Abstract Lophius gastrophysus is an exploited deep-sea demersal fishing resource in the Southeast-South region of Brazil, a capture target for the twin trawl multi-specific bottom trawling fleet. Considered a prized fish, it is commonly processed on board, retaining commercial cuts of the tail called colas. Thus it is difficult to recognize the original length of the specimens and, consequently, to assess the dynamics of sources and the impacts of catches. Individual length and weight data were used to generate body predictive models correlated to the monkfish cola. The parameters of growth, mortality and exploitation rate were also estimated from the size structure of Lophius gastrophysus captured by the industrial bottom trawling fleet in Southeast Brazil between May 2013 and April 2015, assessing monkfish stock based on indirect estimates of life history information. All predictive models of body size showed coefficients of determination above 0.9 (P <0.001), indicating good data adjustments. The growth parameters were determined by the minimum residual variance methodology, being: L∞ = 92.4 cm and k = 0.158/year. The size structure tended to increase with depth in the spring. Individuals under the age of sexual maturity contributed significantly to catches. The length of first sexual maturation was estimated at 48.6 cm and the recruitment age was between 6 and 7 years. The coefficients of total, natural, fishing and exploitation rates were estimated at: Z = 0.676; M = 0.241; F = 0.436 and E = 0.644. The fishing mortality rate was higher than the reference value (E > 0.50) indicating a state of overexploitation of the southeast most part of stock. A review of the current Brazilian legislation established for the species on the southeast coast is recommended.

ABSTRACT The bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Linneus 1766) is captured by industrial, artisanal, and recreational fisheries throughout its distribution range. The reproductive biology of P. saltatrix in the southwestern Atlantic was studied using 1,102 specimens captured by the Brazilian commercial fleet between March 2014 and December 2015. The recruitment period was identified from records of juveniles in experimental beach seine hauls carried out on sandy beaches in the external sector of Guanabara Bay for four years (2012-2015). Based on the reproductive indices and on the macro- and microscopic analyses of the gonads, spawning peaks were identified in autumn and spring. The size at first maturity was estimated at 35.5, 38.3, and 37.4 cm for females, males, and general, respectively. Ovary analyses and measurements of the oocyte diameters indicated that bluefish are multiple spawners with asynchronous oocyte development. The batch fecundity estimate was 202,752.5 eggs and ranged from 9,800.9 to 426,787.0 eggs. The species reproduces throughout the entire study area, but it is more active in the south of Arraial do Cabo. The young-of-the-year were recorded on shallow water in all seasons, with modal peaks in the summer months. The parameters estimated in this study expand and update information on this species, providing important data for the evaluation and fisheries management of the stock of P. saltatrix in the southwestern Atlantic.

ABSTRACT Small-scale fisheries in Brazil contribute to a significant share of total fish production, accessing a large variety of species. Life history parameters from these resources are important for their management and conservation, based on primary data. The objective of this article is to generate growth parameters and mortality rates of ten fish populations from a coastal zone in Southeastern Brazil. Monthly samples were taken between January 2011 and November 2014 from landings of the beach-seine fishery in an area adjacent to the entrance of the Guanabara Bay. All fishes were measured (total length) and weighed. The length-weight relationships (LWR) were estimated by linear regression analysis on log-transformed data of the equation: W = aL b . The Von Bertalanffy Growth Function (VBGF) was fitted to size-at-age data to obtain growth parameters (K, L ∞ ). The length-converted catch curve was used for estimating the instantaneous total mortality (Z). Taylor’s equations provided an independent estimate of the natural mortality (M) and longevity. The difference between Z and M derived Fishing mortality (F). A total of 2,938 individuals from ten fish species were used to determine the length-weight relationships. Harengula clupeola (Cuvier, 1829) has a new maximum length record for the FishBase LWR database. Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879) presented the smallest and largest size recorded for LWR observed in the literature and FishBase database. Upeneus parvus showed the greatest total length, while Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, 1758, Orthopristis ruber (Cuvier, 1830) and Dactylopterus volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) presented the smallest sizes for LWR in FishBase. The other species showed parameters within the expected values for each group. The performance index combining information from K and L ∞ presented values between 2.32 and 3.76 and were considered appropriate for the populations evaluated. Fishing was the primary source of mortality for Caranx crysos (Mitchill, 1815), Eucinostomus argenteus Baird & Girard, 1855, S. brasiliensis and U. parvus, and less important for Cynoscion jamaicensis (Vaillant & Bocourt, 1883), D. volitans, O. ruber, Selene setapinnis (Mitchill, 1815), T. lepturus and H. clupeola. The parameters generated may be used for the management and conservation of the species’ stocks.

