Resumen:
Distribution and abundance of eggs, larvae and prerecruit stages of Merluccius hubbsi were evaluated to examine spawning, nursery and settlement areas in the Argentine-Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone during the 1999-2001 period. Larvae and prerecruit stages were more abundant at stations from 50 m to 100 m depth. The nursery area would extend from the 50 m isobath south of 37° S to the 200 m isobath northward where the shelf becomes narrower. In the whole sampling area small size prerecruits were caught; therefore, the whole zone should be considered as a potential settlement area.
