Maturity-based sexual segregation of the North Pacific spiny dogfish

What is it about?

The length structure and habitat segregation of the North Pacific spiny dogfish is not well known around Japan. The Tsugaru Strait is important fishing grounds for the dogfish and this species is targeted in a bottom longline fishery throughout the year. To elucidate the length structure and habitat segregation in the Tsugaru Strait, the present study was investigated using the bottom longline fishery data of two main landing ports (Minmaya and Ohma).

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Why is it important?

We indicated that length frequency distributions of the dogfish were different between two ports, although both fishing grounds are near each other. This difference is evidence of the length-based spatial segregation of the dogfish. In addition, we discuss the inferred sexual segregation of this species in the area. These results require continuous monitoring of the sex and length compositions of the stock; as elsewhere, the existence of such segregation of the dogfish in the Tsugaru Strait could lead to differential exploitation of the sexes, thereby impacting the population structure.