SUMMARY UPDATE OF THE FLORIDA GULF COAST
STONE CRAB FISHERY FROM 1962 TO 1993
by
Stephania K. Bolden
September 1994
National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fishery Science Center 75 Virginia Beach Drive Miami, Florida Contribution: MIA-93/94-81 INTRODUCTION
The Florida stone crab (Menippe mercenaria, IL._ adina and their hybrid) commercial f ishery has been steadily increasing in both landings and economic value. From 1990 through 1992, the stone crab consistently ranked as the third most valuable marine species landed on Florida's west coast being surpassed only by pink shrimp, and spiny lobster. The 1993 value of stone crab landed on the
Florida Gulf coast equalled that of spiny lobster. The stone crab fishery continues to increase in landings and value. The annual stone crab ex-vessel value landed at Florida Gulf ports ranged from
$7.9 million to $16.5 million from 1985 - 1993 and averaged $12.6 million.
stone crabs are principally caught by commercial trap
fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico waters off southwestern Florida.
Until the 19601s, the Florida stone crab fishing area was mostly in
the shallow waters of Monroe, Collier, Manatee and Pinellas
Counties. In more recent years, the fishery area has expanded to
include deeper waters for most Gulf of Mexico coastal counties from
Monroe to Franklin. The original market for stone crab was
consumers in the immediate fishing area. The current market is
broader and is still mostly composed of seafood restaurants, local
retail outlets, hotels and specialty food stores. There is no
known foreign fishing for stone crabs within the US.
The most-productive habitat and the largest producer of stone
crab landings is the Everglades-Florida Bay area. This area is
I characterized by a shoreline of mangrove swamp, extensive oyster reef development (Hoffneister, 1974), and broad turtle grass flats.
The center of stone crab abundance is the Everglades National Park
(GMFMC, 1986). The stone crab population was predicted to remain
stable and productive (GMFMC, 1986), however the forecast was based on the Parks ecological stability. Because of the recent habitat
degradation in Florida Bay due to lack of freshwater flow, the
stability and productivity of the stone crab fishery may be
threatened (McIvor et al., 1994). Larval stone crab (zoea) are
extremely susceptible to salinity and temperature (Ong and Costlow,
1970), and in areas of shallow waters (i.e., Everglades National
Park) fluctuating salinity and temperature may cause high larval
mortality rates (Bert et al., 1978). Adult stone crab are much
more hardy than the larvae and can tolerate most environmental
extremes within their distribution range. The Everglades Forever
Act requires the South Florida Water Management District to
substantially increase water flows into Florida Bay. Meanwhile,
interim projects like the Taylor Slough/Florida Bay Demonstration
Project (Underwood, 1994) will alleviate the lack of natural
freshwater flow. Freshwater influx into the stressed area will
hopefully aid in preserving stone crab habitat and yield.
Joint regulation between the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries
Management Council and Florida Marine Fisheries Commission requires
that only claws larger than 7 Cm (2.75 inches) in propodus length
(claw length from the tip of the lower finger to the elbow) can be
legally harvested and that live, declawed crabs be returned to the
2 water. Based on age/growth results of Lindberg and Marshall
(1983), this minimum claw size regulation ensures at least one reproductive season before the crab enters the fishery. Although there is high mortality associated with declawed crabs (Davis et al., 1979), some survive and regenerate new claws. Mortality of declawed stone crabs was further discussed in prior reports (Bolden
and Harper, 1992). Other management regulations intended to provide
for stock conservation include: 1) prohibiting the harvest of egg
bearing females, 2) moistening and shading captured crabs prior to
claw removal in order to enhance survival of released crabs, and 3)
closing the fishing season (May 16 to October 14) during the time
of peak spawning activity.
A moratorium on the issuance of Federal numbers and color
codes for use in the Gulf of Mexico stone crab fishery is currently
pending approval by the Secretary of Commerce. The moratorium
(Amendment 5 to the Fishery Management Plan for the stone crab
Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico) intends to discourage entry into the
fishery based on economic speculation. During the moratorium (4-
years) the State of Florida's Marine Fisheries Commission will
develop alterative provisions to limit effort in the stone crab
fishery.
