SIZE DIFFERENCES, BY SEX, OF ADULT MARKET SQUID (LOLIGO OPALESCENS) AT-HARVEST IN DISTINCT TEMPERATURE AREAS NEAR THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

• Main Authors: Annette E Henry, Jenny D Mcdaniel, Corey D Chan
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: DML
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1070.5088; http://iws.org/CISProceedings/6th_CIS_Proceedings/Henry_et_al.pdf

Abstract-We examined adult market squid, Loligo opalescens, from two significantly different temperature areas (northern and southern Channel Islands) of intense squid fishing within the Southern California Bight (SCB) to determine the effects of temperature on size at-harvest. Dorsal mantle length (DML) and body mass by sex, and female gonad mass were compared over a four-year period (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002). For males, there were no significant differences in mean monthly DML or body mass between the two areas. In contrast, there were significant differences in female DML and body mass. No difference was detected for female gonad mass, possibly due to sample size (n = 7). Temperature at-harvest was positively correlated with DML and body mass of males and females; however, an opposite and stronger trend was apparent when hatch temperature was correlated with the growth parameters (DML, body mass, and gonad mass). Gonad mass at-harvest was negatively correlated with water temperature at-hatch. Differences in squid size at-harvest relative to hatch temperature translate into differences in reproductive potential. We suggest that reduced reproductive potential from warm water events be considered in management strategies for harvest.