Abstract

Epinephelus guttatus form transient fish spawning aggregations (FSA) (Colin et al. 1987). These repeated gatherings of conspecific species occur at predictable temporal and spatial scales (Domeier 2012). Historically, FSAs have been protected and now fished (Johannes 1978). This has caused overfishing to result in their extirpation and related stock crashes, and endangered status of targeted species (Sadovy de Mitcheson et al. 2012, Cornish and Eklund 2003). In 1993, a seasonal area closure was established for an E. guttatus FSA at Lang Bank, St. Croix, USVI (Figure 1a,b). One key metric for a healthy spawning population is a bimodal size distribution between genders since they are protogynous changing sex from female to male. A study in the USVI by Nemeth et al. (2006) of two E. guttatus FSAs after ten years of seasonal protection found an increase in fish size and abundance at the Red Hind Bank, St. Thomas and a decrease at the Lang Bank FSA, St. Croix. At the site that decreased, Nemeth found a nearly identical female to male size structure, and hypothesized that it might be related to several factors including poaching, but also the placement of the closed area boundary since it was located only 600 m away from the FSA. Normal movement patterns of fish during the spawning season were thought to be crossings the boundary resulting in their increased exposure to fishing pressure. In 2005, a year-round ban was implemented on the use of all bottom tending gear types within the seasonal area closure boundaries of the Lang Bank FSA (70 FR 62079; October 28, 2005). No subsequent test has determined the effectiveness of this management measure.

PDF Preview