Abstract

A total of 13,936,420 pounds (6,322 metric tons) of fish and shellfish were reported in Puerto Rico during 1994-97. The mentioned landings have a market value of approximately $27,407,302. The most important fish group, in terms of percentage of total pounds landed (fish and shellfish), for 1994-97, was the silk snapper (mainly Lutjanus vivanus and Etelis oculatus) 9%, yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) 7%, lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) 7%, mackerel species (Scomberomorus cavalla and Scomberomorus regalis) 5%, various species of grunts mainly the white grunt (Haemulon plumieri) 5%, dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) 4%, various species of tuna 4%, various species of grouper, principally red hinds (Epinephelus guttatus), reported 4%, various species of parrotfish 3%, and various species of trunkfish 2%. The most important of the shellfish species were the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) 7% of total reported landings, and the queen conch (Strombus gigas) 6%.\The gear type which accounted for the highest percentage of landings by weight of the total catch during 1994-97, were lines (hand line, trollline, long line and rod and line) with 40%. Lines were followed by traps (fish pot and lobster pot) with 24%, nets (beach seine trammel net, gill net and cast net) with 21 % and diving (ski n and SCUBA) with 14%. Other gears were < 1% of the totallandings reported.\Highlights of the biostatistical data for most caught species in Puerto Rico' s fishery will be discussed.

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