基于Argo数据的热带大西洋大眼金枪鱼时空分布

为了解热带大西洋延绳钓大眼金枪鱼适宜渔获水温的等温线时空分布,分析大眼金枪鱼适宜的垂直和水平空间分布范围,采用Argo浮标剖面温度数据,运用Kriging方法重构热带大西洋9、12、13和15℃月平均等温线场,网格化计算了12、13℃等温线深度值和温跃层下界深度差,并结合大西洋金枪鱼国际养护委员会(ICCAT)大眼金枪鱼延绳钓渔业数据,绘制了12、13℃等温线深度与月平均单位捕捞努力渔获量(CPUE)的空间叠加图,用于分析大眼金枪鱼中心渔场CPUE时空分布和高渔获率的水温等值线时空分布的关系.结果表明:热带大西洋大眼金枪鱼中心渔场延绳钓高渔获率的水层垂直分布在温跃层下界以下区域,在表层以下150~450 m深度.在水平空间上,12℃等温线高值CPUE出现的深度值大多小于300m,集中分布在190~260 m,深度值超过400 m几乎没有CPUE值.大眼金枪鱼水平空间分布受12℃等温线影响.13℃等温线高值CPUE出现的深度值大多小于250 m,集中分布在150~230 m,深度值超过300 m几乎没有渔获.采用频次分析和经验累积分布函数计算其适宜次表层环境因子分布:12℃等温线190~260 m;13℃等温线160~240 m;12℃深度差-10~100m;13℃深度差-40~60 m.文章初步得出热带大西洋大眼金枪鱼中心渔场适宜的水平、垂直深度值分布区间,结果可以辅助寻找中心渔场位置,同时指导投钩深度,为大西洋大眼金枪鱼实际生产作业和资源管理提供理论支持.     

热带大西洋黄鳍金枪鱼垂直分布空间分析

为了解热带大西洋黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacares)延绳钓适宜渔获水温的等温线时空分布,分析黄鳍适宜的垂直和水平空间分布范围,采用Argo浮标剖面温度数据重构热带大西洋13℃和距海洋表层水温8℃(Δ8℃)的月平均等温线场,网格化计算了13℃和Δ8℃等温线深度值和温跃层下界深度差,并结合大西洋金枪鱼会委员(International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ICCAT)的黄鳍金枪鱼延绳钓渔业数据,绘制了13℃和Δ8℃等温线深度与月平均CPUE的空间叠加图,用于分析热带大西洋黄鳍金枪鱼中心渔场单位捕捞努力渔获量(Catch per unit effort CPUE)时空分布和次表层环境季节性变化关系。结果表明,13℃等温线,在高值CPUE出现的海域深度值大多小于250 m,主要在170—249 m,深度值超过250 m的海域CPUE普遍较小。5°S—9°N区域,Δ8℃等温线高值CPUE出现的海域深度值大多小于150 m,主要在50—139 m;7—10月份在南半球的非洲西海岸,在Δ8℃等温线深度值为150—350 m的海域也会出现中心渔场。全年在低纬度区域,高渔获率的垂直分布深度更加集中。13℃等温线影响热带大西洋黄鳍金枪鱼的空间分布,温跃层下界温度影响黄鳍金枪鱼的垂直分布。采用频次分析和经验累积分布函数计算其适宜次表层环境因子分布,13℃等温线180—240 m;Δ8℃等温线50—139 m;与下界深度差:13℃等温线-70—29 m;海表以下8℃等温线30—149 m。文章初步得出热带大西洋黄鳍金枪鱼适宜的水平、垂直深度分布区间。结果可以辅助渔情预报,为热带大西洋黄鳍金枪鱼实际生产作业和资源管理提供参考依据。     

