) and rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata). This study asked the following questions: 1) What are the tactics and strategies employed by purse seine, ringnet fishers and handline fishers in their deployment and use of FADs? 2) What are fishers’ knowledge and perception about fish distribution, movement and behavior around anchored FADs? 3) How do socioeconomic factors influence the change of fishing strategies when their catch declines? 4) What are the main factors influencing the catch and support of the implementation of a closed fishing season in fisheries? In chapter 2, the result of the first question regarding FAD deployment and usage is largely determined by good catch rates of tuna fishers and the availability of fishing space. We conclude that while FAD deployment may be a long-term strategy to maintain hold of a fishing ground, FAD areas are not fixed. Moreover, in chapter 3, based on fishers’ ecological knowledge (frigate and bullet tuna, roundscads, and mackerel) and large pelagic (e.g., tuna) tunas, while the logical knowledge. The small pelagic differ in average time of aggregation in FADs, larger tunas (skipjack, yellow fin, and bigeye) usually aggregate last. Because of the massive deployment of FADs, coupled with high development index (General Santos City) and another site with low economic development index (Lupon) both sites have high likelihood to change their fishing strategies when catch declines. For the better of (General Santos City), a change of strategy is dependent on its capacity to negotiate fishing access rights and explore other fishing sites, while the poorer one (Lupon), out of necessity to survive, will either change gear or relocate to other fishing sites. In chapter 5, fisheries management, the main predictors for the support of the implementation of closed fishing season as a management strategy to increase fish stocks were the number of fishing hours, fish price, membership to community organizations, and awareness of policy among others. Despite this, our study has some limitations as it is largely based on perception data from surveys and interviews, supplemented by existing literature and reports. The success of fisheries management hinges on the cooperation of fishers, strict enforcement and livelihood assistance for affected communities. In the future, a more direct comparison could illuminate sector-specific trends, resource allocation disparities, and differential impacts on sustainability, which are critical for tailored policy recommendations in the tuna fisheries.

Movement behaviour of skipjack (<i>Katsuwonus pelamis</i>) and yellowfin (<i>Thunnus albacares</i>) tuna at anchored fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the Maldives, investigated by acoustic telemetry

Yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre, 1788) and bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus (Lowe, 1839) are two of the most economically important tuna species in the world. However, identification of their juveniles, especially at sizes less than 40 cm, is very difficult, often leading to misidentification and miscalculation of their catch estimates. Here, we applied the mitochondrial DNA control region D-loop, a recently validated genetic marker used for identifying tuna species (Genus Thunnus), to discriminate juvenile tunas caught by purse seine and ringnet sets around fish aggregating devices (FADs) off the Southern Iloilo Peninsula in Central Philippines. We checked individual identifications using the Neighbor-Joining Method and compared results with morphometric analyses and the liver phenotype. We tested 48 specimens ranging from 13 to 31 cm fork length. Morpho-meristic analyses suggested that 12 specimens (25%) were bigeye tuna and 36 specimens (75%) were yellowfin tuna. In contrast, the genetic and liver analyses both showed that 5 specimens (10%) were bigeye tuna and 43 (90%) yellowfin tuna. This suggests that misidentification can occur even with highly stringent morpho-meristic characters and that the mtDNA control region and liver phenotype are excellent markers to discriminate juveniles of yellowfin and bigeye tunas.

Association dynamics of tuna and purse seine bycatch species with drifting fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean

Behaviour of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelarnis) around fish aggregating devices (FADs) in the Comoros Islands as determined by ultrasonic tagging

Characterizing the vulnerability of both target and non-target (bycatch) species to a fishing gear is a key step towards an ecosystem-based fisheries management approach. This study addresses this issue for the tropical tuna purse seine fishery that uses fish aggregating devices (FADs). We used passive acoustic telemetry to characterize, on a 24 h scale, the associative patterns and the vertical distribution of skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellowfin (Thunnus albacares), and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) (target species), as well as silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), oceanic triggerfish (Canthidermis maculata), and rainbow runner (Elagatis bipinnulata) (major non-target species). Distinct diel associative patterns were observed; the tunas and the silky sharks were more closely associated with FADs during daytime, while the rainbow runner and the oceanic triggerfish were more closely associated during the night. Minor changes in bycatch to catch ratio of rainbow runner and oceanic triggerfish could possibly be achieved by fishing at FADs after sunrise. However, as silky sharks display a similar associative pattern as tunas, no specific change in fishing time could mitigate the vulnerability of this more sensitive species. For the vertical distribution, there was no particular time of the day when any species occurred beyond the depth of a typical purse seine net. While this study does not provide an immediate solution to reduce the bycatch to catch ratios of the FAD-based fishery in the western Indian Ocean, the method described here could be applied to other regions where similar fisheries exist so as to evaluate potential solutions to reducing fishing mortality of non-target species.

Tuna fisheries catch over three million tonnes of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) each year, the majority of which come from purse-seine vessels targeting fish associated with man-made fish aggregating devices (FADs). A significant challenge for fisheries management is to maximize the efficiency of skipjack tuna catches whilst minimizing the bycatch of small and immature bigeye (Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin (T. albacares) tuna, for which long-term sustainability is uncertain in 75% of the world’s stocks. To better manage the issues common with this fishing method, an improved understanding of tuna behaviour around FADs is necessary. We probabilistically classified the vertical behavioural patterns of 50 bigeye and 35 yellowfin tuna (mean fork length 72cm and 70cm, respectively) electronically tagged throughout the western and central Pacific Ocean into shallow and deep states, using a state-space modelling approach. The occurrence of surface-association behaviours, defined as an individual remaining in a shallow state for 24-hours, was examined in relation to known capture events and FAD density. In general, surface-association events for both species were short and lasted on average less than three days, although events as long as 28 days were observed, and were more common in yellowfin when in archipelagic waters. Events were longest immediately following tagging in 62% and 17% of bigeye and yellowfin, respectively. Surface-association behaviour was not generally estimated just prior to recapture, being either non-existent or shorter than two days for 85% of bigeye and 74% of yellowfin. Current management measures in purse-seine tuna fisheries involve periodic or spatial closures for FAD use. If the chief benefit to purse-seine fishers of surface-association around floating objects is in locating schools in horizontal space at short-term time-scales, rather than holding fish near the surface for extended periods, controlling the number of sets made on FADs should be explored further as an additional management tool.

