Some morphometric relationships in fattened blucfin tuna, Thunnus thynnus L., from the Turkish Aegean Sea

Abstract

This study reports Length-Weight (LWR), Length-Length (LLR) and Length-Girth (LGR) relationships of Bluefin Tuna (BFT), Thunnus thynnus raised in captive conditions during 18 months in the Turkish Aegean Sea. A total of 702 specimens, 346 males and 356 females were measured for Fork Length (FL) and weighed on the deck of the harvesting ship during December 2009. Fish ranged between 113 cm FL (16.5 kg) and 286 cm FL (355.5 kg) with an average of 171±1.4 cm (84.9±2.4 kg) in both sexes. The LWRs indicated positive allometric growth in both sexes (the mean value of b was 3.193±0.08). Results indicated that the LLRs and LGRs were highly correlated (R2>0.99- >0.98, p <0.001). Fulton's condition factor (K) was also calculated for each fork length class for both sexes. K values ranged from 1.30-1.55 (mean: 1.46±0.03) in males and from 1.29-1.51 (mean: 1.44±0.02) in females. The daily feed intake of BFT was 16.7% and according to the girth values, some BFTs (>230 cm FL and 180 kg) were observed to be over-fattened. © Medwell Journals, 2010.