Spearfishing is commonly practiced to harvest finfish in coastal marine waters across the globe. As such, spearfishing can be a significant contributor to the harvest of economically and ecologically relevant species. In the Caribbean, spearfishing holds a significant sociocultural value as a method of fishing, yet our understanding of this gear's fishery remains poorly understood across the region. In a recently published study, I was part of a team investigating the characteristics of the spear fishery in Puerto Rico.
To describe the spear fishery in Puerto Rico, we used the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS). MRIP is a state-regional-federal partnership that collects recreational fishing data and produces estimates of total recreational catch (see more details in https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/marine-recreational-information-program). We compiled surveys from 2000 to 2015 in which spear was identified as the gear of the trip.
Spear fisher with a Red Hind. Photo credit: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g264369-d23738276-Reviews-Spearfishing_Rincon_Puerto_Rico-Rincon_Puerto_Rico.html
Some interesting observations from the survey results:
We identified 89 species in the survey results, which include multiple elasmobranchs
The majority of the catch was composed of economically relevant reef fishes, such as snappers and groupers
Multiple deepwater fishes were identified in the survey results, suggesting that multiple gears are used on fishing trips
High observations of Parrotfishes
Low observations of Lionfish (survey probably missed the fishing modes that harvest them)
Multiple species reported outside of their range (probably misidentification)
Multiple reef fish species harvested during their spawning season closure
Multiple reports of Nassau Grouper after the moratorium was implemented
We hope that this work leads to further consideration and investigation of the impacts of spearfishing on local fish communities. In the manuscript, we provide recommendations to improve recreational fisheries data collection across the Caribbean, which has been evidently challenging in a U.S. Carribean Island. For instance, implementing a recreational fishing license would assist in providing a registry of participants. Using an electronic reporting system would help increase the amount of data collected, data quality, turnover time, and potentially increase angler satisfaction by including them in the data collection process. Improvements in recreational fisheries data collection will provide robust estimates of the sector's catch and effort, which are necessary for conducting stock assessments to sustainably manage these important resources.
I would like to conclude by thanking my coauthors for providing me with the opportunity to collaborate on this important work. As a Puerto Rican, it's been a personal goal to conduct research in PR, and I hope I get to continue working across the Caribbean to better understand fishery dynamics and sustainably manage the marine resources that are so important to the region.
To see the publication: https://doi.org/10.1002/nafm.10987
The full article pdf can be accessed on my ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Manuel-Coffill-Rivera
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