Estimating the maternal effect on the sustainability of large pelagic oceanic populations
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.
Estimate the maternal effect on the sustainability of large pelagic oceanic populations.
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.
