HAMMERHEADS SHARKS, SPHYRNA LEWINI AND S. ZYGAENA CAUGHT BY LONGLINERS OFF SOUTHERN BRAZIL, 2007-2008 *

SUMMARY During the 2007-2008 period there were five surface longline fisheries from Sao Paulo State operating off southern Brazil (17o-35oS and 27o-52oW). Sharks represented 49.2% of total catch longline yield (596.1 t). Overall, hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini and S. zygaena) represented 6.3% of the total shark longline production. From May 2007 to August 2008 information from 27 trips was collected. From a total of 376 hammerheads captured, 35% were S. lewini and 65% S. zygaena. There were no records of S. mokarran in the period. Seasonal distribution, fishing area, gonad maturity, carcass weight and carcass length relationship, carcass length frequency distribution, carcass average weight and other biological aspects of the two species are presented. RESUME