Ex Situ target strength measurements of the Peruvian moonfish Selene peruviana

Herrera N.; Cruz L.L.; Gutierrez M. · Boletin de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (2025) · DOI: 10.25268/bimc.invemar.2025.54.1.1319

Resumen

Target strength (TS) measurements are fundamental to estimate the distribution and abundance of hydrobiological resources in hydroacoustic assessments. In this study, ex situ TS measurements of the Peruvian moonfish Selene peruviana were carried out in northern Perú, off Los Órganos beach (Piura), during the fall of 2015. The main objective was to determine a log-linear relationship between the total length (cm) of the moonfish and the backscattered acoustic energy, using a Simrad EK60 echo sounder operating a 120 kHz split beam transducer. The average ex situ experimental TS value for 10.9-17.6 cm with an average length of 13.77 cm was -48.96 dB, with a 95 % confidence interval between -50.10 and -48.06 dB. The model developed for the TS-length relationship was TS120 kHz = 20 × Log10 (L, cm) – 71.74 dB. These results hold significant importance for fish ecologists and fishery resource managers and researchers. Therefore, it is paramount to perform a more thorough analysis, including a larger number of coastal fish species in this type of study.