Reef fisheries in Porto Seguro, eastern Brazilian coast

Fish landings in Porto Seguro, in the eastern Brazilian coast, were monitored from September 1997 to August 1999 to describe the predominant species caught, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and patterns of yields according to depth and season. A total of 223.5 t from 352 fishing trips made by a fleet of 53 boats was monitored. The fishery is conducted at depths from 20 to 150 m. The number of commercially valuable species caught was high (n=53). Snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus, Lutjanus analis and L. jocu) made up 38% of total catch. Pelagic species such as Coryphaena hippurus, Seriola dumerili, Thunnus albacares and T. atlanticus accounted for 43% while groupers, mainly Mycteroperca bonaci, represented 10%. Relative abundance of these target species was strongly dependent (P<0.001) upon depth and season. Higher yields of O. chrysurus (>20 kg/fisher per day) were observed between 20 and 40 m, from April to June. During spring–summer, yields of oceanic pelagic species increased rapidly, and catches of C. hippurus (40 kg/fisher per day) rose from November to January.