LENGTH-BASED ESTIMATES OF GROWTH AND NATURAL MORTALITY FOR BLUE MARLIN (Makaira nigricans) IN THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC OCEAN

Authors

Nan-Jay Su, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. Current address: Department of Environmental Biology and FisheriesScience, Nat ional Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chi-Lu Sun, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, R.O.C.Follow
Chuan-Yuan Tai, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C
Su-Zan Yeh, Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. 2 Current address: Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, R.O.C

Abstract

Blue marlin is an important resource for commercial and recreational fisheries. However, several life history parameters needed for stock assessments of this species are poorly determined. Sex-specific catch-at-size data (eye fork length, EFL) for blue marlin were collected from the Taiwanese offshore longline fishery in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and analyzed using the MULTIFAN, a length-frequency analysis, to derive growth parameters. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters of blue marlin were estimated to be different between sexes. The best model for the females included 11 age-classes in the lengthfrequency data sets (asymptotic length L = 312.5 cm EFL, growth coefficient k = 0.111 yr-1, and theoretical age at zero length t0 = –2.42 yr), while 9 age-classes were identified for the males (L = 232.8 cm EFL, k = 0.131 yr-1, and t0 = –3.58 yr). Natural mortality rates, based on empirical equations, were estimated to be 0.258 yr-1 for the males and 0.213 yr-1 for the females, respectively. The estimates of growth parameters and mortality rates derived from this study could be used in stock assessments for blue marlin, and contribute towards the fisheries management of the species

Recommended Citation

Su, Nan-Jay; Sun, Chi-Lu; Tai, Chuan-Yuan; and Yeh, Su-Zan (2016) "LENGTH-BASED ESTIMATES OF GROWTH AND NATURAL MORTALITY FOR BLUE MARLIN (Makaira nigricans) IN THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC OCEAN," Journal of Marine Science and Technology: Vol. 24: Iss. 2, Article 31.
DOI: 10.6119/JMST-015-0728-1
Available at: https://jmstt.ntou.edu.tw/journal/vol24/iss2/31