Comparative assessment of multispecies reef fish resources in the Lesser Antilles

Reef fish resources and exploitation were compared in four islands of the Lesser Antilles (Saint-Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe), using existing fishery statistics and data from a standardized fishery-independent trap survey. Great differences of demersal fishing pressure were found, with fishing effort spanning one order of magnitude between the least exploited sector (Dominica East) and the most exploited one (Martinique). In spite of this, catch per unit effort, species composition, average length, size structure, and total mortality led only to the ranking of sectors along a weak and continuous gradient consistent with the levels of fishing effort. No firm conclusion on the status of stock production could be drawn from the relation between catch and effort, owing to the possibility of biased estimates in one sector. These results contrast somewhat with the generally accepted diagnostic of severe overfishing for most reef fish populations of the Lesser Antilles. However in the long run, a precautionary management is all the more necessary as productivity may also be influenced by other factors such as habitat condition and recruitment sources. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.