A survey was conducted in the equatorial area of Indian Ocean for a better understanding of the dynamics of hook depth distribution of pelagic longline fishery. We determined the relationship between hook depth and vertical shear of current coefficieney, wind speed, hook position code, sine of wind angle, sine of angle of attack and weight of messenger weight. We identified the hook depth models by the analysis of covariance with a general linear model. The results showed that the wind effect on the hook depth can be ignored from October to November in the survey area; the surface current effect on the hook depth can be ignored; the equato- rial undercurrent is the key factor for the hook depth in Indian Ocean; and there is a negative correlation between the hook depth and vertical shear of current and angle of attack. It was also found that the deeper the hook was set, the higher hook depth shoaling was. The proposed model improves the accuracy of the prediction of hook depth, which can be used to estimate the vertical distribution of pelagic fish in water column.
Comparing fat content with physiological status can throw light on the reproduction and feeding behavior of the fish. The biological data of 586 bigeye tuna were collected from the longline fishery in the waters of Western Central Indian Ocean from November, 2012 to March, 2013. The spatial or temporal distribution of the fat content, and the relationships of fat content with gender, round weight, gonadal maturity and fork length were analyzed. A generalized additive model(GAM) was used to analyze the relationships between fat content and fork length(FL), gonadosomatic index(GSI), condition factor(K), and somatic index(SI). Results showed that: 1) the fat content of bigeye tuna was in the range of 3.1%–27.1% with the average 12.8%; 2) there were no significant geographical differences of average fat content(P > 0.05) among 1? squares in general; 3) there were no significant differences(P > 0.05) of the fat content for different genders, months, or gonad maturity stages; 4) there was an extremely significant correlation(P = 0.000) between fat content and FL and GSI. There was no significant correlation(P = 0.051) between fat content and K. There was a significant correlation(P = 0.003) between fat content and SI. The results of this study suggest that the fat content of the matured fish was relatively stable. The survey area was in a spawning region, and the survey period was the spawning season for bigeye tuna.
