Seasonal closures of spawning aggregation sites does not guarantee population recovery:

1. Seasonal closures of spawning aggregation sites does not guarantee population recovery: Anthony R. Marshak1 and Richard S. Appeldoorn2 1University of South Alabama/Dauphin Island Sea Lab 2University of Puerto Rico – Recinto de Mayagüez An assessment of red hind MPAs in Puerto Rico

2. Red RedHind (Epinephelusguttatus) • One of Puerto Rico’s most important commercial and recreational fishes • Fished up to ~80 m primarily by: • Hook-and-line • Fish trap • Spearfishing with SCUBA • Like many groupers, red hind are characterized by: • Long lifespans (>15 years) • Slow growth • Protogynous sexual strategy (Female  Male) • Short-term annual spawning aggregations

3. Puerto Rico Red Hind Landings • Recent grouper landings within PR have been much lower than in previous years. • More recently, red hind has become the most frequently captured grouper species in Puerto Rico (Matos-Caraballoet al. 2006). • Historically, a major component of landings from Puerto Rico W insular platform spawning aggregations. Total landings of groupers reported in Puerto Rico during 1971-1995 (Matos-Caraballo, 1997). Total landings of red hind reported in Puerto Rico during 1988-2005 (PR Dept. Natural Resources).

4. Spawning Aggregations (SPAGs) • Spawning aggregation: • “A group of conspecific fish gathered for the purpose of spawning, with fish densities or numbers significantly higher than those found in the area of aggregation during the non-reproductive periods.” (Domeier and Colin, 1997) • Red hind short-term annual SPAGs: • Found along the edge of insular platforms in deeper waters • Migrations • Reproductive benefits of SPAGs overshadowed by historical targeting, due to their predictability in space and time

5. Spawning Aggregations - Protection “Average density and biomass of spawning red hind increased by over 60% following permanent closure, whereas maximum spawning density more than doubled.” Looks Promising! Previous studies have shown the population benefits of closing red hind spawning aggregation sites to fishing in the U.S. Virgin Islands “By 1988, the average length of red hind had greatly decreased to 295 mm, and the sex ratio was extremely skewed to 15 females per male, suggesting a heavily fished stock. In 1990, a spawning aggregation closure was implemented.” “The Red Hind Bank Marine Conservation District was closed permanently in 1999.” “…the maximum total length of male red hind increased by nearly 7 cm [five years] following permanent closure.” “By 1997, average size of red hind had increased to 395 mm and sex ratio had shifted to 4 females per male.” *From Nemeth, 2005

6. Spawning Aggregations – Puerto Rico • Three spawning aggregation sites have been identified within the EEZ off the west coast of Puerto Rico: • Tourmaline (seasonally closed as of 1993) • Abrir La Sierra(seasonally closed as of 1996) • Bajo de Cico(seasonally closed as of 1996) • Annual closures during red hind spawning from Dec 1 – Feb 28. • Biomass buildup/ speculated spawning activity in open period • No full comprehensive study yet to assess the effectiveness of the enacted closures • Set out to evaluate responses in the stock prior to and following enactment West coast of Puerto Rico and insular platform up to 100 m

7. Datasets • Fishery-independent data • SEAMAP-C database (1988/89–2005/06 project years) • Samples the west coast of Puerto Rico to collect standardized information on reef fishes • Hook-and-line and trap sampling at daily 2x2 nautical mile stations • Fishery-dependent data Cabo Rojo- Mayaguez Municipalities • DNER-FRL Red Hind Commercial Landings Data (1988-2005) • DNER-FRL Port-Sampled Red Hind Biostatistical Length Data (1988-2005)

8. Fishery-Independent Data Mayagüez • Quantified: • Catch per Unit of Effort (CPUE) • Total kg red hind per day fished • Length-frequency distributions • Sex trends • Measured per project year and spawning period (Dec-Mar) • Coast-wide • Independently within Abrir La Sierra, Bajo de Cico, and Tourmaline Cabo Rojo

9. Red Hind Average Catch Per Unit Effort - Coast-Wide Kruskal-Wallis test (p<<0.001) Nemenyi pair-wise comparisons • 1997/98 – Initial increase in project year and spawning period CPUE • Declines in later years, especially spawning period CPUE • Project year CPUE > spawning period CPUE

10. Red Hind Average CPUE - Seasonally Protected Sites

11. Red Hind Average CPUE - Seasonally Protected Sites

12. Red Hind Average Length - Coast-Wide Kruskal-Wallis test (p<<0.001) Nemenyi pair-wise comparisons • Significant declines in average length prior to the enactment of closures • Marginal increases initially following enactment • Significant increases in later years

13. Red Hind Length Frequencies - Coast-Wide • 1988/89 – Already signs of overfishing, but more recruits, larger females • 1994/95 – Smaller females and males; few remaining cohorts

14. Red Hind Length Frequencies - Coast-Wide • 1997/98 – Fewer recruits, but increases in age 5-7 individuals • 2005/06 – Mostly few remaining larger females; recruitment limitation?

15. Fishery-dependent landings data Cabo Rojo-Mayaguez Kruskal-Wallis test (p<<0.001) Nemenyi pair-wise comparisons • Decreased nominal CPUE prior to enactment of closures • Little increase in CPUE following enactment, but trend maintained • Small increase in CPUE in later years

16. Fishery-dependent biostatistical length data CaboRojo-Mayaguez Kruskal-Wallis test (p<<0.001) Nemenyi pair-wise comparisons • Increases in average length over time • Similar length-frequency patterns, with limited incoming recruits

17. Conclusions • The results suggest that the closures initially limited further rapid decline of the Puerto Rico red hind stock. • However, the stock continues to remain in poor form • Continued fishing in protected areas, increased fishing pressure within previously under-targeted platform regions, and poor enforcement of regulations have inhibited the long term effectiveness of the closures.

18. Within the USVI, the Red Hind Bank Marine Conservation District is no further offshore than the three protected areas and alternative aggregations in Puerto Rico, but: • Lesser available habitat for red hind outside the MCD • Increased monitoring of aggregations • Rougher conditions than along leeward PR=less fishing intensity • Therefore, a more substantial proportion of the USVI population has remained protected from fishing, as compared to that observed in Puerto Rico.

19. Conclusions • The findings suggest that the recovery of red hind in Puerto Rico may be possible, but stock rebuilding will require: • Longer time frames • Additional restrictions on fishing pressure • 2004 state waters ban on red hind fishing during spawning season • 2007 island-wide spawning season prohibition within all state and western federal waters • Stricter enforcement of regulations • Continued monitoring, more complete protection of the stock, and increased public cooperation will hopefully work towards saving and restoring red hind in Puerto Rico

20. Acknowledgements • Puerto Rico Dept. Natural and Environmental Resources Fisheries Research Laboratory Staff • Ms. Aida Rosario (Director and SEAMAP-C Committee Chairperson) • Ms. Nilda Jimenez (SEAMAP-C Data Manager) • Mr. Daniel Matos (Fishery-Dependent Data) • Department of Marine Sciences, UPRM • Dr. Francisco Pagán • Michael Nemeth • Michelle Schärer • Insight from Dr. Edgardo Ojeda (PR Seagrant) and Dr. David Mann (U South Florida) during their concurrent red hind aggregation studies