Abstract

Joso catfish Sciades couma (Pisces:Ariidae) is one of the most important fishery resources of the Warao comunity from the Caño Macareo, for this reason the knowledge of its reproductive behavior is very important for a proper management of the species. It’s very common in the main part of the caño, and also in some of the secondary arms and it´s captured during most of the year. Preliminary studies about its reproductive behavior have been made. 97 samples were taken on February of the current year, using different capture methods, like the fishing line and local gill nets. The sexual proportion (M:F) was one male, for each 0.98 female. The size for the first maturation was estimated and the GSI (Gonadosomatic index) for both sex. GSI in females was 1.8 and 0.3 for males. The average total fecundity is 890 and the relative fecundity is 0.25 with a fecundity index of 0.06. The relation fecundity-size (F/T) and fecundity-weight (F/P), were FT:63.05L x0.040 and FP:243L x0.000. Are necessary management policies to promote a responsible fishery on this species, because, just like the other great river catfishes, its biology and ecology remain without a deep study.

PDF Preview