大西洋中部延绳钓黄鳍金枪鱼渔场时空分布与温跃层的关系

为了解大西洋延绳钓黄鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus albacares)渔场适宜的温跃层参数分布区间,采用Argo浮标水温信息和大西洋金枪鱼会委员(International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas ICCAT)的黄鳍金枪鱼延绳钓渔获数据,绘制了大西洋中部月平均温跃层特征参数和月平均单位捕捞努力量渔获量(Catch per unit effort CPUE)的空间叠加图,用于分析大西洋中部延绳钓黄鳍金枪鱼中心渔场时空分布和温跃层特征参数关系。分析结果表明:大西洋中部温跃层上界深度、温度具有明显的季节性变化,而温跃层下界深度、温度没有明显的季节变化特征。空间叠加图显示,1-6月份在赤道地区中心渔场主要分布在温跃层上界深度为20-60 m之间。7-9月份在60-80 m,同期在纳米比亚外海,中心渔场区域温跃层上界深度超过100 m。10-12月份,中心渔场区域温跃层上界深度下降到60 m左右。全年在赤道区域,中心渔场CPUE主要分布在温跃层上界温度26-29 ℃,低于24℃区域渔获率很低;温跃层下界深度在160-250 m,集中在230 m;温跃层下界温度在12-14 ℃之间,在此区间外CPUE值都比较低。7-11月份,在纳米比亚外海的中心渔场区域上界温度会低至20 ℃,下界深度分布在140-160 m,下界温度在14-15 ℃左右。数值计算得出大西洋中部黄鳍金枪鱼适宜的温跃层上界温度是26-28.9 ℃;适宜的温跃层下界温度和深度分别是12-14.9 ℃和150-249 m,而上界深度和中心渔场CPUE关系不明显。研究得出大西洋延绳钓黄鳍金枪鱼中心渔场温跃层各特征参数的适宜分布区间及季节变化特征,为延绳钓黄鳍金枪鱼实际生产作业和资源管理提供理论参考。     

中东太平洋金枪鱼延绳钓中心渔场的时空变化

根据2009年6月—2012年1月上海金优远洋渔业有限公司在中东太平洋作业的5艘金枪鱼延绳钓渔船的渔捞日志资料,结合卫星遥感反演的海表温度数据,分析了中东太平洋金枪鱼延绳钓渔场的年际和季节变化规律以及渔获量与海表温度的关系。结果表明:在厄尔尼诺年(2009年),金枪鱼延绳钓渔场作业重心会向偏东方向移动,且金枪鱼钓获率较高;而拉尼娜年(2010、2011年)则向偏西方向移动,且钓获率下降;研究海域作业渔场的最适宜海表温度范围为25~30℃;2009年最适海表温度略高于2010年和2011年;平均月渔获量与月平均海表温度呈显著正相关(P0.05)。     

热带印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼渔场时空分布与温跃层的关系

根据Argo浮标剖面温度数据重构热带印度洋各月月平均温跃层特征参数,并结合印度洋金枪鱼委员会(IOTC)黄鳍金枪鱼延绳钓数据,绘制了月平均温跃层特征参数和月平均CPUE的空间叠加图,用于分析热带印度洋黄鳍金枪鱼渔场时空分布和温跃层特征参数的关系。结果表明:热带印度洋温跃层上界深度、温度和下界深度,以及黄鳍金枪鱼中心渔场分布都具有明显的季节性变化特征,黄鳍金枪鱼中心渔场分布和温跃层季节性变化有关。在东北季风期间,高值CPUE渔区的温跃层上界深度的范围为30-40m,超过70m的渔区CPUE值普遍偏低;在西南季风期间温跃层上界最深达到120m。在东北季风期间,高值CPUE渔区温跃层下界深度不超过200m,在西南季风期间,深度会超过300m。在东北季风期间,高值CPUE渔区对应的温跃层上界温度都超过25℃,温度小于24℃的渔区CPUE值普遍较低;在西南季风期间,高值CUPE区域对应的温跃层上界温度范围变大,温跃层上界温度延伸到22℃,在22℃以下渔区CPUE值都很低。采用频次分析和经验累积分布函数计算其最适温跃层特征参数分布,得出黄鳍金枪鱼最适的温跃层上、下界温度范围分别是25-29℃和13-16℃;其上、下界深度范围分别为30-70m和140-200m。K-S检验结果表明,上述结论可靠。     

基于栖息地指数的东太平洋黄鳍金枪鱼渔场预报

黄鳍金枪鱼是东太平洋海域重要的金枪鱼种类之一,也是我国金枪鱼延绳钓的主要捕捞对象之一。根据2011年东太平洋海域(20°N—35°S、85°W—155°W)延绳钓生产统计数据,结合表温(SST)和海面高度(SSH)的遥感数据,采用频次分析法获得黄鳍金枪鱼分布的SST和SSH适宜范围;运用一元非线性回归方法,以渔获量为适应性指数,按季度分别建立了基于SST和SSH的长鳍金枪鱼栖息地适应性指数,采用算术平均法获得基于SST和SSH环境因子的栖息地指数综合模型,并用2012年各月实际作业渔场进行验证。结果显示,黄鳍金枪鱼渔场多分布在SST为24—29℃、SSH为0.3—0.7 m的海域。采用一元非线性回归建立的各因子适应性指数模型在统计上均为显著(P0.05)。经与2012年实际生产情况比较,作业渔场预报准确性达66%以上。研究获得栖息地指数模型可为金枪鱼延绳钓渔船寻找中心渔场提供参考。     

