Abstract

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, Lachnolaimus maximus (L. maximus, hogfish) is a highly valuable species, important for domestic consumption by both local communities and visiting tourists. Fisher-dependent measurements were used to assess spatial and temporal variation in the total length of hogfish landed on the island of South Caicos between 2004 and 2017. It was determined that 48.5% of the individuals sampled were below the average length of hogfish at sexual transition, indicating potential dangerous fishing patterns in the Turks and Caicos L. maximus fishery. Oscillating patterns in median total length over time from 2005 to 2012 suggest a 3 - 4 year size cycle, but this pattern has not been observed since 2014. Two study locations, on the northeast side of the Caicos bank, indicate a significant trend of increasing size, as well as an increase in fishing activity, which suggest increased fishing pressures to those areas. Possible impacts of intense fishing of larger individuals include reduced male populations, which could alter recruitment to the reproductive stock. This study illustrates the ability of total length measurements to detect subtle spatial differences and supports the argument that data-poor fisheries stand to benefit greatly from simplified monitoring techniques; and emphasizes the importance of monitoring and management of the L. maximus in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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