1999 

 OUR LIVING OCEANS 



Table 8-1 



Productivity in metric tons 

 and status of Atlantic, Gulf 

 of Mexico, and Carribean 

 reef fish fisheries. 



Total 



25,737 



24.641 



37,136 



'LTPY IS probably greatly underestimated and CPY overestimated, although potential production estimates are not available for most species groups, 

 many are probably overutilized 

 '1989-91 average 



^A total fishing profiibition tias been imposed or is being considered 

 ^Approactring full utilization level 



probabK- higher than present recent average yields 

 would indicate (Table 8-1). [~)ara are often not 

 available by species, fishery component, or area. 

 Statistics are confounded because species are not 

 further identified into market categories (i.e. grou- 

 pers, snappers, grunts). The reef fish management 

 unit includes about 100 species (excluding those 

 for the marine aquarium trade). In the Southeast 

 Region, reef fi.sh fisheries occurring in the 200- 

 miie U.S. i^one are managed by the South Atlantic 

 Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico 

 Fisheiy Management Council, and the Caribbean 



Fishery Management Council. The 3-mile terri- 

 torial waters are managed bv eight coastal states, 

 the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the ("ommonwealth 

 of Puerto Rico. 



In the Gulf of MexiLH. the Reef Fish Fishery 

 Management Plan prohibits the use of fish traps, 

 roller trawls, and powerheads on spearguns within 

 an inshore stressed area; places a 38 cm (1 5-inch) 

 total length mininium si/c limit on red snapper; 

 and imposes data reporting requirements. A 20% 

 spawning potential ratio was established as a basi,s 

 to measure overfishing. Presently, there is a 4-fish 



1 30 



