Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T11:18:39.129Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproductive dynamics of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the southwestern Indian Ocean (Reunion Island). Part 1: oocyte development, sexual maturity and spawning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2009

François Poisson  and
Christian Fauvel
François Poisson
Affiliation:
IFREMER, Centre de Recherche halieutique méditerranéen et tropical, BP 171, avenue Jean Monnet, 34203 Sète Cedex, France
Christian Fauvel
Affiliation:
IFREMER, laboratoire Recherches aquacoles, chemin de Maguelone, 34250 Palavas-les-Flots, France
Get access

Abstract

The reproductive dynamics of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) was investigated from catches of the Reunion Island-based longline swordfish fishery between 19–25 °S and 48–54 °E. Thus, 1727 swordfish (size range 75–289 cm, lower jaw-to-fork length, LJFL) were sampled on board commercial fishing vessels during the period of May 1998 to January 2001. Reproductive activity was assessed using macroscopic gonad characteristics, trends of gonadal indexes for both sexes, oocyte size-frequency distributions and microscopic investigation of oocyte development stages. Size at first maturity (L50) for female and male swordfish was estimated in Indian Ocean for the first time. L50 was estimated at 170 cm and 120 cm (LJFL) for females and males, respectively. Spawning occurred from October to April in the vicinity of Reunion Island where sex ratio of caught populations fluctuated seasonally. The seasonal changes in sex ratio and the incidence of larger individuals at the beginning of the spawning season provide some preliminary indications of synchronized movements of swordfish between spawning grounds and neighboring regions. Our results add significantly to knowledge about the reproductive biology of swordfish in the southwestern Indian Ocean. An overview of the available information on reproductive biology and dynamics of swordfish in Indian Ocean and eastern Pacific indicated that spawning activity is localized in discrete areas, and showed that there is incomplete information on spawning grounds in this extended area.

