1. Developing a Pacific COMMUNITY Marine Specimen Bank
14-17 March 2017/SPC, Noumea
Information Paper 7

2. Overview What is a specimen bank? The WCPFC Tuna Tissue Bank
Case studies
Why we need a better specimen bank
Next steps
Information Paper 7

3. What is a specimen bank? COLLECT IDENTIFY STORE RESEARCH DATABASE
SHARE

4. WCPFC Tuna Tissue Bank Recent science Current projects
*Bigeye age and growth going into 2017 stock assessment
*Feasibility of fine-scale stock structure for albacore, bigeye, yellowfin and skipjack
*Mercury content in marlin and swordfish
*Black marlin ecology
*Observer sample quality assurance
*Fatty acid content in tuna and swordfish

5. WCPFC Tuna Tissue Bank Pro Con Experience with tissue bank
Only tuna/tuna-like species
Existing observer sampling
Limited specimen shelf-life
Existing storage capacity
Limited onsite laboratory
Network of fisheries staff
Limited storage space
Links with IRD, CSIRO
Limited number of samples
Protocols for approving specimen use
Limited human capacity in curation and analysis
Medium-term tuna samples
Not leveraging key strength

6. Case study – bigeye tuna
At what size do they reach sexual maturity?
How old are bigeye tuna?
Is there a sex-specific difference in growth rate?
Is this pattern the same across the Pacific?

7. Case study – bigeye tuna

8. Case study – yellowfin tuna
Some studies suggest average mercury content in yellowfin has increased over time
Public health perspective is that yellowfin tuna is more risky as a food source (too risky?)
Is this the real story/true?
Why is this occurring?
Is it a new issue?
Is it getting worse?
Is it common across all tuna species?
Does it also happen in the Pacific?
Does it impact all the Pacific islands the same way?

9. Case study – yellowfin tuna
Uses existing tissue bank
Integrates data from other studies
Bioaccumulation with size
Latitudinal gradient

10. Case study – yellowfin tuna
Remove size and sampling location biases from data
Look at trends for area over 15 years
No obvious or statistical trend

11. Case study – sea cucumber
A target of ‘blue boats’
Tissue bank collections could lead to EEZ-specific (or finer) profiling of sea cucumber stocks
Poaching could be genetically identified, leading to better prosecution of IUU fishing

12. Web-portal for regional access
Why we need a better specimen bank
Expand scope - include coastal and include ecosystems
Better storage - long-term storage for long-term monitoring, more structured storage for better access
More analytical options – laboratory equipment and human capacity
Web-portal for regional access

13. Why we need a better specimen bank
Regular curation and broad spectrum analysis at sample entry point to the bank, a continuous supply of high value data  can answer your questions more quickly
Develop a living laboratory with capacity development a day-to-day activity  an excellent tool for the young generation of scientists of the Pacific to learn about and develop regional knowledge about the biological resources of their region for the livelihoods of their families and communities

14. Questions for a tissue bank - now
Is heavy metal accumulation going to accelerate with ocean acidification?
Where do those fish come from?
Has population connectivity been affected by climate change?

15. Next steps Hear your views
Undertake a project to develop a business case
Seek seed funding for the full proposal
Keep improving the WCPFC TTB in the interim