Volume 67

Revisiting the Lobsters of Cayos Cochinos, Honduras After 20 Years of Protection


Authors
Matthews, T.R. and M.R. Arronne
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Date: November, 2014


Pages: 320 - 323


Event: Proceedings of the Sixty seven Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute


City: Christ Church


Country: Barbados

Abstract

In 1993, the Honduran government designated Cayos Cochinos, Honduras and the surrounding sea a Marine Biological Reserve. Some areas within the Reserve were designated as no-fishing areas for lobsters. In 1997, a study was conducted to assess the condition of the lobster (Panulirus argus) population (Tewfik et al. 1998). In 1997, SCUBA divers counted, sexed, and measured the carapace length (CL) of all lobsters on 57 transects in coral habitat each covering 300 m2. In 2013 and 2014, we repeated the study with minor changes to the survey locations, and we increased transect area to 500 m2 to reduce the probability of transects with no lobsters. The density of P. argus in 1997 was 19.9 lobsters/ha, and in 2013 and 2014 lobster density was 59.7 and 50.0 lobsters/ha, respectively. Increased abundance of lobsters in no-fishing areas was primarily due to increased abundance of lobsters below 60 mm CL; although, lobster density also increased slightly in the 60 - 80 mm and above 80 mm CL size categories. The average size of P. argus in the Reserve remained below the minimum legal size of 76.2 mm CL and the maximum size lobster observed in 1997, 142 mm deceased to 110 mm CL in our surveys. The size structure of P. argus observed in the no-fishing areas during both studies was more typical of fished than non-fished areas. The higher density of small lobsters in recent surveys suggest either less fishing pressure or better compliance with minimum size regulations; although changes in lobster recruitment or other ecological factors could produce similar lobster populations. Measurable changes in the density and size structure of lobster populations can occur in just a few years following the reduction or elimination of fishing. The increased abundance of lobsters and decreased presence of large lobsters in the Monumento Natural Marino Archipiélago Cayos Cochinos may reflect the typical dynamics for lobster populations in relatively small reserves with high fishing pressure in the surrounding waters.

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