ALBERT

Description: La región suroriental de Cuba es la segunda zona en aportes a los desembarques nacionales de langosta, Panulirus argus. Esta zona, al igual que el resto del país, presentó las mayores capturas a mediados de los años 80, decreciendo posteriormente hasta promediar en los últimos años menos de 1 000 t. Con el objetivo de caracterizar la dinámica de la población de langosta y del esfuerzo pesquero aplicado en esta región, se analizó información sobre captura, esfuerzo pesquero y composición por tallas de las capturas de langosta. Mediante técnicas de Análisis Secuencial de Poblaciones, se demuestra que en los últimos años ha ocurrido una disminución del número de individuos de la población de langosta, de la biomasa y del reclutamiento, en relación con la etapa de máximas capturas. Esta situación se ha presentado, a pesar del decrecimiento del esfuerzo pesquero y en correlación con la tasa de mortalidad por pesca que ha alcanzado los mínimos históricos, además de haberse aumentado el período de veda establecido.

Description: Cuba’s southeastern region is the second zone that contributes to spiny lobster national landings, Panulirus argus. Maximum catches in this zone, as well as the rest of the country, occurred in middle 1980’s and later decreased to an average of 1 000 t in recent years. Catch, effort and size composition information were used to describe the lobster population dynamics and the fishing effort applied in this area. By using Sequential Population Analysis, a decrease in number of lobsters, biomass and recruitment regarding the maximum catch period was demonstrated in the last years. Current situation has taken place in spite of the declining fishing effort, in correlation with the fishing mortality rate that has attained the minimum historic values, and to an increase in the established close season period.

Description: Published

Description: Panulirus argus, spiny lobster, Cuba

Description: Bioeconomic modeling and risk assessment of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804), fishery in the Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba. The spiny lobster Panulirus argus is the major fishery resource in Cuba, which produced an average revenue of about 70 million US$ a year during 2000-2004. There are 1,280 fishermen and 7,840 workers linked to administrative, industrial and fishery activities in lobster exploitation, which makes a total of 9,120 persons who economically depend on this resource. In the Gulf of Batabanó, where 60% of the catch is obtained, the economic rent constitutes 74% of the revenue, which represented profits about 35.2 million US$ a year as an average over the last five years. Because of its economic relevance, updating and in-depth studies on exploitation status and abundance of the resource are needed to assess management options in spiny lobster fishery. The following data was used to study bioeconomic dynamics in lobster exploitation in the Gulf of Batabanó: catch from 1963-2004, fishing effort in fishing days from 1974 to 2004, price and cost from 2002 to 2004 and biological parameters of the species such as growth, natural mortality rate, maturity and fecundity. A cohort analysis based on length composition and a sequential population analysis based on catch-at-age structure were applied to obtain yearly data by age and length, of population size, fishing mortality rate, biomass and egg production, as well as total values of revenue, cost and economic profits linked to exploitation and marketing of the species. Predictive models were performed and bioeconomic reference points were estimated to evaluate consequences of different management scenarios, with alternatives in fishing effort and minimum legal size (age), taking into account the risk due to uncertainty in recruitment and catchability. Fishing effort expressed in fishing day has significantly varied related to boat number, with fluctuations due to economic conditions and to length of close season. The fishing mortality rate, with values between 0.18 and 0.50, depends significantly on fishing effort; this rate reached its highest level before 1987 when exploitation rate was over 50%. Currently, effort and fishing mortality rate have maintained reduced levels in correspondence with the close season extension of 90 to120 days since 2002. Catch in this area was maintained around 7,000 tons in the 1980´s, to decrease at 5,000 tons after 1990 and to 4,362 between 2000 and 2004, period in which catchability has shown great variability, possibly due to an increase in frequency of hurricanes that directly affected the area in this period. Recruitment and total size of the population have decreased since 1983 and 1984, respectively, to maintain low and relatively stable values during the period between 1991 and 2004. The relationships between the number of eggs and recruitment – weak but significant – suggest the existence of density-dependent mechanisms that control abundance of recruits, possibly by the influence of environmental conditions in coastal nursery areas, through food and/or habitat availability. If recruitment continues at the observed level during 1991-2004, catch volumes similar to previous years like the 1980´s should not be expected. An option to increase revenues, catch and rent in a sustainable way, according to the current state of the resource, would be to gradually increase the minimum legal size and fishing effort up to 81 mm carapace length (CL) and 22,110 fishing days, respectively, with little risk of exceeding the limit reference point of 25% spawning potential rate. Anyway, it is necessary to increase the minimum legal size to at least of 74 mm CL. Due to recruitment and catchability variability, catch of around 4,444 and 5,615 tons and rent between 32.4 and 43.7 million US$ should be expected. The permitted effort in a year needs to be determined with care so as to optimize the benefits from the P. argus fishery in a sustainable way, taking into account the status of the resource, the objectives for the fishery and the needs of the interest groups. An economic tool as developed in the present study, is essential in fisheries management and maximizing the rent over an indefinite time horizon must be made the primary goal where economic efficiency is the over-riding policy objective.

