Spatial patterns of the Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi and oceanographic processes in a semi-enclosed Patagonian ecosystem

OCAMPO REINALDO, MATÍAS; GONZÁLEZ, RAÚL; WILLIAMS, GABRIELA NOEMÍ; STORERO, LORENA PÍA; ROMERO, ALEJANDRA; NARVARTE, MAITE; GAGLIARDINI, DOMINGO ANTONIO

MARINE BIOLOGY RESEARCH

TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012

1745-1000

Time-series of fishing position, landings and satellite-derived sea surface temperature and Chlorophyll a concentrations were used to relate the spatial-temporal distribution of the Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi with seasonal oceanographic processes in San Matías Gulf. Also, the seasonal effect of fishing on the hake population structure was analysed. The results indicate that during summer the fleet was concentrated over the area of frontal system, obtaining the best cpue of hake in relatively deep waters. In autumn, the dispersion of the fleet due to a reduction in cpue coincided with the dissipation of the front, suggesting that the distribution and shoaling of the Argentine hake may be associated with seasonal thermal structures. In spring, the thermal structure of the waters and the Chlorophyll a blooms seem to modulate the timing of spawning of hake, which occurs mainly in October-November. However, the fleet captured a higher proportion of females in gonadal recovery stage during warm months (November to April). While winter catches consisted mainly of males (May to October), the intense summer fishing may result in a high impact on the female population. This information is relevant to design spatial management tools intended to provide biological sustainability to the hake fishery.