Management strategy for the giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) fishery in the Gulf of California, Mexico

A single-cohort biomass model was developed for a management strategy using proportional escapement as a reference to control fishing effort for the giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) in the Gulf of California. Biological information (length and weight frequencies) and fishery statistics (catch and effort) from November 1995 to November 1996 for the commercial fleet were analyzed. The data showed the presence of one cohort of D. gigas, which recruited in May. This cohort supported the fishery throughout the year. Using a biomass estimate from a research cruise in the central area of the Gulf of California in October 1996, the model predicted the highest levels of abundance from October 1996 to January 1997. We suggest a proportional escapement, estimated from the point of maximum biomass, between 27% and 40%, with a remaining biomass of between 65,560 and 34,890 metric tons in May, a month in which a new recruitment can be expected in the fishery.