The Southeast Fisheries Science Center has periodically
summarized commercial stone crab landings along Florida's Gulf
Coast (Zuboy and Snell, 1980, 1982; Phares, 1982, 1985, Sutherland,
1988, 1989; Powers, 1990; Harper et al. , 1991; Bolden and Harper,
1992; Bolden, 1993). In addition, Restrepo (1990) produced a simulation model of f ishing on yield per recruit and egg production
for the stone crab fishery. The estimates and precautions of the
simulation model were addressed by Bolden and Harper (1992). The objective of the current review is to provide preliminary updated catch and effort data for the 1993-1994 stone crab season, verify 1992-1993 catch and effort data, compare recent landings by
size categories and catch/trip, and depict historical trends in
catch and effort.
METHODS
Commercial stone crab landings at ports on Florida's Gulf
Coast extending from Monroe County in the south to Escambia County
to the north were summarized. "Landings" refer to the pounds of
stone crab claws that are sold by commercial fishermen to licensed
wholesale dealers. Whole (live) weights of stone crabs can be
obtained by multiplying claw weights by two. Although only claws
are landed, most commercial statistics report stone crab landings
as whole weights. Stone crabs caught by recreational fishermen or
ones that are not sold to wholesale dealers are not reported and,
therefore, not landings data.
The General Canvas Landing System (GCLS) database maintained
by NMFS and the Florida Marine Trip Ticket System database
maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP, previously Florida Department of Natural Resources - FDNR)
were analyzed to provide information contained within this report.
Data prior to October 1985 were obtained from NMFS, GCLS database,
4 while those for the period of October 1985 to May 1994 wer;^ provided courtesy of FDEP. The October 1993 - May 1994 landings are preliminary and subject to change. Caution must be exercised when comparing landing trends before and after October 1985 due to differences between the two data collection programs. The differences between the two databases were discussed by Harper et al. (1991).
Estimates of annual and monthly catch per trap were calculated by dividing landings by the estimated number of traps reported in the commercial fishery. The number of stone crab traps used in calculations is the estimated maximum number used at any time during the calendar year. The estimate is made by MMFS personnel
each year and is based upon data obtained during an annual canvas
of seafood dealers. Data deadlines are not compatible to allow
comparison of the FDEP Saltwater Products License database and port
sampler estimates to verify trap number.
FDEP Marine Trip Ticket System data were also examined to
determine monthly mean landings and number of traps hauled per
trip. Mean landings/trip was calculated only for stone crab trips,
(trips in which stone crabs constituted >=75% of the total
landings); i.e. they do not include trips in which stone crabs were
caught and landed incidentally by other fishing gears such as
lobster traps, fish traps, or shrimp trawls. Mean number of trap
hauls per trip was calculated by summing the number of trap hauls
greater than 0 on trip tickets and dividing by the number of trips.
Total trap fishing effort (number of trap hauls) was obtained by
5 :aultiplying the number of f ishing trips per month where stone crabs were the primary species caught, by the mean number of traps hauled
per trip for that month. The stone crab fishing season extends from October 16 to May
14. Fishing season will be referred to by the year beginning the
season (eg. 1980 season encompasses the period between October 16,
1980 through May 14, 1981). Stone crab landings for the months of June through September were presumed to be late reports. These
data were included with annual totals for the previous season but were eliminated from graphic presentations of monthly landings,
mean trap hauls per month, and catch-per-unit-ef fort (CPUE) because
the actual landing date was not known.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Stone crab landings at Florida Gulf coast ports for 1985
through 1993 are summarized by season, month, and claw size (Table
1). Landings for the 1993 fishing season are preliminary and
subject to change. During the 1985-1993 period, about 47% of the
landed claw weight was classified as large, 31% medium, 7% small,
4% jumbo and 12% ungraded by claw size.
The commercial landings and ex-vessel value of stone crabs are
presented in Figure 1. Ex-vessel price has steadily increased from
$196,100 in 1962 to $16.5 million in 1993 with the exception of
1991 when the ex-vessel value plummeted to $12.4 million, a
decrease of $3.6 million over one year. Market saturation during
the first few months of the season was a cause suggested for the
6 1991 low ex-vesoel value as pounds landed remained relatively stable (Bolden, 1993). 1993 has the largest ex-vessel value, however 1992 was the bumper year in pounds of claws landed.
