Boletim do Instituto de Pesca (Mar 2019)

GROWTH PARAMETERS AND YIELD PER RECRUIT ANALYSIS FOR THE ARMOURED CATFISH Pterygoplichthys pardalis SAMPLED IN THE LOW REACH OF THE AMAZONAS RIVER

  • Raniere Garcez Costa SOUSA,
  • Cidiane Melo OLIVEIRA,
  • Igor Rechetnicow Alves SANT'ANNA,
  • Bruce Gavin MARSHALL,
  • Carlos Edwar de Carvalho FREITAS

DOI
https://doi.org/10.20950/1678-2305.2019.45.2.396
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 45, no. 2

Abstract

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Armoured catfish Pterygoplichthys pardalis is an endemic fish from the Amazon basin (Brazil) and currently is the top ten target species in the regional fisheries. A total of 1200 samples were collected monthly from March 2011 to February 2012 with an average length of 28 ± 2.57 cm and average weight of 441.57 ± 103.37 g. The growth stock parameters for this species (Wt = 0.431227 * Lt2.08637; M = 0.93 year-1; F-Estimated = 0.91 year-1; F-10 = 3.02 year-1; A0.95 = 7.31 years; K = 0.41 year-1; Tr = Tc = 1.92 years; Lc = 21.14 cm; L∞= 38.85 cm; W∞ = 869.76 g) and exploitation rate (E-Estimated = 0.50; E-10= 0.80) reveal that its stocks are not being overfished in the study area. The baseline information obtained in this study can help support fisheries management strategies of P. pardalis, especially regarding the potential implementation of a policy to increase landings of individuals larger than 22.3 cm length. However, before making a final decision, it is necessary to carefully examine the available information and evidence aimed at sustainable fishing management and conservation of their stocks, which is of great cultural, social and economic importance for Amazonian peoples.

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