Distribution and abundance of Caribbean spiny lobsters in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge: relationship to habitat features and impact of an intensive recreational fishery

During 1999 we determined abundance and size frequency of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, in various habitats within the ‘Lakes’ and ‘Marquesas’ regions (122 km2 ) of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (KWNWR), USA, using visual surveys. We also assessed the relationship between lobster abundance and habitat characteristics. During July–August 2000, we quantified the impact of a two-day recreational fishing ‘miniseason’ in fished and nonfished areas within the KWNWR. Lobster density was highest in channels, followed by hard bottom and patch reefs. P. argus was rarely observed in sea-grass and never in mangrove prop-roots. Its density was related to density and volume of large sponges in channel habitats. Although channels represent only 0.06% of the study area, they provide abundant refuges and a likely corridor for migrating juveniles. The two-day fishing season reduced density of lobsters >7 cm CL by an average of 80% across several habitats, including three marine protected areas closed to fishing. The observed decline was probably due to fishing, because percent change in density was related to number of recreational boats anchored at a given site. Relatively small marine protected areas (30–150 ha) may therefore be too small to protect the population structure of P. argus adequately within the KWNWR.