UNIT 8 

 ATLANTIC, GULF OF MEXICO, AND CARIBBEAN REEF FISHERIES 



A large grouper of the Ge- 

 nus Epinephelus and a re- 

 mora. 



recreational bag limit for red snapper, and the com- 

 mercial catch is limited by an annual quota. For 

 grouper, a 3-fish recreational bag limit and 4,455 

 metric ton (t) shallow-water and 727 t deep-water 

 commercial quotas were established. Other regu- 

 lations included a ban on the harvest of jewfish, a 

 framework procedure tor establishing total allow- 

 able catches and allowing the target date for re- 

 building to be changed depending on scientific 

 information, and a revised target year of 20 U) for 

 rebuilding the red snapper stock. In 1 992, a mora- 

 torium was established to stop issuing new com- 

 mercial reef fish permits. 



In the southern U.S. Atlantic, the Snappet- 

 Grouper Fishery Management Plan emphasizes 

 minimum size limits, bag limits, and commercial 

 quotas. Seasonal closures exist, and the taking of 

 jewfish and Nassau groupet are prohibited. Vari- 

 ous gears are restricted, including a prohibition of 

 roller trawls and fish traps (except sea bass traps). 

 Certain commercial fishing methods are prohib- 

 ited in designated special management zones 

 around some artificial teefs. An individual trans- 

 ferable quota system has been established for com- 

 mercial wreckfish fishermen which is based on his- 

 toric catch. It provides fishermen with a quota that 

 can be taken any time during the season or bat- 



tered or sold to another fisherman. 



In the U.S. Caribbean, the Fishery Manage- 

 ment Plan for the Shallow Water Reef Fish Fish- 

 ery of Puerto Rico established tegulations to re- 

 build declining reef fish stocks in the exclusive eco- 

 nomic zone and reduce conflicts among fishetmen. 

 It established criteria for the construction of fish 

 traps, required owner identification and matking 

 of gear and boats; prohibited hauling or tamper- 

 ing with another person's traps without the owners 

 written consent; prohibited the use of poisons, 

 drugs, other chemicals, and explosives for the tak- 

 ing of reef fish; and established a minimum size 

 limit on the hatvest of yellowtail snapper and 

 Nassau grouper. Additional tegulatory amend- 

 ments have been designed to protect and rebuild 

 the stocks. 



SPECIES AND STATUS 



Mote than 100 reef fishes are important to 

 commercial or sport fishermen (Table 8-1 ). While 

 landings and value for individual species are not 

 large, reef fishes overall produce significant land- 

 ings and values (Figures 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3). Re- 

 cent average commercial catches for the U.S. At- 

 lantic and Gulf have been about 24,000 t with a 



1 3 1 



