Table 22. Distribution and mean abundance of "oceanic-type" larval fishes collected from the southwest
coast of Puerto Rico. Modified from Ramirez-Mella and Garcia-Sais (2003).
Mean Abundance (Ind/100 m3)
Fish Family
Common Name
6
Km
10
Km
13
Km
17
Km
29
Km
46
Km MEAN
Myctophidae
1.84
1.96 11.01
8.75 13.81 15.35
8.79
Scombridae
Tunnas and Mackerel
0.34
1.22
2.05
1.34
1.45
1.52
1.32
Gonostomatidae
0.03
0.03
1.11
0.45
0.59
1.42
0.61
Nomeidae
0
0.15
0.41
1.15
1.02
0.68
0.57
Photichthyidae
0.02
0
0.85
0.36
0.34
0.46
0.34
Bregmacerotidae
0
0
1.11
0.27
0.08
0
0.24
Paralepididae
Barracudinas
0
0
0.35
0.16
0.15
0.24
0.15
Coryphaenidae
Dolphinfish
0.03
0.18
0.17
0.13
0.23
0.09
0.14
Gempylidae
0
0.11
0.06
0.04
0.19
0.21
0.10
Bramidae
0
0
0.05
0.08
0
0.12
0.04
Stomiatidae
0
0
0.03
0.09
0.06
0.06
0.04
Lampriformes
0
0
0
0
0.17
0
0.03
Tetragonuridae
0
0.01
0.06
0.03
0.02
0.02
0.02
Evermannelidae
0
0
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.06
0.02
Antennariidae
0
0
0
0.01
0.04
0.02
0.01
Astronesthidae
0
0
0
0
0.03
0.03
0.01
Melanostomidae
0
0
0
0.01
0
0.05
0.01
Istiophoridae
Marlins
0
0
0.01
0
0.04
0
0.01
Scopelarchidae
0
0
0
0
0.03
0
0.01
Idiacanthidae
0
0
0
0.02
0
0
0.003
Chauliodontidae
0
0
0.01
0
0
0
0.002
Malacosteidae
0
0
0
0
0.01
0
0.002
Lophiiformes
0
0
0
0.01
0
0
0.002
Ceratiidae
0
0
0
0.01
0
0
0.002
3. Commercial Deep-sea Fisheries Surveys
Exploratory fishing surveys of commercially valuable fishes associated with deep reefs
of the insular slope were launched during the 1970’s and 1980’s (Juhl, 1972; Nelson et
al., 1984). The initial survey, coordinated by the Fisheries Development Program of the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Juhl, 1972) examined the efficiency of several types of
fishing gear, such as fish traps, snapper reels, trolling lines and bottom gill nets for the
collection of deep water fishes. A total of 40 fish species were reported, including some
species from insular shelf habitats.
85