Biological parameter of the sharks of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico in relation to their potential as a commercial fishery resource /
| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1986.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAKTrust copy Link to ProQuest copy |
| Abstract: | Biological information, especially age and growth data, is presented for seven shark species--Carcharhinus falciformis, C. limbatus, C. brevipinna, C. leucas, Galeocerdo cuvieri, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, and Sphryna lewini--taken commonly in the recreational and commercial catch from the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Ages were estimated through analysis of bands in the vertebral centra. It was demonstrated that annular marks formed late in the calendar year, and the periodic formation of these marks was validated through grow-out studies with sharks injected with tetracycline as a time marker. Growth rates were estimated by applying the age data to a von Bertalanffy growth model, and these estimates were compared to known life history characteristics. The biological data presented indicates that, in general, the sharks grow slowly, and have low reproductive potential. This makes the species susceptible to overfishing, and because of increasing fishing pressure, management of the fishery may become necessary. A variety of efforts take the species in various combinations necessitating management at the group level, but because the species are taken at different stages of their life histories, this will be difficult. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences." |
| Physical Description: | xi, 138 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-132). |