| Resumo: |
Ling (Genypterus blacodes) resource was assessed by means of an age structured production model fitted with stock abundance indices from catch per unit effort data (CPUE) obtained from the commercial fishing fleet. Reproductive stock was assessed in the same way with CPUE data from the fishery research vessel. A short-term analysis of collapse risk as a function of 1999 and 2000 fishing mortalities was carried out with the results, and also a long-term analysis with the assumption of a variable fishing mortality (F) with two recruitment hypotheses. Results show that the present state of the Ling resource has worsened with respect to the last assessment. Considering the best of all cases, the Br/Kr relationship decreased from 0.55 to 0.33, indicating that the reproductive stock is near the acceptable limit assumed in this paper. Risk analysis pointed out that catch should be kept at a level of 16,000 t year-1 in the long term to maintain collapse risk within acceptable levels ( 10%). This would imply decreasing total allowable catch levels, currently at 19,000 t year-1. Nevertheless, since Ling is in great proportion, a by-catch of the common hake fishery, catch levels are regulated to a great extent by the effort directed to hake. In addition, it was observed that Ling catch by longliners increased from 137 t in 1998 to 3.088 t in 2001. This implies an increase in fishing effort oriented to Ling. From the above discussion it is inferred as necessary to limit fishing effort oriented to Ling particularly that exerted during the first quarter of the year around the reproductive area. Based on results from this and other reports, some proposals for management of the species starting from the year 2002 are indicated.
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