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 (L 50) for female and male swordfish was estimated in Indian Ocean for the first time. L 50 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. 1 : développement ovocytaire, maturité sexuelle et ponte. La dynamique de la reproduction est étudiée chez des espadons (Xiphias gladius) capturés dans l'océan Indien, entre 19–25 °Sud et 48–54 °Est, par les palangriers de l'île de La Réunion. Ainsi, 1727 espadons de tailles comprises entre 75 et 289 cm (de l'extrémité de la mâchoire inférieure à la fourche caudale) ont été échantillonnés à bord de navires professionnels, de mai 1998 à janvier 2001. La reproduction est évaluée en analysant : les caractéristiques macroscopiques des gonades, l'évolution des indices gonadiques des deux sexes, les distributions de fréquence de taille des ovocytes et le développement des ovocytes au niveau microscopique. La taille à première maturité sexuelle (L 50) des espadons de l'océan Indien est estimée pour la première fois ; elle atteint 170 cm pour les femelles et 120 cm pour les mâles. La saison de ponte s'étend d'octobre à avril aux abords de l'île tandis que le sexe-ratio fluctue de façon saisonnière. Les variations saisonnières du sexe-ratio et l'apparition de grands individus au début de la saison de ponte suggèrent des déplacements d'espadons entre cette zone de ponte et les régions voisines. Nos résultats apportent des informations fondamentales sur la biologie de la reproduction de l'espadon dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien. L'analyse de la bibliographie concernant biologie et la dynamique de la reproduction de l'espadon dans l'océan Indien et dans le Pacifique Est indique que l'activité de ponte est très localisée et que la connaissance des aires de pontes est encore incomplète dans cette région étendue.

Tuna fisheries have been identified as one of the major threats to populations of other marine vertebrates, including sea turtles, sharks, seabirds and marine mammals. The development of technical mitigation measures (MM) in fisheries is part of the code of conduct for responsible fisheries. An in-depth analysis of the available literature regarding bycatch mitigation in tuna fisheries with special reference to elasmobranchs was undertaken. Studies highlighting promising MMs were reviewed for four tuna fisheries (longline, purse seine, driftnets and gillnet, and rod and line – including recreational fisheries). The advantages and disadvantages of different MMs are discussed and assessed based on current scientific knowledge. Current management measures for sharks and rays in tuna Regional Fishery Management Organizations (t-RFMOs) are presented. A review of relevant studies examining at-vessel and postrelease mortality of elasmobranch bycatch is provided. This review aims to help fisheries managers identify pragmatic solutions to reduce mortality on pelagic elasmobranchs (and other higher vertebrates) whilst minimizing impacts on catches of target tuna species. Recent research efforts have identified several effective MMs that, if endorsed by t-RFMOs, could reduce elasmobranchs mortality rate in international tropical purse seine tuna fisheries. In the case of longline fisheries, the number of operational effective MMs is very limited. Fisheries deploying driftnets in pelagic ecosystems are suspected to have a high elasmobranchs bycatch and their discard survival is uncertain, but no effective MMs have been field validated for these fisheries. The precautionary bans of such gear by the EU and by some t-RFMOs seem therefore appropriate. Recreational tuna fisheries should be accompanied by science-based support to reduce potential negative impacts on shark populations. Priorities for research and management are identified and discussed.

