Distribuição e abundância da cavalinha, Scomber japonicus houttuyn, no estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brasil)

Abstract

his work deals with the catches of the mackerel, Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, in the State of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), carried out by trawlers, during the fisheries for the sardine-real, Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879), in the years 1993-1997, species that are found in the same schools. The mackerel fisheries are more important in the months of March to August, with greater catches in the fall (about 50% of the annual production). The productivity of mackerel fisheries decreases throughout the year, with a maximum of 0.8 t / bid in the summer. In general, the production of mackerel does not exceed 10% of that corresponding to the true sardine. The main fisheries for mackerel are located in the bay of Ilha Grande and its surroundings, which contribute 84% of the annual production of the species in the state. In such fisheries, more than 90% of mackerel catches are made between summer and winter, when productivity rates are also higher. The mackerel is captured from the surface up to 60 m deep, concentrating between 11 - 40 m, most frequently in the range of 21 - 30 m deep.