DISTRIBUCIÓN Y ABUNDANCIA DE LARVAS DE ATUNES EN ISLA DE PASCUA E ISLA SALAS Y GÓMEZ, CHILE. CRUCERO CIMAR 5 - ISLAS OCEÁNICAS* DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF LARVAL TUNA IN THE EASTERN ISLAND AND ISLA SALAS Y GÓMEZ, CHILE. CIMAR 5 - ISLAS OCEÁNICAS CRUISE

Samples of tuna and other scombroid larvae from the areas around the Eastern Island and the Isla Salas y Gomez as well as samples from the tracks from Caldera to Easter Island and from Easter to Isla Salas y Gomez collected on the CIMAR 5 - Islas Oceanicas survey during November of 1999 were analized. The yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) larvae were the only ones possible to classify to the species level. In the study area a total of 1502 larvae was collected, the East area of the Eastern Island being the location that presented the biggest abundances (station 59) where a total of 1230 larvae was collected. The Thunnus sp. larvae considered to be yellowfin tuna (T. albacares) or albacore tuna (T. alalunga) where less abundant and a total of 219 larvae was collected in the study area, where