. . . Southeast/Caribbean Invertebrate Fisheries 



54 



Spiny Lobster 



for these baits, about 30-50% of the poten- 

 tial yield is lost. The recreational fishery is 

 large at the beginning of the season, but its 

 total harvest level is unknown. 



Spiny lobster larvae may drift at sea for 

 nine months, and thus identification of 

 their source or parent stock is almost im- 

 possible; however we need to know far 

 more about their origins and movements 

 to improve our management of them. Cur- 

 rently, the species is managed under a joint 

 FMP, coordinated with Florida regulations 

 which specify a 3-inch minimum carapace 

 length, a closed season from 31 April to 5 

 August, protection of egg-bearing females, 

 closure of some nursery areas, recrea- 

 tional bag limits, and a controversial two- 

 day "sport" season. 



Caribbean spiny lobsters are caught pri- 

 marily by fish traps, lobster traps, and di- 

 vers. The Caribbean Council's Spiny 

 Lobster FMP includes the Federal waters of 

 Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and 

 is based on a 3.5-inch minimum carapace 

 length and protection of young egg-bear- 

 ing lobsters. 



Annual spiny lobster landings for Puerto 

 Rico have averaged 144 t over the past 23 

 years, varying from 1 08 t in 1 972 to a high 

 of 233 t in 1979, then declining to a low of 

 65 t in 1 988. No precise data are available 

 on fishing effort, but the Puerto Rican stock 

 may be overutilized. U.S. Virgin Islands 

 landings for 1980-88 were fairly stable, av- 

 eraging 19 t. 



Stone Crab 



Stone crabs are caught mainly in southern 

 Florida, though some are landed further 

 north along Florida's west coast. The Gulf 

 of Mexico Stone Crab FMP, approved in 

 September 1979, generally extended 

 Florida's regulations into the EEZ. These 

 regulations are based on a minimum claw 

 size of 2.75 inches, biodegradable trap 

 panels, protection of egg-bearing females, 

 and closed seasons. Minimum size regula- 

 tions assure that crabs have reproduced at 

 least once before being caught. 



Annual catches (claw weight) varied 

 from 1 ,200 to 1 ,400 t in the Gulf of Mexico 

 through the 1980's and recent annual val- 



ues average $12-15 million. Atlantic coast 

 landings average around 34 t, worth 

 $120,000. The number of crab traps set 

 increased from 295,000 in 1979-80 to 

 567,000 in 1984-85 but have been rela- 

 tively stable in recent years, though esti- 

 mated seasonal trap hauls (fishing effort) 

 increased from 3.6 million in 1985 to 4.8 

 million in 1987. Thus, more of the total 

 landings were harvested earlier and this 

 shortened the effective fishing season 

 length. However, it is unlikely that recent 

 maximum production Figures can be sus- 

 tained on a long-term basis. 



Conch and Coral 



Conchs (primarily the queen conch but 

 other species too) are mostly taken by 

 divers and can be easily depleted. They are 

 currently protected in state and Federal 

 waters off Florida and in the territorial wa- 

 ters of the U.S. Virgin Islands; meanwhile 

 an FMP is being developed for the Federal 

 waters off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 

 Islands. 



Corals are managed as two groups: Hard 

 and soft corals. Hard corals are currently 

 protected (except for very small collec- 

 tions taken by permit for research and 



educational purposes) because they are 

 generally slow growing and provide critical 

 habitat for many fishes. In fact, their value 

 as habitat is considered far more important 

 than their commercial value. 



Soft corals include gorgonians and sea 

 fans. Some gorgonians are taken (about 

 50,000 colonies per year) for the aquarium 

 and pharmaceutical industries. Growth po- 

 tential for most species is considered lim- 

 ited. Sea fans are completely protected 

 except via permit for research and educa- 

 tional use. 



