Coasts of the islands of the archipelago of the Azores, mainly from S. Miguel, Faial, Pico and S. Jorge

Zooplankton and zoobenthos morphological parameters; Fish morphology, age and physiology; Fish abundance in water bodies; Fish taxonomy-related counts; Fish behaviour; Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance; Zooplankton and zoobenthos physiological condition parameters; Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts; Zooplankton and zoobenthos development stage parameters

Pelagic trawl nets; benthos samplers

In the period from November 1990 to March 1992, 1754 squid of the species Loligo forbesi from the Azorean fishery were studied; 58.9 per cent were males (mean size = 590 mm dorsal mantle length), 41.1 per cent females (mean size = 359 mm dorsal mantle length). The squid were captured by jigging and animals less than 200 mm dorsal mantle length were not caught. Of males, 81 per cent were sexually mature, of the females 87.1 per cent, both sexes showing highest maturity in winter and spring, lowest in autumn. Several different maturity indices were applied. No specific recruitment period could be established.

University of Azores, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries (IMAR network)
Rua Prof. Dr. Frederico Machado
Horta

9901-862
Portugal