The recreational fishery in Cabra Corral reservoir (Argentina): a first comprehensive analysis.

Address correspondence to: Claudio Baigún. IIB-INTECH, Camino de Circunvalación Laguna, Km 6, (7120) Chascomús, ARGENTINA. E-mail: [email protected] Received on March 15, 2005. Accepted on April 21, 2005. Cabra Corral reservoir is located in Salta Province and is the largest man-made lake in northern Argentina. As other reservoirs located in this area, it was stocked with pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis) with excellent results. The pejerrey is the most important and valuable recreational fish in Argentinean warmwater lakes and at present most of these reservoirs exhibit well developed populations being inhabited also by other non game fish species. Cabra Corral was considered as the most important recreational fishery in Salta Province concentrating 86% of fishing activity (Volante et al., 1997). Pejerrey fishery in this reservoir poses management challenges. Fisheries information is still sparse and previous studies focused only on pejerrey biological features (Barros and Regidor, 2002; Barros et al., 2004). There is a lack of reliable data related to number of anglers using the reservoir, annual harvest and potential yeld. Socio-economic analysis in the reservoir was initiated by Volante et al. (1997), but did not consider fishery economic value. In the last years managers have been confronted with the possibility of developing a commercial fishery, without having assessed the current status of the recreational fishery and reservoir fish production to support both activities. The aim of this study is to present a general perspective of the pejerrey recreational fishery in Cabra Corral reservoir acquiring relevant data as a first step for developing a sustainable management framework.