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Abundance and distribution of Loligo sanpaulensis Brakoniecki, 1984 (Cephalopoda, Loliginidae) in southern Brazil
José Milton Andriguetto J.R. and Manuel Halmovici

Loligo sanpaulensis is the most abundant coastal squid insouthern Brazil. This paper analyzes its distribution and abundance in thecontinental shelf off Rio Grande do Sul state. Samples were taken during fourgroundfish cruises of the RV Atlantico Sul in 1982 and 1983, one in eachseason, and covered latitudes from 30º40’ to 34º30’S at depths ranging from 10to 120 m, using a bottom trawl with 52.9-m footrope and a 50-mm cod-end meshsize. Loligo sanpaulensis was present in all seasons over the wholeshelf. Highest catches were taken in spring, averaging 7.8 kg/h +/- 44%; total abundancewas estimated to be 3,554 metric tons. Significantly higher densities werefound between 40 and 80 m in the southern part of the survey area, at bottomtemperatures less than 18ºC. Larger specimens, up to 190 mm dorsal mantle length in the case of males, were taken at intermediate depths in winter andspring, when length distributions showed two modes. Bottom water temperaturewas an important distribution factor. Loligo sanpaulensis was associatedwith colder, more productive areas of water masses fronts, namely theSubtropical Water and the northern influence limit of the Subantarctic Water ofthe Malvinas Current. The species has some potential as a fishing resource offsouth Brazilian coast.

Keywords: Loligo, squid, distribution, abundance, fishingresources, Subtropical Convergence, oceanographic systems, Brazil.
Contents of this volume Sci. Mar. 55(4) : 611-618 Back PDF
 
 
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