As pescarias artesanais na zona costeira de Itaipu-RJ desempenham um papel importante no mercado local, mas pouco se conhece sobre a produção e a produtividade da pesca. De abril-2001 a março-2003, nós monitoramos um total de 618 desembarques das pescarias de arrastos-de-praia (99), de redes de emalhe (corvineira - 331, linguadeira - 40 e rede alta - 25), de linha-e-anzol (98), de zangareio (17), e de arpão e puçá (cinco e três respectivamente). A produção monitorada total foi de 21866 kg e a captura por unidade de esforço (CPUE) de 35,4 kg.viagem-1. Considerando o número de dias efetivos de pesca e a produção média diária por arte de pesca, a produção anual foi estimada em 136687 kg (0.2% da produção do estado em 2004). Os recursos predominantes foram: Micropogonias furnieri,Trichiurus lepturus, lulas (Loligo spp.), peixes clupeiformes (Sardinella brasiliensis,Cetengraulis edentulus,Pellona harrowerii e Harengula clupeola ), Eucinostomus spp., Cynoscion spp., Menticirrhus spp., Caranx crysos e Selene setapinnis. A análise combinada utilizando métodos de classificação hierárquica e não-hierárquica separou quatro grupos de artes de pesca e cinco de espécies, baseada nos seus padrões de similaridade, identificando as artes de pesca que melhor capturam os diferentes grupos de recursos pesqueiros. O arrasto-de-praia foi a arte de pesca menos seletiva e mais produtiva no verão. A corvineira foi a segunda pescaria mais produtiva com rendimentos maiores no verão e outono. As capturas com linguadeira incluíram raias e Paralychthys spp., enquanto que a rede alta capturou principalmente M. furnieri,Mugil spp. e tubarões.

Artisanal fisheries in the coastal zone of Itaipu-RJ play an important role in the local market, but little is known about production and productivity of the fisheries. From April 2001 to March 2003, we monitored a total of 618 landings from the beach-seine (99), the gill nets ("corvineira" - 331, "linguadeira" - 40 and "rede alta" - 25), the hook and line (98), the squid jigging (17), and the spear fishing and trap fisheries (five and three, respectively). The total monitored production was 21866 kg and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) 35.4 kg.trip-1. Considering the number of effective fishing days and the average daily production per fishing gear, the annual production was estimated at 136687 kg (0.2% of the state's production in 2004). Predominant resources were: Micropogonias furnieri,Trichiurus lepturus, squids (Loligo spp.), clupeiform fishes (Sardinella brasiliensis, Cetengraulis edentulus, Pellona harrowerii and Harengula clupeola), Eucinostomus spp., Cynoscion spp., Menticirrhus spp., Caranx crysos and Selene setapinnis. The combined analysis using hierarchical and non-hierarchical classification methods, separated four fishing gears and five species groups, based on their similarity patterns, identifying gears that most effectively capture the different fish groups. The beach-seine was less selective and most productive fishery in the summer. The "corvineira" was the second most productive fishery with higher yields in the summer and fall. Catches of "linguadeira" included rays and Paralychthys spp., wherereas the "rede alta" caught primarily M. furnieri,Mugil spp. and sharks.

The tilefish, Lopholatihis villarii Ribeiro, 1915 is a commercially-important demersal fish, in the Southeast Brazil, inhabiting calcareous and rocky substrates of the outer shelf and upper continental slope. This study was based on readings of the scale's age rings of 153 especimens, caught from March, 1995 to March, 1996. Scales were found to grow on an isometric proportion with fish length, and age rings are formed betvveen the third and fourth trimesters (winter and spring). The age groups of sampled fish varied from II to X years, and the growth equation in total length (cm) is Lt = I 13.4 [1-e -0.144 (t+ 1.4)] w ith the correspondem one in weight (kg): W, = 22.5[1-e -0.144 (1 + 14)]3 184 obtained from the weight/length regression equation: ln W = -11.95 + 3.184 In L. The tilefish has a low growth coefficient (K = 0.144), typical of camivorous specics of the fourth trophic levei, and it may reach, theoretically, 41 years of age.