Pogonias courbina

Abstract

This demersal species inhabits and forms seasonal spawning aggregations in shallow coastal waters and estuaries from southeastern Brazil to Argentina. It is a relatively long-lived, large-bodied species that canattain over 140 cm in length and 40 kg in weight and reach over 50 years in age. The estimated generation length is 28 years. It is targeted by commercial, artisanal and recreational fisheries throughout its range. Fisheries targeted spawning migrations in the Patos Lagoon estuary in southern Brazil at a high level from the 1940s to early 1980s, and landings have declined by 88% since 1982, orover the past 37 years. After these four decades of exploitation, only juveniles and small-sized adults are currently captured in the fishery. In Uruguay and Argentina, fishing effort primarily targets spawning aggregations in the La Plata River estuary. Landings in this fishery increased by 260% since 2000, or overthe past 19 years, as compared to landings in the period from 1975-1999. The current absence of large individuals in the La Plata River commercial catch and anecdotal observations of declines by Argentines portfishers, strongly implies that a truncation in age structure and a significant decline in abundance occurred.This species has intrinsic characteristics, including large body size, long longevity and high vulnerability to capture during predictable spawning/feeding migrations or aggregations, that cause it to be susceptible to large population declines under exploitation. However, its high fecundity and early age at© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Pogonias courbina , published in 2020.https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T159145751A159145756.en1maturity (5-10% of the longevity) favours its resilience to exploitation under adequate fisheries management. The large decline in the southern Brazil fishery that targets this species was caused by years of intense fishing pressure, and that stock has not recovered. This is a clear warning that the fishery operating in La Plata estuary will follow the same path of decline unless urgent and drastic management measures are not implemented in the near future. Based on fisheries data and catch observations over time, it is inferred this species has undergone global-level declines of at least 30-40%over the past one and half generation lengths (about 42 years), and due to insufficient conservation measures, this decline is expected to continue over the next one and half generation lengths. Therefore,it is listed as Vulnerable A2bd+4bd with a strong recommendation to improve fisheries monitoring and management.