Age and growth of the bigeye thresher shark, Alopias superciliosus, from the pelagic longline fisheries in the tropical northeastern Atlantic Ocean, determined by vertebral band counts

The bigeye thresher, Alopias supercilious, is commonly caught as bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries targeting swordfish. Little information is yet available on the biology of this species, however. As part of an ongoing study, observers sent aboard fishing vessels have been collecting set of information that includes samples of vertebrae, with the aim of investigating age and growth of A. supercilious. A total of 117 specimens were sampled between September 2008 and October 2009 in the tropical northeastern Atlantic, with specimens ranging from 101 to 242 cm fork length (FL) (176 to 407 cm total length). The A. supercilious vertebrae were generally difficult to read, mainly because they were poorly calcified, which is typical of Lamniformes sharks. Preliminary trials were carried out to determine the most efficient band enhancement technique for this species, in which crystal violet section staining was found to be the best methodology. Estimated ages in this sample ranged from 2 to 22 years for females and 1 to 17 years for males. A version of the von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGF) re-parameterised to estimate L(0), and a modified VBGF using a fixed L(0) were fitted to the data. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) was used to compare these models. The VBGF produced the best results, with the following parameters: L(inf) = 293 cm FL, k = 0.06 y(-1) and L(0) = 111 cm FL for females; L(inf) = 206 cm FL, k = 0.18 y(-1) and L(0) = 93 cm FL for males. The estimated growth coefficients confirm that A. supercilious is a slow-growing species, highlighting its vulnerability to fishing pressure. It is therefore urgent to carry out more biological research to inform fishery managers more adequately and address conservation issues.

The deep-sea fish Kali macrodon: a new record for the tropical eastern Atlantic off Cape Verde

A new deep-sea fish is reported for the tropical eastern Atlantic. The rare chiasmodontid Kali macrodon was caught for the first time in Cape Verdean waters during an oceanographic survey in September 2009. This record provides the fifth occurrence for the species in the north-eastern Atlantic and represents the third specimen ever caught in tropical waters.

Size at maturity and length-weight relationships of the blurred lantern shark Etmopterus bigelowi (Squaliformes: Etmopteridae) caught off southeastern Brazil

The blurred lantern shark Etmopterus bigelowi, a deep-water squaloid shark, is globally widespread in temperate and tropical waters, but there is little available information about its biology owing to its relative rarity of capture and taxonomic confusion with its sibling species Etmopterus pusillus. Specimens used in this study were collected from July to December 2004 as by-catch in the commercial deepwater trawl fishery targeting red shrimp Aristaeomorpha foliacea in the southwestern Atlantic. We examined 55 specimens (22 males and 33 females) ranging in total length (TL) from 31.5 to 73 cm and in total weight from 103 to 1600 g. Length-weight relationships were explored for each sex and significant differences were found in the slope coefficients of the male and female regressions. The size at maturity for each sex was evaluated fitting a logistic regression. Females matured at larger sizes than males, with estimated sizes at first maturity of 56.0 cm TL for females and 45.1 cm TL for males. The present study provides important preliminary information about E. bigelowi that can be incorporated in risk assessment and stock assessment models, essential for efficient management practices aimed at avoiding overexploitation of these vulnerable deep-sea sharks.

Species delimitation in sharpnose sharks (genus Rhizoprionodon) in the western Atlantic Ocean using mitochondrial DNA

Despite Springer’s (1964) revision of the sharpnose sharks (genus Rhizoprionodon), the taxonomic definition and ranges of Rhizoprionodon in the western Atlantic Ocean remains problematic. In particular, the distinction between Rhizoprionodon terraenovae and R. porosus, and the occurrence of R. terraenovae in South American waters are unresolved issues involving common and ecologically important species in need of fishery management in Caribbean and southwest Atlantic waters. In recent years, molecular markers have been used as efficient tools for the detection of cryptic species and to address controversial taxonomic issues. In this study 415 samples of the genus Rhizoprionodon captured in the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida to southern Brazil were examined for sequences of the COI gene and the D-loop and evaluated for nucleotide differences. The results on nucleotide composition, AMOVA tests, and relationship distances using Bayesian-likelihood method and haplotypes network, corroborates Springer’s (1964) morphometric and meristic finding and provide strong evidence that supports consideration of R. terraenovae and R. porosus as distinct species.

Effect of light-sticks and electralunie attractors on surface-longline catches of swordfish (Xiphias gladius, Linnaeus, 1959) in the southwest equatorial Atlantic

Two experimental fishing trials were carried out off the coast of Pernambuco, Brazil, in 1999 and 2001, using a small artisanal longliner. In experiment 1, six-hook baskets with three chemical light-sticks on alternating hooks had significantly higher catch rates than those with zero or with a light-stick on every hook, with most swordfish accounted for by hooks with light-sticks. Analysis of the data from experiment 2 showed no significant difference between electralume attractors, consisting of AA lithium batteries protected by a solid cover and light-sticks that produce a fluorescent light when two chemical products are mixed. Significant differences were detected in mean CPUE by size class, with most swordfish belonging to class 'b' (125-170 cm lower jaw to fork length (LJFL)). No differences, however, were found for swordfish catches in classes 'a' (< 125 cm LJFL) and V, and no evidence was found of interaction between the two factors (attractor and size class). Although there was no significant difference between the total length-frequency distributions of swordfish caught with light-sticks and electralume attractors, signibcant differences were found for fish smaller than 125 cm LJFL, with electralume catches consisting of smaller swordfish than those of gear using light-sticks. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of light-sticks and electralume attractors on surface-longline catches of swordfish (Xiphias gladius, Linnaeus, 1959) in the southwest equatorial Atlantic

Two experimental fishing trials were carried out off the coast of Pernambuco, Brazil, in 1999 and 2001, using a small artisanal longliner. In experiment 1, six-hook baskets with three chemical light-sticks on alternating hooks had significantly higher catch rates than those with zero or with a light-stick on every hook, with most swordfish accounted for by hooks with light-sticks. Analysis of the data from experiment 2 showed no significant difference between electralume attractors, consisting of AA lithium batteries protected by a solid cover and light-sticks that produce a fluorescent light when two chemical products are mixed. Significant differences were detected in mean CPUE by size class, with most swordfish belonging to class ‘b’ (125–170 cm lower jaw to fork length (LJFL)). No differences, however, were found for swordfish catches in classes ‘a’ (<125 cm LJFL) and ‘b’, and no evidence was found of interaction between the two factors (attractor and size class). Although there was no significant difference between the total length-frequency distributions of swordfish caught with light-sticks and electralume attractors, significant differences were found for fish smaller than 125 cm LJFL, with electralume catches consisting of smaller swordfish than those of gear using light-sticks.