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Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) is an important target of tuna fisheries in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The commercial catch of albacore is the highest globally among all temperate tuna species, contributing around 6% in weight to global tuna catches over the last decade. The accurate assessment and management of this heavily exploited resource requires a robust understanding of the species' biology and of the pattern of connectivity among oceanic regions, yet Indian Ocean albacore population dynamics remain poorly understood and its level of connectivity with the Atlantic Ocean population is uncertain. We analysed morphometrics and genetics of albacore (n = 1,874) in the southwest Indian (SWIO) and southeast Atlantic (SEAO) Oceans to investigate the connectivity and population structure. Furthermore, we examined the species' dispersal potential by modelling particle drift through major oceanographic features. Males appear larger than females, except in South African waters, yet the length-weight relationship only showed significant male-female difference in one region (east of Madagascar and Reunion waters). The present study produced a genetic differentiation between the southeast Atlantic and southwest Indian Oceans, supporting their demographic independence. The particle drift models suggested dispersal potential of early life stages from SWIO to SEAO and adult or sub-adult migration from SEAO to SWIO. This work was conducted in the framework of the GERMON project “N°759/DMSOI/2013” funded by the European Fisheries Funds EU FEP 2013-2015, IFREMER, and IRD

The hottentot seabream Pachymetopon blochii is a small-sized (maximum 2.67 kg) sparid endemic to southern Africa. It is an important target in South Africa’s Western Cape traditional linefishery, particularly in the absence of more valuable pelagic species (such as Thyrsites atun and Seriola lalandi). In 2000, South Africa’s linefishery was declared to be in a state of emergency, and commercial fishing effort was consequently reduced by 70%. A subsequent increase in stock biomass and intraspecific competition, coupled with environmental changes, were hypothesised to have thereafter altered the growth rate of hottentot, from 2000 to 2010. This study aimed to revise outdated age–growth models for the hottentot by using modern techniques (sectioned otoliths), and to compare age–growth relationships before and after the declared linefish state of emergency. The maximum age observed was 19 years, with no difference in the growth rate between sexes (p = 0.39–0.43) or time-periods (p = 0.96). Although the growth rate did not change, there is evidence that the age structure of the stock changed between time-periods as a result of changes in fishing pressure between 2000 and 2010. The enhanced recent growth model for hottentot, described as Lt = 418.063 (1 – e−0.104(t –[−4.709])) (pooled sexes; n = 206), indicates a considerably slower growth rate for this species than was proposed previously using whole otoliths and has major implications for effective stock management.Keywords: age structure, gonochoristic fish, growth model, intraspecific competition, linefishery, Sparidae, Western Cape, whole otoliths

The feasibility of using telemetry equipment to study the movements of estuarine-associated fish in South Africa was investigated by conducting a tracking experiment on spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in the East Kleinemonde Estuary. The telemetry equipment comprised two VEMCO V8 transmitters and a VEMCO VR60 receiver linked to a directional hydrophone. Field experiments demonstrated that the equipment's maximum detection range was 400m. The transmitters were tuned to different frequencies, and interference between these was found to be negligible. The accuracy of locating the transmitter equalled the previously determined Global Positioning System (Garmin GPS 12) accuracy of approximately 5m. Two fish were tracked over a seven-day period. The fish preferred the lower reaches of the estuary where they made repeated and prolonged use of some areas. A tank experiment was conducted to examine the effects of the transmitter implantation. Fish recovered quickly after the surgical procedure, and no differences in swimming behaviour and growth rates were found between these fish and the controls.Keywords: estuary; fish behaviour; fish movement; Pomadasys commersonnii, telemetryAfrican Journal of Marine Science 2005, 27(2): 389–394