Abstract

Catch records of the queen conch (Strombus gigas L) caught at three areas of south eastern Mexico (Alacran Reef, Cozumel and Chinchorro Bank) were examined under the context of surplus yield, analysis of yield per recruit, pseudo-cohort analysis and an age structured simulation model. The goal of the study was to assess the queen conch stock in each exploitation zone. Queen conch densities, and population parameter values were compiled from published sources in order to apply the analytical methods mentiond above. Estimations of the stock biomass, current fishing mortality (F) and F at the maximum sustainable yield (FMSY) as extreme reference point, were provided with each method; this allowed to test the F and age of first catch required for the maximum biological yield, the maximum economic yield and the maximum social benefit as optimum harvesting strategies in each area. Recommendations for the queen conch recovery and sustainable explotation are provided.

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