Catch per Unit of Effort of Panulirus argus in Black Mangrove and Esperanza keys, Nicaragua

Abstract

The study on the artisanal catch of Panulirus argus was conducted in Black Mangrove and Esperanza cays, December 2017 to October 2018, through data on catches in pounds provided by fishermen and, records of receipt in pounds tails and whole, obtained by those responsible for collection centers (in situ) including the Effort for purposes of analysis of Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE= , King, 1995) as an indicator of relative abundance. The study made it possible to see the degree of pressure exerted on the resource in the area. The fishery of this resource represents one of the main economic activities as a means of livelihood for fishermen and adjacent communities in the study area. The effort applied in Black Mangrove Key was: 2 speed-boats with 180 fishing trips, giving a total catch of 12,163.00 pounds, for an average CPUE of 868.79 pounds (month/boat), the registered reception was 896 Pound/tail and 10,612 Pound/live. In La Esperanza, 8 speed-boats worked with 240 tasks (traps) and, through the diving method, there were 80 fishing trips with 10 oxygen tanks per trip, obtaining 8,690.00 pounds, for an average CPUE equivalent to 318.41 pounds per boat and 30.84 pounds per trip; the average catch per pot gives a total of 1.60 pounds per pot, the registered catch was 6878.99 pounds per tail and 20,637.47 pounds per live fish. The catch effort shows an ascending behavior after the closed period, indicating a relatively low abundance (decrease of the resource) as the months go by.