Biology and fishery of the Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi)

Abstract

Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) is a demersal, eurythermic and euryhaline species associated to subantarctic waters of the continental shelf and slope. The species, considered the main fishery resource of Argentina that in 2011 reached the maximum catch and export levels, distributes from Southern Brazil to 55° S in a 50-400 m depth range. The three stocks identified, located between 34° S-41° S, south of said latitude and in the San Matías Gulf, show differences as regards reproduction and nursery areas and time, meristic and morphometric characters, abundance level and growth parameters. At the Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero (INIDEP) annual assessments of the exploitation status of the stocks north and south of 41° S are carried out and management recommendations made. In this chapter, the biology, fishery characteristics, population abundance and structure and management recommendations for the two main Argentine hake stocks are described.