Description: CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES BIOLOGICAS DEL NOROESTE, S.C. Ministerio de la Industria Pesquera, Cuba

Description: Panulirus argus, spiny lobster, bioeconomics, reference points,Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba

Description: En el golfo de Batabanó se obtiene el 79 % de la captura de langosta en Cuba, razón por la que este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el estado del recurso en la región, teniendo en cuenta la influencia de factores climáticos y antrópicos. Se empleó un modelo de evaluación basado en la estructura de edades, incluyendo la capacidad de almacenamiento de agua de los embalses y el Índice de Disipación de Energía de los ciclones en el ajuste de la relación stock-reclutamiento. El reclutamiento desciende desde 44,4 millones de langostas en 1983 a 33,0 millones en 1990 alcanzando valores actuales de 23,1 millones. A pesar de la disminución de la mortalidad por pesca a valores de F80%CMS, la biomasa y la captura se encuentran desde 2005 por debajo de los niveles esperados para un escenario ambiental desfavorable. Los efectos del represamiento de los ríos, agravado por la sinergia con el incremento de la actividad ciclónica, dificultan la recuperación del recurso. De mantenerse el nivel de reclutamiento actual, se espera una disminución de la producción por debajo de 2 750 t. En la etapa actual, 80%CMS para el escenario desfavorable es adecuado como PR precautorio para una captura total permisible.

Description: In the Gulf of Batabanó, 79 % of the lobster catch in Cuba is obtained, which is why this work aimed to evaluate the state of the resource in the region, taking into account the influence of climatic and anthropic factors. An assessment model based on the age structure was used, including the water storage capacity of the reservoirs and the Energy Dissipation Index of the cyclones in the adjustment of the stock-recruitment relationship. Recruitment decreased from 44,4 million lobsters in 1983 to 33,0 million in 1990, reaching current values of 23,1 million. Despite the decrease in fishing mortality at values of F80%CMS, since 2005 biomass and catch have been below the levels expected for an unfavorable environmental scenario. The effects of the damming of rivers, aggravated by the synergy with the increase in cyclonic activity, make it difficult to recover the resource. If the current level of recruitment is maintained, a decrease in production below 2 750 t is expected. At the current stage, 80%MSY for the unfavorable scenario is adequate as a precautionary RP for a total allowable catch.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: La talla mínima legal de captura (TMLC) en la pesquería de langosta en Cuba es de 76 mm de largo del cefalotórax (LC) y data de 2007. Mediante métodos basados en la estructura de tallas de las capturas, se evaluó que con una TMLC de 82 mm LC en todas las regiones de pesca, se esperan incrementos a nivel nacional alrededor de 3, 9 y 11 % de captura, biomasa y potencial reproductor respectivamente, en relación con los valores promedio de estas variables durante el período 2017- 2021. La disminución inmediata de la captura por aumentar la TMLC en 6 mm (de 76-82 mm LC), se debe recuperar dentro de la misma temporada de pesca, ya que el crecimiento por muda es de más de 6 mm LC y esta se produce con una frecuencia entre 3 y 4 veces durante el año. Se recomienda Incrementar la talla mínima legal de captura en la pesquería de langosta en Cuba a 82 mm LC, la cual estará más acorde con la talla de primera madurez sexual, estimada alrededor de 95 mm LC para hembras en la región suroccidental.

