The growth and mortality parameters estimated from length structure were used to evaluate the state of explotation of the stocks of four large catfish species from Cuiabá River basin, north Pantanal. The species studied were the Flatwhiskered catfish, the Jaú, the Barred sorubim, and the Spotted sorubim. The assessment were conducted with the yield per recruit model, and the Biological Reference Points Fmax, F0.1, F = M, and F BDR. The analysis indicates that the stocks of the Spotted sorubim, and of the Jaú are not overexploited. However, the stocks of the Barred sorubim, and, in lower degree, of the Flatwhiskered catfish of the Cuiabá River basin are in imminent threat of overfishing.
Beverton & Holt model; fisheries management; overfishing; yield per recruit
