Abstract

Most fisheries worldwide are exploited intensely, and nearly half of the stocks are overexploited. Over a billion people depend upon coral reef fishes worldwide, which provide US$30 billion in net benefits in good and services, from which fisheries are included. Catch records of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico account for somewhat more than 60 species, but the real number of exploited species surely exceeds one hundred. Unfortunately the great majority of stocks have not been assessed yet. An estimated Maximum Sustainable Yield of the region is 2.65 Million mt, with a biomass of 5.3 Million mt; unfortunately current yield and biomass suggest a 30% reduction. One third of these figures are for the Gulf of Mexico. The main indicators of overexploitation can be identified as mean size reduction of fish caught and gradual decrease in the catch per unit of effort, associated to high fishing pressure. Apart from fishing intensity, climate impacts and pollution on coral reefs are contributing to depletion of exploited stocks. In addition, destructive fishing practices and other activities like tourism, contribute to reduce productivity of the coral reef ecosystem. Therefore, the perspective of coral reef fisheries will be conditioned by the political, social and economic trends and attitudes

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