VARIAÇÃO ESPAÇO-TEMPORAL DA CPUE PARA O GÊNERO RHINOBATOS (RAJIFORMES, RHINOBATIDAE) NA COSTA SUDESTE E SUL DO BRASIL

Abstract

Two species of guitarfish, Rhinobatos percellens and R. horkelli, are found off southeastern and southern coast of Brazil. Both are components of a multiespecific fishery of double-rig, pair and single trawl. Catches and CPUE of guitarfish were decreasing sharply during last decade. This present work analyzed the spatial-temporal variations of catch per unit effort of guitarfish off southeastern and southern coast of Brazil, through analysis of CPUE data from trawlers fishery, which landed in state of Santa Catarina, between 2000 and 2002. The guitarfish catches was concentrated between Imbituba-SC and Chuí-RS. A pattern of spatial-temporal variations of catches have not been observed, however, did occur spring and summer high to pair and double-rigs trawlers catches. In the period of study was observed an improvement of guitarfish CPUE that could be a sign of disponibylity increase. The pair trawlers actuated principally in lower than 100m deeps, in spit of double-rig and other trawler operated, from 2001, in high deeps reaching bigger CPUE. These displacements of trawlers to deeper water explain the increment of guitarfish CPUE that was observed between 2000 and 2002.