McKenna: Structure and dynamics of the fishery harvest in Broward County, Florida 
121 
son (6 August through 31 March). Broward County 
lobster landings were consistently negatively asso- 
ciated with yellowtail snapper ( Ocyurus chrysurus) 
and “mixed snapper.” They were positively associ- 
ated with grunts (Haemulidae) and “other groupers” 
in December. A strong positive association with Span- 
ish lobster ( Scyllarides aequinoctialis ) occurred in 
October. 
Black grouper occurred with nine other species and 
UM. It was negatively associated with lobsters and 
members of the offshore pelagics group, especially 
dolphin, king mackerel, and shark. There was a con- 
sistent positive association only with mutton snapper. 
Hogfish ( Lachnolaimus maximus) occurred with a 
dozen other species and UM. This species showed a 
strong and consistent negative association with 
sharks and sporadic positive associations with mut- 
ton snapper in summer and fall. 
Mutton snapper was significantly associated with 
the largest number of other species (25) but showed 
consistent associations with only a few. There was a 
consistent negative association with sharks and dol- 
phin throughout most of the year. Landings of mut- 
ton snapper were positively related to those of grou- 
pers and mojarra (Gerreidae) in the latter half of the 
year. This species was frequently associated with 
hogfish in summer and fall. 
Yellowtail snapper was also significantly associ- 
ated with a large number of other species (18), but 
showed few consistent associations. Positive associa- 
tions were rare but negative associations with dol- 
phin, shark, and spiny lobster were common. 
Species assemblages 
Seasonal differences suggested by changes in diver- 
sity and similarity were evident in the species as- 
semblages landed each month (Table 4). Offshore 
pelagic species dominated Broward County landings 
in 1989 (Fig. 2). Swordfish, shark, and dolphin were 
listed on at least ten trip tickets every month. Sword- 
fish dominated annual landings as well as those for 
each month; it accounted for 60% of annual landings 
(Fig. 4) and more than 50% of landings in all months 
except August, September, and October. Other off- 
shore pelagics accounted for 18% of annual landings 
(Fig. 4). Bigeye and yellowfin tunas occurred com- 
monly in nine or more months but were uncommon 
in the summer. King mackerel occurred commonly 
in all months except January through March, when 
the fishing season was closed. Spiny lobster ac- 
counted for less than 3% of the annual landings (Fig. 
4) but made a large contribution to the landings in 
the first part of the open season (August: 15% of the 
landings) and tapered off throughout the fall. Grou- 
pers and snappers accounted for more than 6% of 
the annual landings, but only black grouper, mutton 
snapper, and yellowtail snapper accounted for more 
than 1% of annual landings each (Fig. 4). Black grou- 
per, hogfish, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, and 
mixed snappers occurred commonly in every month. 
Red grouper ( Epinephalus morio) was common ev- 
ery month, except January. Gag (Mycteroperca 
microlepis ) was common only in April, and “other 
grouper” in winter and September. Unknown mis- 
Table 4 
Species contributions (as a percentage) to monthly landings in Broward County, Florida, during 1989. (See Table 1 for group 
definitions.) 
Group 
Species or complex 
Jan 
Feb 
Mar 
Apr 
May 
Jun 
Jul 
Aug 
Sep 
Oct 
Nov 
Dec 
GS 
Black grouper 
3.0 
4.3 
2.0 
1.8 
1.7 
2.0 
3.7 
3.8 
4.6 
3.4 
1.6 
1.7 
Mutton snapper 
1.4 
2.3 
0.7 
0.6 
0.9 
2.2 
3.3 
2.5 
5.1 
5.9 
5.1 
1.3 
Yellowtail snapper 
3.2 
2.0 
1.0 
0.7 
0.9 
2.2 
2.9 
4.8 
5.2 
2.3 
1.6 
0.4 
Mixed snapper 
0.7 
0.5 
0.3 
0.4 
0.4 
0.6 
2.0 
1.5 
2.1 
2.4 
1.3 
0.7 
LB 
Lobster 
2.0 
1.4 
1.9 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
16.5 
9.0 
7.8 
4.5 
4.0 
OP 
Bigeye tuna 
5.0 
8.3 
5.4 
1.9 
3.2 
2.7 
1.8 
5.8 
1.1 
6.8 
7.6 
7.7 
Dolphinfish 
1.8 
1.7 
1.6 
1.0 
1.4 
5.4 
9.7 
8.8 
4.7 
2.0 
0.5 
0.7 
King mackerel 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
9.0 
1.7 
0.4 
0.7 
2.3 
0.7 
1.8 
0.6 
1.0 
Shark 
4.3 
3.4 
5.8 
5.7 
6.6 
4.7 
2.3 
4.1 
5.2 
4.0 
1.9 
2.4 
Swordfish 
62.8 
53.5 
68.2 
67.2 
71.4 
68.2 
54.5 
25.4 
29.5 
38.6 
55.2 
65.2 
Yellowfin tuna 
2.3 
3.3 
1.8 
3.6 
3.3 
5.2 
4.4 
8.0 
5.7 
6.8 
7.3 
4.8 
UM 
Misc. food fish 
5.0 
5.0 
3.1 
2.7 
3.3 
3.7 
6.6 
5.7 
10.6 
7.7 
3.4 
3.0 
Other species 
12.3 
13.1 
13.2 
11.1 
10.4 
5.8 
8.7 
14.0 
13.6 
8.3 
12.0 
8.3 
