Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Diaz-Arce, Pierre-Alexandre Gagnaire, David E. Richardson, John F. Walter III, Sophie Arnaud-Haond, Jean-Marc Fromentin, Deirdre Brophy, Molly Lutcavage, Piero Addis, Francisco Alemany, Robert Allman, Simeon Deguara, Igaratza Fraile, Nicolas Goni, Alex R. Hanke, F. Saadet Karakulak, Ashley Pacicco, Joseph M. Quattro, Jay R. Rooker, Haritz Arrizabalaga, Naiara Rodriguez-Ezpeleta
Summary: Through the analysis of genetic data of Atlantic bluefin tuna, we have identified two weakly differentiated but connected ancestral populations and confirmed strong gene flow between the Mediterranean Sea and the Slope Sea. We hypothesize that increased westward migration by the eastern population has led to increased gene flow, which has implications for the genetic diversity and conservation of western populations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca Whitlock, Robert J. Schallert, Michael J. W. Stokesbury, Michael Castleton, Barbara A. Block
Summary: Understanding the productivity of marine fish and wildlife populations is crucial for their sustainable management. This study evaluates the potential of acoustic telemetry as a long-term monitoring tool to estimate rates of natural mortality and finds that the use of satellite tags can improve the accuracy and precision of the monitoring process.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Oyvind Fiksen, Patricia Reglero
Summary: The survival and growth of bluefin tuna during early life stages are influenced by prey availability and temperature. High temperatures are not ideal for feeding larvae, but heatwaves can increase larval survival potential while shortening the viable season for them. Food resources play a key role in modulating how temperature change impacts optimal phenology for the tuna larvae.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas R. Carruthers, Quang C. Huynh, Matthew V. Lauretta, Ann L. Preece, Douglas S. Butterworth, Adrian R. Hordyk, Nathan G. Taylor
Summary: This study implemented an individual tagging model to evaluate the benefits of a harvest strategy using conventional gene tagging for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Different scenarios for release numbers and genotyping rates were tested to assess the yield and resource conservation performance. The results showed that the gene tagging harvest strategies offered similar performance to idealized management in terms of yield and resource conservation.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Niki Milatou, Helen Miliou, Manos Dassenakis, Persefoni Megalofonou
Summary: This study examines the relationship between the biochemical composition (protein and lipid) and metal concentrations (Hg, Fe, Zn, Cu) in reared Atlantic bluefin tuna. The results reveal a positive relationship between Hg concentrations and protein content, and a negative relationship between Hg concentrations and lipid content. In contrast, Zn concentrations show a positive correlation with biochemical components. The study suggests that the accumulation of certain metals can be influenced by the biochemical composition of the tuna, and highlights the potential health risk of Hg for consumers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kristian Maar, Christian Riisager-Simonsen, Brian R. MacKenzie, Christian Skov, Kim Aarestrup, Jon C. Svendsen
Summary: The return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to northern Europe has generated significant interest among recreational anglers in Denmark. Recent scientific tagging programs have shown that the recreational fishery for bluefin tuna could potentially recover in the future. However, the economic aspects of this fishery remain unclear. A survey of anglers participating in a scientific catch and release bluefin tuna fishery in Denmark revealed substantial annual expenditures and a low impact on the bluefin tuna stock. Each dead Atlantic bluefin tuna during the study period generated significant economic benefits. This study demonstrates the economic potential of recreational anglers targeting Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Article
Environmental Studies
Trond Bjorndal
Summary: This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the recovery plan for the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna stock and questions the effectiveness of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The main conclusion is that the RFMO management of BFT-E is very successful, providing hope for the management of high seas fisheries worldwide.
Review
Oceanography
Camille M. L. S. Pagniello, Niall Maoileidigh, Hugo Maxwell, Michael R. Castleton, Emilius A. Aalto, Jonathan J. Dale, Robert J. Schallert, Michael J. W. Stokesbury, Ronan Cosgrove, Simon Dedman, Alan Drumm, Ross 'Neill, Barbara A. Block
Summary: This study used electronic tagging and satellite data to reveal the migration and feeding habits of Atlantic bluefin tuna. The results showed that they utilize the warm North Atlantic Current to access foraging areas and identified four potential regions. Additionally, the tuna engage in directed migration to reach their spawning grounds in the Mediterranean Sea, with anticyclonic ocean features present in all regions.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Mycology
Alejandro Lopez-Verdejo, Francisco E. Montero, Fernando de la Gandara, Miguel A. Gallego, Aurelio Ortega, Juan Antonio Raga, Jose F. Palacios-Abella
Summary: A new microsporidian species, Glugea thunni, has been reported in farmed Atlantic bluefin tunas from the Spanish Mediterranean. This pathogen causes severe pathology in the visceral cavity of the fish, posing a significant risk to bluefin tuna aquaculture.
