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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Otolith shape variation provides a marker of stock origin for north Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Deirdre Brophy A N , Paula Haynes A , Haritz Arrizabalaga B , Igaratza Fraile B , Jean Marc Fromentin C , Fulvio Garibaldi D , Ivan Katavic E , Fausto Tinti F , F. Saadet Karakulak G , David Macías H , Dheeraj Busawon I , Alex Hanke I , Ai Kimoto J , Osamu Sakai J , Simeon Deguara K , Nouredinne Abid L and Miguel Neves Santos M
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland.

B AZTI Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Herrea Kaia, Portualdea z/g, E-20110 Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain.

C Ifremer, UMR MARBEC/Marine Biodiversity, Exploitation and Conservation (IRD, Ifremer, Université de Montpellier, CNRS), Avenue Jean Monnet, BP 171, F-34203, Sète cedex, France.

D University of Genova, Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy.

E Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Šetalište I, Meštrovića 63, HR-21000 Split, Croatia.

F University of Bologna, Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, School of Sciences, Via Selmi 3, I-40126, Bologna, Italy.

G Istanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries, Ordu Street 200, TR-34470 Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey.

H Spanish Institute of Oceanography, Pesquero Pesquero s/n, E-29640, Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain.

I Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Pêches et Océans Canada, St Andrews Biological Station, 531 Brandy Cove Road, St Andrews, NB, E5B 2L9, Canada.

J National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu, Shizuoka, 424-8633 Japan.

K Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers (FMAP), St Christopher Street, 54 VLT 1462, Valletta, Malta.

L Institut National de la Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Regional Centre of Tangier, BP 5268, Dradeb, Tangier, Morocco.

M IPMA–Portuguese Institute for the Ocean and Atmosphere, Avenida 5 de Outubro s/n, PT-8700-305 Olhão, Portugal.

N Corresponding author. Email: deirdre.brophy@gmit.ie

Marine and Freshwater Research 67(7) 1023-1036 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF15086
Submitted: 1 March 2015  Accepted: 23 July 2015   Published: 21 October 2015

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2016 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Two stocks of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) inhabit the north Atlantic; the western and eastern stocks spawn in the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea respectively. Trans-Atlantic movements occur outside spawning time whereas natal homing maintains stock structure. Commercial fisheries may exploit a mixed assemblage of both stocks. The incorporation of mixing rates into stock assessment is precluded by uncertainties surrounding stock discrimination. Otolith shape descriptors were used to characterise western and eastern stocks of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the present study and to estimate stock composition in catches of unknown origin. Otolith shape varied with length and between locations and years. Within a restricted size range (200–297-cm fork length (FL)) the two stocks were distinguished with an accuracy of 83%. Bayesian stock mixture analysis indicated that samples from the east Atlantic and Mediterranean were predominantly of eastern origin. The proportion assigned to the eastern stock showed slight spatial variation; however, overlapping 95% credible intervals indicated no significant difference (200–297 cm FL: central Atlantic, 73–100%; Straits of Gibraltar, 73–100%; Morocco, 50–99%; Portugal 64–100%). Otolith shape could be used in combination with other population markers to improve the accuracy of mixing rate estimates for Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Additional keywords: elliptical Fourier analysis, population structure, stock mixture analysis.


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