Abstract

Catch and effort, biological, and costs and earnings data for red hind were collected from commercial fishing trips and inspections of fish retail and processing facilities in Antigua and Barbuda. The objectives were to: 1) determine important biological parameters (spawning period, size at female maturity, size at sex reversal, length-weight relationships, etc.); 2) determine trends and status of the fishery; 3) assess the financial viability of the most typical fishing unit using net present value (NPV); and 4) appraise the economic impact of a recently established closed season. Mean monthly indices of the weight of the gonad as a percentage of the body weight (gonadosomatic indices, GSIs) indicated a single distinct spawning period spanning from December 1st to March 31st. In terms of status and trends, no significant negative trends were detected for mean size landed or mean catch per unit effort. Positive NPV was generated for a typical pirogue hand-liner, indicating that investment into the unit was a worthwhile venture. A stochastic model of the unit, under condition of targeting an alternative species (yellowtail snapper) during the closed season, did not generate a significantly increase in the probability of a negative return and profits were comparable to those prior to the introduction of the closed season. Based on the theory that under an open access management regime, profits tended to attract excessive effort, resulting in the depletion of resource in the long run, the newly established closed season was consider an essential tool toward ensuring the sustainability of the fishery.

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