EMOTION
Estimating the maternal effect on the sustainability of large pelagic oceanic populations
Context
Today, fishing practices must comply with a regulatory framework in which the fish caught must meet criteria such as size (corresponding to the oldest individuals). However, it has been shown in many species (long-lived fish, sharks…) that the energy allocated to reproduction (reproductive effort) increases with age: this is the “maternal effect”. The capture of older, larger individuals therefore leads to a reduction in the period and change of breeding grounds and a reduction in egg production and quality.
Objective
Estimate the maternal effect on the sustainability of large pelagic oceanic populations.
About the <strong>project </strong>
The project activities focus on testing and quantifying the maternal effect for large pelagic species via the case study of tuna and swordfish in the western Indian Ocean.