Establishing a weight-length baseline for evaluating changes in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacores) body condition in the Western Indian Ocean
Bachelor Thesis
2013
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Standard weight (Ws) equations were established for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in the Western Indian Ocean and used as a baseline for calculating relative weight (Wr) indices. Length-weight data for yellowfin tuna were obtained from the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) for 1984 to 1991 and 2003 to 2013. Four quadratic standard weight equations were established (based on mean, median, first and third quartile statistics for each length class) using log10-transformed weight (W, in grams) and fork length (FL, in mm) data. The median Ws equation (log10(W) = -3.903 + 2.425(FL) + 0.103(FL)2) was the preferred baseline for the Wr analysis. Relative weight estimates for individual fish ranged from 92 to 110. Annual and monthly Wr estimates ranged from 99 to 101 and 99.9 to 100.5 respectively. A GLM was fitted to separate the effects of year, month and sex on the response variable Wr. Year, month, sex and the interaction terms Year:Sex and Month:Sex all contributed significantly to the variability in Wr explained. Correlations between environmental variability and yellowfin tuna condition were observed. Concentrations of suitable prey in 2003 and 2004 correlated to above average condition, although 2005 and 2006 were below average condition during similar prey availability and environmental conditions. Relative weight followed an increasing trend from 2008 to 2013 despite lower biological enrichment. Mechanisms such as a shallower thermocline and reduced fishing pressure are proposed explanations. This study provided a reference study for body condition studies of yellowfin tuna in the Indian Ocean. It also provided support for the application of the Wr index to other tuna species in the Indian Ocean managed by the IOTC.
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Harikishun, A. 2013. Establishing a weight-length baseline for evaluating changes in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacores) body condition in the Western Indian Ocean. University of Cape Town.