TY - JOUR
T1 - A predator-prey model for evaluating the spatial behaviour of fishing fleets
T2 - A case study of the red grouper Epinephelus morio fishery of Yucatan, Mexico
AU - López-Rocha, Jorge A.
AU - Solana-Sansores, Rafael
AU - Arreguín-Sánchez, Francisco
AU - de Anda-Montañez, Juan Antonio
PY - 2014/7
Y1 - 2014/7
N2 - A predator-prey model was applied to the red grouper Epinephelus morio fishery from Yucatan, Mexico, with the aim of understanding the spatial behaviour of a mid-sized fishing fleet. The heterogeneity of the environment was considered, and different habitat quality levels were determined to address environmental differences. The behaviour of the fleet was also evaluated based on a simulation of restricted fishing areas (RFA). The model was applied utilising 5 years of information on catch and fishing effort (1973-1977). Four levels of habitat quality were defined (low, medium, high and exceptional). The total costs and revenue for a fishing expedition in the areas of exceptional habitat quality were higher due to their location farthest from the base port. The fleet was most efficient during the winter at locations in the eastern continental shelf, with the number of these areas clearly decreasing in the autumn. The model simulation of the RFA showed a total revenue reduction of 7-27% in scenarios of RFA for adult protection. When the RFA was implemented for the protection of juvenile fish, the total revenue was not reduced, indicating that this type of RFA might be a feasible management strategy for a sustainable fishery.
AB - A predator-prey model was applied to the red grouper Epinephelus morio fishery from Yucatan, Mexico, with the aim of understanding the spatial behaviour of a mid-sized fishing fleet. The heterogeneity of the environment was considered, and different habitat quality levels were determined to address environmental differences. The behaviour of the fleet was also evaluated based on a simulation of restricted fishing areas (RFA). The model was applied utilising 5 years of information on catch and fishing effort (1973-1977). Four levels of habitat quality were defined (low, medium, high and exceptional). The total costs and revenue for a fishing expedition in the areas of exceptional habitat quality were higher due to their location farthest from the base port. The fleet was most efficient during the winter at locations in the eastern continental shelf, with the number of these areas clearly decreasing in the autumn. The model simulation of the RFA showed a total revenue reduction of 7-27% in scenarios of RFA for adult protection. When the RFA was implemented for the protection of juvenile fish, the total revenue was not reduced, indicating that this type of RFA might be a feasible management strategy for a sustainable fishery.
KW - Fleet dynamics
KW - Red grouper
KW - Restricted fishing areas
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904212835&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s12562-014-0759-1
DO - 10.1007/s12562-014-0759-1
M3 - Artículo
SN - 0919-9268
VL - 80
SP - 653
EP - 664
JO - Fisheries Science
JF - Fisheries Science
IS - 4
ER -