The Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis, PBF), an iconic fisheries species, is heavily exploited and its biomass is at a historically low level. To enhance effectiveness of management and conservation, a study was initiated to examine the demographic changes of the PBF between 2002 and 2015. Annual tuna age compositions were estimated by applying an empirical age-length key, based on the ages and lengths of 892 fish, to the length frequencies observed among annual catches in the northwestern Pacific spawning grounds located near Taiwan. Ages of the spawners concentrated in 7–20-years old (range = 4–28 years), corresponding to fork lengths between 200 and 240 cm. The size and age compositions were influenced by the strong 1994 and 1996 year-cohorts, which showed a relatively high abundance in most years except 2007–2009. Between 2013 and 2015, recruits of 2005–2009 year-cohorts (age 6–10) increased in relative abundance while the strong 1994 and 1996 year-cohorts decreased as they neared the end of their lifespan. PBF smaller than 200 cm were rarely found in the tropical areas and the mean sizes of the PBF caught south of 24°N were significantly larger than those caught north of 24°N. These results suggested that the choice of spawning latitudes of the PBF was influenced by the size of spawning adults. The sex ratio of smaller (<200 cm) and intermediate size classes (200–230 cm) was female biased (50–75%) while that of larger fish (>240 cm) were male biased (62–100%). The size and age composition of the PBF was mainly influenced by the recruitment of young spawners and was less sensitive to the catch of longline fisheries. However the impact of longline fisheries on the reproductive potential of this species warrants further investigation.
We investigated the size at maturation, breeding season, and morphological development of larvae and juveniles of a freshwater pipefish Microphis leiaspis, which belongs to Gastrophori, collected from three rivers on the northern part of Okinawa-jima Island, Japan. The minimum size of brooding males was 105-123 mm in standard length (SL). The smallest mature female was estimated to be ca. 130 mm SL from the analysis of gonadosomatic index (GSI) and histological observations of gonads. The breeding season was estimated to be from June to December according to monthly changes in female GSI, histological observations of gonads, and monthly changes in the occurrence of brooding males. The number of eggs in the male brood pouch ranged from 75 to 241 (mean ± SD: 152 ± 52, n = 22). The male releases newly hatched larvae in freshwater areas. After newborns grow in the sea, they return to freshwater areas of the rivers and attain maturity. Microphis leiaspis was conformed to have an amphidromous life history. Notochord length of the released larvae was 6.1 mm, with a well-developed finfold. Larvae attained 11.1 mm SL, formation of the caudal and dorsal fin rays was complete, and the caudal fin became lozenge shaped at 30 days after the release, and juveniles reached 36.0 mm SL at 63 days after release. In the period between 30 and 63 days after the release, formation of all fins except the pectoral fins was completed, and caudal fin rays were extended and sector shaped with deep slits between each fin ray. The morphology of the released larvae of M. leiaspis is similar to that of Gastrophori species, and the morphology of juveniles similar to other species of Microphis.
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