Stock assessment of the blue jack mackerel,Trachurus picturatus,in the North‐eastern Atlantic |
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| Authors: | Joana Vasconcelos Ricardo Sousa Rodrigo Riera João Delgado Graça Faria Leonel Serrano Gordo |
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| Institution: | 1. DSI/DRP ‐ Research Service of the Regional Fisheries Department, Estrada da Pontinha, Funchal, Portugal;2. MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Quinta do Lorde Marina, Cani?al, Portugal;3. Faculty of Life Sciences, Campus Universitário da Penteada, UMA ‐ University of Madeira, Funchal, Portugal;4. Observatório Oceanico da Madeira, Edifício Madeira Tecnopolo, Funchal, Portugal;5. Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile;6. Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ambientes Sustentables (CIBAS), Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción, Concepción, Chile;7. CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Porto, Portugal;8. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Animal Biology, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal;9. Faculdade de Ciências, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal |
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| Abstract: | A total of 49,151 blue jack mackerel, Trachurus picturatus, (Bowdich) was collected in Madeira Island (North‐eastern Atlantic) between 2002 and 2016 to evaluate possible influence of fishing on landings and reproductive parameters. A decreasing trend in the length composition was observed over the study period and length at first maturity decreased by 2.78 cm TL. Maximum yield per recruit decreased from 2002 to 2016 but the corresponding fishing mortality was constant (Fmax = 0.4/year). Considering the fishing mortality level in 2016, it is evident that the stock may be exploited beyond its sustainability limit. Amendments of the purse‐seine fishing regulations and implementation of measures to reduce fishing effort are suggested. |
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| Keywords: | fishing mortality size and age at first maturity yield per recruit model |
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