The length structure of the stocks of four species of large Pimelodidae catfishes was used to study the dynamics of their populations in the Cuiabá river basin, north Pantanal. The estimative of the growth parameters, recruitment and mortality rates for the species were obtained. Among the species studied the Barbado presented the fastest growth than the others. The Pintado, Cachara and Jaú exhibited similar growth rate. For the Barbado and the Pintado we observed two annual picks of recruitment, however the Cachara and the Jaú presented a single annual pick. The analysis of the mortality indicates that the fishing is a source of mortality more important for the Barbado than for the other species.
Fish conservation; fishery management; growth; mortality; recruitment
