Catch and Effort Analysis of the Reef Fisheries of Jamaica and Belize

Due to the complexity of tropical coral-reef fisheries, they are not managed with conventional methods. A surplus production model (SPM) is developed to manage the reef fisheries of Jamaica and Belize. The fisheries of Belize have been lightly to moderately exploited, while those of Jamaica have been overexploited. Surveys were conducted of catch and effort to better quantify the model in relation to underlying assumptions. The catch and effort data were summed by area, gear type, and species group, and were standardized per km super(2) of each fishing ground. Yield from Jamaican and Belize waters was found to be 552 and 340 kg/km super(2), respectively. However, the mean fishing effort was found to be 15 times higher in Jamaica than in Belize, while the catch rate was nine times higher in Belize than in Jamaica. The composition of the fisheries was also substantially different in the two countries. Results of the SPM suggest that the Belize fishery is capable of further expansion in most areas. In Jamaica, fishing effort is 41% above the level that would maximize the catch of prime commercial species.