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- Title
Spiny lobster fisheries status across time and a mosaic of spatial management regimes.
- Authors
Tewfik, Alexander; Babcock, Elizabeth A; Phillips, Myles
- Abstract
In Belize, the commercial harvest of spiny lobsters has occurred for ∼100 years, provides critical livelihoods, and is the primary seafood export. We determined the first empirical estimate of size at maturity in Belize as well as eight fishery status indicators on several fishing grounds. The carapace lengths (CLs) at 50% maturity varied between males (98 mm) and females (86 mm) and are higher than the existing legal minimum of 76 mm. Time series analysis indicated decreasing proportions of mature individuals, decreasing size, and low spawning potential ratios (SPR) as well as high fishing mortality within fishing grounds. The pattern of decline in population status indicators across fishing grounds is consistent with a historical expansion of effort from north to south and offshore. Many indicators of population status within fishing grounds were improved with increasing area of replenishment zone and opposite to the historical expansion. However, overfishing is a problem across all areas examined. An increase in the legal minimum CL to 86 mm and examination of a maximum size limit will likely have significant positive effects on productivity and SPR, respectively, as well as protecting the pivotal role of spiny lobsters within the ecosystem.
- Subjects
BELIZE; LOBSTER fisheries; SPINY lobsters; TIME series analysis; FISH mortality; SIZE of fishes; GROUNDFISHES
- Publication
ICES Journal of Marine Science / Journal du Conseil, 2020, Vol 77, Issue 3, p1002
- ISSN
1054-3139
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/icesjms/fsaa008