Therefore, considering only pounds landed and ex-vessel value, I stone crab were more valuable in 1993 than in 1992. However, no other economic studies have examined this or other possibilities. In an attempt to classify stone crab landings by state and federal waters, the GCLS was utilized to examine Gulf coast landings relative to distance from shore (Table 2). Notably, data are presented by calendar year rather than fishing season and pounds are whole weights. Because of database limitations, the data could not be categorized to the 9 mile state/federal border.
A significant portion of the stone crab landings (around 36% of value and weight) is taken at distances greater than 12 miles from shore (Table 2).
Monthly estimates of mean CPUE (total pounds of claws/trip) are shown for trips where stone crabs were the primary species landed (Fig. 2). In general, landings were highest during the beginning of a fishing season and then rapidly declined. The 1987 season was the only season in which catch per trip declined in each successive month. Since FDER Trip Tickets were used to measure catch and effort, six of the nine seasons - 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990,
1991 and 1993 - have recorded consecutive mean CPUE >100 pounds for the opening six months of the f ishing season (i.e. , October through March). Atypically, December 1993 had a greater catch per trip
(178.4 lbs) than the opening two months of the season
7 (October=158.7 lbs and November=1.76.1 lbs) (Fig. 2). Only December
1988, and October 1990 have recorded monthly mean CPUE over 200 pounds (202.9, and 203.3 respectively). The 1985 - 1992 mean seasonal catch per trip was 126.3 pounds, the 1985 - 1993 data estimate an increase of nearly 3 pounds per trip. Comparing single season CPUE averages reveals that 1992 was a poor year (124.6 pounds/trip) compared to 1991 (135.1 lbs/trip) and 1993 (135.9 lbs/trip). Hence, 1992 was a "bumper" year in total landings, but
1991 and 1993 reported greater CPUE.
Figure 3 depicts the monthly CPUE by claw size during the 1985 through 1993 fishing seasons for stone crab landings at Florida
Gulf ports. Large claws dominated the landings throughout all
fishing seasons, but medium claws became a larger component of the
landings during January and February when landings of large claws began to decline. Nean seasonal CPUE for medium claws remained
fairly consistent in the late 19801s, but has risen steadily in the
1990's to a 1993 high of 49.1 lbs/trip.
The number of fishers reporting the number of traps hauled
(lifted) to FDEP via Trip Tickets sharply increased in 1990 and
again in 1991 due to legislation mandating gear number. The number
of trips reporting associated trap hauls was 12& for the 1989
season and rose to 73% in 1993. Currently, 37% (67,403 of 183,
073) of total reported trips, 1985-1993, has associated trap
number.
The mean number of traps hauled (lifted) during each fishing
trip was plotted by month (Fig. 4). For all seasons except 1989,
8 the meat traps hauled per trip declined as the season progressed.
This trend reversed in 1989 when ef fort (number of traps hauled per trip) generally increased as the season progressed. The seasonal range for mean number of trap hauls per trip is greater for the
1989 to present fishing seasons than those prior to 1988 (Fig. 4). However it does appear that mean trap hauls per trip is once again stabilizing, but at higher levels, as the 1992 and preliminary 1993 data reveal a trend similar to that of 1985-1988 (Fig. 4).
The total number of traps hauled per month was estimated by multiplying the mean number of trips per month by the mean number of traps hauled per trip based on the voluntarily reported data
(Fig. 5). The number of trap hauls per season appears to be stabilizing after a period of incline as an estimated 3.6, 4.4,
4.9, 5.3, 7.7, 8.3, 8.0, 7.9 and 8.4 million trap hauls were made
from 1985 through 1993, respectively. The preliminary 1993 total of 8.4 million is the greatest number of trap hauls per season, but is only slightly greater (around 10,000) than that reported for
1990. Many adverse factors have been attributed to the 1992 season (Bolden, 1993) and 1991 was a poor year in ex-vessel value,
therefore the lull from 1991 - 1992 in reported trap hauls was
probably influenced by external (non-biological) factors. For the
first time, CPUE (Fig. 2) and the number of trap hauls per month (Fig. 5) coincided. Total estimated monthly trap hauls during the last month of the fishing season (May), was considerably less than
that of the first month for most seasons (Fig. 5). Fishing effort
for the 1993 season appears to be more variable than previous
9 seasons, but follows the general trend of the other seasons Z,S number of trap hauls greatly declines toward the end of the season.
