490 



Fishery Bulletin 90(3). 1992 



20 N SjS:^-' 



160E 





140-W 



Figure 8 



Differences between mean sea level during a non-ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) period (Nov. 1987-Sept. 

 1988) and an ENSO period (Nov. 1986-Sept. 1987) from Geosat data. Negative values denoted by shaded areas. 



01 

 "D 

 O 



E 



Ol 

 (_) 



e 



o 



o 



T3 



m 



a: 



Figure 9 



Overlay of 3-month moving average of French fVigate Shoals (FFS)-Midway sea level 

 advanced by 4 years (D) with a 3-month moving average of residuals from the fit of 

 theCPUE model (-i-). 



correspond to the SCC strength 

 and position, respectively. 



Relationship between sea 

 level and lobster abundance 



Lagged cross-correlations between 

 FFS-Midway sea level and the 

 variables (i.e., the ratio of catches 

 at Maro Reef to the combined 

 catches at Maro Reef and Necker 

 I., and the residuals from the 

 CPUE model) have their strong- 

 est correlations (r 0.82 and 0.68, 

 respectively) with sea level 

 lagged by exactly 4 years. When 

 sea level is lagged by 4 years and 

 overlayed with these time-series, 

 there is good agreement (Figs. 

 9, 10). Based on research samples 

 pooled over 1986-88, the mean 

 estimated age of lobsters caught 

 by the fishery is 3.8 years (after 

 settlement). 