南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼渔场CPUE时空分布及其与关键海洋环境因子的关系

根据2009—2012年南太平洋长鳍金枪鱼(Thunnus alalunga)延绳钓生产统计数据及遥感获取的海表温度(sea surface temperature,SST)、叶绿素a浓度(chlorophyll a concentration,Chl-a)和海面高度距平(sea surface height anomaly,SSHA)等环境数据,分析了长鳍金枪鱼单位捕捞努力量渔获量(catch per unit of fishing effort,CPUE)的时空分布及其与环境因子的相关性。结果表明:长鳍金枪鱼作业渔场主要集中在4°S—28°S、158°E—176°E附近海域;长鳍金枪鱼渔场CPUE呈明显的季节性变化,1—3月CPUE值较低(12.5尾·千钩-1),随后逐渐增加,至7月达到最大值为18.1尾·千钩-1,而8—12月基本呈逐渐降低趋势;1月渔场重心位于16°S、168°E附近海域,2—3月向西北偏移,而在3—7月逐渐向东南方向转移,8月以后开始逐渐回撤至西北方向,在9—12月渔场重心变化幅度相对较小,主要位于15°S—16°S、168°E—169°E海域;总体来说,长鳍金枪鱼中心渔场最适SST为27.0~30.5℃,次适SST为20~24℃;最适叶绿素a浓度为0.02~0.08mg·m-3,最适海面高度距平为3~23 cm。     

基于精细尺度的冬季南乔治亚岛南极磷虾渔获率时空与环境效应

南乔治亚岛水域不仅是南极磷虾渔业的主要渔场之一,同时该水域的南极磷虾也是许多以该岛为栖息地的捕食者(如海豹、鲸鱼等)的饵料,因此对该岛南极磷虾资源丰度的研究对于深入理解南极生态系统有着非常重要的作用.本研究基于精细尺度渔业数据,利用广义可加模型(GAM)对2013年冬季南极磷虾渔获率与环境因子之间的关系进行研究.结果表明: 该模型对渔获率总偏差解释率为32.0%,其中贡献最大的为旬别,贡献率为21.4%;其次为纬度,但贡献率显著降低,仅为4.4%.7月上旬至9月上旬,渔获率总体上呈下降趋势.渔场东侧渔获率较高,尤其是中东部海域,而北侧的渔获率相对偏低.随着地形变化程度的增大,平均渔获率呈下降趋势.风力处于4级以下的情况不仅适宜捕捞作业,且渔获率也处于较高的水平.风向并不会对渔获率产生显著的影响.在表温0.5~2.0 ℃范围内,随着表温的增加,平均渔获率呈上升趋势.     

纺锤鰤在漂流物下聚集的原因

多种中上层鱼类趋于在漂流物体下方聚集,人们由此发明了漂流人工集鱼装置(FAD)来吸引热带金枪鱼类.FAD同时也能吸引其他非目标鱼种,如纺锤鰤,但它们被FAD聚集的原因至今仍不清楚.本研究利用中西太平洋金枪鱼围网渔业科学观察员收集的渔业生物学数据,评估了纺锤鰤聚集在FAD下方的潜在动机.结果表明:漂流物下的纺锤鰤样本叉长范围为30.0~90.6 cm,优势叉长组为60.0~80.0 cm,占到总体的76.3%,说明漂流物下的纺锤鰤以体型较大的个体为主;纺锤鰤个体的50%性成熟体长为65.7 cm,漂流物下纺锤鰤以性成熟个体为主;样本的胃含物中发现常见小型随附鱼种,如细鳞圆!、长鳍鈟、六带!、鲣鱼以及大眼金枪鱼和黄鳍金枪鱼的幼鱼,表明聚集于漂流物下的纺锤鰤捕食其他的随附种类.纺锤鰤成鱼作为一种大洋性的捕食者,觅食是其游向漂流物最可能的动机之一,"饵料供应"假说和"休息点"假说可用于解释纺锤鰤的聚集原因.     