Note: the number of reported trap hauls per trip was significantly greater in 1993 than prior seasons, therefore analogous trends may not have apparent.
The 1964-1993 monthly landings show a greater portion of the total catch was caught during the early months of the fishing season (Fig. 6). Since 1983, elevated landings have occurred during the first few months of each season, followed by sharp declines in succeeding months. The number of traps in the fishery remained relatively stable from 1985 through 1991 (Fig. 7). In the 1992 fishing season, the number of traps in the fishery increased by 130,000 and remained relatively constant through the 1993 season
(Fig. 7). Therefore, the current number of traps gear in the fishery is the highest ever.
Total landings have increased from a low of 0.30 million pounds of claws in 1962 to a maximum of 3.7 million pounds of claws in 1993 (Fig. 8). The 1993 season was a peak landing year. Annual landings averaged 2.8 million pounds for 1985 - 1993. Catch/trap rapidly decreased from 1962 to 1974, then fluctuated but remained fairly stable around 6.5 lbs/trap from 1974 until 1983 (Fig. 9).
Mean catch rates declined from a high of 23.3 lbs/trap in 1963 to a low of 3.5 lbs/trap in 1987 (Fig. 9). Catch/trap steadily increased from 1987 to 1990 (5.1 lbs/trap), remained stable for 1991, decreased slightly (4.19 lbs/trap) in 1992, and again appeared stable at 4.95 lbs/trap in 1993.
10 Catch (pounds) per trap was calculated for the peak stone crab fishing months of November to January 1964 - 1994 (Fig. 10). From
1985 - 1992, with the exception of a low in 1987, yield for the fishing months of November through January has been stable at 0.8 lbs/trap (fig. 10). The greatest three-month mean yield since 1982 was recorded in 1993 with an average of nearly I lb/trap, rebounding from a poor 1992 (0.6 lbs/trap).
SUMMARY
Following a peak 1992 season of 3.4 million pounds, stone crab
landings decreased slightly (to 3.2 million lbs) in 1993. The proportion of various claw sizes in the landings appear to have
stabilized and the early months of the season continue to
demonstrate the highest landings. Mean seasonal landings per trap
remain near historical lows, around 5.5 pounds of claws per trap.
Ex-vessel value for stone crabs reached a record high of $16.5
million dollars in 1993. The 1993 record season followed a five-
year period where value oscillated between $12 and $15 million
(1988-1992).
Trends in CPUE and trap haul number coincided for the first
time during the 1993 stone crab season. Seasonal variability in
the number of trap hauls per month and monthly landings was
greatest during 1993. The increase in variability coupled with the
CPUE/trap hauls trend is perhaps coincidental, or perhaps driven by
fishermen scrutinizing landings and retail. The economic and
social implications of these observations are beyond the scope of
11 this paper.
Although the number of traps declined slightly from 1992 to
1993, the number of stone crab traps in the Gulf coast fishery exceeds 745,000. The 1991 - 1992 increase resulted in 130,000 additional traps following a period of relative stability from 1985
- 1991 when trap numbers fluctuated between 565-617 thousand.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Ms. Martha Norris for providing Trip Ticket tapes of the 1992-
1993 stone crab landings and counsel regarding data collection.
Also to the NMFS, SEFSC, Miami Laboratory Statistical Operations
Team who provided estimates on trap number and landings data.
12 LITERATURE CITED
Bert, T.M., R.E. Warner, and L.D. Kessler. 1978. The biology and Florida fishery of the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria (say), with emphasis on southwest Florida. Fla. Sea Grant Tech. Pap. No. 9. 82 p.
Bolden, S.K. and D.E. Harper. 1992. The Florida Gulf coast stone crab fishery: landings and effort 1962 - 1991. NOAA, NMFS, SEFSC, Miami, Florida Contri. No. MIA-91/92-86. 22pp.
