Factors that determine the quality of bigeye tuna, caught in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean / Fatores que determinam a qualidade da albacora-bandolim, capturada no Oceano Atlântico oeste tropical

Tuna are highly prized in Oriental cuisine, and the bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) is of great commercial importance. Quality is assessed by the tuna meat quality, freshness, texture and fat, which can be altered by factors inherent to capture, such as days of onboard storage, months of the year, whether the catch was living or dead, fish weight and year. These factors were correlated to identify those that affect quality. We obtained data from nine vessels, from January 2007 to April 2010, creating an information bank of 21,908 bigeye tuna. Fish quality and parameters were related using multiple linear regression analysis, in which the variables were included in the model by a stepwise procedure (F>4). We found that live catch, heavier fish and fewer days of storage positively affected the quality, and that there is a seasonality of quality related to biological factors, which are not amenable to control...

Os atuns são peixes muito apreciados na culinária oriental, e a albacora-bandolim (Thunnus obesus) é de grande importância comercial. A qualidade do atum é avaliada pela qualidade da carne, frescor, textura e gordura, a qual pode ser alterada por fatores inerentes à captura, tais como: dias de armazenamento a bordo, meses do ano, capturado vivo ou morto, peso e ano. Esses fatores foram correlacionados para se identificarem aqueles que afetam a qualidade da carne. Foram obtidos dados de nove embarcações, de janeiro de 2007 a abril de 2010, e criou-se um banco de informações de 21.908 atuns. A qualidade do pescado e os parâmetros foram relacionados utilizando-se análise de regressão linear múltipla, em que as variáveis foram incluídas no modelo de stepwise (F> 4). Descobriu-se que captura do animal vivo, peixe mais pesado e menos dias de armazenamento afetaram positivamente a qualidade da carne e que há uma sazonalidade da qualidade relacionada a fatores biológicos que não são passíveis de controle...

Reproduction of Blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus (Perciformes: Scombridae) in Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Equatorial Atlantic, Brazil / Reproducción del atún de aleta negra Thunnus atlanticus (Perciformes: Scombridae) en el Archipiélago San Pedro y San Pablo, Atlántico Ecuatorial, Brasil

The reproduction of Blackfin tuna Thunnus atlanticus has been described for coastal regions, and for a long time, this species was considered to be a strictly continental spawner. Recently, this species was observed around a seamount habitat 500 nautical miles Northeast of Brazil, located between South America and Africa. In this study we describe the reproductive biology of Blackfin tuna at Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA). Male and female gonads were sampled from December 2008 to July 2010, and analyzed macro and microscopically. A total of 361 fish were sampled (247 males and 114 females). Males were more common than females, with a sex ratio of 2.2 ♂:1♀. The fork length (FL) of all sampled specimens ranged from 38 to 98cm, and larger length classes were more frequent in males. It was possible to distinguish six maturity phases for females: immature, developing, spawning capable, actively spawning, regressing and recovering. Five phases were identified for males: immature, developing, spawning capable, actively spawning and recovering. The gonad index (GI) mean monthly values ranged from 6.6 (SD=4.1) to 58.4 (SD=34.7) for females, and from 2.6 (SD=1.3) to 66.2 (SD=30.4) for males. For both sexes, the largest GI values were observed at the beginning of the first semester of the year. Size at first maturity was estimated at 48cm FL and 55cm FL for females and males respectively. Approximately 80% of the specimens were adults and considered to be in reproductive conditions. Histological analysis of the ovaries and testes showed that most of the specimens were sexually mature and were reproductively active during all months of the year. However, females with mature ovaries, with large amounts of hydrated oocytes and post-ovulatory follicles, were mainly found from December to March, thus these months may constitute the main spawning season in SPSPA. Batch fecundity varied between 272 025 and 1 140 584 oocytes for 56 and 68cm FL females respectively. Oocyte development and spawning patterns suggest a multiple spawning behavior. The results revealed that Blackfin tuna is using the SPSPA as a spawning ground, similar to other species commonly observed in the same area during the same reproductive season.

A pesar de la importancia de las capturas del atún de aleta negra Thunnus atlanticus en el noreste de Brasil y en las cercanías del Archipiélago San Pedro y San Pablo (ASPSP), hay una escasez de información sobre su reproducción, especialmente en las islas. La reproducción del atún de aleta negra en este archipiélago se estudió de diciembre 2008 a julio 2010. Con este fin, se recolectaron 361 gónadas de hembras y machos, los machos fueron predominantemente más frecuentes en la muestra total, con una proporción sexual de 1♀:2.2 ♂. La longitud furcal todos los ejemplares muestreados varió entre 38 y 98 cm, y los machos fueron más abundantes en las clases de mayor longitud. Los valores medios mensuales del índice gonadal (IG) variaron de 6.6 (SD=4.1) a 58.4 (SD=34.7) y de 2.6 (SD=1.3) a 66.2 (SD=30.4) para hembras y machos, respectivamente. Los mayores valores de IG para ambos sexos fueron observados el inicio del primer semestre. Los análisis histológicos mostraron que la mayoría de los ovarios y testículos correspondieron a especímenes aptos para reproducirse. Sin embargo, hembras con ovarios maduros, con gran cantidad de oócitos hidratados y folículos post ovulatorios, se encontraron principalmente de diciembre a marzo, que se considera es la época de reproducción del atún de aleta negra alrededor del ASPSP.

Growth and mortality rates of bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus (Perciformes: Scombridae) in the central Atlantic Ocean

Age and growth parameters were estimated for bigeye tuna Thunnus obesus Lowe, 1839 sampled from China longline fisheries in the central Atlantic Ocean from October 2002 to July 2003 and from August 2004 to March 2005. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated at L8=217.9 cm fork length, k=0.23 year-1, and t0=-0.44 year. The total mortality rate (Z) was estimated to be from 0.82 to 1.02, the fishing mortality (F) and the natural mortality were 0.54 year-1 and 0.39 year-1, respectively. The exploitation ratio (E) was 0.35. This study provides the detailed estimates of growth and mortality rate for bigeye tuna in the central Atlantic Ocean, which can be used as biological input parameters in further stock evaluations in this region. However, age analysis, additional validation of the size composition and stock structure are needed for future studies. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2): 79-88. Epub 2009 June 30.

First record in South America of Didymosulcus palati and Didymosulcus philobranchiarca (Digenea, Didymozoidae) with new hosts records and pathological alterations

Two species of Didymozoidae, Didymosulcus palati (Yamaguti 1970) and Didymosulcus philobranchiarca (Yamaguti 1970) were reported for the first time in South America, Atlantic Ocean, parasitizing three different tuna species from the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Thunnus atlanticus (Lesson), Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) and Thunnus obesus (Lowe). Pairs of D. philobranchiarca were found on gill arches of T. albacares and T. obesus, in longitudinal rows of yellow cysts located inside grooves in the hard denticle palate (new site) of the three hosts species studied, and as disperse groups of cysts in the operculum (new site) and gill arches of T. atlanticus (new host record). D. palati occurred as disperse groups of encysted worm pairs in the gill arches of T. albacares and T. obesus and in gill arches and operculum of T. atlanticus (new host record). The pathological alterations induced by D. philobranchiarca in the palate of T. atlanticus are described for the first time. Original measurements and figures are presented.