印度洋中西部和大西洋西部水域大眼金枪鱼的食性比较

根据2004年8月至2005年3月大西洋西部水域及2003年12月份至2004年5月份在印度洋中西部水域金枪鱼延绳钓渔业所获取的大眼金枪鱼数据,对两个诃查区域内的大眼金枪鱼食性进行了研究。结果表明,印度洋中西部水域大眼金枪鱼的食物组成包括沙丁鱼、鱿鱼、乌贼等13个饵料类群,其中主要摄食鱿鱼和沙丁鱼;大西洋西部水域大眼金枪鱼主要摄食沙丁鱼、鱿鱼、虾类等13种饵料类群,主要以沙丁鱼为饵,其次为鱿鱼。印度洋中西部水域大眼金枪鱼空胃率非常高,基本上维持在60％以上;大西洋西部水域大眼金枪鱼空胃率相对较低,基本上都在30％以下。印度洋中西部水域大眼金枪鱼平均饱满指数变化不大,基本上维持在0．40～0．55之间。大西洋西部水域大眼金枪鱼平均饱满指数变化也不太大。印度洋中西部水域大眼金枪鱼各月平均饱满指数高于大西洋西部水域,且各月空胃率高于后者。印度洋中西部和大西洋西部水域大眼金枪鱼Shannon-Weiner多样性指数H’基本上都1．50～2．00之间变化。相同调查月份内,印度洋中西部水域大眼金枪鱼食物Pielou均匀度指数J’均高于大西洋西部水域。     

Shark bycatch in the experimental tuna longline fishery in Lakshadweep Sea,India

Bycatch from the experimental longline operations in the Lakshadweep Sea were studied. The experiments were conducted on converted Pablo boats, originally used for pole and line fishing operations, to capture skipjack tuna in the Lakshadweep Islands. The overall bycatch rate was very high, with a mean hooking rate of 8.05/1000 hooks compared to the targeted tuna catch (1.75/1000 hooks). Bycatch contributed 82.4% of the catch in comparison to the tuna (17.6%) Thunnus albacares, in the longline operations. Silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformes) with 89.9% was the dominant shark species followed by C. amblyrhynchos, Galeocerdo cuvier, Alopias pelagicus, Negapriion acutedens and Sphyrna lewinii with 4.7, 2.7, 1.4, 0.7 and 0.7%, respectively. Sharks contributed to 74.1% of the catch, followed by 15.7% sailfishes and 10.2% miscellaneous fishes. Higher bycatch rates were evident during evening hours compared to mornings, but the results were not significant statistically. Studies on the effects of depth on the overall fishing performance and species selectivity failed to establish any significant relationship at a depth range of 35–100 m. Soaking time had a significant effect on bycatch rates. The hooking rate of sharks declined with an increase in soaking time. Considering the high shark bycatch in the fishery, an accurate monitoring of the longline fish catches in the Lakshadweep waters is an important step towards ensuring the sustainability of other populations, especially sharks.     

Association of the abundance and vertical distribution of tuna and beakfish in the southeast of the Caribbean sea

The longline hooks suspension depth was estimated using the Mechanic Imitation of Flexible Systems method. The vertical distribution of tunas and billfish was determined by the relative abundance index, obtained from the catch by 11 to 25 m -long longline vessels, -based at Cumaná, Venezuela, South-eastern Caribbean Sea in depths of 65 to 142 m. The CPUE was evaluated per species, according to depth. High values were found for most of the captured species in the layer from 105 to 125 m. Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) showed the highest yield (3.37 fish/100 hooks) and blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) the lowest (0.04 fish/100 hooks). However, the statistical comparison did not allow to reject the hypothesis of lack of depth efect (Kruskal-Wallis p > .05), and demonstrated a homogeneous distribution of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), albacore (Thunnus alalunga), bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), sailfish (Istiophorus albicans), white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) and blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the water column. The conclusion is that fish concentration in the Southern border of the Caribbean Sea is possibly due to several hydroclimatic factors--which affect tuna and billfish catching--such as water temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration which limit the distribution according to depth.     

