La Pesquería Artesanal del Erizo comestible "Loxechinus albus" (Molina) (Echinodermata, Echinoidea, Echinidae) en la Región de Iquique.

Abstract

Loxechinus albus is a sea urchin specie intensely exploited in the chilean coast for commercial uses. At Iquique Coastal región (Northern Chile) is used a special way to sell it, consisting in the opening of the sea urchin obtained at the capture places, taking out
gonads with wich are filled the biggest empty sea urchin tests and using it as containers.
The empty sea urchin test deposits used for the refilled (rellenos) stays at the extraction places. This permitted us the analysis of the exploited sizes in the coast between Iquique town and the fall of Loa River.