Abstract
Knowledge of reproduction biology provides valuable information to better understanding population dynamics, including a population's resilience to fishing. The yellowfin tuna reproductive biology in the eastern Indian Ocean was studied by analyzing some essential characteristics: size at maturity, the spawning season, frequency of spawning, egg diameter, and batch fecundity. From 2018 to 2020, 206 female yellowfin tuna were sampled (23-170 cmFL). They were using histological and morphological analysis, resulting in the size at maturity (Lm50) of yellowfin tuna being 92.73 cmFL. The spawning season of yellowfin tuna occurred between September and May, spawning every 1.55 days within the spawning period. The oocytes size ranged between 27.1 – 570.5 μm, and the mean size of oocytes (mean ± standard deviation) was 189.5±129.4 μm. The mean batch fecundity was 3.1±1.7 million oocytes, and the mean relative batch was 82.4±38.4 oocytes gram-1 of GGT weight. The uncertainties in current yellowfin stock assessment models can be reduced by providing complete information on the reproductive traits in the region to achieve a sustainable fishery.
Highlights
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares Bonnaterre, 1878) is a large epipelagic species distributed in tropical and subtropical waters [1]
A proper estimation of the stock's reproductive traits would better manage this species in the area
2.1 Sample collection Samples of Yellowfin tuna ovaries were collected from port sampling (n=158) and surveys onboard on commercial longline tuna operated in the eastern Indian Ocean (n=48)
Summary
Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares Bonnaterre, 1878) is a large epipelagic species distributed in tropical and subtropical waters [1]. It is the primary target species for tuna fishery in the Indian Ocean [2, 3]. Yellowfin tuna is harvested by different fishing gears worldwide due to its high demand [4]. Handlines, pole and lines, purse seines, gillnets, and troll lines are mainly used to catch this fish [5,6,7]. Since the early 1980s, in the Indian Ocean, the total annual catch of yellowfin tuna has increased significantly. The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) determined that yellowfin tuna stock remains overfished and subject to overfishing. A proper estimation of the stock's reproductive traits would better manage this species in the area
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