Distribución estacional y densidades de besugo (Pagrus pagrus) en el Mar Argentino y la Zona Común de Pesca Argentino-Uruguaya

The distribution of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) in the Southwest Atlantic in relation to botton temperature and salinity and its spatial variability were analyzed. Although seasonally it can reach 42° 57’ S in coastal waters of the Nuevo Gulf and, occasionally, higher latitudes, parallel 41° 38’ S was determined as the austral limit of the species distribution. Three high density areas were identified: 1) north of the yellowtail amberjack bank in the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone, between the 50 m isobath and the Rio de la Plata outer zone, historically the most important fishing ground of the species, 2) red porgy north bank in the northeast of the city of Mar del Plata between the shoreline and the 50 m isobath and 3) the area called “El Rincon” south of the Buenos Aires Coastal Ecosystem that includes the San Blas Bay outer zone. The climatological values of bottom temperature in the study area showed that red porgy distributes in waters ranging 8.2-17.7 °C. Bottom salinity was between 28-33.7. The results obtained indicate that the species is eurythermal and euryhaline, with a capacity to position itself over the different thermal and thermohaline fronts, presumably for reproductive purposes.