Spawning season influences on commercial catch rates: computer simulations and Plectropomus leopardus, a case in point1
Spatial and temporal closures of sections of the marine environment are proposed frequently as fishery management devices, particularly when specific areas, such as spawning aggregations, can be identified. The ultimate effectiveness of spawning area closures is unknown, as spawning-related determinants of catch rate have not been studied. A simulation model, based on existing biological and fisher information, was constructed to examine the most important determinants of the spawning season catch rates using the protogynous aggregative spawner Plectropomus leopardus (Family Serranidae, Subfamily Epinephelinae) as a test case. Model output indicated that spawning season catches rose as long as catchability of spawners was equal to or greater than that of nonspawners. Greatest increases in catch were produced by fish moving from habitats inaccessible to fishers into regularly fished locations during migrations to spawning aggregations. Elevated catches were not simply dependent on the targeting of aggregations by fishers. Small-scale spatial closures around spawning aggregation sites would not be sufficient to protect the spawning stock of fish such as P. leopardus, but larger scale closures during the spawning season may be useful even when fishers are not targeting spawning aggregations.