| Affiliation: | 1. Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Campus VIII - Paulo Afonso, Paulo Afonso, Brazil Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil;2. Pós-Graduação em Oceanografia, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil;3. Dra. em Biociência Animal, PNPD/UFRPE Ciência Veterinária, Laboratório de Histologia Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal- DMFA, Recife, Brazil;4. Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil;5. Laboratório de Oceanografia Pesqueira, Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil |
| Abstract: | The present work describes the reproductive biology of the white marlin (Kajikia albida) caught in the southwestern and equatorial Atlantic Ocean. The gonads of 924 fish were collected by observers on board Brazilian tuna longliners, between November 2004 and December 2006. The spawning season was assessed by the monthly frequency distribution of distinct stages of maturity and monthly mean female gonadosomatic index GSI. Sixty-one percent (n = 656) of the fish examined were female, with a Lower Jaw Fork Length (LJFL) between 83 and 236 cm (mean = 155.5 ± 16.63). The 268 males had a LJFL between 90 and 220 cm (mean = 152.3 ± 34.62). Although the northeastern region of Brazil does not appear to be a significant spawning area for the species, the results suggest a higher reproductive activity in the third quarter of the year. Using a Bayesian logistic model approach, length at 50% maturity was estimated at 145.04 cm (credibility interval of 95%, 143.94–146.09 cm), for females, and at 140.03 cm (credibility interval of 95%, 137.28–142.52 cm), for males. |
