Calamares de importancia comercial en Argentina. Biología, distribución, pesquerías y muestreo biológico

Abstract

An overview of the available information on the commercially important squid species distributed in the Argentine Sea and adjacent zones is given. It includes the most representative characteristics to identify the species and general information on their biology, distribution and fisheries. A biological sampling designis presented, with particular emphasis on the identification of sexual maturity stages. The world market of the squid resources has considerably risen in the last decades and one of the most important fishery zones is placed in the Southwest Atlantic region (Area 41, FAO), where squid represent 25. of the total landings. Illex argentinus, sustains the second fishery in volume, with landings reaching 612.000 tonnes in 1999. Other species, such as Loligo sanpaulensis, Loligo gahi and Martialia hyadesi, are supporting small domestic fisheries. Also included is the current knowledge on Ommastrephes bartrami and Thysanoteuthis rhombus, cosmopolitan species that sustain important fisheries in other regions, and could be fishery exploitably alternatives here. A special case is that of Moroteuthis ingens, a worldwide particularly abundant species, but whose exploitation has been not developed yet. Finally, the giant squid (Architeuthis sp.)is included, as it started to appear frequently in this region during the last years and its knowledge is of high scientific value.