Grenadiers of the World Oceans: Biology, Stock Assessment, and Fisheries

Biology and Distribution of Grenadiers of the Family Macrouridae around the Falkland Islands

Vladimir Laptikhovsky, Alexander Arkhipkin, and Paul Brickle

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874004.ch17

Abstract.—A total of seven grenadier species were found in the waters of the Falkland Islands, two of them, Macrourus carinatus and Macrourus holotrachys, being of commercial importance. M. carinatus was found in catches of trawlers and longliners between 173 and 1,201 m. The maximum abundance of this species occurred between 700 and 1,000 m. M. holotrachys occurred between 291 and 1,770 m, mostly deeper than 900 m. Coelorinchus fasciatus was the most abundant among the small-sized species. It occurred between 114 and 982 m, mostly between 200 and 600 m. The maximum age was 37 years for M. carinatus, 26 years for M. holotrachys and 19 years for C. fasciatus. Macrourus spp. reproduce all year round, C. fasciatus—mostly in spring. The survey area (about ¼ of the entire Falkland slope between 500 and 1,000 m isobaths) harbored a biomass of M. carinatus of about 40,000 tons.