ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Potential Impacts of Ocean Warming on
Habitat Preferences of the Eastern Little Tuna
(Euthynnus affinis) in the Makassar Strait
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl. Raya Bandung
Sumedang KM 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia
2
Master of Marine Conservation Study Program, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Universitas Padjadjaran. Jl.
Raya Bandung Sumedang KM 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang 45363, West Java, Indonesia
Submission date: 2024-11-02
Final revision date: 2025-02-05
Acceptance date: 2025-03-25
Online publication date: 2025-06-05
Corresponding author
Mega Laksmini Syamsuddin
Department of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, 45363 Jatinangor, Sumedang, Indonesia, Indonesia
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Ocean warming, driven by increasing sea surface temperatures, is a key factor altering the
distribution of pelagic fish, notably the Eastern Little Tuna or ELT (Euthynnus affinis). This study
examined satellite-derived SST data and ELT catches to determine the SST preferences of ELT and to
predict their potential habitat in scenarios where SST increases by 1 and 2ºC. We analyzed all datasets
from January 2015 to December 2020. The findings indicated that most ELT caught in an SST ranged
from 30 to 31ºC during the first transitional season (TS 1/March-May). The wavelet analysis confirmed
that SST has a strong interseasonal (6-8 months) signal along the observation period. Similarly,
ELT catches also exhibited strong interseasonal signals, particularly from the middle of 2018 to the
middle of 2019, and intra-seasonal patterns from early 2015 to the middle of 2019 (1 – 6 months). The
monthly mean climatology of SST during 2015 – 2020 with the SST value of 30 - 31ºC designated as
the preferred habitat of ELT is found every month, especially in January-April. The habitat preference
for ELT seemed to be reduced under a scenario of increasing 1ºC and 2ºC. Furthermore, our results
revealed that increasing SST due to ocean warming may shift the fishing season and shorten its length
from six to three months. These insights enhance our comprehension of how ocean warming impacts
ELT's potential habitat in the Makassar Strait, informing improved fisheries management and climate
change mitigation.