Life-history traits, capture dynamics, and conservation status of key species landed by the artisanal gillnet fleet in the southwest Atlantic Ocean

The southeast coast of Brazil plays a crucial role in national fishing, where the wide variety of species exploited reflects the multifleet-multispecies characteristics of fishing activity in the region. This study provides a summary based on eight life-history parameters of 70 commercially important species caught using artisanal gillnet fishing (surface and bottom) in the State of Rio de Janeiro. All species were classified according to fishing strategies estimated from the landing profiles (frequency and abundance of species). 29% were classified as the main target, 3% as the primary target, 10% as the secondary target, 24% as bycatch, and the remaining corresponded to specific surface or bottom landings. Cynoscion jamaicensis was classified as the main target for both fisheries. Twelve recorded species are threatened with extinction according to IUCN and ICMBio criteria. Strong correlations were identified between species and life-history traits. Principal component analysis separated the species into three groups (elasmobranchs, pelagic, and demersal), accounting for 83.7% of the total variance. Elasmobranchs present slow growth, late reproduction, medium to large size, and high longevity. Pelagic teleosts exhibit rapid growth and higher natural mortality rates, whereas demersal teleosts have intermediate attributes of longevity, somatic and/or reproductive energy investment, fecundity, and trophic level. Reproductive (Fec and L50) and growth parameters (Tmax and k) require further research. A priority group of 14 species with limited data was identified and requires further investigation. Overall, our results provide a conceptual framework for various management options, considering that variations in life-history strategies are fundamental determinants of population responses to environmental changes and fishing pressures.