Abstract

CHONG, Javier et al. FISHERY BIOLOGY PARAMETERS OF JUMBO SQUID, DOSIDICUS GIGAS (ORBIGNY, 1835) (CEPHALOPODA: OMMASTREPHIDAE), IN CENTRAL CHILE COAST (29ºS-40ºS) DURING 1993-1994. Gayana (Concepc.) [online]. 2005, vol.69, n.2, pp.319-328. ISSN 0717-652X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-65382005000200012.

The results of two fishing research cruises of the jumbo squid, Dosidicus gigas, between July 1993 and January 1994 in the Chilean economic exclusive zone between 29º S to 40º S, are described. For each trawling, date, hour, trawling duration and volume of squids by catch and jigging machines, were registered to estimate the relative abundance. The squid mantle length, total weight, eviscerated weight, mantle weight, and sexes, were measured in each collected specimen. Then, the digestive tracts were extracted for stomach content analysis. The captures of jumbo squid occurred only from the 29ºS to the 30º S. In the first cruise (winter) specimens of large (71 to 98 cm MDL) and small size (< 44 cm MDL) in both sexes, were collected; while in the second cruise (spring) medium size squids were captured (26 to 60 cm MDL). Size frequency distribution analysis in the both cruises shows two cohorts of D. gigas in the same fishing zone. The diet does not change among seasons and was compound mainly for pelagic and demersal fish and secondarily by cephalopods and occasionally pelagic crustaceans; furthermore, cannibalism may also occurs among squids. Length-weight relationships were similar in both sexes and it corroborates that jumbo squid registered in Chile, reaches bigger weight to the same length that the populations from Mexico and Peru

Keywords : Jumbo squid; Dosidicus gigas; body size; diet.

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