Vera-Mera, S., D., Mejía, C., Mera, M., Vélez-Soledispa, J., Briones-Mendoza, F., Galván-Magaña & S., Tamayo-Vega (2025). Age and Growth of the Shortfin Mako Shark, Isurus oxyrinchus (Rafinesque, 1810), in the Ecuadorian Pacific Ocean. Fisheries Management and Ecology. e12795. DOI: 10.1111/fme.12795.
Smith Vera-Mera 1, Diego Mejía 2, Christopher Mera 1, Michael Vélez-Soledispa 1, Jesús Briones-Mendoza 1, Felipe Galván-Magaña 2 y Steven Tamayo-Vega 1
The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a widely distributed predatory species. However, critical aspects of its biology remain poorly understood in several regions, including the Ecuadorian Pacific Ocean, where it is one of the most commonly captured shark species. Vertebral samples of 238 specimens were analyzed, including 119 females (82–228 cm TL; 0–15 years), 115 males (76.4–248 cm TL; 0–16 years), and 4 unsexed individuals (194–215 cm TL; 10–14 years). The von Bertalanffy model provided the best fit for males (L8 271.31 cm TL, L0 = 75.85 cm TL, k = 0.10 year-1), and females (L8 347.53 cm TL, L0 = 76.04 cm TL, k = 0.06 year-1). The results indicated sexual dimorphism, with females reaching a larger size and exhibiting slower growth rates compared with males. The shortfin mako shark in the Ecuadorian Pacific Ocean grew slow, and based on its life history characteristics, is vulnerable to overexploitation, thereby necessitating harvest management to sustain a fishery.
Palabras clave: Bayesian fit; Ecuador; growth parameters; life history; multi-model approach; Pacific Ocean
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