Abstract

During routine monitoring of commercial purse seine catches in 2011, 87 fingerling specimens of scombrids were collected in the southern Adriatic Sea. Sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA control region locus inferred that specimens belonged to the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (N = 29), bullet tuna, Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) (N = 30) and little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, Rafinesque, 1810 (N = 28). According to previously published growth parameters, the age of the collected specimens was estimated at approximately 30–40 days, suggesting they might have been spawned in the Adriatic Sea, contrary to the current knowledge. A coupled modelling system with hydrodynamic (ROMS) and individual based model (IBM—Ichthyop) was set up to determine the location of the spawning event. Numerical simulations with the IBM model, both backward and forward in time, indicate commercial tuna cages in the middle Adriatic coastal area as possible spawning location. The two other non-commercial species likely opportunistically use the positive environmental (abiotic and biotic) conditions to spawn in the same area.

Highlights

  • Scombridae inhabit temperate and tropical seas all around the world and carry out major feeding and spawning migrations during their life span

  • Sequencing of the mitochondrial control region locus inferred that specimens belonged to the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) (N = 29), bullet tuna, Auxis rochei (Risso, 1810) (N = 30) and little tunny, Euthynnus alletteratus, Rafinesque, 1810 (N = 28)

  • Thunnus thynnus was presented with 20 haplotypes

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Summary

Introduction

Scombridae (mackerels, tunas, and bonitos, [1]) inhabit temperate and tropical seas all around the world and carry out major feeding and spawning migrations during their life span. Their worldwide distribution and biological features are well known due to the commercial importance of these species. Spillover of the Atlantic bluefin tuna from cages in the Adriatic Sea. Science Foundation: 001-0013077-0532 (http:// www.izor.hr) supported this work. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

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