Abstract

The decline in landings of commercially important grouper species in Bermuda (i.e. Epinephelus guttatus, E. striatus, Mycteroperca bonaci, M. interstitialis, M. tigris and M. venenosa) from 1975 to 1981 has been well documented. This decline led to an increase in landings of smaller grouper species, most notably coney (Cephalopholis fulva) and Creole fish (Paranthias furcifer). In this study, coney landings (1975—2004) and size-frequency data (1990 - 1994 pooled data & 2001) were analyzed and mortality estimates were generated from length-converted catch curve analysis in order to gain insights into the effect of fishing on the C. fulva population around Bermuda. From 1975 to 1985, reported coney landings did not exceed 10,000 kg. However, in 1986, landings rose sharply to over 20,000 kg. While reported landings did not indicate substantial increases in catches of coney since 1986, mortality estimates suggested that fishing pressure had increased on the population since that time. Results show an almost seamless effort shift from fish pots to handlines following a 1990 fish pot ban. The total mortality rate (Z) calculated from data, pooled from sampling during 1990 - 1994 (0.13), was half that calculated from data collected in 2001 (0.26). A shift to smaller size classes from the 1990 - 1994 period to 2001 was also observed. This further suggested an increase in fishing pressure during this period. As landings statistics are only submitted by commercial fishermen, increased mortality could be the result of increased coney catches by a large, virtually unregulated recreational line-fishing sector

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