Abstract

GUERRA, Armira  and  MARIN, Gloria. Algunos aspectos biológicos y pesqueros del lebranche (Mugil liza) en la laguna de Unare, estado Anzoátegui, Venezuela. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2002, vol.20, n.3, pp.287-305. ISSN 0798-7269.

Mugil liza (lebranche) is the main species in the artisanal fishery of the Unare lagoon, Venezuela. In this work, there were studied out lebranche biometrics, populations parameters, and a preliminary analysis of its fisheries. A total of 1,114 specimens were examined during the period 1997 and 1998. The popu1ation was found to be composed of individuals which size fluctuated between 170 and 500 mm total length. In 1997, 84% of the total sample was between 240 and 380 mm total length, where as in 1998, 91% was between 340 and 440 mrn. The growth was isometric and the value of asintotic lenght was 400 Mm, and the annual growth rate was 1.0. The growth of the lebranche required at least two years inside the lagoon. Natural mortality was 1.72 in 1997 and 1.69 in 1998. Lebranche production reached 530 MT in 1992, and only 97 in 1998. The origin of this fall in the catch may be associated to a low recruitment of alevines, closing of the lagoon's mouths which increased amounts of freshwater coming from the Unare River, and a probable overfishing. 

Keywords : Unare Lagoon; Lebranche; Mugil liza; artisanal fishery.