Abstract

GUEVARA-RASCADO, Ma. de Lourdes; CERECEDO-ESCUDERO, José Luis  and  SANCHEZ-REGALADO, Ramón. Distribución y abundancia de larvas del pez Katsuwonus pelamis (Perciformes: Scombridae) en el Golfo de México, 1982-1992. Rev. biol. trop [online]. 2008, vol.56, n.3, pp.1343-1359. ISSN 0034-7744.

Distribution and abundance of Katsuwonus pelamis larvae (Perciformes: Scombridae) in the Gulf of Mexico, 1982-1992. The epipelagic fish known as skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) is considered inside the "little tuna" group. The species is distributed in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Despite its fisheries importance in Mexico, there is little knowledge about the species in the region. The information from 18 oceanographic cruises inside the Mexican exclusive economic zone in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, was analyzed for the period 1982 to 1992. Plankton was collected in a paired 60 cm mouth bongo net sampler with 0.333 mm mesh nets in oblique tows. The maximum abundance was in spring and summer; 1986 had the largest population (4 881.8544 x 10⁹ larvae) and 1983 the lowest density (566.3748 x 10⁹). The skipjack has suitable conditions for reproduction in this area, and the southwestern region is the most productive. The spawning was greater in the summer. The annual biomass was estimated in 2 513 to 21 659 tons, the high value corresponded to 1986, with potential yields between 7 472 and 10 071 tons. A local fishery seems viable but needs further evidence. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (3): 1343-1359. Epub 2008 September 30.

Keywords : Katsuwonus pelamis; larvae; istribution; abundance; Gulf of Mexico.

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