An overview of historical changes in the fishing gear and practices of pelagic longliners,with particular reference to Japan’s Pacific fleet

We identify changes in pelagic longline fishing gear and practices that need to be accounted for in stock assessments. Pelagic longline fishers have continuously modified their fishing gear and practices to improve fishing power and catchability, which has altered the relationship between catch rates and abundance. Advances in technology resulted in the introduction of many electronic devices to assist in navigation, communication and finding target species. The development of synthetic materials allowed improvements to lines and hooks that increased the probability of hooking target species and landing them. Other changes increased fishing power by improving searching efficiency (e.g., satellite imagery) or the time spent on fishing grounds (e.g., freezers). The number of hooks deployed in daily longlining operations has steadily increased since 1950. However, mean soak time did not change significantly because faster longline retrieval and deployment speeds balanced the increased hook numbers. There has been a shift from having all baits available at dawn, to having more available at dusk and at night. In the 1970s, several longline fleets began to exploit a much greater depth range, resulting in increased catchability for deep-dwelling species (e.g., bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus) and reduced catchability for epipelagic species like blue marlin (Makaira nigricans). Research has been mostly limited to the effects of longline depth on the catchability of target species. Recent experiments have quantified the effects of bycatch mitigation measures on fishing power and catchability. Progressive improvements in expertise and technological improvements in the gear will also affect fishing power, but are particularly difficult to quantify.     

Effects of pelagic longline hook size on species- and size-selectivity and survival

Pelagic fisheries can have profound effects on ecosystem structure and functioning, affecting ecosystem services, including fisheries production, and threaten vulnerable bycatch species. Controlling hook size could manage the species- and size-selectivity and survival of target and incidental catch. To test this hypothesis, we conducted experimental pelagic longline fishing in the western tropical Pacific testing a control hook and two hooks with wider minimum widths. Data such as catch, length and condition were fit to response-specific Bayesian geo-additive generalized additive and linear mixed regression models. Model fits were assessed using posterior predictive check tests. Catch rates of both retained and discarded species were significantly higher on medium hooks. Target tuna species were significantly larger and had significantly higher at-vessel survival rates on wider hooks. Significantly larger billfishes, also market species, were caught on narrowest hooks. These effects of hook width on length and survival, however, are a much smaller determinant of economic value of the catch than effects on catch rates. If input controls are limiting, then, relative to medium hooks, continued use of narrowest hooks would maintain current economic viability without causing a significant increase in discard catch levels, including of vulnerable sharks. If market species output controls are limiting, because the ratio of retained to discarded catch on medium hooks was greater than on narrowest hooks, medium hooks would generate lower discard levels. Further research assessing single-factor effects of longline hook width is needed to support robust meta-analyses that account for fishery-specific effects.     

Environmental preferences of bigeye tuna, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus obesus</Emphasis>, in the Indian Ocean: an application to a longline fishery

A survey of the fishing grounds for bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus, in the Indian Ocean was carried out for a better understanding of the environmental preferences of bigeye tuna in a longline fishery. Catch rates of bigeye tuna were analyzed with respect to the ranges of depth, temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, and dissolved oxygen. The optimum capture depth, water temperature, and dissolved oxygen range of bigeye tuna were identified as 240.0 m to 279.9 m, 12.0°C to 13.9°C, and 2.00 mg·L⁻¹ to 2.99 mg·L⁻¹, respectively, in the study area of Indian Ocean. Neither salinity nor chlorophyll-a had a detectable effect on the vertical distribution of the adult bigeye tuna. The dissolved oxygen is the principal factor limiting the vertical distribution of bigeye tuna.     

The development of length–weight relationships for four pelagic fish species in the tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean

The present study provides the length–weight relationships (LWRs) for four pelagic fish species belonging to three families sampled with the longline gear from the tropical Northwest Pacific Ocean. The sampling was conducted by the Chinese longline observers from June 2011 to September 2012 and the fishes were captured by commercial pelagic longline fleets. The circular size 4.0 sun‐C‐37 Japanese tuna hook design was used for this fishing operation. Length–weight relationship for one of these species is unknown to Fish Base. Additionally, a new maximum length of one fish species is identified in the study.     

Diet composition,feeding niche partitioning and trophic organisation of large pelagic predatory fishes in the eastern Arabian Sea

Information on the ecology and feeding behaviour of the large oceanic predatory fishes is crucial for the ecosystem approaches to fisheries management models. Co-existing large pelagic predators in the open oceans may avoid competition for the limited forage by resource partitioning on spatial, temporal or trophic levels. To test this, we studied the prey species composition, diet overlap, trophic level, and trophic organisation of 12 large predatory fishes co-existing in the eastern Arabian Sea. Stomach contents of 1,518 specimens caught by exploratory longline operations in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone during the years 2006–2009 were analysed. Finfishes were dominant prey of all species except blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), which fed mainly on cephalopods, and long-snouted lancetfish (Alepisaurus ferox) and pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea), which fed mainly on crustaceans. Common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and yellowfin tuna fed on a wider variety of prey than the other species, while the diets of lancetfish and black marlin (Istiompax indica) were narrowest. Pelagic stingray and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) fed on species occupying epipelagic waters, whereas the contribution of mesopelagic prey was higher in the diets of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and pelagic thresher (Alopias pelagicus). Trophic levels of these fishes ranged from 4.13 to 4.37. Diet overlap index revealed that some of the large pelagic predatory fishes share common prey species. Cluster analysis of the diets revealed four distinct trophic guilds namely ‘flyingfish feeders’ (common dolphinfish and great barracuda); ‘mesopelagic predators’ (pelagic thresher and swordfish); ‘crab feeders’ (lancetfish, pelagic stingray and silky shark) and ‘squid feeders’ (yellowfin tuna, Indo-Pacific sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), black marlin and blue marlin). Large predatory fishes of the eastern Arabian Sea target different prey types, and limit their vertical extent and time of feeding to avoid competing for prey.     

