Abstract

Improvement of fishing tools and increase of commercial value of the white sea urchin (Tripneustes ventricosus) has induced a strong fishing pressure of this short life span species. Since 2004, the decision to open fishery of white sea urchin in Martinique is based on abundance indices established through standardized surveys carried out every year, in the whole distribution area of this species, just before the fishing season. These surveys additionned to fisheries statistics have shown a very high spatial and temporal variability in the distribution of this species. This variability comes into sight on the density of individuals as well as on size frequency distribution or the average weight of the gonads. From these results, it appeared that an improvement of abundance assessment could be obtained through additional parameters in the analyses such as potential habitat characterisation and on the main factors driving the dynamics and distribution of the species locally and at the population level. A better knowledge of factors inducing recruitment, gonad maturation process and their seasonality should be necessary to improve the management of fishing/closure periods and/or areas such as to ensure the quality of recruitment for the next years.

PDF Preview