these large fish populations are likely to exist along the insular slope at depths between
200 – 500 m.
There are two prominent ridge systems submerged along the west and southeast coasts
(Figure 3). The most extensive is the great southern Puerto Rico fault zone (Glover,
967; Garrison and Buell, 1971), a submerged section of the Antillean ridge that extends
across the entire Mona Passage, connecting Puerto Rico with La Hispaniola. The ridge
ses from a mean depth of 6,000 meters and includes the islands of Mona, Monito and
Desecheo, as well as submerged seamounts that reach depths of less than 100 meters,
uch as Bajo de Sico, Bajo Esponjas and Bajo Pichincho in Puerto Rico, and Bajo
ngaño within the Dominican Republic waters (Figure 5). The entire ridge was
intensively fished for deep water snappers and groupers since the early 1970’s by
commercial fishermen from the west coast of Puerto Rico. “El Pichincho” is one of the
most productive Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) fishing grounds of the world. A less
extensive submerged ridge is found associated with the insular shelf off Aguadilla known
as “Los Rabos”. This area is well known for its pelagic fisheries, particularly Yellowfin
Tuna (Thunnus albaceres), but deep sea snappers are also exploited on a regular basis
by local artisanal fishermen.
On the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, the submerged seamounts, Bajo Investigador,
Bajo Grappler and Bajo Whitting are the most prominent deep reef systems (Figure 6).
These are seamount pinnacles of a submerged ridge that extends east, connecting the
shelf platform of Puerto Rico with the Island of St. Croix, USVI. The ridge is separated
from the mainland by oceanic depths of more than 1,000 meters. Bajo Grappler is the
largest and taller of the seamounts, with its pinnacle reaching less than 60 meters from
the surface. As with the west coast deep reef systems, the submerged seamounts of
the south coast were sites of an intensive fishing effort for deep water snappers and
groupers during the last three decades. At present, fishing effort has declined markedly
with the reduction of its demersal fisheries yield. Large pelagic species, particularly
Wahoo (Acanthocibium solanderi) are still targeted around the south coast seamounts.
The north coast does not show any prominent submerged structures that could be
regarded as deep reef systems (Figure 5), but a series of small patch reefs are known to
occur along the upper insular slope at depths of 30 – 40 meters off San Juan (García et
al., 2001). These deep patch reefs appear to be eolianite (cemented sand dunes)
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200 – 500 m.
There are two prominent ridge systems submerged along the west and southeast coasts
(Figure 3). The most extensive is the great southern Puerto Rico fault zone (Glover,
967; Garrison and Buell, 1971), a submerged section of the Antillean ridge that extends
across the entire Mona Passage, connecting Puerto Rico with La Hispaniola. The ridge
ses from a mean depth of 6,000 meters and includes the islands of Mona, Monito and
Desecheo, as well as submerged seamounts that reach depths of less than 100 meters,
uch as Bajo de Sico, Bajo Esponjas and Bajo Pichincho in Puerto Rico, and Bajo
ngaño within the Dominican Republic waters (Figure 5). The entire ridge was
intensively fished for deep water snappers and groupers since the early 1970’s by
commercial fishermen from the west coast of Puerto Rico. “El Pichincho” is one of the
most productive Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) fishing grounds of the world. A less
extensive submerged ridge is found associated with the insular shelf off Aguadilla known
as “Los Rabos”. This area is well known for its pelagic fisheries, particularly Yellowfin
Tuna (Thunnus albaceres), but deep sea snappers are also exploited on a regular basis
by local artisanal fishermen.
On the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, the submerged seamounts, Bajo Investigador,
Bajo Grappler and Bajo Whitting are the most prominent deep reef systems (Figure 6).
These are seamount pinnacles of a submerged ridge that extends east, connecting the
shelf platform of Puerto Rico with the Island of St. Croix, USVI. The ridge is separated
from the mainland by oceanic depths of more than 1,000 meters. Bajo Grappler is the
largest and taller of the seamounts, with its pinnacle reaching less than 60 meters from
the surface. As with the west coast deep reef systems, the submerged seamounts of
the south coast were sites of an intensive fishing effort for deep water snappers and
groupers during the last three decades. At present, fishing effort has declined markedly
with the reduction of its demersal fisheries yield. Large pelagic species, particularly
Wahoo (Acanthocibium solanderi) are still targeted around the south coast seamounts.
The north coast does not show any prominent submerged structures that could be
regarded as deep reef systems (Figure 5), but a series of small patch reefs are known to
occur along the upper insular slope at depths of 30 – 40 meters off San Juan (García et
al., 2001). These deep patch reefs appear to be eolianite (cemented sand dunes)
1
ri
s
E
39