Aspectos de la dinámica reproductiva y poblacional del roncador, Micropogonias furnieri, en el golfo de Paria, estado Sucre, Venezuela (Reproductive aspects and population dynamics of whaitemouth croaker, Micropogonias furnieri, in the gulf of Paria, Sucre state, Venezuela)

Micropogonias furnieri is one of the main supports of the artisan fishery in the gulf of Paria. It was analyzed the population structure, the weight - length relationship, and the size at maturity of 50% (TL50%), as points of fundamental biological references to evaluate this important fishery resource. A Sample of 721 fish, collected from the artisan fleet landings in Güiria, was analyzed between January and December 2002. Size did not show significant differences between sex (P>0.05), and varied between 233 and 590 mm of total length, with a mean of 381 mm. Most fishes (74.9%) were found in the range of 311 and 470 mm of total length. The weight - length relationship did not show significantly differences (P>0.05) among males and females, so a common equation for combined sex was estimated as W=1.22*10-5 (TL)2.97 with an alometric relative growth (b<3). General sex ratio did not derivate significantly (P>0.05) from a 1:1 proportion. The mature female of small size measured 290 mm and the male 306 mm of total length. The TL50% of males (404.06 mm) and females (390.63 mm) did not show significantly differences (P>0.05), so a common size for combined sex was estimated (404.92 mm) and defined in the equation y=1/(1+e-0.040037*TL) + (15.71092). A significant proportion of individuals in an advanced maturity reproductive stage were observed between January and March and July a December. This could indicate a large reproductive period for M. furnieri, with a greater intensity between July and September. The TL50% and the population average size evidenced a strong fishery pressure on M. furnieri