Abstract

All the factors affecting a fishery resource should be analyzed to determine its status. For example in fisheries, the resource is used by a variety of fishermen all with different interests. There are people with economic interest (commercial fishermen and charter/head boats), those that do it recreationally (family trips), and those that do it as a sport (fishing tournaments). The Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has several statistics programs that collect data on the fisheries. Since 1971, the Commercial Fisheries Statistics Program (CFSP) collects and analyzes data reported by commercial fishermen. Another program is the Marine Recreational Statistics Program (MRSP) that since 1999 collects data on recreational fisheries. This program is divided on recreational fisheries and fishing tournaments.\The CFSP and the MRSP collects data the dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus). This species has a commercial value and is an important gamefish. This migratory species is reported for all over the Caribbean, where it is one of the most prized species. It is fished throughout its migration route, and therefore, the fishing pressure is high.\The economic impact of this fishery is quite high; for example the commercial fishery of dolphinfish generates an average of $207,639.56 wholesale annually. Fishing tournaments generate an average of $33,247.50 on tournament’s fees (17 tournaments with fee reported). Even though it is illegal for recreational fishers to sell their catch, most of them sell the majority of their dolphinfish catch to finance fishing expenses.\In Puerto Rico’s fishery, dolphinfish is one of the most targeted. Data collected includes landings reported and biostatistics (length and weight) for the period of 2000 - 2003. This data was used to determine the current trends and status of this fishery.\Total weight reported for all the activities showed a decreasing tendency of fish landed through the four years of this analysis. There is a difference on the size of the fish reported; for example, commercial fishermen tend to report smaller fish both males and females.\Even though the highest fishing pressure received by the dolphinfish is from commercial fishermen, still the impact the recreational anglers make is considerable. This type of analysis is fundamental for the proper management of the species.

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