Abstract

An area off the southwest coast of Florida, known as Pulley Ridge, is composed of a unique habitat of corals, macroalgae, and other benthic organisms, along with an impressive diversity of fish species. In 2003, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (GMFMC) voted to designate Pulley Ridge as a Habitat Area of Particular Concern (HAPC). Designation as a HAPC identifies the area as a unique habitat that deserves priority for conservation and management. Designation as a HAPC can prohibit many fishing practices and other human activities that may potentially damage the bottom habitat. As new fishing regulations may be required to protect the habitat, it is important to understand current and past fishing efforts and practices that have occurred in this area, as well as the importance of the area to fishers’ livelihoods. Fishers gain a great amount of knowledge of a particular area through their acquired experience and observation. Short interviews with commercial fishers were conducted to shed more light on the uniqueness and importance of Pulley Ridge. This paper discusses the commercial fishery inside Pulley Ridge and anecdotal information from fishers to support and enhance scientific research. Incorporating fishers’ knowledge with researchers’ findings is important in thoroughly understanding and protecting unique habitats such as Pulley Ridge.

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