Abstract

The reproductive characteristics of mass spawning at predictable times and places have made the Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, vulnerable to over fishing. Historically in the Cayman Islands, five Nassau grouper spawning aggregations provided an important seasonal artisanal fishery for local fishermen from which fish were harvested by the thousands. In 1986, fishermen began complaining of reduced catch and size of fish taken from the fishery. Since 1987, the fishery has been monitored. Data on age, size, catch, and catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) was collected. Fifty-two percent of fish aged were seven and eight years old, indicating full recruitment to the fishery by this age. Analyses of data show overall declines in catch, CPUE, and size. In 2001 a sixth aggregation was discovered and heavily fished. In 2002, an ‘Alternate Year Fishing’ law was passed to reduce fishing mortality. In 2003, an 8-year ban on fishing in all designated grouper spawning areas was implemented when it became apparent that further fishing could irreversibly compromise the viability of the ‘new’ aggregation. Of the six known Nassau grouper spawning aggregations sites in the Cayman Islands, three are fished out, two are in serious decline, and one, though affected by fishing, is still comparatively healthy. Additionally, two other areas were designated as potential spawning sites. The Cayman Islands case is one typical of the depletion pattern of ‘boom-and-bust’ Nassau-grouper aggregation fisheries seen throughout the region over the past three decades. Despite the current ban on this activity locally, our goal is to convince the local populace that this practice is unsustainable, and should permanently cease.

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