Keywords

ReproductionSex ratioSpawning seasonHistologySize at first maturitySeasonal distributionSwordfishXiphias gladiusIndian Ocean
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 22 , Issue 1 , January 2009 , pp. 45 - 58
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD, 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anonymous, 2007, Report of the 10th Session of the Scientific Committee Victoria, Seychelles, 5–9 Nov. 2007.
Arocha, F., 2002, Oocyte development and maturity classification of swordfish from the north-western Atlantic. J. Fish Biol. 60, 13–27. CrossRef
Arocha, F., 2007, Swordfish reproduction in the Atlantic Ocean: an overview. Gulf Caribb. Res. 19, 21–36. CrossRef
Arocha F., Lee D.W., Grubich J.R., 1994, Observations on sex ratio, maturity stages, and fecundity estimates of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. ICCAT, Coll. Sci. Pap. 42, 309–318.
Arocha F., Lee D.W., 1995, The spawning of the swordfish from the Northwest Atlantic. ICCAT, Coll. Sci. Pap. 44, 179–186.
Arocha F., Lee D.W., 1996, Maturity at size, reproductive seasonality, spawning frequency, fecundity and sex ratio in swordfish from the Northwest Atlantic. ICCAT, Coll. Sci. Pap. 45, 350–357.
Beckett J.S., 1974, Biology of swordfish, Xiphias gladius L., in the North-west Atlantic Ocean. In: Shomura R.S., Williams S. (Eds.) Proc. Int. Billfish Symp., Part 2, Review and contributed papers. US Dep. Commerce, NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS, SSRF-675, pp. 105–106.
Berkeley, S.A., Houde, E.D., 1983, Age determination of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in the northwestern Atlantic. Bull. Mar. Sci. 50, 292–301.
Caddy J.F., 1976, A review of some factors relevant to management of swordfish fisheries in the northwest Atlantic. Fish. Mar. Serv. Res. Dev. Tech. Rep. 633.
Carey, F.G., Robinson, B., 1981, Daily patterns in the activities of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, observed by acoustic telemetry. Fish. Bull. 79, 277–292.
Cayré P., Farrugio H., 1996, Reproduction biology of the skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) in the Atlantique Ocean. In: Symons P.E.K, Miyake P.M., Sakagawa G.T. (Eds.) ICCAT Conf. on the international skipjack year programme. ICCAT Madrid, pp. 252–272.
De la Serna J.M., Ortiz de Urbina J.M., Macias D., 1995, Observations on sex ratio, maturity and fecundity by length-class for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) captured with surface longline in the western Mediterranean. ICCAT, SCRS/95/45.
DeMartini, E.E., Uchiyama, J.H., Williams, H.A., 2000, Sexual maturity, sex ratio, and size composition of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, caught by the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. Fish. Bull. 98, 489–506.
DeMartini, E.E., Uchiyama, J.H., Humphreys, R.L Jr, Sampaga, J.D., Williams, H.A., 2007, Age and growth of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) caught by the Hawaii-based pelagic longline fishery. Fish. Bull. 105, 356–367.
De Metrio G., Giacchetta F., Santamaria N, 1995, Sex ratio and gonadosomatic index of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the northern Ionian Sea and southern Adriatic Sea. 25th Congresso Soc. Ital. Biol. Mar. 2, 479–481.
Ehrhardt, N.M., 1992, Age and growth of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in the northwestern Atlantic. Bull. Mar. Sci. 50, 292–301.
Ehrhardt N.M., Robbins R.J., Arocha F., 1996, Age validation and growth of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in the northwestern Atlantic. ICCAT, Coll. Sci. Pap. 45, 358–367.
Ehrhardt N.M., 1996, Review of age and growth of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, using methods other than otoliths session.2nd Int. Pacific Swordfish Symp. Hawaii, 3–6 March 1996.
Esteves E., Simoes P., Da Silva H.M, Andrade J.P., 1995, Ageing of swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, from the Azores, using sagittae, anal-fin spine and vertebrae. Bull. Univ. Azores, Life and Marine Sciences 13A, pp. 39–51.
Gabe M., 1968, Techniques histologiques. Masson et Cie, Paris.
Gorbunova, N.M., 1969, Breeding grounds and food of the larvae of the swordfish Xiphias gladius Linnaeus (Pisces, Xiphiidae). Probl. Ichthyol. 9, 375–387.
Govoni, J.J., Stender, B.W., Pashuk, O., 2000, Distribution of larval swordfish, Xiphias gladius, and probable spawning off the southeastern United States. Fish. Bull. 98, 64–74.
Govoni, J.J., Laban, E.H., Hare, J.A., 2003, The early life history of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the western North Atlantic. Fish. Bull. 101, 778–789.
Guitart Manday D., 1964, Biologia pesquera del emperador o pez de espada, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus (Teleostomi: Xiphiidae) en las aguas de Cuba. Poeyana, Ser. B, N°1.
Hinton, M.G., Taylor, R.G., Murphy, M.D., 1997, Use of gonad indices to estimate the status of reproductive activity of female swordfish, Xiphias gladius: A validated classification method. Fish. Bull. 95, 80–84.
Holts D.B., Bartoo N.W., Dennis W., 1994, Swordfish tracking in the Southern California Bight. U.S. Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., Southwest Fish. Sci. Center, Admin. Rep. LJ 94–15: 9
Hoey J., 1986, A review of sex ratio by size data for western North Atlantic swordfish. Swordfish working paper 86/10.NMFS, SEFC, Miami.
Kondritskaya S.I., 1970, The larvae of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) from Mozambique Channel. J. Ichthyol. 10, 853–854.
Lowerre-Barbieri, S.K., Barbieri, L.R., 1993, A new method of oocyte separation and preservation for fish reproduction studies. Fish. Bull. 91, 165–170.
