Stocks identification of the Argentine hake, Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933 (Gadiformes: Merlucciidae) in the South-Southeast of Brazil / "Identificação de estoques da merluza, Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933 (Gadiformes: Merlucciidae) na Região Sudeste-Sul do Brasil"

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2006

RESUMO

The Argentine hake, Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933, is a demersal-pelagic fish inhabiting the South and the Southeast Brazilian area, between 21°S and 34°S. Since 2001, this species has been strongly targeted by trawlers operating at the external continental shelf and the slope. Previous studies about growth, mortality and reproduction pointed the necessity to identify stocks of this species which is the objective of this paper. Samples from the Museu de Zoologia USP collection, otoliths from juveniles fishes from the Ictiofauna Laboratory - IOUSP collection, and specimens collected during Summer and Winter of 2004 from fishing boats operanting in Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Itajaí and Rio Grande were used to analyze geographic variations. Morphometric and meristic data, juveniles and adults growth and reproduction characteristics were analysed. The morphometric characters did not present any variation, instead meristic counts tended to be larger in direction to south of 33°S. Juveniles and adults growth are different between the south and the southeast regions, and associated to different spawning periods, which is in the Summer and in the Winter, respectively. Two stocks were identified: one in the Southeast, between 21°S and 29°S, the other one in the south between 29°S and 34°S, the last one shared with Uruguay and Argentina. In order to manage these stocks, it is suggested the prohibition of the fishery activity during four months, the first two at depth between 250 and 500 m and the last two between 100 and 250 m. For the Southeast stock this restriction would be applied between 21°S and 25°S from October to January and between 25°S and 29°S from November to February. For the south stock the prohibition would be adopted in the area between 29°S and 34°S from April to July.

ASSUNTO(S)

identificação de estoques south-southeast of brazil. monitoring gestão da pescaria management merluccius hubbsi population dynamics região sudeste-sul do brasil. merluccius hubbsi stock identification dinâmica de populações monitoramento

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