1999 

 OUR LIVING OCEANS 



Landings 

 (X 1,000 t) 



Total landings 



Pink shrimp index 



White shrimp index 



;:^< 



' Brown shnmp index 

 1 1 1 I I I I l_ 



Index 

 ratio 



- 6 



- 5 



- 2 



81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 

 Year 



Figure 11-1 



Shrimp landings in the U.S. 

 Gulf of Mexico and species 

 ratio, 1980-97, in metric tons 

 (t). Index values are the cur- 

 rent level of reproductive- 

 age shrimp divided by the 

 overfishing level; e.g. a 

 value of 2 means that the 

 current number of reproduc- 

 tive-age shrimp is 2- above 

 the overfishing level. 



rcgulations .strive to improve the monetary value 

 ot the shrimp fishery (Nance, 1998). 



In the South Atlantic, white shrimp stocks are 

 centered off the Georgia and South Carolina 

 coasts. Brown shrimp are centered off the North 

 and South Carolina coasts. The Atlantic fishery is 

 much smaller than that of the Gulf and currently 

 is managed under a Federal fishery management 

 plan implemented in November 1993. 1 his pro- 

 vides for compatible state and Federal closures it 

 needed to protect overwintering shrimp stocks. A 

 subsequent amendment added rock shrimp to the 

 fishery management plan. 



Spiny lobsters are managed under a joint fish- 

 ery management plan, coordinated with regula- 

 tions by the State of Florida. Current regulations 

 specify' a 3-inch minimum carapace length, a 

 closed season from 1 April to 5 August, protec- 

 tion of egg-bearing females, closure of some nurs- 

 ery areas, recreational bag limits, and a controver- 

 sial 2-day sport season. 



Caribbean spiny lobsters are caught primarily 

 by fish traps, lobster traps, and divers. The Carib- 

 bean Fishery Management Councils Spiiu' Lob- 

 ster Fishery Management Plan includes the Fed- 

 eral waters of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Is- 

 lands. 1 he Federal plan is based on a 3.5-inch 

 minimum carapace length and protection of young 

 egg-bearing lobsters. 



The conch fisher)' targets the queen conch but 



also takes other species. Most conch are taken by 

 divers, and the resource can be easily depleted. 

 Conch are currently protected in state and Fed- 

 eral waters off Florida. A fishery management plan 

 is being developed for the Federal waters off Puerto 

 Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by the Carib- 

 bean Fishery Management Council. 



Corals are managed as two groups, hard and 

 soft. Because they are generally slow growing and 

 provide critical habitat for many fishes, hard cor- 

 als are protected except for very small collections 

 taken by permit for research and educational pur- 

 poses. Regulations are based on the fact that the 

 value of coral as natural habitat is far more impor- 

 tant than their commercial use. 



Soft corals include gorgonians and sea fans. 

 Some gorgonians are taken (about SO,0(K) colo- 

 nies annuall)') for the aquarium and pharmaceu- 

 tical trade. Growth potential for most species is 

 considered limited. Sea fans are completely pro- 

 tected except for research and educational use by 

 permit. 



Stone crabs are caught mainly off southern 

 Florida, though some are landed farther north 

 along Florida's west coast. The Gulf of Mexico 

 Stone Crab Fishery Management Plan, approved 

 in September 1979, generally extended Florida's 

 regulations into the U.S. Exclusive Economic 

 Zone. These regulations are based on a minimum 

 claw size of 2.75 inches, biodegradable trap pan- 

 els, protection of egg-bearing females, and closed 

 seasons. Minimum si/e regulations assure that 

 crabs have reproduced at least once before being 

 caught. 



SPECIES AND STATUS 



Shrimp Species 



Brown, white, and pink shrimp account for 

 90% of the total Gulf of Mexico shrimp catch. In 

 1997 alone, these three important species pro- 

 duced 84,967 t valued at over $437,000,000 in 

 ex-vessel revenue (Figure 11-1). They are found 

 in all U.S. Gulf waters inside 120 m depths. Most 

 of the offshore brown shrimp catch is taken at 20- 

 40 m depths, white shrimp are caught in 10 m or 

 less, and pink shrimp in 20-30 m. Brown shrimp 

 are most abund.mt off the Texas-Louisiana coast. 



1 44 



