It is believed that pelagic fishes migrate for their ecological demand of spawning and feeding habits to the optimum environmental conditions on current, water temperature, salinity, chlorophyll and prey. This migration provides important information for stock identification and shared stock of pelagic fishes. In the Japanese Trust Fund II (JTF II) project on “Information Collection for Sustainable Pelagic Fisheries in the South China Sea” from 2002 to 2006, genetic study and morphometric analysis were conducted to identify sub-population and shared stock of the targeted small pelagic fishes. However, sub-populations of these fishes as management unit could not be confirmed clearly.
Tagging activity is one of the methods commonly used to study migration route of small pelagic fishes, which sometimes uncovers hidden migration routes. In the Gulf of Thailand, about 2,600 Indo Pacific mackerels (Rastrelliger brachysoma) were tagged and released by the DoF of Thailand from 1960 to 1965. From the study, about 16% of the tagged fishes were recaptured. The recovery rate is remarkably high for the small pelagic fishes, and gave useful information on the migration pattern of the species. The DoF Malaysia has also carried out tagging activities for pelagic fishes in the Straits of Malacca and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia from 1990 to 1998. However, information on migration patterns of the small pelagic fishes in the Southeast Asian region is still quite fragmentary and inadequate to used for the purpose of managing the fishery.
Therefore, study on migration patterns of small pelagic fishes in the region is an urgent need. Although trend of annual catch for the past 20 years shows that the status of the resource is still good, information of the resources is still lacking. The study will provides information for stock identification and more importantly, to confirm on the extent of sharing of the stock in the region.
1. To examine the movement and migration routes of the targeted pelagic fishes (TPF) in the South China Sea (SCS) and Andaman Sea (AS).
2. To compare the growth patterns of the TPF in the SCS and AS.
3. To compare the results of growth patterns for the TPF between the tagging program and FiSAT analysis in the 1st phase of JTF II in the SCS.
4. To conduct genetic analyses for population study to confirm existence/absence of sub-populations in the region and for species identification.
5. To suggest a management plan of purse seine fisheries in the SCS with reference to the obtained information and outcomes of the 1st phase of JTF II project.
Plan OF ACTIVITIES IN 2011
Project/Activity Title |
Duration |
Remarks |
Activity1: Meeting/Workshop/Trainings
Activity 1.3:
Workshop on data analysis
Activity 2:
Tagging Operation in the South China Sea and Andaman Sea
Activity 2.4:
Purchase materials for genetic study
Activity 2.5:
Tissue sample collection for genetic study
Activity 2.6:
Genetic survey for population study and species identification
Activity 3: Data Collection and Analysis
Activity 3.1:
Data collection and verification
Activity 3.2:
Data compilation and analysis
Activity 5: FADs and Sardine Information
Activity 5.3:
Data verification and analysis |
July-Dec 2011
Jan-Dec 2011
Jan-Dec 2011
Jan-Dec 2011
Jan-Dec 2011
Jan-Dec 2011
July-Dec 2011 |
The main purpose of the workshop is to establish the standard methods for data analysis and format of country report. Data that had been collected and store in the database will be analyzed to examine the movement and migration routes of the targeted pelagic fishes (TPF) in the South China Sea (SCS) and Andaman Sea (AS). Complete report by country is to be produced by the country technical officer and to be submitted to SEAFDEC-MFRDMD before the conduct of Terminal Regional Consultation.
Materials such as chemicals and veils will be purchased for genetic study.
Tissue samples will be collected with the aids of member countries both for population studies of a targeted pelagic species and for species identification.
DNA will be extracted from the collected tissue samples and be analyzed both for population study and for species identification.
Information for the tagged and recaptured fish will be verified and entered into the database that developed by SEAFDEC-TD.
Information and data on number of fish tagged and recaptured will carefully be handled by the Technical Officers of the participating SEAFDEC Member Countries. The data will be verified before entering into the database that developed by SEAFDEC-TD and be analyzed.
Supplementary information on present status of fish aggregation device (FAD) operation and Sardine catch in the South China Sea will be verified and analyzed based on the collected data in the first phase of Japanese Trust Fund II project from 2002 to 2006 for an appropriate management of purse seine fishery. |
Download Publication & Report
|
.png){kind=small}
ICT
International Training Programs