Biological indicators for the Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra) fishery in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico

Abstract

The Pacific sierra (Scomberomorus sierra) fishery was analyzed using commercial data from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico, from February 2002 to March 2003. Length-frequency data were analyzed to estimate individual growth parameters, as well as the minimum maturity length and minimum catch length of S. sierra. Six age groups were observed for the stock from the southern Gulf of California. Gonad maturity in females begins in April and spawning occurs during May. According to our estimations, the minimum catch length was 398 mm fork length (c. 2 years 10 months), while the minimum maturity length was 443 mm fork length (c. 3 years). When both curves were overlapped, 70% of the catch was represented by females with a fork length less than the size at first maturity, indicating that when females attained the minimum maturity length, a fraction (70%) of them had already been caught; however, during the last 17 fishing seasons, the Pacific sierra landings in Sinaloa have shown an apparent stability. A management strategy and reference points for the exploitation of the fishery are recommendable.

Keywords

• individual growth
• age at first maturity
• management strategy