Variability of satellite-derived sea surface height anomaly, and its relationship with Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) catch in the Eastern Indian Ocean

Abstract

We analyzed the variability of sea surface height anomaly (SSHA), and its relationship with Bigeye tuna catch in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO) off of Java Island (Indonesia). Both time series of SSHA and Bigeye tuna HR show dominant signals corresponding to the annual and inter-annual variability. During the southeast monsoon the wind blows along southern coast of Java and produces coastal upwelling. This causes sea level to drop due to an offshore Ekman transport, and thermocline becomes shallower. During El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) positive phase, upwelling is more intense and a large cold eddy forms in the EIO off Java. Generally, Bigeye tuna HR tends to increase during upwelling seasons and becomes even higher during El Niño and the positive phase of the IOD. The increased Bigeye tuna HR during the southeast monsoon, El Niño and the IOD positive phase can be attributed to the shallower thermocline depth and the enhancement of biological productivity due to development of eddies and strong upwelling in the EIO. The spatial distribution of SSHA indicates that Bigeye tuna catches are abundant in the frontal regions between cold and warm eddies.

Keywords:

• Bigeye tuna
• eddy
• El Niño
• satellite radar altimetry
• sea surface high anomaly