Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Analysis of size spectra off northwest Africa: a useful indicator in tropical areas?

2005; Oxford University Press; Volume: 62; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.01.014

1095-9289

Kim Stobberup, C. Inejih, Sory Karim Traoré, Carlos Augusto de Figueiredo Monteiro, Patrícia Amorim, Karim Erzini,

Fish Biology and Ecology Studies

Abstract Changes in the size spectra of demersal fish communities off Cape Verde (1988, 1994), Guinea (1985–1995), and Mauritania (1987–2001) were studied. Intercepts and slopes showed opposite trends for Guinea and Mauritania, but were relatively stable in spite of a strong increase in landings per unit area. For Cape Verde, there were marked changes in size structure, seemingly inconsistent with the more moderate fishing pressure there. Changes in size structure do not seem to be suitable indicators of the effects of fishing in areas characterized by faster growth rates, small sizes, high species diversity, and complex interrelationships, such as the tropics.