Scientific Name (Family) 



Hepatidae 



Labridae 



Scaridae 



Ephippidae 



Chaetodontidae 



Gerridae 



Opi sthognathidae 



Chei lodipter idae 



Sparidae 



Gobiidae 



Gobiesocidae 



Cephalacanthidae 



Batrachoididae 



Dactyloscopidae 



Blennidae 



Cerdalidae 



Ophidiidae 



Brotulidae 



Bregma cerotidae 



Pleu rone ctidae 



Sole idae 



Balistidae 



Monacanthidae 



Ostraciidae 



Tetraodontidae 



Diodontidae 



Fierasferidae 



Antennaridae 



Ogcocephalidae 



■fflE CARIEBEAW AREA — PANA15A 



Common Ham e 



surge on fish 



wrasses 



parrotfishes 



spadefishes 



butterfly fishes 



mojarras 



jawfishes 



cardinal fishes 



porgies 



gobies 



cling fishes 



fljdng gurnards 



toadfishes 



star-gazers 



blennies 



cusk eels 

 brotulid eels 



Remarks 



limited use as food 



used as food 

 important food fish 



important food fish 

 II II II 



flounders 



soles 



triggerfish 



filefishes 



trunkfishes 



swelliishes 



porcupine fishes 



Portuguese man-of-war fishes 



frog fishes 



bat fishes 



used for food 



used for food 

 It 11 n 



TNhile a great many species are found in the markets of Panama, the major portion of 

 the commercial catch is of corbinas (Sciaenids), pargos or red snappers ( Lutianids ) ; sierras 

 or carites, Spanish mackerel ( Scombroids ), meros or groupers ( Serranids ). crevalles or jacks 

 (Carangids), robalos or snooks ( Centropomids ) , lizas or mullets (Kugilids), and bobos or t.hread- 

 fins ( Polynemids) . 



Around Gape Mala there are occasional sailfishes and marlins with tuna very abundant 

 during the summer months. At Parita Bay, a very productive area, corbinas and anchovies occur 

 in great numbers, and the same is true of Charae Bay. In these areas also, are large supplies 

 of mullet, robalo, jacks and other important species. The Pearl Islands region is very pro- 

 ductive. Here marlin, sailfish, jewfish and other groupers, red snappers, croakers, tuna, 

 and skipjack can be taken on a large scale. 



Around San Miguel Bay are great amounts of anchovies, corbinas, groupers, snappers, and 

 croakers. Tuna are to be taken in great quantities offshore — as much as 200 to 300 tons per 

 boat in five days. 



The Panama region offers habitat of every kind for fishes. There are extensive brackish 

 to fresh-water areas for such species as tarpon, mullet, snook, sawfish, anchovies, grunts, 

 groupers, snappers and croakers. There are extensive beach areas v/here jacks, weakfish, 

 pcoipanos, herrings, anchovies, lizard fish, harvest fish, rudderfish, and others abound. Reef 

 areas are rich in groupers, snappers, grunts, and a myriad of others, Spanish mackerel, 

 bonito, serc'eant iish, and many more types are found in much of the area. Sailfish, marlins, 

 tunas, dolphins, flying fish and other pelagic species are often found inside the Gulf of 

 Panama, Sharks have a widespread abundance. 



All evidence points to the conclusion that the Pacific coast of Panama is tremendously 

 productive and that it could sustain a greatly increased fishing effort. The Atlantic coast 



107 