Article
Fisheries
Enrique Rodriguez-Marin, Dheeraj Busawon, Patricia L. Luque, Isabel Castillo, Nathan Stewart, Kyne Krusic-Golub, Aida Parejo, Alex Hanke
Summary: This study determined the timing of annulus formation in Atlantic bluefin tuna otoliths through marginal increment and marginal edge analysis. The results showed that annulus formation begins in June and is completed by the end of November, with the translucent band reaching maximum development in May. This has important implications for accurate age determination of Atlantic bluefin tuna.
Review
Fisheries
Adam J. Andrews, Antonio Di Natale, Dario Bernal-Casasola, Veronica Aniceti, Vedat Onar, Tarek Oueslati, Tatiana Theodropoulou, Arturo Morales-Muniz, Elisabetta Cilli, Fausto Tinti
Summary: Overexploitation has negatively impacted marine fish populations, altering their abundance, behavior, and life-history traits. Understanding the exploitation history is crucial for effective fisheries management and conservation. Research suggests that the Atlantic bluefin tuna has been overexploited since the mid-20th century, with potential intensive exploitation dating back to the 19th century or even ancient times.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
I. Ruiz-Jarabo, R. Laiz-Carrion, A. Ortega, F. De la Gandara, J. M. Quintanilla, J. M. Mancera
Summary: This study investigated the effects of environmental salinity and pH on the survival of larval Atlantic bluefin tuna. The results showed that larval survival rate was higher at intermediate salinities and lower at extreme salinities. The study also found that lower active pumps activities were associated with higher survival rates.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zorana Kljakovic-Gaspic, Vjekoslav Ticina
Summary: This study examined the levels of total mercury (THg) and selenium (Se) in different tissues of wild Atlantic bluefin tuna captured in the central Adriatic Sea. The results showed significant differences in THg and Se levels among tissues, with different Se:THg molar ratios. THg and Se levels were positively correlated with tuna age and size, and the protective role of Se against THg decreased in older specimens.
Article
Fisheries
Jose M. Rodriguez, Carolina Johnstone, Diego Lozano-Peral
Summary: This study provides the first evidence of genetically confirmed bluefin tuna larvae in the southern Bay of Biscay, indicating bluefin spawning activity outside the Mediterranean Sea in the northeastern Atlantic. However, the results suggest that bluefin spawning in the Bay of Biscay is a sporadic phenomenon.
JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oceanography
Irina I. Rypina, Michael M. Dotzel, Lawrence J. Pratt, Christina M. Hernandez, Joel K. Llopiz
Summary: The study investigates the potential major spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Slope Sea of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, identifying suitable spawning habitat predominantly in the western part of the region with significant interannual variability. The influence of Gulf Stream meanders and overshoot events is found to be crucial in determining yearly habitat suitability rates for bluefin tuna in the Slope Sea.
PROGRESS IN OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Atefeh Zendehboudi, Azam Mohammadi, Sina Dobaradaran, Gabriel E. De-la-Torre, Bahman Ramavandi, Seyed Enayat Hashemi, Reza Saeedi, Emran Moradpour Tayebi, Ahmad Vafaee, Amirhossein Darabi
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics (MPs) in ballast water for the first time, and found high levels of MP pollution. These findings contribute to our understanding of the sources and risks of microplastics in marine ecosystems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Boahemaa Pinto, Linda Bogerd, Martine van der Ploeg, Kwame Duah, Remko Uijlenhoet, Tim H. M. van Emmerik
Summary: Catchment-scale plastic pollution assessments provide insights into the sources, sinks, and pathways of plastic pollution. We propose an approach to quantify macroplastic transport and density in the Odaw catchment, Ghana, and find that the urban riverine zone has the highest transport, while the urban tidal zone has the highest riverbank and land macroplastic density.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aliya Baidourela, Qian Sun, Gongxin Yang, Umut Halik, Zhongkai Dong, Kaixu Cai, Guili Sun, Wenya Zhang, Sisi Cheng
Summary: The study focused on heavy metal pollution in the green vegetation of a suburban industrial area in Tuokexun County, Xinjiang, China. The results showed that the overall level of heavy metal pollution in the soil was minor, with mercury (Hg) being the most severe contamination, likely caused by human activities. The composition of heavy metal elements in trees was more stable compared to grass and shrubs, with varying concentrations across different vegetation. Shrubbery was found to be the most effective in heavy metal restoration, and there were disparities in heavy metal enrichment among different vegetation types.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James H. Bridson, Hayden Masterton, Beatrix Theobald, Regis Risani, Fraser Doake, Jessica A. Wallbank, Stefan D. M. Maday, Gavin Lear, Robert Abbel, Dawn A. Smith, Joanne M. Kingsbury, Olga Pantos, Grant L. Northcott, Sally Gaw
Summary: Plastic pollution has significant environmental impacts, largely due to chemical additives. However, the behavior of plastic additives in marine environments is not well understood. A marine deployment experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of weathering on the extractables profile of four types of plastics in New Zealand over a period of nine months. The concentration of additives in polyethylene and oxo-degradable polyethylene was strongly influenced by artificial weathering, while polyamide 6 and polyethylene terephthalate showed minimal change. These findings emphasize the importance of considering leaching and weathering effects on plastic composition when assessing the potential impact and risk of plastic pollution in receiving environments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alan G. Scarlett, Francis D. Spilsbury, Steven J. Rowland, Marthe Monique Gagnon, Kliti Grice
