Abstract

Between August 2001 and November 2002, 357 specimens of Scomberomorus regalis and 334 of S. cavalla were collected all around Puerto Rico, with the objective to describe the annual reproductive cycle and to estimate the size of sexual maturity. For S. regalis, the histological analysis revealed that 50% of males and females reach their maturity at 350 and 413 mm Fork Length (FL), respectively. The males of S. cavalla mature at 450 mm FL, whether females do so at 585 mm FL. All males of S. regalis bigger than 450 mm FL were mature, whether in females this size was 550 mm FL. In S. cavalla, all males and females bigger than 550 and 750 mm FL, respectively, were mature. In S. regalis, the monthly distribution of gonadal development stages and the fluctuations of the gonadosomatic index suggest that the species reproduces virtually during all year, although an increase in reproductive activity was observed from April to September. The spawning season for S. cavalla is also extended, although limited or no activity was detected between September and March. For both species females prevail in higher size classes. The information obtained during this research suggests that the fishery of S. regalis has remained stable during the lasts years. About 11% of males and 37% of females were captured before reaching the size of sexual maturity. On the other hand, for S. cavalla there is a different situation. Larger individuals (i.e. >30 pounds), common during the 1970s, were very scarce in the landings sampled during this study. That trend was confirmed by several commercial and sport fishers around the island. About 14% of males and 51% of females of S. cavalla were captured under our estimated size of sexual maturity. This species, due to its commercial and sport fishing importance, has been considered as overfished in several jurisdictions and therefore, management measures had been implemented in an attempt to achieve a recovery of the populations. In 2004 minimum sizes for the capture of S. cavalla and S. regalis were established in Puerto Rico.

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