Marine ornamental trade in Puerto Rico: Rapid population assessment of primary target species

Abstract

Recent attempts to regulate the export marine ornamental fisheries in Puerto Rico encountered serious challenges rooted in information gaps concerning the nature and size of the fisheries and their impacts, as well as to communication deficiencies between resource managers and fishers. In response, regulators initiated a three-phase program to (1) characterize fisher numbers, methods and exports; (2) assess populations of exploited species; and (3) develop and propose appropriate fishery management approaches for subsequent application. This presentation summarizes the recently completed second phase of this program designed to produce population estimates of exploited species. This study evaluated wild populations of >20 fish and >20 invertebrate species targeted by the export fishery to develop minimum population estimates for comparison against annual harvest statistics. Field species counts in numerous habitat types were correlated with NOAA habitat maps to provide conservative population estimates, creating “at least as many as X” population totals useful for applying Precautionary Principal attributes to fishery management policy development. Impacts of the existing fisheries were determined to be low, but steady and dramatic increases in world demand for marine ornamentals will continue to build economic pressure for growth of these fisheries, creating urgency for development of rational management decision-making prior to the onset of uncontrolled growth.