24255 The user of fish traps in Puerto Rico: Current practice, long-term changes, and fishers' perceptions Document Published / External 24254 CRCP Effects of trap fishing on coral reefs and associated habitats in the US Caribbean Data Set Completed Traps are used extensively by artisanal fishers in the Caribbean for catching fishes and crustaceans in diverse habitats. An interdisciplinary study incorporating fisher knowledge and quantitative field surveys was employed to study current trap fishing practices in Puerto Rico in order to provide up to date information to managers and researchers. Here, we report on trap fishing methods today and fishers' perception of current trends and some problems affecting the resource of Puerto Rico. Forty-seven trap fishers representing 5 regions (North, South, East, West, and Islands) were interviewed on site about gear construction, effort, habitat preferences and fishers' perceptions of the main problems in the fishery and their possible solutions. Materials used in fish trap construction have been changing over time; however, the main routine for setting traps remains generally the same with some localized variations. Despite its traditional dominance, more than half of fishers have reduced their number of traps; therefore individual effort seems to be declining. Coral reefs were not reported as a preferred fish trap location, but rather areas adjacent to reefs (sand, seagrass,hard-bottom, and algal habitats) are targeted. The main problems reported by fishers in Puerto Rico are trap loss and habitat degradation, problems that correspond to increasing coastal development. Additionally, conflicts among users have promoted the use of unbuoyed traps,which in turn may lead to an increase in ghost fishing impacts. Ghost traps are known to continue fishing long afther they are lost and may be causing undetermined effects on fishing grounds. Suggestions to alleviate some problems include enforcement of environmental regulations and zoning schemes. FY2004 CRCP Project ID 1069; Project Title: Distribution of Trap Fishing and Effects on Habitats in Coral Reef Ecosystems; Principal Investigator: Ron Hill http://www.gcfi.org/proceedings/sites/default/files/procs/gcfi_55-62.pdf Theme artinsal fisheries Theme fish traps Spatial Puerto Rico Report Published Author 2014 Person Hill, Ron ron.hill@noaa.gov 3500 Delwood Beach Road Panama City, FL 32408-7403 850 234-6541 ext 203 Distributor 2004 Organization Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 2796 Overseas Highway Ste 119 Marathon FL 33050 305-289-2330 305-289-2334 https://www.gcfi.org/ GCFI Home Page Home Page Of Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Online Resource http://proceedings.gcfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/gcfi_55-62.pdf 2004 Organization Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute gcfi_55-62.pdf PDF PDF - Adobe Portable Document Format Uncompressed Chked Viruses Inapp Content gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:24255 Sarah O'Connor 2015-04-01T11:47:55 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2023-10-17T16:12:07 2021-10-21 Southeast Fisheries Science Center SEFSC 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami FL 33149 USA (305)361-5761 www.sefsc.noaa.gov 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST 1001 Public No 2021-10-21 1 Year 2022-10-21