The Big Grab:: non-compliance with regulations, skewed fishing effort allocation and implications for a spiny lobster fishery

We illustrate the skewed spatial and temporal patterns of fishing effort and the associated non-compliance with regulations within the spiny lobster fishery based in South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Islands. The size, maturity, and breeding status of lobsters caught by divers (4321 from 179 boat trips) from five fishing grounds over the 8-month fishing season correspond well to habitats and depths associated with known life-history stages. More importantly, 63% of lobsters landed during the first month of the season ("The Big Grab") are immature and 43% are undersized individuals captured in shallow habitats where divers concentrate their efforts. Non-compliance with regulations is not limited to this period with 33% of all lobsters landed being undersized and 10.9% being females in breeding condition (prohibited). It is postulated that this pattern of fishing must have detrimental effects on the population and may partially explain the 66% decline in CPUE observed over the last decade and the 15% decline in mean individual weight of lobster caught over the last 25 years. Several management modifications are suggested that may reduce the skewness in effort and pervasive non-compliance. The importance and utility of collecting fisheries data on discrete and appropriately sized spatial and temporal scales is highlighted. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.