Biologia reprodutiva do dourado, Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758), no arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract

The dolphinfish, Coryphaena hippurus, an oceanic pelagic species with circumtropical distribution, is an important fishery resource around the world. The Archipelago of St Peter and St Paul plays an important role in the migratory route of several species of high commercial value, including the dolphinfish. In this context, studies of reproductive biology may help conservation and management of these stocks by providing essential information, such as the size at first sexual maturity and spawning season. In this study, a total of 861 individuals were examined, 811 of which were sexed (279 female and 532 male). Of these, the stage of sexual maturity was identified in 565 specimens. The fork length (FL) of specimens ranged between 27 and 150 cm, with a sex ratio of 1 male to 1.9 females. The distribution of average monthly Gonadal Index of adults ranged between 0.58 and 3.73 for males and between 3.22 and 34.90 for females. Size at first sexual maturity (L50) was estimated at 68.8 cm FL, for males, and 67.7 cm FL, for females. The results suggest that the period of greatest reproductive activity occurs between April and June.