UNIT 8 



INTRODUCTION 



ATLANTIC/GULF OF MEXICO/ 

 CARIBBEAN REEF FISH FISHERIES 



43 



The term "reef fishes" includes species that 

 prefer coral reefs, artificial structures or 

 other hard bottom areas, and tilefishes that 

 prefer sandy bottom areas. They range 

 from the coast to about 150 m depth, 

 depending on the species and area. 



Ecologically, reef fish fisheries are inte- 

 grated with such other fisheries as spiny 



lobster, conch, stone crab, corals, "live" 

 rock, and ornamental aquarium fishes. 

 Nonconsumptive uses of reef resources 

 (i.e., ecotourism, sport diving, education, 

 and scientific research) are also economi- 

 cally important and can conflict with com- 

 mercial or recreational fisheries. 



SPECIES AND STATUS 



Reef fish fisheries vary greatly by location 

 and species; they are extremely complex 

 and have many users: Commercial, artisa- 

 nal, recreational, and scientific. Anglers 

 specialize in fishing for food, sport, and 

 trophies, and operate from charterboats, 

 headboats, private boats, and shore, using 

 fish traps, hook and line, longlines, bandit 

 rigs, spears, trammel nets, and barrier 

 nets. 



Reef fish have been caught for centuries, 

 but good statistical data for most areas 

 began in the late 1970's when recreational 

 fishery surveys were started. Fishery data 

 collection remains difficult owing to diverse 

 user groups, broad geographical areas, 

 and the many ports where fish are landed. 

 Fishing pressure has increased with grow- 

 ing human populations, greater demands 

 for fishery products, and technological im- 

 provements, such as longlines, wire fish 

 traps, electronic fish finders, and naviga- 

 tional aids. 



Reef fisheries vary widely by area. In 

 most cases, the current and long-term po- 

 tential yields are unknown, though for 

 many species they are probably higher 

 than present average yields would indicate 

 (Table 8-1). For example, the recent 

 Puerto Rican 3-year average landings for 

 most species were only a small fraction of 

 the highest reported annual landings. In 

 many cases, data are not available by spe- 

 cies, fishery component, or area. Statistics 

 are confounded because species are easily 

 misidentified owing to similar appear- 

 ances. 



More than 100 reef fishes are important 

 to commercial or sport fishermen (Table 

 8-1). While landings and value for individ- 

 ual species are not large, reef fishes overall 

 produce significant landings and values 

 (Fig. 8-1, 8-2). Recent average commer- 

 cial catches for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf 

 have been about 9,000 t with a dockside 

 value of $48 million. Sport fishermen make 



Figure 8-1.— Recreational and 

 commercial reef fish landings 

 from the Gulf of Mexico and the 

 index of abundance of young 

 red snappers, 1979-90. 



18 



15 



- 12 

 o 

 o 

 o 



c 



5 6 



Recreational landinga 

 Commercial landinga 

 Red snapper Index 



01 — 

 1975 



0.8 



0.6 



04 



0.2 



c 



3 



n 



1980 



1985 



1990 



