Our understanding of the biology of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) has in-\ud creased profoundly in the last decade, and the progress is attributed to the development and application of a variety of novel tools. Here we provide a comprehensive examina-\ud tion of available data on the life history and stock structure of T. thynnus by re-examining current databases and literature and highlighting findings from recent studies using ap-\ud proaches such as archival tags and natural markers (e.g., genetics, otolith chemistry). The present review provides a detailed synthesis on the reproductive biology, feeding ecology, growth, mortality, migration, and stock structure of T. thynnus. In addition to\ud characterizing key life history attributes and discussing stock-specific (east versus west)differences, the implication of trans-Atlantic movement and mixing are addressed. We\ud also identify significant data needs that still exist and must be addressed to promote effective management and rapid recovery of T. thynnus populations

The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is a large teleost fish with rapid growth and excellent flesh quality, whose domestication represents an ambitious challenge for aquaculture. The occurrence of reproductive dysfunctions in greater amberjack reared in captivity was investigated by comparing reproductive development of wild and captive-reared individuals. Wild and captive-reared breeders were sampled in the Mediterranean Sea during three different phases of the reproductive cycle: early gametogenesis (EARLY, late April-early May), advanced gametogenesis (ADVANCED, late May-early June) and spawning (SPAWNING, late June-July). Fish reproductive state was evaluated using the gonado-somatic index (GSI), histological analysis of the gonads and determination of sex steroid levels in the plasma, and correlated with leptin expression in the liver and gonad biochemical composition. The GSI and sex steroid levels were lower in captive-reared than in wild fish. During the ADVANCED period, when the wild greater amberjack breeders were already in spawning condition, ovaries of captive-reared breeders showed extensive atresia of late vitellogenic oocytes and spermatogenic activity ceased in the testes of half of the examined males. During the SPAWNING period, all captive-reared fish had regressed gonads, while wild breeders still displayed reproductive activity. Liver leptin expression and gonad proximate composition of wild and captive greater amberjack were similar. However, the gonads of captive-reared fish showed different total polar lipid contents, as well as specific lipid classes and fatty acid profiles with respect to wild individuals. This study underlines the need for an improvement in rearing technology for this species, which should include minimum handling during the reproductive season and the formulation of a specific diet to overcome the observed gonadal decrements of phospholipids, DHA (22:6n-3) and ARA (20:4n-6), compared to wild breeders.

The ovaries of 501 female eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus Linnaeus, 1758) captured in the Mediterranean Sea from May to September between 1998 and 2004 were analysed histologically. Body size at median sexual maturity (L-50) was 103.6 cm, fork length (FL), while 100% maturity was reached above 135 cm FL. The age analysis, based on the count of the translucent zones of the first spiniform ray of the first dorsal fin, showed that most of the specimens with FL = L-50 were 3 years old while 100% maturity was reached between 4 to 5 years. The reported evidence indicates that for the eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna stock, the size and age of first sexual maturity of females was lower than in the western Atlantic stock.\u

The histological analysis of eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus ovaries caught from February to September 1999-2000, made it possible to distinguish the presence of seven oocyte developmental stages and allowed the characterization of six time-dependent ovary maturity stages. The ovaries of mature (fork length, L F ≥ 110 cm) bluefin tuna were non-active from August (spent period) to March (quiescent period) when they contained only perinucleolarstage oocytes. Ovary development started in April to early May (recrudescent period) with the appearance of oocytes at the lipid stage. Vitellogenesis appeared in mid-May (ripening period) and post-vitellogenesis occurred in late May to mid-June (pre-spawning period). In late June to early July, hydrated oocytes, a sign of imminent spawning, were found only in specimens caught in Balearic waters. Females ranging between 100 and 110 cm L F, captured during the recrudescent and ripening periods, had the largest oocytes at the lipid stage, most of which were degenerating. An extensive vitellogenic atresia was observed in the ovaries of five females caught during the spawning period in non-spawning areas

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