Fast versus slow growing tuna species: age, growth, and implications for population dynamics and fisheries management

Abstract

Growth models describe the change in length or weight as a function of age. Growth curves in tunas can take different forms from relatively simple von Bertalanffy growth curves (Atlantic bluefin, albacore tunas) to more complex two- or three-stanza growth curves (yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, southern bluefin tunas). We reviewed the growth of the principal market tunas (albacore, bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin and the three bluefin tuna species) in all oceans to ascertain the different growth rates among tuna species and their implications for population productivity and resilience. Tunas are among the fastest-growing of all fishes. Compared to other species, tunas exhibit rapid growth (i.e., relatively high K) and achieve large body sizes (i.e., high L∞). A comparison of their growth functions reveals that tunas have evolved different growth strategies. Tunas attain asymptotic sizes (L∞), ranging from 75 cm FL (skipjack tuna) to 400 cm FL (Atlantic bluefin tuna), and reach L∞ at different rates (K), varying from 0.95 year−1 (skipjack tuna) to 0.05 year−1 (Atlantic bluefin tuna). Skipjack tuna (followed by yellowfin tuna) is considered the “fastest growing” species of all tunas. Growth characteristics have important implications for population dynamics and fisheries management outcomes since tunas, and other fish species, with faster growth rates generally support higher estimates of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) than species with slower growth rates.