Megalofonou, P., Dean, J.M., De Metrio, G., Wilson, C., Berkeley, S., 1995, Age and growth of juvenile swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, from theMediterranean Sea. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 188, 79–88. CrossRef
Mejuto J., de la Serna J.M., Garcia B. 1998, Some considerations on the spatial and temporal variability in the sex ratio at size of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.). ICCAT Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. 48, pp. 205–215.
Mejuto J., García-Cortés B., Ramos-Cartelle A., 2006, An overview of research activities on swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and the by-catch species, caught by the Spanish longline fleet in the Indian ocean. IOTC 2006-WPB-11.
Miyabe N., Bayliff W.H., 1987, A review of the Japanese longline fishery for tunas and billfishes in the eastern Pacific Ocean, 1981–1987. Bull. IATTC 19.
Mugnier C., 1996, Analyse morphologique et endocrinienne des dernières étapes de l'ovogenèse et recherche d'un traitement de l'induction de l'ovulation chez le turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). Thèse dr, Université de Rennes I.
Nakamura I., 1986, Systematics, evolution and ecology of the billfishes (a preliminary consideration based on external morphology). In: Uyeno T., Arai R., Taniuchi T., Matsuura K. (Eds.) Proc. 2nd Int. Conference on Indo-Pacific Fishes. Ichthyol. Soc. Jap., Tokyo.
Nishikawa Y., Ueyanagi S., 1974, The distribution of the larvae of swordfish Xiphias gladius in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In: Shomura R.S., Williams F. (Eds.) Proc. Int. billfish symposium, Kailua-Kona, Hawaï, 9–12 Aug. 1972. Part 2. Review and contributed papers. US Dep. Commerce, NOAA Tech. Rep., NMFS/ SSRF/675, pp. 261–264.
Nishikawa Y., Honma M., Ueyanagi S., Kikawa S., 1985, Average distribution of larvae of oceanic species of scombroid fishes, 1956–1981. Ser. Far Seas Fish. Res. Lab. 12.
Ortiz, M., Restrepo, V.R., Turner, S.C., 2000, North Atlantic swordfish sex-ratios at size keys: analysis and development. Coll. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT 51, 1480–1509.
Palko B.J., Beardsley G.L., Richards W.J., 1981, Synopsis of the Biology of the Swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus. FAO Fish. Synop.
Sakagawa G.T., 1989, Trends in fisheries for swordfish in the Pacific Ocean. In: Stroud R.H. (Ed.) Planning the future of billfishes. Proc. 2nd Int. Billfish Symposium. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 1–5 August 1988. Marine Recreational Fisheries 13. National Coalition for Marine Conservation, Inc., Savannah GA, pp. 61–79.
Sedberry, G.R., Loefer, J.F., 2001, Satellite telemetry tracking of swordfish Xiphias gladius, off the Eastern United States. Mar. Biol. 139, 355–360.
Stanley C.A., 2006, Determining the nature and extent of swordfish movement and migration in the eastern and western AFZ through and industry-based tagging program. Canberra: Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
Stéquert, B., Ramcharrun, B., 1995, La fécondité du listao (Katsuwonus pelamis) de l'ouest de l'océan Indien. Aquat. Living. Resour. 8, 79–89. CrossRef
Sun C., Wang S., Yeh S., 2002, Age and growth of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) in the waters around Taiwan determined from anal-fin rays. Fish. Bull. 100, 822–835.
Takahashi, M., Okamura, H., Yokawa, K., Okazaki, M., 2003, Swimming behaviour and migration of a swordfish recorded by an archival tag. Mar. Freshw. Res. 54, 527–534. CrossRef
Taylor, R.G., Murphy, M.D., 1992, Reproductive biology of the swordfish Xiphias gladius in the straits of Florida and adjacent waters. Fish. Bull. 90, 809–816.
Tserpes, G., Tsimenides, N, 1995, Determination of age and growth of swordfish, Xiphias gladius L., 1758, in the eastern Mediterranean using anal-fin spines. Fish. Bull. 93, 594–602.
Tsimenides, N., Tserpes, G., 1989, Age determination and growth of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in the Agean Sea. Fish. Res. 8, 159–168. CrossRef
Uchiyama J.H., Shomura R.S., 1974, Maturation and fecundity of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, from Hawaiian waters. US Nat. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS/SSRF 675, 142–148.
Vanpouille K. , Poisson F., Taquet M., Ogor A., Troadec H., 2001, Etude de la croissance de l'espadon (Xiphias gladius) L'espadon, de la recherche à l'exploitation durable. In: Poisson F., Taquet M. (Eds.) Programme Palangre Réunionnais, Rapp. final, pp. 139–169.
Wang S., Sun C., Yeh S., 2003, Sex ratios and sexual maturity of swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) in the waters of Taiwan. Zool. Stud. 42, 529–539.
Ward P., Elscot S., 2000, Broadbill swordfish: Status of world fisheries. Bureau of rural Sciences, Canberra.
Wendling B., Lucas V., Bargain R.M., Taquet M., Poisson F., 2004, Programme d'action pour la pêche palangrière seychelloise (PAPPS). (I) Les pêcheries palangrières aux Seychelles. (II) Résultats des campagnes de pêche expérimentales à bord du navire de recherche de la SFA “L'Amitié”, 2000–2002. Seychelles Fishing Authority, Seychelles.
West, G., 1990, Method of assessing ovarian development in fishes: a review. Aust. J. Mar. Freshw. Res. 41, 199–222. CrossRef
Yabe, H., Ueyanagi, S., Kikawa, S., Watanabe, H., 1959, Study on the life history of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Linnaeus. Rep. Nankai Reg. Fish. Res. Lab. 10, 107–150.
Young, J., Drake, A., Brickhill, M., Farley, J., Carter, T., 2003, Reproductive dynamics of broadbill swordfish, Xiphias gladius, in the domestic longline fishery off eastern Australia. Mar. Freshw. Res. 54, 315–332. CrossRef