Assessment Of A Major Shore-Based Marine Recreational Fishery In Southwest Atlantic, Argentina.

LLOMPART, F.; COLAUTTI D. C.; BAIGÚN, C. R. M.

NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH

RSNZ PUBLISHING

Año: 2012 vol. 46 p. 57 - 70

0028-8330

>This work provides, through roving creel surveys, the first quantitative analysis for a main recreational fishery of southwestern Atlantic coast. Anglers interviewed were willing to accept minimum size limits but mostly did not approve the maximum daily catch, despite they considered that fishery quality is decreasing. Angler profile differed among months but avidity effect was negligible. Fishing effort was maximum during January, with the highest total catch per unit effort (CPUE) in November and the highest total catch in December. Twelve species were caught, with Cynoscion guatucupa and Micropogonias furnieri accounting for 80% of the harvest. The average lengths for both species were larger than their size at first maturity. Mean CPUE values (1.28 fish angler-1 SD±0.59) and total harvest were high compared with other recreational fisheries for the Southern Hemisphere. Some specific fishing-management guidelines are proposed to promote good angling practices and sustainable long term use of the resource.