231
8 Fishery and Biological Implications of Fishing Spawning Aggregations…
(continued)
Tiger grouper
Mycteroperca
tigris
Epinephelidae Fish trap, spearfi shing, handline
Puerto Rico
Commercial landings from aggregation site off
Vieques Island dropped from 5 tonnes in 1995
to 2 mt in 1998 (60% decline). Sex-selective
spearing focused on males to protect eggs. Site
not protected despite declines
Matos-Caraballo et al.
( 2006 ) and Sadovy
et al. ( 1994a, b )
Red Hind
Epinephelus
guttatus
Epinephelidae Fish trap, spearfi shing, handline
US Virgin Islands Reduction in catch, skewed sex ratios (15 females:1
male), reduced size of aggregating fi sh
between the 1970s and 1990s; fi shed primarily
during aggregations; closure of the aggregation fi shery resulted in increase in size of fi sh,
shift in sex ratio (4:1) and increased size of
landed fi sh on fi shing grounds outside
protected site. Average density and biomass of
spawning fi sh increased by 60% in fi ve years,
and maximum density doubled
Beets and Friedlander
( 1999 ) , Nemeth
( 2005 ) , Chap. 12.3
Mutton snapper
Lutjanus analis
Lutjanidae
–
Belize
Commercial fi shers target aggregations in spring
months. Major declines in CPUE (59%), mean
landings per boat (22%), and median fi sh size
reported over the last decade. Widespread
population declines due to overfi shing of
aggregations reported as early as the 1940s.
There is little effective protection
Graham et al. ( 2008 ) ,
Rachel Graham
2010
Camoufl age
grouper
Epinephelus
polyphekadion
Epinephelidae Hook and line, spear Fiji
The species is intensively fi shed on a number
of spawning aggregations. According to
interviews, CPUE decreased signifi cantly at
four sites from about 300 kg in the 1990s to
100 kg in 2002-3 per trip. Some aggregation
sites are no longer fi shed because numbers
have declined substantially. The government
programme to open ice plants in more remote
areas could encourage aggregation fi shing and
legislation is in draft form to protect spawning
aggregations of groupers
YS, unpublished data,
Chap. 12.5
8 Fishery and Biological Implications of Fishing Spawning Aggregations…
(continued)
Tiger grouper
Mycteroperca
tigris
Epinephelidae Fish trap, spearfi shing, handline
Puerto Rico
Commercial landings from aggregation site off
Vieques Island dropped from 5 tonnes in 1995
to 2 mt in 1998 (60% decline). Sex-selective
spearing focused on males to protect eggs. Site
not protected despite declines
Matos-Caraballo et al.
( 2006 ) and Sadovy
et al. ( 1994a, b )
Red Hind
Epinephelus
guttatus
Epinephelidae Fish trap, spearfi shing, handline
US Virgin Islands Reduction in catch, skewed sex ratios (15 females:1
male), reduced size of aggregating fi sh
between the 1970s and 1990s; fi shed primarily
during aggregations; closure of the aggregation fi shery resulted in increase in size of fi sh,
shift in sex ratio (4:1) and increased size of
landed fi sh on fi shing grounds outside
protected site. Average density and biomass of
spawning fi sh increased by 60% in fi ve years,
and maximum density doubled
Beets and Friedlander
( 1999 ) , Nemeth
( 2005 ) , Chap. 12.3
Mutton snapper
Lutjanus analis
Lutjanidae
–
Belize
Commercial fi shers target aggregations in spring
months. Major declines in CPUE (59%), mean
landings per boat (22%), and median fi sh size
reported over the last decade. Widespread
population declines due to overfi shing of
aggregations reported as early as the 1940s.
There is little effective protection
Graham et al. ( 2008 ) ,
Rachel Graham
2010
Camoufl age
grouper
Epinephelus
polyphekadion
Epinephelidae Hook and line, spear Fiji
The species is intensively fi shed on a number
of spawning aggregations. According to
interviews, CPUE decreased signifi cantly at
four sites from about 300 kg in the 1990s to
100 kg in 2002-3 per trip. Some aggregation
sites are no longer fi shed because numbers
have declined substantially. The government
programme to open ice plants in more remote
areas could encourage aggregation fi shing and
legislation is in draft form to protect spawning
aggregations of groupers
YS, unpublished data,
Chap. 12.5