Fishery Analysis of Mugil cephalus in Central Mexican Pacific

The analysis of fishery parameters of the main species captured in México are important, management strategies and normativity can be established, to regulate the fishery and avoid overexploitation. Specimens for this study were obtained from the commercial fishery in the Cuyutlán Lagoon, Colima, and in Cruz de Loreto Lagoon, Jalisco, México. Samples were obtained from August to December 2007, January to March 2008 and November 2012 to October 2013. Captures of M. cephalus were higher in the coasts of Colima than in Jalisco. Recruitment length was L0.25=34 cm and first capture length was L0.50=39 cm in Colima; in Jalisco these lengths were L0.25=30cm and L0.50=33 cm, respectively. Total mortality for ages 13 to 23 years was Z=0.474 and the survival rate was S=0.625. Natural mortality rate was M=0.127 for the species, M=0.091 for males and M=1.22 for females. Fishing mortality was F=0.343. Increasing the age of first capture from Tc=6.5 years to Tc=8 years, the yield per recruit will increase from y/r=454.5g to y/r=491.1 g with a value of F=2.0. Results on natural mortality rate (M) were compared to those of other authors in other geographic areas in México and the world, finding differences probably due to climate, genetic and latitudinal position, as well as to the fishing pressure. M. cephalus is a species that has to be protected by using the appropriate fishing gear; a generalized use of the 4 inch mesh size would increase recruitment and yield per recruit of this fishery.