A management plan for the sport fishery of Parachromis dovii (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Hule lake, Costa Rica.
A first attempt to regulate the fishing activity while preserving the species and its habitats is presented for Hule lake. We intensively sampled the "guapote" between March 1996 and April 1997 using monofilament gill nets and a floating line, collecting 421 individuals. P. dovii biomass was relatively low; this species had a long life cycle (8-10 years) and the growth oscillation was low (C = 0.3). Maximum life expectation was estimated at 12 years and the point of minimum growth coincided with the spawning that takes place between November and December. After spawning, P. dovii take around seven months to reach recruitment size (54.6 mm). The length for sexual maturity was 134 mm Lt, which indicates that this species is viable for reproduction soon after leaving the protection zones around the lagoon. "Guapote" sport fishing in the Hule lake is in equilibrium, the renewal rate is 80%. An increment in the actual fishery effort is not recommended, since it could seriously affect the natural renewal capacity of the stock.
Tabash
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Estación de Biología Marina, Universidad Nacional, P.O.B. 126-5400, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. atabash@una.ac.cr
Guadamuz
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D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D005398:Fisheries / Q000592:standards*; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D005502:Food; D005618:Fresh Water; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011998:Recreation; D012621:Seasons; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012741:Sexual Maturation