Size and age at first gonadal maturation of females of Argentine hake, Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933, in the South-Southeast of Brazil

Abstract

The Argentine hake, Merluccius hubbsi, is a typical demersal-pelagic species in the South-Southeast of Brazil. In Argentina and Uruguay,the species is the main fishery resource, being widely studied. On the other hand, in Brazil there are few studies about the species. In Brazil, the species had acquired importance since 2001, because Brazilian commercial fleets started to fish deeper, searching for new resources. Samples of hake females, obtained from surveys and commercial landings in the period 1996-2002, were used to estimate the first maturation of the ovaries of the species. Ovaries were analyzed histologically in order to verify the gonadal maturation of the specimens. A logistic model of regression was adjusted iteratively to the dispersion diagram of adult females proportion against interval of total length. The results were: L₅₀ = 356.80 mm, corresponding to 2.49 years of age. These values can be applied for both sexes. The first maturation of M.hubbsi keeps constant at the whole area of the species distribution. These parameters should not be used alone to manage the fishery of the species.