Batch fecundity and relative fecundity of swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the southwestern Indian Ocean were estimated from seven gravid swordfish females (size range 127–225 cm lower jaw-to-fork length, LJFL) with unovulated, hydrated oocytes collected onboard Reunion-based (France) longline swordfish fishing vessels between December 1999 to January 2001. To investigate the spawning pattern of swordfish, we used data collected through a combination of two at sea sampling regimes. A total of 17 007 geo-located size data of swordfish were recorded during 8 years (1993-2001) and a total of 1727 (size range 75–289 cm, LJFL) swordfish gonads (1107 females and 620 males) were sampled from May 1998 to January 2001. The estimated batch fecundity ranged from 995 000 hydrated oocytes for the smallest ripe female to 4.3 millions for the largest female sampled measuring respectively 127 to 225 cm in curved length (LJFL). The relative fecundity ranged from 25 to 72 hydrated oocytes per gram of body weight. We found that batch fecundity was positively correlated with fish length and that the older/larger females have earlier and longer spawning seasons than younger/ smaller females. These findings suggested that older/larger females which are seasonally migrating in this spawning ground seem to play a major role in reproductive success of the species in producing significantly more offspring than younger females during an extended spawning season. Examination of the length-frequency date from the fishery indicated that the young fish are resident around Reunion and around the seamounts off Reunion Island. Our results highlight the important role of the older/larger females in the reproductive capacity of southwestern Indian Ocean stock. We discuss the potential implications of fishing the older/larger females for this stock in terms of reproduction and recruitment. La fécondité par acte de ponte et la fécondité relative chez l'espadon (Xiphias gladius) dans le sud-ouest de l'océan Indien sont estimées d'après sept femelles de taille comprise entre 127 et 225 cm (de l'extrémité de la mâchoire inférieure à la fourche caudale) ; celles-ci ayant atteint la maturité sexuelle, les ovaires contenant des ovocytes hydratés. Ces femelles ont été pêchées entre décembre 1999 et janvier 2001, par des palangriers ciblant l'espadon et basés à La Réunion. La stratégie de la reproduction chez l'espadon a été étudiée en utilisant des données collectées au cours de deux campagnes d'échantillonnages en mer : soit 17 007 mensurations géo-référencées d'espadons, de 75 à 289 cm, qui ont été enregistrées durant les 8 années d'étude (1993-2001) et 1727 gonades d'espadon (1107 femelles et 620 mâles) prélevées entre mai 1998 et juin 2001.La fécondité par acte de ponte estimée varie de 995 000 ovocytes hydratés, pour la plus petite femelle (127 cm), à 4,3 millions pour la plus grande femelle (225 cm). La fécondité par acte de ponte est corrélée positivement à la taille du poisson. La fécondité relative s'étend de 25 à 72 ovocytes hydratés par gramme de poids de corps. Les femelles les plus âgées/grandes pondent plus tôt et sur une période plus grande que les plus jeunes/petites femelles. Ainsi, les femelles plus âgées/grandes qui migrent de façon saisonnière vers cette aire de ponte, contribueraient plus largement au renouvellement de l'espèce en produisant de façon significative davantage de recrues que les femelles plus jeunes et ceci pendant une saison de ponte plus étendue. Par ailleurs, les jeunes individus semblent séjourner aux abords de l'île de La Réunion et des monts sous-marins situés au large. Nos résultats soulignent l'importance du rôle des femelles âgées/grandes dans la capacité reproductrice du stock d'espadon du sud-ouest de l'océan Indien. Les implications potentielles de la pêche : des femelles âgées et de grandes tailles sont discutées pour ce stock, du point de vue de la reproduction et du recrutement.

Pelagic stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) is the only species of stingray (Dasyatidae) that utilizes both pelagic and demersal habitats. It is the main bycatch species in pelagic longline fisheries targeting bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Gulf of Lions. In the Mediterranean Sea, their stock structure, behavioural ecology and movements are unknown. For the first time in the Mediterranean, 17 individuals (39–60 cm disc width) were tagged with pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags using a novel method of tag attachment to investigate horizontal and vertical movements. The tags were attached for between two and 60 days. Between the months of July and October, pelagic stingray occupied a temperature range of 12.5–26.6 °C, and a depth range extending from the surface to 480 m. Monthly trends in catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) of pelagic stingray peaked in August and decreased by late autumn. Pelagic stingray may aggregate on the continental shelf during summer and move southwards in early autumn, and this movement pattern is considered in relation to the reproductive cycle and overwintering. At-vessel mortality was low, but there was varying evidence of post-release mortality, indicating the need for further work. Future work and options for bycatch mitigation are also discussed.