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FAO-Carib-Agri <[log in to unmask]>
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FAO-Carib-Agri <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 5 Nov 2013 09:08:42 -0400
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From: VanAnrooy, Raymon (FAOSLC)


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Alarm over status aggregating fish species in the Caribbean

Will the Caribbean fishers soon lose all their savings accounts? Annual interests are rapidly reducing as some fishers continue to target spawning aggregations, drawing down the adult capital.

The spawning aggregations of groupers and snappers in the Caribbean, the reproductive gatherings necessary to create the next generation, are to maintain healthy stocks and fisheries of these species, but are currently being heavily fished, causing significant reductions in recruitment.

Stocks of many aggregating species and particularly groupers in the Wider Caribbean Region continue to decline. The CFMC/WECAFC/OSPESCA/CRFM[1] Working Group on Spawning Aggregations, which met in Miami (29-31 October), recorded reduced numbers of fish in many aggregations and the relatively smaller size of most remaining aggregations. Smaller aggregations of adults are producing fewer and fewer fish to replenish the region's fisheries.

With scientific methods and based on the best scientific information available the status of Nassau Grouper (along with Goliath Grouper and several other species) stocks in the Wider Caribbean Region was assessed. It was concluded that these stocks should be considered "overexploited", and some stocks can even be regarded as "depleted". The two groupers are already considered to be threatened with extinction if trends continue, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Flora and Fauna.

The actual number of fishers targeting spawning aggregations (as opposed to species that have the aggregating habit, but are fished outside of their aggregations) is low. Consequently, while management aimed to conserve spawning aggregations may reduce short-term profits for few fishers, it should ensure long-term sustainable fisheries for the great many other fishers that fish outside of aggregations.

The Working Group considers it of great importance to maintain healthy grouper and snapper fisheries in support of food security and to recognize the social and economic value of these fisheries for coastal communities in the region.

The Working Group calls therefore for a regional closed season and concerted action by the range states of these fish species and recommends WECAFC, CFMC and SPAW protocol action to stop further declines.

More information on the Working Group meeting and its outcomes can be obtained from Miguel Rolon (CFMC) at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or Raymon van Anrooy (WECAFC) at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or Yvonne Sadovy (University of Hong Kong) at [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>. For more general information on aggregations see: www.SCRFA.org<http://www.SCRFA.org>.

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[1]<https://faobbmail.fao.org/owa/?ae=Item&a=New&t=IPM.Note#_ftnref1> This is a joint Working Group of the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council (CFMC), Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC), Organization for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector of the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA), and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).



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