Association between some satellites derived environmental variables with catch per unit effort (CPUE) index of longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) in the Oman Sea

To achieve comprehensive management of marine resource stocks requires knowledge of the variables that affect economic species. Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) is one of the most economic species in the southern waters of Iran. Recent study tried to find out the association between the most important satellites derived environmental variables with longtail tuna catch and distribution by applying Generalized Additive Model (GAM) in the southern waters of Iran. Results indicated the relatively high importance of temporal (month of fishing), spatial (latitude), and three environmental variables as Sea surface salinity (SSS), mixed layer depth (MLD), and Sea surface temperature (SST). Deviance explanation of the GAM model defined as 62.3% and adjusted R-square was 0.595. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) habitat suitability modeling by selected tree environmental variables shows longtail tuna inhabited mostly in latitude between 24°N and 26°N close to Hormozgan and Sistan and Balochistan province waters. The current study by detecting most important satellite derived environmental variables and high suitable habitat, could assist decision makers and fishery managers to improve fishing efficiency of Iranian purse seiners and helps implementation of ecosystem-based fisheries management of shared stocks in southern waters of Iranian.