Migration and Behavior of Juvenile North Pacific Albacore (Thunnus alalunga)

John ChildersStephanie SnyderSuzanne KohinNOAA Fisheries - Southwest Fisheries Science Center
Written By Michele Amar

Contributors: John Childers, Stephanie Snyder and Suzanne Kohin

Organization: NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Summary: This research provides a summary of the seasonal movements, migration patterns and vertical (diving) behavior of juvenile North Pacific Albacore that are taken by the US and Canada troll and pole and line fisheries of the west coast. The albacore exhibited five distinct, seasonal migratory patterns. Diving behavior revealed that juvenile albacore spend more time at depth than previously thought which explains lower catchability during some years or seasons.

This information was made possible by position and depth data from archival (data storing) tags funded by ARF and analyzed by NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Fisheries Science Center.

*Juvenile North Pacific Albacore refer to fish of 1 to 5 years of age that have entered the surface fishery but have not yet returned to the western Pacific to spawn. These are the fish that are sustainably harvested by ARF member vessels using troll gear.

Michele Amar
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