Resumen del producto

Red grouper, Epinephelus morio, was the most important fishery in the Gulf of Mexico after shrimp. In mid 1970s yields reached about 18,000 tones and presently are 6,000 t. Current stock size is one third respect that in 1970s. Available information indicates two Mexican fleets expanded their fishing grounds while Cuban remains relatively constant. Red grouper present an exploited reproductive aggregation during winter. Fishery regulation consists in a catch quota to Cuban fleet, a minimum legal size and recently a closure during reproductive aggregation. The goal of management is to recover the stock at 50% of the pristine biomass. Measures are not clearly effective and it has been suggested a protected area aimed to recover the stock insuring reproduction. We analyze the association of stock abundance, type of bottoms and spatial distribution of catchability. Stock was split in juveniles (ages 1-2 years), preadults (3-4 years) and adults (5 years and older). During aggregation, adults are strongly associated to hard bottoms and catchability shows two areas with higher values, one directly associated with the known area and time of reproductive aggregation. Results suggest a location for a potential protected area whose impact was grossly estimated through survival rates.

Palabras clave:

Para obtener una copia del documento contacta la personal de la biblioteca a través del correo bibliocicimar{a}ipn.mx