Pescadas

Pescadas
August 26, 2015 AmazCitSci

Length Category:  Medium (40-100 cm)

Trophic Level:  Predator-crustaceans

Migratory Pattern:  Local (<100 km)

Spawning Period:  All periods

Export Market:  International (outside South America).

Market Status:  Second class

Catch Distribution:

Pescada potential yield was estimated to be 6,800 tons. Three fishery regions account for 80% of potential yield: Estuary (34%), Tocantins (28%) and Brazilian-Colombian-Peruvian Border (19%). The Lower Amazon (8%), Central Amazon (6%) and Peruvian Amazon (6%) are of moderate importance.

Natural History Notes:

The pescada category of commercial food fishes includes species in three genera (Plagioscion, Pachyurus and Pachypops). Plagioscion squamosissimus is the most important species in most of the Amazon. Plagioscion auratus, P. squamosissimus and P. surinamensis are the most important species in the estuary. It is unclear to what extent Plagioscion squamosissimus might migrate though schools are occasionally encountered in river channels. Most catches come from whitewater river floodplains. Pescada species live near the bottom where they feed on fish and shrimp.

Distribution of pescada catch.

Brazil
Pescada-cascuda Plagioscion surinamensis
Pescada Plagioscion squamosissimus
Pescada branca Plagioscion squamosissimus
Pescada-branca Plagioscion squamosissimus
Curvina Pachypops furchraeus
Pescada Pachypops furchraeus
Curvina Pachypops trifilis
Pescada Pachypops trifilis
Pescada preta Plagioscion auratus
Pescada-preta Plagioscion auratus
Pescada Plagioscion montei
Colombia
Curvina Plagioscion surinamensis
Curvinata Plagioscion surinamensis
Curvinata Plagioscion squamosissimus
Corvina Plagioscion squamosissimus
Cabeça-de-pedra Plagioscion squamosissimus
Burra Plagioscion squamosissimus
Curvina Plagioscion squamosissimus
Ecuador
Corvina Plagioscion squamosissimus
Peru
Corvina Plagioscion squamosissimus
Corvina Plagioscion auratus