Reproduction of French angelfish Pomacanthus paru (Teleostei: Pomacanthidae) and implications for management of the ornamental fish trade in Brazil

Abstract

Pomacanthus paru is one of the five most exported species in the Brazilian aquarium trade and is frequently caught by traps as bycatch. The present study is the first to describe the reproductive biology of this species in the South Atlantic. The population of P. paru was gonochoristic and presented size dimorphism in the larger classes, with males attaining larger sizes than females. Differences in sex ratios for size classes were recorded over the range 35–45-cm total length. At the spawning stage females were more abundant than males, suggesting that spawning females may be more vulnerable to trap fishing during this period. The size at maturity was 23.30-cm total length for females. Males and females of P. paru at the spawning and spent stages were observed nearly every month. The susceptibility of this species to trap fishing indicates that management of the aquarium trade through quotas of juvenile captures alone may be not effective. Thus, management measures should focus on controlling the amount harvested by monitoring current catch rates and should consider implementing trap-free areas in important spawning grounds.