Bolden, S.K. 1993. Summary of the Florida Gulf coast commercial stone crab fishery 1962 - 1992. NOAA, NMFS, SEFSC, Miami, Florida Contri. MIA-92/93-84. 32pp.
Davis, G.E., D.S. Baughman, J.D. Chapman, D. MacArthur and A.C. Pierce. 1979. Mortality associated with declawing stone crabs, MenipRe mercenaria. South Florida Research Center Rep. T-522. 23 pp.
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. 1986. Environmental assessment and supplemental regulatory impact review and initial regulatory flexibility analysis, and amendment number 3 to the f ishery management plan for the stone crab f ishery of the Gulf of Mexico. Draft Amendment. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, Tampa, Florida.
Harper, D.E., D.G. Neff and J.A. Bohnsack. 1991. Florida Gulf coast stone crab landings and fishing effort update, 1962- 1990. NOAA, NMFS, SEFC, Miami, Florida. Contri. No. MIA- 90/91-79. 23pp.
Hoffmeister, J.E. 1974. Land from the sea: the geologic story of South Florida. Coral Gables, Fl: Univ. of Miami Press.
Lindberg, W.J. and M.J. Marshall. 1983. Species profiles: life histories and environmental requirements (South Florida) - stone crabs. USFWS Div. Biol. Serv., FWS/OBS-82-11. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, TR El-82-4.
McIvor, C.C., J.A. Ley and R.D. Bjork. 1994. Changes in freshwater inflow from the Everglades to Florida Bay including effects on biota and biotic processes: A review. In Everglades: The ecosystem and its restoration. S.M. Davis and J.C. Ogden, eds. St. Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Fl.
Ong, K.S. and J.D. Costlow, Jr. 1970. The effect of salinity and temperature in the larval development of the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria (Say) reared in the laboratory. Chesapeake SCi- 11(l): 16-29.
13 Phares, P.L. 1982. Review of the Florida stone crab fishery data from 1962 to 1982. Stock Assessment Workshop, NMFS, SEFC, Miami, Florida. l3pp.
Phares, P.L. 1985. Analysis of stone crab stock assessment data for 1979 to 1985 and evaluation of the logbook data collection system. NMFS, SEFC, Fishery Analysis Division, Contri. No. ML1-85-27. 29pp.
Powers, J.E. 1990. A summary update of production of the Florida stone crab fishery. NOAA, NMFS, SEFC, Miami, Florida. Contri. No. MIA-89/90-23. 5pp.
Restrepo, V.R. 1990. Florida stone crab yield and reproductive potential. Discussion document prepared for SEFC/Fishery Management Councils Workshop on definitions of overfishing. NOAA, NMFS, SEFC. Miami, Florida. 12pp.
Sutherland, D.L. 1988. Stone crab stock assessment data, 1962-1987. MOAA, NMFS, SEFC, Miami, Florida. Contri. No. CRD-87/88-29. l6pp.
Sutherland, D.L. 1989. Florida stone crab landings land fishing effort, 1962 - 1988. NOAA, NMFS, SEFC, Miami, Florida. Contri. No. CRD-88/89-20. 24pp.
Underwood, E.P. 1994. Ecosystem Monthly, South Florida Water Management District. July.
Zuboy, J.R. and J.E. Snell. 1980. Assessment of the Florida Stone crab fishery. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC-21. 29pp.
Zuboy, J.R. and J.E. Snell. 1982. Assessment of the Florida stone crab fishery, 1980-1981 season. MOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-SEFC- 79. 21pp.
14 Table 1. The 1985 - 1993 commercial stow crab landings (pounds of clam) at Florida Gulf Ports by fishing season, month, and claw size- Data source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Marine Fisheries Trip Ticket System data Illes.
