Reproductive biology of black hakes (Merluccius polli and M. senegalensis) off Mauritania

Abstract

Black hake, Merluccius polli and M. senegalensis, are demersal species that inhabit the continental shelf and upper slope off Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal, and are targeted by Spanish trawlers and bottom longliners. Merluccius senegalensis generally occurs at shallower depths than M. polli, although both species share a wide bathymetric range. Due to their external resemblance and overlapping occurrence at certain depths, both species are mixed in catches and are commonly marketed as Merluccius spp. From 2003 to 2009 biological samplings were performed in Mauritanian waters for numerous specimens of M. polli and M. senegalensis during 15 commercial fishing trips, seven experimental longline surveys, and three trawl surveys carried out within the black hake depth range and mainly during their reproductive periods. Data sets for 1334 fishing stations were thus gathered. The georeferenced macroscopic analysis of the female-assigned maturity stages was combined with the monthly evolution of the gonadosomatic index and with the time series of roe landings from 1984 to 2006 to determine the potential spawning areas, depths, and seasons for both species, showing an intense spawning period from November to February. Size at first maturity was estimated for both species in separate spawning periods and was higher for M. polli females (44 cm) than for M. senegalensis females (39 cm). Sex ratios were also determined by length classes (1 cm) for the experimental survey data and were analyzed according to fishing gear and latitude. The results showed a general predominance of females throughout the depths explored, both for M. polli (1:1.7) and M. senegalensis (1:1.5). Histological samples of ovaries and spawning progression data were jointly analyzed and indicated an apparent spawning delay for the deeper hake, M. polli (October), in comparison with the shallower hake, M. senegalensis (September).

Contrasting energy allocation strategies of two sympatric Merluccius species in an upwelling system

“…polli , compared with those of M . senegalensis , appear indicative of different life strategies (Fernández‐Peralta et al , ). Even if the results presented here often show high condition values and unexplained variability, they do provide some clues about how two sympatric Merluccius species coexist in waters off Mauritania.…”

“…polli is much more abundant beyond 100 m depth than M . senegalensis (Fernández‐Peralta et al , ; A. Ramos, C. Alcalá, F. Fernández, L. Fernández‐Peralta, M. González‐Porto, V. López, J. A. Moya, P. Pascual, C. Presas, M. A. Puerto, F. Ramil, F. Salmerón, J. L. Sanz, J. Rey, L. Viscasillas, J. O. Abed, S. O.…”

“…Merluccius senegalensis and M. polli inhabit the continental shelf and upper slope and have overlapping distribution areas in waters off north‐west Africa, between 25 and 12° N (Ramos & Fernández‐Peralta, ; Fernández‐Peralta et al , ), the focus area of this study. While M .…”

“…senegalensis is only found in north‐west African waters (from 33 to 12° N), M . polli is more widely distributed (from 25 to 18° S) (Inada, ; Lloris et al , ; Fernández‐Peralta et al , ). Although both hake species are sympatric in the study area, they show different bathymetric preferences: M .…”

“…polli inhabits waters down to 1000 m depth, while M . senegalensis prefers shallow inshore waters <600 m. Species overlap is common between 100 and 600 m depth, although it concurs at different size ranges (Fernández‐Peralta et al , ). Generally, Merluccius spp.…”