Callorhinchus callorynchus

DAGIT, D.D.; CHIARAMONTE, GUSTAVO ENRIQUE; ROMERO, M.; DI GIÁCOMO, EDGARDO; ACUÑA, E.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

IUCN

Año: 2007

Callorhinchus callorynchus is widespread around southern South America off Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It is captured year-round as part of commercial bottom trawl fisheries in Argentina, Chile and Peru, mostly at depths of 90 to 130 m. This species is also captured on lines and a small recreational fishery exists. C. callorynchus appears to be relatively abundant throughout its range. Data on fishery trends from Argentina indicates that landings of this species appear to be fluctuating: landings increased from 1992 to a peak in 1999 followed by an abrupt fall in the 2000 to 2002 period, before rising again from 2002 to 2004. This "boom and bust cycle" , is similar to that observed in other species of Callorhinchus (such as C. milii) that have been sustainably fished, although it should be noted that this was under strict management. Although landings in Chile appeared to decline from 1992 to 2004, it is thought that this is the result of shifting fishing effort between Hake and C. callorynchus . In Peru, C. callorynchus is also caught by beach seine in a multi-species fishery. This species is only of minor importance to fisheries in Peru and landings are unsteady but a slight decline in its landings from the beach seine fishery has been observed. While additional fishery data from Brazil and Uruguay may well present regional differences in relative abundance and/or declines related to local fishing trends; at present no such data are available. Given that this species appears to be exhibiting the same "boom and bust cycle" observed in C. milii in Australia and New Zealand (which has been sustainably fished since the 1960s) in Argentina, that the apparent decline in Chilean landings is attributed to a shift in effort, and that Callorhinchus species are relatively productive, it is not considered to be at immediate threat and it is currently assessed as Least Concern. However, given that this species is fished throughout its range it is important that the situation is monitored closely and this assessment may need to be re-visited in the near term.