Bycatch of the squat lobster Munida gregaria in bottom

VARISCO MARTÍN; VINUESA JULIO; GÓNGORA MARÍA EVA

REVISTA DE BIOLOGIA MARINA Y OCEANOGRAFIA

Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Naturales, Universidad de Valpariso, Chile

Lugar: Valparaiso; Año: 2015 vol. 50 p. 249 - 259

0717-3326

Squat lobsters are recognized as potential fishery resources in many countries. Squat lobster Munida gregariais an important component of the bycatch in trawling fisheries of Argentinian Patagonia. The frequency of occurrence (FO),relative abundance (RA) and fate of the incidental catch of M. gregaria in: a) double-beam trawler fleet (63579 hauls), b)high-seas ice trawler fleet (5608) and c) coastal fleet (584) were evaluated. The highest values of FO and RA were recordedin the coastal fleet. However, given the size of the double-beam trawler fleet, the fishing effort level suggests that thehighest captures in terms of biomass are obtained by this fleet. A significant increase in RA and FO was recorded in haulsof double-beam trawler fleet in the last years. Lower FO and RA were recorded in hauls of the high-seas ice trawler fleet.Our results confirmed that squat lobster is abundant and so far not exploited resource and represent s an alternativeresource for the coastal fleet in San Jorge Gulf.