Biology and Distribution of Grenadiers of the Family Macrouridae around the Falkland Islands

摘要

A total of seven grenadier species were found in the waters of the Falkland Islands, two of them, Macroums carinatus and Macrourus holotrachys, being of commercial importance. M. carinatus was found in catches of trawlers and longlin-ers between 173 and 1,201 m. The maximum abundance of this species occurred between 700 and 1,000 m. M. holotrachys occurred between 291 and 1,770 m, mostly deeper than 900 m. Coelorinchus fasciatus was the most abundant among the small-sized species. It occurred between114 and 982 m, mostly between 200 and 600 m. The maximum age was 37 years for M. carinatus, 26 years for M. holotrachys and 19 years for C. fasciatus. Macrourus spp. reproduce all year round, C. fasciatus--mostly in spring. The survey area (about 1/4 ofthe entire Falkland slope between 500 and 1,000 m isobaths) harbored a biomass of M. carinatus of about 40,000 tons.