I . - ^ ^. ^ P.O.UINP.S 13Y^ C LAA^ S11 ZE ^: :.. 1_1 - . ^ . ^ I MONTHLY SEASON SEASON MONTH Jumbo Large Medium Small Ungraded TOTAL TOTAL ------1985 Oct 1,223 186,090 67,419 16,691 40,438 311,861 L__Z167.473 1W^ Nov 3,673 277,955 138,002 24,713 77,569 521,912 Dec 4,049 188,442 102,081 17,655 50,825 363.052 Jan 6.657 154,080 114,309 26,420 51,812 353,278 Feb 3,467 96,607 76,705 13,832 28,979 219,590 Mar 410 107,151 83,700 15,185 23,501 229.947 Apr 105 61.311 37,192 10,121 17.100 125,830 May 0 20,055 9,998 2,429 9,521 42,00 Jun 0 363 16 0 396 776 Jul 0 128 31 4 32 195 Aug 0 856 74 478 0 1,408 Sep 10 1,013 122 264 0 1,409 1986 Oct 1.712 154,096 68,302 15,513 29,2130 268,823 1966] Nov 194 186,162 76.287 12.586 49.396 326,625 Dec 439 206,992 101,133 19,254 48,229 376,047 Jan 1,402 219,430 163.270 28.667 58,080 470,849 Feb 2,429 158,465 130,806 15,692 34,033 341,425 Mar 3,276 87,362 54,536 11,000 15,888 172,062 Apr 1,236 87,461 42,717 13,514 20,818 165,746 May 1,574 35,550 9,950 5,804 12,896 65,774 Jun 0 31 270 55 876 1,232 Jul 19 197 23 0 5 244 Aug 0 1,442 0 0 14 1,456 Sep 0 122 0 3 53 178 1987 Oct 7,502 201,404 84.352 19.894 48.151 361,303 2,206,131 198-7 Nov 3,875 230,464 102,378 26,153 58,610 421,480 Dec 2,492 199,916 91,868 16.581 33,370 344,2Z7 Jan 3,557 152,126 68,511 17,636 33,662 275,492 Feb 3,366 132,124 102,713 30,598 35,251 304,052 Mar 659 116,962 8S'IQQ 25,762 29,622 261,244 Apr 1,699 76,047 44,257 14,655 26,673 163,331 May 1,157 37,638 17,733 5,621 12,853 75,002 Jun 7 27 205 0 0 239 Jul 0 89 540 0 2,996 3,625 Aug 5 384 106 507 0 1,002 Sep 0 414 226 2,108 238 2,986 1988 Oct 8,157 215,210 96,163 20,572 49.588 389,690 L__?_.494 756_____1988J Nov 9,391 218,424 95,&r.3 37,225 54,368 415,261 Dec 15,970 258225 129,036 58,185 78.042 539.4S8 Jan 11,968 169,561 103,643 42,322 26,073 353.567 Feb 7,778 145,611 95,299 31,442 22.627 302,757 Mar 6,740 152,033 113,278 40,408 16,573 329,032 Apr 5.095 56.878 36,533 11,693 8,969 119.168 May 2,932 21,302 11,398 5,279 4,842 45.823 Jun 0 156 101 50 300 607 Jul 0 197 30 1 54 282 Aug 838 459 0 0 19 1.316 Sep 0 542 393 13 66 1,014 1989 Oct 37.009 212,379 94,424 22,606 50,373 379,7821 - 2,499,070 19891 Nov 38,874 238180 120,554 28,228 58,286 445.248 Dec 24,049 205,114 112,774 32,647 61.179 411,714 Jan 19,898 167,326 95,938 29,707 39,202 332,173 Feb 17,350 131,984 78,906 26,331 311,158 276,379 Mar 15,878 160.460 123,419 34,993 43,726 362.590 Apr 9,919 90,395 67,136 22,169 26,818 ZW,508 May 4,040 35,730 25,702 9,958 13,278 84,668 Jun 0 306 547 155 0 1.008 Jul 1 96 0 0 0 96 Aug 49 M 179 124 355 949 Sep 0 433 215 325 271 1.244
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3500
Is 3000 6 CLAW WT. LANDED (LBS.) z =0 0 (0 a_ CC 2000 0 LU 0 Wo
5 1000 EX-VESSEL VALUE$ Soo
a a 1 980 1985 1970 1975 1900 loss logo YEAR
Figure 1. The commercial landings and ex-vessel value of stone crabs from Gulf ports in Florida for the calendar years, 1962-1993.
17 Table 2. Summary of stone crab landings by value and whole weight for the Florida Gulf coast. Data were summarized from the NMFS General Canvas Landings System for the 1985 - 1991 calendar years. Data are presented by distance from shore in an attempt to categorize state and federal landings.
