Volume 74
Overview of Spiny Lobster Panulirus argus Puerto Rico’s Commercial Fishery Carapace Length Data 1990-2019.
Authors
Matos-Caraballo. D; L. A. Rivera-Padilla; J. León-Fernandez; W. Santiago-Soler; M. Ricaurte-Chica; A. Alvarez-De La Cruz Download PDF Open PDF in BrowserOther Information
Date: November. 2021
Pages: 232
Event: Proceedings of the Seventy-four Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
City: Virtual
Country: Virtual
Abstract
Puerto Rico’s Commercial Fishery is artisanal, multispecies and multigear. Spiny lobster Panulirus argus is one of the three species most landed in pounds in Puerto Rico since the 1980’s. This species has been caught by fish traps, lobster traps and through Scuba Diving. The Commercial Fisheries Statistics Program (CFSP) of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) has been collecting landings data since 1969 and bio-statistical data since 1985. The spiny lobster had been protected by DNER with a minimum legal size of 89mm carapace length since 1985. This paper will show the trends in lobster carapace length from commercial landings since 1990-99; 2000-2009 and 2010-2019. A total of 9,690 lobsters where carapace length measured by CFSP port samplers during 1990-99; 15,464 during 2000-2009; and 27,790 were measured during 2010-2019. The average carapace length for 1990-2009 was 95.7 mm; during 2000-2009 it was 101.5 mm; and for 2010-19 it was 103.1 mm. T test has shown extremely significant differences occurred among every data set. The paper will mention differences in the lobster fishery methods and the observations of the port sampler in this fishery for the last 30 years.