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Mortality Rates and Management Strategies for Black Sea Bass off the Southeast Coast of the United States
Author(s) -
Low R. A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1981)1<93:mramsf>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - fishery , bass (fish) , geography , oceanography , biology , geology
Mortality rates were estimated from catch curves of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) caught with traps off South Carolina and Georgia in June‐July 1978, April‐May 1979, and September 1979. Depth of collection ranged from 20 to 46 m. The estimated annual instantaneous rate of fishing mortality in depths less than 30 m was approximately 0.53, while that in depths greater than 30 m was 0.30. Size composition of black sea bass caught in summer over heavily fished artificial reefs was much smaller than that of fish from lightly fished sites, although age composition was virtually identical. For lightly fished sites, size composition of black sea bass in summer was similar to that of fish caught in winter. Size composition (by weight) of commercial catches varied considerably by area, but overall was close to an estimated optimum of 29% small, 23% medium, and 48% large black sea bass. Effects of 203‐mm, 229‐mm, 254‐mm (total length) size limits for all fishermen and a combination 203‐mm commercial and 254‐mm recreational limit were evaluated using Ricker yield models based on estimated fishing mortality rates and observed mean weights‐at‐age. Principal impacts of increased size limits were reduction of the number of fish caught by recreational anglers and increase in value of the commercial catch. A uniform 203‐mm (total length) minimum size limit appears to be the most desirable introductory measure if size limits are considered necessary.