Stock Health Bioindicator of Skipjack Tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus, 1758) From Purse Seine Fishery in Western Part of Sumatra

Abstract

The study focused on stock health bioindicator of skipjack tuna (i.e., size structure, length-weight relationship, and length-at-first-capture/Lc), which can be used as a reference for species-specific stock assessment in the western part of Sumatra waters. All size data were acquired from Kutaraja, Aceh, and Sibolga, North Sumatra, as part of the enumeration program, courtesy of the Research Institute for Tuna Fisheries, from January 2016 to December 2020. The result showed that the skipjack stock’s health is heading in an unsustainable direction. Further management actions are imminent to prevent any stock from declining shortly.Keywords: length-weight relationship, growth pattern, catch-at-size