Background information and description of the pot fishing for the common octopus, Octopus cf vulgaris , off Ceará State

Abstract

The fishery for common octopus,  Octopus  cf vulgaris , with polythene-made pots as fishing gear, began in the first  quarter of 2005 at Itarema county, Ceará State, and went on in the period January to April, 2006, of which four landings  were sampled and one fishing trip had a local observer. This paper was designed to yield information as to description of  fishing operations, fishing gear and craft, position and depth of fishing grounds, as well as data on total catch and catch  per unit effort, individual hood’s length and total weight, and marketing. Fishing operations have been confined to a single  ground as yet and the fishery is thought to have a high growth potential if its economic feasibility is to be confirmed. The  low abundance indices though imply that it should not be taken as an alternative to the depleted lobster fishery, but rather  as a small-scale resource that so far has not shown a regular exploitation for the lack of adequate fishing technology.