Population structure, size at first sexual maturity, and feeding ecology of Conodon nobilis (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Haemulidae) from the coasts of Pernambuco, north-eastern Brazil

Background. Although the information on fish ecology and population dynamic are fundamental for fisheries assessment and the development of sustainable management practices, there is still a gap for bycatch species, mainly in tropical coastal areas. The aim of the presently reported study was to describe the feeding habitats, mean length of maturation, and the population structure of Conodon nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) caught as bycatch of the shrimp trawl fisheries in the south of Pernambuco, north-eastern Brazil. Materials and methods. Specimens of C. nobilis were collected monthly from August 2011 through July 2012, using an artisanal shrimp outrigger trawler from the local fleet. The population structure was analysed by sex, length, and seasons. Stomachs and gonads were removed and examined to define the length at first maturity (L50) and the feeding habits of C. nobilis in north-eastern Brazil. Results. A total of 272 specimens were caught. The sex ratio was similar among females and males in the area. The mean size at first maturity (L50) was estimated as 14.3 ± 0.65 cm. The diet of the species was mainly based on crustaceans (Penaeidae) and fish, however, it was not observed differences in the diet between juvenile and adults, and climate seasons. Conclusion. Conodon nobilis was classified as a zoobenthivore species, and showed a higher proportion of individuals caught above the L50. The information here provided, combined with other studies in the region, may contribute to the development of improved management strategies to species conservation and exploited marine habitats in northeast Brazil, which is still mostly unknown.