Direct impacts of commercial and recreational fishing on spiny lobster,Panulirus interruptus,populations at Santa Catalina Island,California, United States |
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| Authors: | Matthew Iacchei Patrick Robinson Kathy Ann Miller |
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| Institution: | 1. Wrigley Marine Science Center , Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California , 1 Big Fisherman Cove, Avalon , CA , 90704 , United States;2. Wrigley Marine Science Center , Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California , 1 Big Fisherman Cove, Avalon , CA , 90704 , United States;3. University Herbarium, University of California , Berkeley , CA , 94720 , United States E-mail: kathyannmiller@berkeley.edu |
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| Abstract: | The California spiny or red rock lobster, Panulirus interruptus, is an ecologically and economically important species that has been exploited since the 1800s. No previous study in California has assessed the impacts of the recreational or commercial lobster harvest. Before the 2003–04 commercial and recreational lobster seasons, we conducted a fishery‐independent trap survey at Santa Catalina Island to document the impact of the lobster fisheries on the size structure, abundance, and sex ratios of mature P. interruptus (>65 mm carapace length (CL)). We concurrently sampled a predominantly commercially fished area, a recreationally fished area, and a 23‐year‐old invertebrate no‐take (INT) reserve. Relative to the INT reserve, legal‐size lobsters in the recreational area were similar in CL, but 31% less abundant. Legal‐size lobsters in the commercial area were 8% smaller and 70% less abundant than those in the INT reserve. The sex ratio of legal‐size lobsters, although near 50:50 in the recreational and INT reserve areas, was male‐dominated (67:33) in the commercial area. Differences in CPUE and mean CL of sub‐legal lobsters in the recreational and commercial areas suggest that factors in addition to harvesting pressure may affect these populations. Total biomass of mature lobsters in the recreational and commercial areas was 92% and 45%, respectively, of biomass in the INT reserve. Fecundity in the recreational and commercial areas was 83% and 42%, respectively, of fecundity in the INT reserve. This study provides preliminary data for future ecological studies and fisheries management evaluations. |
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| Keywords: | Panulirus interruptus spiny lobster recreational fishery commercial fishery marine protected area marine reserve trap survey Santa Catalina Island |
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