IMIS

Publications | Institutes | Persons | Datasets | Projects | Maps
[ report an error in this record ]basket (1): add | show Print this page

one publication added to basket [369445]
Tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna off Ireland reveals use of distinct oceanographic hotspots
Pagniello, C.M.L.S.; Maoiléidigh, N.O.; Maxwell, H.; Castleton, M.R.; Aalto, E.A.; Dale, J.J.; Schallert, R.J.; Stokesbury, M.J.W.; Cosgrove, R.; Dedman, S.; Drumm, A.; O'Neill, R.; Block, B.A. (2023). Tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna off Ireland reveals use of distinct oceanographic hotspots. Prog. Oceanogr. 219: 103135. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2023.103135
In: Progress in Oceanography. Pergamon: Oxford,New York,. ISSN 0079-6611; e-ISSN 1873-4472, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Atlantic bluefin tuna; Pop-up satellite archival tagging; Oceanography; North Atlantic Current; Anticyclonic features; Newfoundland Basin

Authors  Top 
  • Pagniello, C.M.L.S.
  • Maoiléidigh, N.O.
  • Maxwell, H.
  • Castleton, M.R.
  • Aalto, E.A.
  • Dale, J.J.
  • Schallert, R.J.
  • Stokesbury, M.J.W.
  • Cosgrove, R.
  • Dedman, S.
  • Drumm, A.
  • O'Neill, R.
  • Block, B.A.

Abstract
    Electronic tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABT; Thunnus thynnus) has shaped our understanding of their movements and migrations throughout the Atlantic basin. In this study, we used pop-up satellite archival tagging data to examine the movements of 51 large (CFL µ ± σ: 215 ± 15 cm) ABT tagged off the coast of Ireland. When combined with satellite oceanographic data, we found that ABT take advantage of the warm North Atlantic Current to access foraging areas in the North Atlantic Ocean. We identified four potential foraging regions: (1) off the coast of Ireland, (2) the Bay of Biscay, (3) the Newfoundland Basin, and (4) the West European Basin. In addition, 14 ABT migrated to their spawning grounds in the Mediterranean Sea, entering by May 16 and exiting by July 7, on average. In all five regions, anticyclonic ocean features (i.e., eddies or recirculation) were present. In the open ocean, these features often co-occurred with areas where the daily maximum depth of tuna exceeded 400 m and tuna spent extended time at mesopelagic depths (i.e., greater than 200 m). We hypothesize that ABT exploit anticyclonic structures to forage on the abundant mesopelagic fish communities. Additionally, our results suggest that ABT are travelling across the North Atlantic Ocean in a directed migration to the Newfoundland Basin to reach what may be one of the best mesopelagic feeding grounds in the world.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors