Abstract

The Port Royal red mangrove-seagrass complex in a large modified coastal bay known as Kingston harbour, Jamaica was sampled over a 13 month period over 2007 and 2008. The mangrove complex covers >100 ha and has been used for hurricane shelter for smaller vessels and for fishing for many years. Sampling at six stations with a small otter trawl yielded 42 fish and invertebrate species (66% fish). Dominant finfishes were Archosargus rhomboidalis (sea bream) 76%, Diodon holacanthus (balloonfish) 5%, and Eucinostomus gula (silver jenny) 4%. A high percentage of fishes taken were juveniles, and one elasmobranch species (Urolophus jamaicensis) was captured. Fishes from the benthic herbivore and benthic carnivore feeding guilds dominated catches. All of the six stations sampled functioned as nurseries for all of the 21 fish species identified, based on their small (juvenile) size distribution and repeated presence over the two year duration of the study. Slightly higher species diversity was found at the two stations nearest the harbor mouth. Notably, all six stations also functioned as refugia for invertebrates such as crabs, and urchins, suggesting that they are important in sustaining the stability and health of the food chains in the harbor near Port Royal at the very least, and possibly for the entire harbor. Two relatively rare indicator fish species, the lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), and the Goliath grouper, (Epinephelus itajara), were found during the study. These could be used as “poster” species for the conservation of these areas. The Port Royal mangroves with their adjacent seagrass beds should be protected from development

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