Food and feeding ecology of juvenile albacore, Thunnus alalunga, off the Bay of Biscay: a case study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.09.004
• Publication Date: 2005-01-15T12:30:36Z
• Authors: C. Pusineri; Y. Vasseur; S. Hassani; L. Meynier; J. Spitz; V. Ridoux
• Keywords: Albacore; Thunnus; Mesopelagic zone

Abstract Although immature albacore tuna, Thunnus alalunga, are of economic and social importance in the Bay Biscay, little is known about their diet feeding ecology there. For this study, 78 caught French driftnet fishery during summer 1993 analysed. Fish dominated terms relative abundance (86%N), reconstituted mass (60%M), most important being Maurolicus muelleri (79%N, 23%M), Scomberesox saurus (2%N, 30%M), Arctozenus risso (4%N, 4%M). Crustaceans were also (12%N, 2%M), but given small size, it questionable whether they primary or secondary prey. Foraging on cephalopods seemingly took place only occasionally: represented 2%N 39%M total diet, absent from fresh fraction stomach contents. Prey sizes ranged 6 to 228 mm. Juvenile consume either epipelagic prey by day, vertically migrating mesopelagic species that reach surface layer night.