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Stock assessment of the blue jack mackerel, Trachurus picturatus , in the North‐eastern Atlantic
Author(s) -
Vasconcelos Joana,
Sousa Ricardo,
Riera Rodrigo,
Delgado João,
Faria Graça,
Serrano Gordo Leonel
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1111/fme.12289
Subject(s) - fishing , fishery , stock (firearms) , mackerel , geography , biology , fish <actinopterygii> , archaeology
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 ( F max = 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.