Lecture by Tuna Expert
Date: Sept. 24, 2008
Place: Bukkyo Dendo Center Bildg, Tokyo, Japan
Mr. Chuck Farwell, curator and researcher at Monterey Bay Aquarium, gave a lecture on tuna for JGFA. It was centered on the tagging practice and data collected by it. Because tuna are rather high re-capture rate, it is viable to install rather expensive internal archival tag, which can collect large volume of data. By the aid of high-tech tags, researchers are starting to learn some surprising life of tuna. Most amazing of all, some tuna can dive up to 3,000 feet, and is capable of making a trans-Pacific travel. Who knows, a tuna caught in Japan and fetch a record price in Tsukiji Fish Market may be one of such long-range cruisers!
Place: Bukkyo Dendo Center Bildg, Tokyo, Japan
Mr. Chuck Farwell, curator and researcher at Monterey Bay Aquarium, gave a lecture on tuna for JGFA. It was centered on the tagging practice and data collected by it. Because tuna are rather high re-capture rate, it is viable to install rather expensive internal archival tag, which can collect large volume of data. By the aid of high-tech tags, researchers are starting to learn some surprising life of tuna. Most amazing of all, some tuna can dive up to 3,000 feet, and is capable of making a trans-Pacific travel. Who knows, a tuna caught in Japan and fetch a record price in Tsukiji Fish Market may be one of such long-range cruisers!
![](https://www.jgfa.or.jp/global-image/units/img/12134-1-20161226132332_b58609b4410281.jpg)
Mr. Farwell, expert on pelagic species, gave a lecture to JGFA members.
![](https://www.jgfa.or.jp/global-image/units/img/12135-1-20161226132349_b58609b556b01f.jpg)
With the interpretation by Mr. Higashi, senior director of JGFA, Mr. Farwell gave presentation using Powerpoint slides, which made it easy to follow.
![](https://www.jgfa.or.jp/global-image/units/img/12136-1-20161226132406_b58609b661360d.jpg)
Attendees included JGFA chairman and vice chairs, and Mr. Izumi Nakamura, former assistant professor at Kyoto University.
![](https://www.jgfa.or.jp/global-image/units/img/12137-1-20161226132421_b58609b75a5d44.jpg)
When tagging a tuna, researchers use this type of “cradle” to move it to the well-cushioned surgery station and insert saltwater hose to its mouth so the body remains oxygenated.
![](https://www.jgfa.or.jp/global-image/units/img/12138-1-20161226132436_b58609b84cbdba.jpg)
A tuna’s trans-pacific path of travel. It spent quite a long time in Emperor’s Seamount area. It made the journey from Mexico to Japan in less than a year.