Volume 63
Distribution and Abundance of Fish Populations in Various Habitats in the Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) Conservation Area on the South Shelf of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Authors
Kojis, B.L. and N.J. Quinn Download PDF Open PDF in BrowserOther Information
Date: November, 2010
Pages: 297-304
Event: Proceedings of the Sixty-Third Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
City: San Juan
Country: Puerto Rico
Abstract
In 1993, the Caribbean Fishery Management Council and US Virgin Islands Government established the Mutton Snapper Seasonal Closed Area (MSSCA) south of St. Croix from 1 March to 30 June to protect a spawning aggregation of mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). Bottom tended fishing gear was subsequently banned year round in the closed area to protect coral reef habitat. The habitat within the closed area was mapped. Using benthic transects and roving diver survey techniques a total of 143 fish species and 19,843 individuals were counted within the MSSCA. Eightyseven species and 8,477 individuals in the roving surveys and 107 species and 13,552 individuals in the benthic transect surveys. Eupomacentrus partitus, Thalassoma bifasciatum, Scarus taeniopterus were among the most abundant fishes in all benthic habitats. Acanthuridae, Scaridae and Holocentridae were the most abundant marketable fish (MF) families totaling 77.3% of the MF. Family Lutjanidae was not common and comprised 1.46% of MF. Ten individuals of Lutjanus analis were observed. One lionfish (Pterois voltans) was observed on the outer reef slope in July 2010 in over 250 diver hours from April 2009 to July 2010.