Effects of skipped spawning on the reproductive potential of Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi)

MACCHI, G. J.; RODRIGUES, K. A.; DIAZ, M.V.; MILITELLI, M. I.

FISHERY BULLETIN

NATL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE SCIENTIFIC PUBL OFFICE

Lugar: US; Año: 2017 vol. 115 p. 396 - 407

0090-0656

We analyzed the effect of skipped spawning on the estimates of maturity models and on the reproductive potential of Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) from the Patagonian stock during the spawning peak between 2005 and 2013. The size at first maturity increased between 2 and 3 cm TL, and the age at maturity increased between 0.27 and 0.88 years when the proportion of females that would skip spawning was incorporated in the relationships. In contrast, the slopes of the models decreased, suggesting that 100% of individuals reach sexual maturity at a greater size and age than those estimated with the traditional maturity criterion. The percentages of the egg production reduction caused by skipped spawning ranged between 3.56% and 12.12%, when we used the maturity models with age, or 2.70%-6.80%, when we used total length. Females that would skip spawning were mainly specimens with sizes between 40 and 50 cm TL, mostly belonging to the 3-age group, characterized by an egg production of poor quality in comparison to larger females. For this reason, we considered that skipped spawning phenomenon, actually, would introduce little variability in the stock-recruitment relationship of Argentine hake.