Resumen

FERNANDEZ-PARAJES, José  y  RIESCO-MUNOZ, Guillermo. Fish Community in the Masma River Basin (Spain). Management Proposals. Tecnol. cienc. agua [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.3, pp.37-52. ISSN 2007-2422.

The fish populations in the Masma River and its main affluents were described on the basis of the study of the demographic characteristics of the species (brown trout, European eel, Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, European flounder and Mugilidae) and the habitat analysis (water quality, morphometry of the river bed, vegetation and fishing effort). An electrofishing survey was carried out in 22 sampling points during three years. The expected high quality of the habitat for salmonids was shown in a slightly altered environment (intermediate stocks, 3 847 ind/ha, 127.1 kg/ha), being the abundances and productions much higher in the affluents than in the main river. Brown trout was the most abundant species (68 % of the individuals of the sample), with low presence of individuals of age 4+ and upper classes. The unbalanced age distribution is originated by the overfishing pressure in the area. The high fishing pressure on brown trout is partly attributable to the fishing minimum size, that encompasses non reproductive classes (1+). A management improvement is proposed, based on the preservation of the current state of the habitat, changes in the minimum catching length and relocation of fishing areas, to achieve and enhance natural regeneration of salmonids and to stabilize age classes in the medium term.

Palabras llave : Anguilla anguilla; Galicia; fisheries management; fisheries inventory; Mugilidae; Petromyzon marinus; Platichthys flesus; Salmo salar; Salmo trutta.