Aspects of the reproductive biology and characterization of Sciaenidae captured as bycatch in the prawn trawling in the northeastern Brazil/Aspectos da biologia reprodutiva e caracterizacao de cianideos capturados como fauna acompanhante da pesca de camarao no nordeste do Brasil

The Brazilian prawn fishery, as other bottom trawling fisheries, is considered quite efficient in catching the target species but with low selectivity and high rates of bycatch. The family Sciaenidae prevails among fish species caught. The study was conducted in the Pernambuco State (Barra de Sirihaem), northeastern Brazil. From August 2011 to July 2012, 3,278 sciaenid specimens were caught, distributed into 16 species, 34.2% males and 41.5% females. Larimus breviceps, Isopisthus parvipinnis, Paralonchurus brasiliensis and Stellifer microps were the most abundant species. The area was considered a recruitment and reproduction area with the highest reproductive activity between December 2011 and July 2012. The constant frequency of mature I. parvipinnis and S. microps in catches throughout the year suggests that these species are multiple spawners and use the area during their reproductive period. Since most individuals caught as bycatch have not reached sexual maturity, evidencing the need for a better monitoring of the area and the Sciaenidae caught as bycatch, once this incidental caught can cause fluctuations in the recruitment, increasing the proportion of immature individuals in the population and negatively affecting the reproductive success of the species. Keywords: Demersal, trawling, sexual maturity, coastal zone. As pescarias de arrasto sao consideradas bastante eficientes na captura das especies-alvo, porem apresentam baixa seletividade, capturando grande quantidade de fauna acompanhante. Entre as especies capturadas, a familia Sciaenidae e quase sempre dominante. A area de estudo esta localizada no Estado de Pernambuco (Barra de Sirinhaem), regiao Nordeste do Brasil. Durante o periodo de agosto/11 a julho/12 foi capturado um total de 3.278 cianideos, divididos entre 16 especies, sendo 34,2% machos e 41,5% femeas. Larimus breviceps, Isopisthus parvipinnis, Paralonchurus brasiliensis e Stellifer microps foram as especies mais abundantes. A area estudada foi considerada zona de recrutamento e reproducao, com os maiores indices de atividade reprodutiva entre os meses de dezembro/11 e julho/12. A constante captura de individuos maduros de I. parvipinnis e S. microps, durante todo o periodo de amostragem, sugere que estas especies possuem desova multipla e utilizam a area durante seu periodo reprodutivo. Devido a maioria dos individuos capturados como fauna acompanhante nao terem alcancado sua maturidade sexual, e necessario melhor monitoramento da a