Here we describe massive spawning aggregations and seasonal changes in large-scale distribution of Patagonian grouper Acanthistius patachonicus in the Southwest Atlantic based on three sources of information: (1) data from bottom trawl research surveys covering the distributional range of the species within the Argentine continental shelf, (2) folk ecological knowledge gathered from experienced captains of the Argentine industrial trawl fisheries, and (3) sampling of an artisanal trap fishery targeting Patagonian grouper in a specific location off the coast of Buenos Aires Province. The trawl surveys showed a general pattern of aggregation of Patagonian grouper towards the coast during the reproductive period (September-December). Captains described massive aggregations of the species at specific near-shore locations, where trawl catches of up to 15 t in a single haul were registered during the reproductive season. At a local scale, the artisanal trap fishery described operates exclusively during the reproductive period, targeting near-shore aggregations with a high proportion of individuals releasing gametes onboard. These three sources of information provide evidence of the existence of massive transient spawning aggregations of Patagonian grouper in the Argentine shelf. This is the first report of a reef fish spawning aggregation in the southern region of the Southwest Atlantic. Anecdotal information gathered in this study points to the depletion of many of the aggregations targeted during the 1980s and 1990s by the industrial fleet. At the same time, the spawning aggregation site off Buenos Aires Province has been productive for the last 34 years being exploited exclusively by traps. Patagonian grouper is classified as Data Deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which highlights the need for further research to determine its stock status. Mapping its current spawning aggregations should be a priority to inform the design of a targeted monitoring program and management plan for this species.

中文翻译：

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巴塔哥尼亚石斑鱼 Acanthistius patachonicus (Jenyns, 1840) 在西南大西洋形成大量产卵群

在这里，我们根据三个信息来源描述了巴塔哥尼亚石斑鱼 Acanthistius patachonicus 在西南大西洋大规模分布的大规模产卵聚集和季节性变化：（1）来自底拖网研究调查的数据，涵盖了阿根廷大陆内该物种的分布范围架，(2) 从经验丰富的阿根廷工业拖网渔业船长那里收集的民间生态知识，以及 (3) 在布宜诺斯艾利斯省沿海特定地点针对巴塔哥尼亚石斑鱼的手工捕捞渔业取样。拖网调查显示巴塔哥尼亚石斑鱼在繁殖期（9 月至 12 月）向海岸聚集的一般模式。船长描述了该物种在特定近岸位置的大量聚集，在繁殖季节，单次拖网捕捞量高达 15 吨。在当地范围内，所描述的手工诱捕渔业仅在繁殖期进行，目标是近岸聚集，其中大量个体在船上释放配子。这三个信息来源提供了在阿根廷大陆架中存在大量巴塔哥尼亚石斑鱼瞬时产卵聚集体的证据。这是关于西南大西洋南部地区珊瑚鱼产卵聚集的第一份报告。本研究中收集的轶事信息表明，工业车队在 1980 年代和 1990 年代针对的许多聚合已经耗尽。同时，布宜诺斯艾利斯省附近的产卵聚集地在过去 34 年中一直富有成效，仅靠陷阱捕捞。巴塔哥尼亚石斑鱼被国际自然保护联盟 (IUCN) 归类为缺乏数据，这突出表明需要进一步研究以确定其种群状况。绘制其当前的产卵聚集地图应该是优先考虑为该物种设计有针对性的监测计划和管理计划。