Bycatch of the Southern King Crab ( Lithodes santolla ) in the Patagonian shrimp fishery in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Can it contribute to the depletion of its population?

Fisheries Volume 43 Number 1 January 2018

“…This bycatch has a negative impact on the southern king crab population due to direct effects such as high mortality, injuries, and egg loss and could interfere in the reproductive-related migration and mating process, thereby leading to reproductive failure. The mortality of southern king crabs in the shrimp fi shery was 19% (estimated at the beginning of onboard handling), but this value may be greater due to the long handling time on deck (Varisco et al 2017 ). Gowland-Sainz et al ( 2015 ) demonstrated that discard procedures led to egg loss in southern king crabs, whereas we (Varisco et al 2017 ) recently suggested that the increased proportion of barren females in coastal areas may be explained by the interference of trawling in the reproductive process.…”

“…The mortality of southern king crabs in the shrimp fi shery was 19% (estimated at the beginning of onboard handling), but this value may be greater due to the long handling time on deck (Varisco et al 2017 ). Gowland-Sainz et al ( 2015 ) demonstrated that discard procedures led to egg loss in southern king crabs, whereas we (Varisco et al 2017 ) recently suggested that the increased proportion of barren females in coastal areas may be explained by the interference of trawling in the reproductive process. In some years, during the precopulatory period of the southern king crab, about 60% of hauls in the shrimp fi shery (when this fi shery is still open) are performed in coastal areas where the southern king crab reproductive stock occurs.…”

“…Moreover, southern king crabs are captured as bycatch in trawl fi sheries targeting Patagonian red shrimp Pleoticus muelleri and Argentine Hake Merluccius hubbsi . Annually, Patagonian shrimp fi sheries average 2,000 metric tons of southern king crab bycatch, which is returned to the sea (Varisco et al 2017 ). This bycatch has a negative impact on the southern king crab population due to direct effects such as high mortality, injuries, and egg loss and could interfere in the reproductive-related migration and mating process, thereby leading to reproductive failure.…”

Deadliest Catch, Terra Australis Edition

“…Annually, Patagonian shrimp fisheries average 2,000 metric tons of southern king crab bycatch, which is returned to the sea (Varisco et al. ). This bycatch has a negative impact on the southern king crab population due to direct effects such as high mortality, injuries, and egg loss and could interfere in the reproductive‐related migration and mating process, thereby leading to reproductive failure.…”

“…The mortality of southern king crabs in the shrimp fishery was 19% (estimated at the beginning of onboard handling), but this value may be greater due to the long handling time on deck (Varisco et al. ). Gowland‐Sainz et al.…”