Juvenile recruitment of Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus in Turks and Caicos
Based on data series for juvenile recruitment of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, its relationship to the commercial fishery was examined. Catch predictions derived from juvenile recruitment does not exist in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), and would be a useful tool for fisheries management of the declining stock. Data were collected at South Caicos fishery landing sites which included carapace length (mm), weight (g), sex, reproductive stage, maturity, location, depth, and method of capture. Additional data were collected at ten “lobster condos”, which were located north of Man O’War Bush, in Bell Sound Nature Reserve, South Caicos. Number of juvenile lobsters present, carapace length, molting state, and gender were recorded. The current regulations in the TCI regarding the spiny lobster fishery include a minimum carapace length of 83 mm, a minimum tail mean weight of five ounces, and a closed season between April 1st and July 31st. Correlation between the numbers of juvenile’s counted and total fishery catches (lbs) per month were analyzed. Results were inconclusive due to deficiency of data. In conclusion, it is imperative that future independent data be collected on abundance of juvenile lobster and total catch per month in order to develop a catch prediction to help management strategies that will lead to sustainable population density and avoid collapse of the fisheries in the surrounding communities of South Caicos.