Empirical estimates of historical variations in the catchability and fishing power of pelagic longline fishing gear

I quantify the effects of 11 variables on the catchability and fishing power of pelagic longlines, which are used to catch tunas and billfishes in the open ocean. Extension of the depth range and the duration of longline operations have reduced the catchability of several epipelagic species, such as mako sharks (Isurus spp.), since industrial longlining commenced in the tropical Pacific Ocean in the early 1950s. Reductions in the body size of many species may also have reduced encounters with longline hooks. By contrast, the catchability of commercially valuable bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) increased substantially because of the longer duration and extension of the depth range of longlines. Stronger and less visible line materials and increased fishing-master experience also contributed to increased catchability. By affecting the rate of bait loss, the introduction of new bait species increased fishing power. This study highlights significant problems in deriving indices of abundance from commercial catch and effort data. Instead of relying on commercial data, assessments should use tag-recapture experiments or dedicated surveys to obtain fishery-independent estimates of abundance.     

Dynamic habitat models: using telemetry data to project fisheries bycatch

Fisheries bycatch is a recognized threat to marine megafauna. Addressing bycatch of pelagic species however is challenging owing to the dynamic nature of marine environments and vagility of these organisms. In order to assess the potential for species to overlap with fisheries, we propose applying dynamic habitat models to determine relative probabilities of species occurrence for specific oceanographic conditions. We demonstrate this approach by modelling habitats for Laysan (Phoebastria immutabilis) and black-footed albatrosses (Phoebastria nigripes) using telemetry data and relating their occurrence probabilities to observations of Hawaii-based longline fisheries in 1997-2000. We found that modelled habitat preference probabilities of black-footed albatrosses were high within some areas of the fishing range of the Hawaiian fleet and such preferences were important in explaining bycatch occurrence. Conversely, modelled habitats of Laysan albatrosses overlapped little with Hawaii-based longline fisheries and did little to explain the bycatch of this species. Estimated patterns of albatross habitat overlap with the Hawaiian fleet corresponded to bycatch observations: black-footed albatrosses were more frequently caught in this fishery despite being 10 times less abundant than Laysan albatrosses. This case study demonstrates that dynamic habitat models based on telemetry data may help to project interactions with pelagic animals relative to environmental features and that such an approach can serve as a tool to guide conservation and management decisions.     

Vulnerability of the Oceanic Whitetip Shark to Pelagic Longline Fisheries

A combination of fisheries dependent and independent data was used to assess the vulnerability of the oceanic whitetip shark to pelagic longline fisheries. The Brazilian tuna longline fleet, operating in the equatorial and southwestern Atlantic, is used as a case study. Fisheries dependent data include information from logbooks (from 1999 to 2011) and on-board observers (2004 to 2010), totaling 65,277 pelagic longline sets. Fisheries independent data were obtained from 8 oceanic whitetip sharks tagged with pop-up satellite archival tags in the area where longline fleet operated. Deployment periods varied from 60 to 178 days between 2010 and 2012. Tagging and pop-up sites were relatively close to each other, although individuals tended to travel long distances before returning to the tagging area. Some degree of site fidelity was observed. High utilization hotspots of tagged sharks fell inside the area under strongest fishing pressure. Despite the small sample size, a positive correlation between tag recorded information and catch data was detected. All sharks exhibited a strong preference for the warm and shallow waters of the mixed layer, spending on average more than 70% of the time above the thermocline and 95% above 120 m. Results indicate that the removal of shallow hooks on longline gear might be an efficient mitigation measure to reduce the bycatch of this pelagic shark species. The work also highlights the potential of tagging experiments to provide essential information for the development of spatio-temporal management measures.