Description: The minimum legal size of capture (MLSC) in the fishery for lobster in Cuba is 76 mm of cephalothorax length (CL) and dates from 2007. Using length-based models, it was evaluated that a MLSC of 82 mm CL in all fishing regions, will increase around 3, 9 and 11 % in catch, biomass and reproductive potential respectively, in relation to the average values of these variables during the 2017-2021 period. The immediate decrease in the catch due to increasing the MLSC by 6 mm (from 76 to 82 mm CL), must be recovered within the same fishing season, since the growth increment by molting is more than 6 mm CL and the molt frequency is between 3 and 4 times during the year. It is recommended to increase the minimum legal size of capture in the lobster fishery in Cuba to 82 mm CL, which will be more in line with the size at first maturity, estimated around 95 mm CL for females in the southwestern region.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed

Description: La pesca del camarón rosado (Farfantepenaeus notialis) en los golfos de Ana María y Guacanayabo, región suroriental de Cuba, se encuentra muy deprimida a un nivel de 540 t, en comparación con las 5 443 t que como promedio se obtuvieron entre 1974-1978. El descenso de las capturas no puede ser explicado solamente por el efecto de la pesca, ya que la abundancia de las especies de camarón depende de los aportes de agua dulce y nutrientes provenientes de los ríos y las precipitaciones. Se realizó una evaluación del recurso teniendo en cuenta la capacidad de almacenamiento de agua en los embalses, como una medida del represamiento de los ríos que tributan hacia ambos golfos. Se utilizó un modelo de producción con los efectos del esfuerzo pesquero y del represamiento sobre el índice de abundancia de la especie. La disminución de la abundancia hasta 1982 en Ana María y hasta 1978 en Guacanayabo puede ser explicada por la acción de la pesca principalmente, pero de ahí en adelante, el efecto del represamiento ha sido trascendental para el decrecimiento de la abundancia, a pesar de la reducción del esfuerzo pesquero y del perfeccionamiento del sistema de ordenación de la pesquería. No son de esperar incrementos significativos de la captura, las cuales variarán en dependencia del esfuerzo y de las precipitaciones, que pueden favorecer de momento la disponibilidad y el reclutamiento en áreas de pesca, aunque las lluvias intensas también pudieran incrementar la mortalidad natural. Los valores probables de las capturas estarán entre 230-630 t para toda la región suroriental durante el período 2022-2026.

Description: The pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus notialis) fishery in the gulfs of Ana María and Guacanayabo, southeastern region of Cuba, is currently very depressed at a level of 540 t, compared to the 5 443 t that were obtained as an annual average between 1974 and 1978. The notable decrease in catches cannot be explained solely by the effect of fishing, since the abundance of shrimp species depends on the contributions of fresh water and nutrients from rivers and precipitation. An evaluation of the shrimp resource was carried out considering the water storage capacity in the built reservoirs, as a measure of the damming of the rivers that flow into both gulfs. A surplus production model was used with the effects both of the fishing effort and the damming on the abundance index of the species. The decrease in abundance up to 1982 in Ana María and up to 1978 in Guacanayabo can be explained mainly by the action of fishing, but from then on, the cumulative and permanent effect of the damming has been transcendental for the irreversible decrease in abundance, despite the reduction in fishing effort and the improvement of the fishery management system. No significant increases in catch are expected in the short term. Future catches will depend on the effort and the influence of rainfall, which might favor the availability and recruitment of the species in fishing areas. The probable values of the catches could be between 230 and 630 t for the entire southeastern region during 2022-2026 period.

Description: Published

Description: Refereed