FISHING ACTIVITY, SIZE DISTRIBUTION, TAG RELEASED AND RECAPTURE OF TUNA TAGGING IN EASTERN INDONESIAN WATERS
Abstract: Tagging of tropical
tunas has a long history in Indonesian waters. Since 1987 tuna tagging has been
conducted in Indonesian Waters. Tuna tagging in 2008 in eastern Indonesian
waters was conducted in collaborative program with SPC to obtain new data about
biological aspect and stock assessment of tuna. This tuna tagging was
successfully conducted at 86 locations, with a total of 25,197 tuna tagged with
conventional tags, at an average of around 900 fish per fishing day. The
releases of conventional tags comprised of 19,576 skipjack (77.7%), 5,267
yellowfin (20.9%) and 354 bigeye (1.4%). From the length frequency composition,
the skipjack size range was wide, between 29 – 83 cm, but mostly between 35 and
40 cm with 38.9 cm average. The yellowfin size range of 28 – 65 cm, with most
fish between 37 and 41 cm of 40.1 cm average. The small numbers of bigeye
tagged were mostly larger than 38 cm, ranging from 29 to 58 cm with 41.3 cm
average. During the tagging cruise, bait fish to support the fishing activity
was relatively easily found in and around the survey area, either with direct
catching using bouke ami net or purchasing from the lift net fisherman. By the
end of 2010, 4,594 tags was recovered representing a relatively high recovery
rate of 18.2% overall.
Keywords: Tuna; tagging;
Eastern Indonesian Waters
Author: Moh. Natsir, Agustinus
Anung Widodo, Budi Iskandar Prisantoso
Journal Code: jpperikanangg120048
