Overview of cephalopod fisheries in Chilean waters

Abstract

This paper describes the history of cephalopod fisheries in Chile over the past 40 years. Continuous monitoring of three species was undertaken between 1978 and 1999: Loligo gahi, Dosidicus gigas and Octopus mimus. Total cephalopod catches increased from 69 tonnes in 1978 (0.13% total mollusc catch) to 3503 tonnes in 1996 (3.64%). A maximum haul of 15,169 tonnes was taken in 1992 (11.27% total mollusc catch). Small-scale fisheries accounted for the majority of cephalopod captures and industrial catches were rare. L. gahi is caught year-round mainly in the south of Chile, with maximum catches in summer and autumn. Catches of D. gigas are also year-round, mainly concentrated in central Chile. O. mimus has been fished since 1978, although recorded as Octopus vulgaris until the 1990s. The O. mimus fishery is located on the north coast of Chile, and catches are made for the most of the year. Octopus has been landed in the south of Chile since 1991, and is considered as O. mimus in capture statistics despite the fact that several species are represented, including Enteroctopus megalocyathus.