By-catch of sharks in Patagonian coastal trawl fisheries. Marine and Freshwater Research, 49:641-644.

VAN DER MOLEN, S.; CAILLE, G.; GONZÁLEZ, R.

NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH

RSNZ PUBLISHING

Año: 1998 vol. 49 p. 641 - 644

0028-8330

In coastal Patagonia, Argentina, an unknown number of species of sharks are frequently caught in bottom-trawl nets. Between 1993 and 1996, 454 trawls by Patagonian coastal fisheries (41˚–51˚S) were analysed; 264 included sharks. Of the seven species of sharks caught, the most frequent was the smoothhound Mustelus schmitti, mainly in Bahía Engaño (off Chubut). The argentine angelshark (Squatina argentina) and the tope (Galeorhinus galeus) were common in the north of Patagonia, the piked dogfish (Squalus acanthias) in the central zone, and the narrowmouthed catshark Schroederichthys bivius in the south. The broadnose sevengill shark (Notorhynchus cepedianus) was rarely caught. A single basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) was caught in San Matías Gulf (off Río Negro). Although undesirable, the by-catch of sharks is growing as a result of the increase in the fishing activities of the region, and the sustainability of the shark populations in Patagonian coasts is a matter of concern.