Assessment and management of the Gulf corvina Cynoscion othonopterus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882) in the Upper Gulf of California

The Gulf corvina, Cynoscion othonopterus, is a scianid endemic to the Gulf of California. Its fishery is one of the most important in the region, and catches have shown an increasing trend over the past decade; therefore, permanent monitoring is essential for generating vital information to understand variations in population better. We applied an integrated analysis model of catch-at-age to assess stock status, integrating biological and fisheries information to identify reference points such as fisheries mortality (FMSY) and reproductive biomass (SSBMSY), both of which are associated with the maximum sustainable yield, thereby determining population status. A total of 47,035 Gulf corvina specimens were sampled from 2002 to 2023. There was a decrease in mean length, which went from 650 to 564 mm in total length, reflected in the absence of individuals in age groups 7, 8, and 9, and in the increase of individuals in age groups 3 and 4. Total biomass oscillated between 21,100 and 35,200 t, whereas spawning biomass fluctuated between 10,000 and 25,600 t. Fishing mortality was FMSY = 0.250 yr-1, and the annual exploitation rate was UMSY = 0.221 yr-1. The control rule was exceeded by up to 61.7% in 2023. According to the exploitation levels, F2023/FMSY = 1.309 and B2023/BMSY = 0.986, the population status of the Gulf corvina should be considered precautionary, given the increasing overfishing.