In order to better understand the associative behavior of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and bigeye tuna (T. obesus) with anchored fish aggregating devices (FADs), we conducted long-term monitoring of these tuna tagged with ultrasonic transmitters, using automated receivers deployed on seven FADs around the Okinawa Islands. Current and surface water temperature were also monitored by data loggers attached to the stations as a way to examine the influence of these factors on the associative behavior of tuna with FADs. We monitored a total of 52 yellowfin and 11 bigeye tuna at monitoring FADs for a period of 2.5 years. We found that the majority of tuna remained continuously at the monitoring stations for a certain period (max.=55 days) without day-scale (>24 h) absences, until they left the stations completely. The residence time at a single FAD was estimated to be about 7 days, as the half-life for both yellowfin and bigeye tuna. No inter-specific differences were seen, though there was a significant difference in residence time between two size classes: the residence time of the larger size class was shorter than that of the smaller size class. We also found there was a periodicity of approximately 24 h and regularity of associative behavior, estimated based on the fluctuation pattern of the detection rate and of short-term (<24 h) absences. In particular, absences of several hours occurring once a day with high temporal precision were considered to be excursions within several nautical miles from the FADs. These results indicate that tuna express periodic behavior in relation to the FADs and can locate the FADs precisely enough to return to them after a certain time. No relationship was seen between associative behavior and abiotic oceanographic conditions. Therefore, the biological environment (prey availability, the presence of predators, etc.) and the internal state of the individual (hunger, etc.) may be more important than abiotic environmental cues for inducing changes in associative behavior and/or the departure from FADs. In addition, the strong association of tuna with a single FAD and the relatively prolonged residence time observed in the present study may relate to the vigorous activity of FAD fisheries in Okinawa and their utilization of a large amount of bait.

BackgroundAggregation sites represent important sources of environmental heterogeneity and can modify the movement behavior of animals. When these sites are artificially established through anthropogenic actions, the consequent alterations to animal movements may impact their ecology with potential implications for their fitness. Floating objects represent important sources of habitat heterogeneity for tropical tunas, beneath which these species naturally aggregate in large numbers. Man-made floating objects, called Fish Aggregating Devices (FAD), are used by fishers on a massive scale to facilitate fishing operations. In addition to the direct impacts that fishing with FADs has on tuna populations, assessing the effects of increasing the numbers of FADs on the ecology of tuna is key for generating sound management and conservation measures.MethodsThis study investigates the effects of increasing numbers of FADs (aggregation sites) on the movements of tunas, through the comparison of electronic tagging data recorded from 146 individuals tunas (yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares, and skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis) tagged in three instrumented anchored FAD arrays (Mauritius, Oahu-Hawaii and Maldives), that differed according to their distances among neighboring FADs. The effect of increasing inter-FAD distances is studied considering a set of indices (residence times at FADs and absence (travel) times between two visits at FADs) and their trends.ResultsWhen inter-FAD distances decrease, tuna visit more FADs (higher connectivity between FADs), spend less time travelling between FADs and more time associated with them. The trends observed for the absence (travel) times appear to be compatible with a random-search component in the movement behaviour of tunas. Conversely, FAD residence times showed opposite trends, which could be a result of social behavior and/or prey availability.ConclusionOur results provide the first evidence of changes in tuna associative behavior for increasing FAD densities. More generally, they highlight the need for comparing animal movements in heterogeneous habitats in order to improve understanding of the impacts of anthropogenic habitat modifications on the ecology of wild animals.

Differences in reaction of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) to intermittent light

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) have much greater vertical mobility than yellowfin (T. albacares) and skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) tunas, due to an apparent greater tolerance of the changes in ambient temperature and oxygen occurring with depth. In an attempt to identify physiological processes (e.g., effects of temperature on cardiac function) responsible for these behavioral differences, we examined enzyme activities (at 12 °C, 17 °C, and 25 °C) of cardiac muscle in all three species. Contrary to our expectations, we found few differences and no clear explanatory patterns in maximum enzyme activities (V max ) or enzyme activity ratios. For example, citrate synthase (CS) activity was the same in bigeye and skipjack tunas, but ≈ 40% lower in yellowfin tuna, whereas carnitine palmotoyltransferase (CPT) activity in skipjack tuna was approximately double that in the other two species. The ratio of CPT to pyruvate kinase (PK) activity, a measure of the tissues’ preference for fatty acids as metabolic substrates, was the same in bigeye and yellowfin tunas, but elevated skipjack tuna. The ratios of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to CS activity and of PK to CS activity (anaerobic–aerobic enzyme activity ratios – taken as measures of the tissues’ ability to tolerate hypoxia) were both elevated in yellowfin tuna cardiac tissue relative to the other two species. We also found no differences in temperature sensitivity (Q10 values) when comparing cardiac enzyme activities across species, nor effects of temperature on the substrate affinity (K m ) of LDH. In sum, our results do not suggest any clear metabolic difference in the cardiac muscle that would explain the apparent greater tolerance of bigeye tuna to acute hypoxia and ambient temperature changes or their substantially greater vertical mobility.