title: Small-scale capture, transport and tank adaptation of live, medium-sized Scombrids using "Tuna Tubes".
abstract: The transport of live fish is a crucial step to establish fish culture in captivity, and is especially challenging for species that have not been commonly cultured before, therefore transport and handling methods need to be optimized and tailored. This study describes the use of tuna tubes for small-scale transport of medium-sized pelagic fish from the Scombridae family. Tuna tubes are an array of vertical tubes that hold the fish, while fresh seawater is pumped up the tubes and through the fish mouth and gills, providing oxygen and removing wastes. In this study, 19 fish were captured using rod and line and 42 % of the captured fish were transported alive in the custom-designed tuna tubes to an on-shore holding tank: five mackerel tuna (Euthynnus affinis) and three leaping bonito (Cybiosarda elegans). Out of these, just three (15.8 % of total fish) acclimatized to the tank's condition. Based on these results, we discuss an improved design of the tuna tubes that has the potential to increase survival rates and enable a simple and low cost method of transporting of live pelagic fish.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558 Australia.
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.affiliation: QDAFF, Bribie Island Research Centre, PO Box 2066, Woorim, QLD 4507 Australia.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dutney
authors.affiliation: QDAFF, Bribie Island Research Centre, PO Box 2066, Woorim, QLD 4507 Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477 Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yazawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477 Japan.
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoshizaki
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine and Science Technology, 670 Banda, Tateyama-shi, Chiba 294-0308 Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558 Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, Genecology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558 Australia.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elizur
keywords: Aquaculture; Broodstock; Euthynnus affinis; Live fish transport; Pelagic fish; Scombridae; Tuna tubes