Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific
Although sharks have a fundamental role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, exerting a great influence on lower levels of the food chain, their populations are declining worldwide due, to a large extent, to overfishing. Of the 64 species registered in Ecuador, from January to December...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/8/599 |
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| author | Jesús Briones-Mendoza Diego Mejía Pol Carrasco-Puig |
| author_facet | Jesús Briones-Mendoza Diego Mejía Pol Carrasco-Puig |
| author_sort | Jesús Briones-Mendoza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although sharks have a fundamental role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, exerting a great influence on lower levels of the food chain, their populations are declining worldwide due, to a large extent, to overfishing. Of the 64 species registered in Ecuador, from January to December 2019, 19 species were recorded in Manta from the 15,455 captured individuals, with the family Carcharhinidae being the most abundant in the catches (69.4%), and the most abundant species was <i>Prionace glauca</i> (57.9%). Regarding threatened species, such as <i>Carcharhinus longimanus</i>, <i>Sphyrna lewini</i>, and <i>Sphyrna zygaena</i>, a greater presence of immature specimens was observed in landings. However, information on the composition and biological aspects of shark species in the Ecuadorian Pacific is very scarce. Therefore, research on the characteristics of life history (age, growth, and maturity) are of utmost importance for the stock assessments that are being exploited, especially in developing countries, where this information is lacking, causing inadequate management of fishery resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:34:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ecbde8ef472d4def8295eb4e25d45aa8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:34:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecbde8ef472d4def8295eb4e25d45aa82023-11-30T21:14:15ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-07-0114859910.3390/d14080599Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian PacificJesús Briones-Mendoza0Diego Mejía1Pol Carrasco-Puig2Facultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Laica “Eloy Alfaro” de Manabí, Ciudadela Universitaria vía San Mateo, Manta 130802, Manabí, EcuadorFacultad Ciencias del Mar, Universidad Laica “Eloy Alfaro” de Manabí, Ciudadela Universitaria vía San Mateo, Manta 130802, Manabí, EcuadorCATSHARKS, Association for the Study and Conservation of Elasmobranchs and Its Ecosystems, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, SpainAlthough sharks have a fundamental role in maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems, exerting a great influence on lower levels of the food chain, their populations are declining worldwide due, to a large extent, to overfishing. Of the 64 species registered in Ecuador, from January to December 2019, 19 species were recorded in Manta from the 15,455 captured individuals, with the family Carcharhinidae being the most abundant in the catches (69.4%), and the most abundant species was <i>Prionace glauca</i> (57.9%). Regarding threatened species, such as <i>Carcharhinus longimanus</i>, <i>Sphyrna lewini</i>, and <i>Sphyrna zygaena</i>, a greater presence of immature specimens was observed in landings. However, information on the composition and biological aspects of shark species in the Ecuadorian Pacific is very scarce. Therefore, research on the characteristics of life history (age, growth, and maturity) are of utmost importance for the stock assessments that are being exploited, especially in developing countries, where this information is lacking, causing inadequate management of fishery resources.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/8/599diversityabundancecartilaginous fishelasmobranchssex ratiolength at maturity |
| spellingShingle | Jesús Briones-Mendoza Diego Mejía Pol Carrasco-Puig Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific Diversity diversity abundance cartilaginous fish elasmobranchs sex ratio length at maturity |
| title | Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific |
| title_full | Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific |
| title_fullStr | Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific |
| title_full_unstemmed | Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific |
| title_short | Catch Composition, Seasonality, and Biological Aspects of Sharks Caught in the Ecuadorian Pacific |
| title_sort | catch composition seasonality and biological aspects of sharks caught in the ecuadorian pacific |
| topic | diversity abundance cartilaginous fish elasmobranchs sex ratio length at maturity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/8/599 |
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