Summary: This study used diamondoid hydrocarbon distributions to identify the sources of environmental oil contamination. A suite of 20 diamondoids was found to accumulate in fish adipose tissue. The scatter plots of indices between fish and exposure oils showed a close to ideal 1:1 relationship, which can be used to determine the origin of the oil.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Jiang, Mengmeng Wan, Kun Lin, Yanshan Chen, Rui Wang, Liju Tan, Jiangtao Wang
Summary: In this study, the concentration, composition, distribution, and sources of PCBs in surface seawater of the Bohai Bay were analyzed. The results showed that PCBs in the Bohai Bay had high concentrations and were primarily derived from land-based sources such as port activities and river inputs. The PCBs in the Bohai Bay may come from commercial PCBs and their incineration products, municipal landfills, wood and coal combustion, and industrial activities, etc.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Icaro S. A. Porto, Saulo V. A. Dantas, Caio S. A. Felix, Francisco A. S. Cunha, Jailson B. de Andrade, Sergio L. C. Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the risks of mercury levels in sardines consumed by low-income population in Salvador, Brazil. The results showed that the mercury content in the sampled sardines posed no risks to human health. This study is significant as most sardines in Salvador come from Todos os Santos Bay, which has a history of mercury contamination.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiahui Chen, Chengyu Yuan, Guanqun Zhai, Guangcheng Chen, Heng Zhu, Jun Liu, Yong Ye
Summary: This study investigated the combined influences of species selection and site elevation on greenhouse gas fluxes from restored mangrove soils. The results suggest that Avicennia marina should be selected for mangrove restoration to minimize carbon release and reduce the influence of greenhouse gas fluxes on the global greenhouse effect.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emmanuel Onyeabor, Uju Obuka
Summary: The Gulf of Guinea region in Africa is a significant area for coastal countries, playing a vital role in their economic and environmental development. This study aims to reduce marine plastic pollution in the region by utilizing legal instruments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuanli Liu, Stephan Luttjohann, Alvise Vianello, Claudia Lorenz, Fan Liu, Jes Vollertsen
Summary: Large area attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (LAATR-FTIR) is a novel technique for detecting small microplastics, with limited accuracy for large microplastics. However, it shows promise in homogeneous matrices. The spectra quality is comparable between transmission mode and LAATR mode.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Phuc T. D. Le, Andrew M. Fischer, Britta D. Hardesty, Heidi J. Auman, Chris Wilcox
Summary: This study explores the relationship between ocean currents and the accumulation of floating marine debris (FMD) and finds that higher concentrations of FMD are associated with frontal frequencies (FF). FMD is primarily trapped in accumulation zones between fronts and the coastline, which have high biodiversity value.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa Sawan, Perine Doyen, Florence Viudes, Rachid Amara, Celine Mahfouz
Summary: Few studies have examined the impact of urbanization and meteorological events on microplastics discharged into the sea through rivers. Surface water samples were collected from two Lebanese rivers, with differing degrees of urbanization, during dry and wet periods. The results showed that the most industrialized river had a significantly higher abundance of microplastics compared to the less-industrialized river. There was also a correlation between particle contamination and the season at each site, with microplastic concentrations highest on the first day of the wet season. These findings highlight the importance of considering meteorological events in accurately assessing plastic pollution influx into coastal waters.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katherine R. Shaw, Jonathan L. Whitney, Eileen M. Nalley, Madeline C. Schmidbauer, Megan J. Donahue, Jesse Black, Raquel N. Corniuk, Kellie Teague, Rachel Sandquist, Catherine Pirkle, Rachel Dacks, Max Sudnovsky, Jennifer M. Lynch
Summary: This study examines the ingestion of plastic in reef fish in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Plastic particles were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple fish species. However, further analysis revealed that these particles were actually natural materials and posed no threat to human consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Revati Hardikar, C. K. Haridevi, Shantaj Deshbhratar
Summary: This study investigated the variability in phytoplankton functional structure using a trait-based approach and explored the relationship between species traits and environmental factors, as well as their impact on ecosystem functioning. The results revealed that morphological traits, temperature, and ammonia played a decisive role in the seasonal succession of phytoplankton species. It was found that certain traits favored higher biomass production but might hinder energy transfer efficiency. The strong correlation between environmental variables and phytoplankton functional structure supports the practical implementation of a trait-based approach in studying phytoplankton community dynamics under different environmental conditions.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Engki A. Kisnarti, Nining Sari Ningsih, Mutiara R. Putri, Nani Hendiarti, Bernhard Mayer
Summary: This study examines the movement patterns of plastic marine debris in Indonesian waters, revealing that Indonesia contributes significantly to transboundary marine debris in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea. Most of the debris remains in Indonesian waters and moves back and forth due to the influence of monsoon currents.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)