​

Tuna larva sampling activities have commenced in the open sea areas of our Blue Homeland with the Research Vessel 1, operating under our Institute Directorate. The Eastern Mediterranean is considered one of the most critical spawning grounds in the world for the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus).

Fieldwork is ongoing within the scope of the TAGEM project titled "Investigation of Breeding and Migratory Behaviors of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Breeding in the Eastern Mediterranean (Phase I)". This project is supported by our General Directorate, conducted by our Institute Directorate, and carried out in collaboration with various institutions, primarily Cukurova University Faculty of Fisheries.

Within the scope of the studies carried out with the Research Vessel 1, ichthyoplankton and mesozooplankton samplings—mainly tuna eggs and larvae—are being performed, and seawater quality parameters are being measured simultaneously. Research activities are carried out uninterruptedly, day and night.

Thanks to these studies, crucial data are being obtained regarding the spawning regions of tuna, their preferred environmental conditions, and the impacts of climate change on these breeding grounds. The collected data will provide a vital scientific contribution to the sustainable management and conservation of tuna populations.