... VALUE WROL5 WFtGl4T YEAR <12 miles 12+ miles < 1 2 miles 12 + miles
1985 $4,952,176 $3,002,288 2,438,646 1,494,450 1986 4,170,188 3,016,562 2,284,940 1,606,456 1987 7,169,880 3,924,491 3,013,126 1,677,448 1988 8,125,587 4,201,367 3,278,833 1,655,931 1989 8,865,496 3,623,777 3,494,745 1,482,711 1990 10,486,387 5,421,510 4,025,730 2,064,802 1991 6,771,300 5,559,773 3,250,880 2,678,708
18 STONE CRAB CPUE (LBS/TRIP) OCTOBER 1985 - MAY 1994 25D
200
(L Fr F- 150
100 -JM
50
0 OCT85 0CT86 OCT87 OCT88 OCT89 0CTDD DCTRI OCT92 OCT03 MAYSO MAY67 MAY88 MAYOR MAYOD MAY91 MAY92 MAYOS MAY94 MONTHNEAR
Figure 2. Average monthly stone crab catch-per-unit-of-effort (CPUE, pounds of claws per trip) at Florida Gulf coast ports. Catch rates computed only for trips where stone crabs comprised 75% or more of the total landings. The October 1993 through May 1994 data are preliminary and subject to change.
19 STONE CRAB CPUE BY CLAW SIZE OCTOBER 1985 - MAY 1994 120
10D CL Fr
60 0 Cn 40 ca N) -j 0 20
0 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 SEASON JUMBO -e- LARGE A MEDIUM SMALL --e--UNGRADED
Figure 3. Florida Gulf coast monthly stone crab CPUE (pounds/trip) by claw size. Catch rates computed only for trips where stone crabs comprised 75% or more of the total catch. MEAN TRAP HAULS/TRIP BY MONTH FLORIDA GULF COAST, OCTOBER 1985 - MAY 1994 5W
500 W
MA V4 4W
Mi 0 400 1876 z M M2 M
V76 W 350 2M co 15 -r M CL M 4W 300 4^A M W W M 250 sw
200 1746
I I ...... I ..... I ...... I ..... ['^ ... 1'-.1 ...... I ... 1 ..... I ..... I ..... hj OCT 85 OCT 86 OCT 87 OCT 06 OCT 89 OCT 90 OCT 91 OCT92 OCT93 MAY 86 MAY 87 MAY 88 MAY 69 MAY 90 MAY 91 MAY 92 MAY93 MAY94 Month/Year
Figure 4. The mean number of traps hauled per f ishing trip by month f or the Florida Gulf coast stone crab fishery. The number of trips are indicated above the 95% confidence interval bars. Values were calculated from trips in which stone crabs comprised at least 75 percent of the total trip landings and number of traps hauled were recorded in the Florida Trip Ticket System data. ESTIMATED STONE CRAB TRAP-HAULS/MONTH FLORIDA GULF COAST, 1985 - 1993 2DOD
15DO z C3 W Cc a LL 1000
T CL
5M
0
0 I" I - 1,, 11,- 1 ..... I, ^. A, I -I ... 1, 1- 1, 1 ..... I ..... I .... I 1 1, - I I, OCT85 OCT86 OCT87 OCTSS OCT89 OCT90 OCT91 OCT02 OCT03 MAYSS MAY87 MAY88 MAY80 MAY90 MAY01 MAY02 MAY03 MAY94 MONTHIYEAR
Figure 5. Estimated total number of stone crab trap-hauls per month off the west coast of Florida.
22 MONTHLY STONE CRAB LANDINGS FLORIDA GULF COAST, 1964 - 1993 1000
900
8w
W 700
600 U_ 0 500 -
z 400 0 0 a- -300 -
200
-100 -
0 ...... OOM OMS OU68 OOM OOM OM4 w"o OGM omw 0CM Dam 00M omw omw =0 OCM OCM OCM OCM 0=3 OOM OOM OCM C=M 0am OCI WM7 00M 00M 0cm MONTHNEAR
Figure 6. The 1964 to 1993 monthly commercial stone crab landings at Florida Gulf coast ports. In October and May of each year, stone crab fishing can legally be conducted during one-half of each month. STONE CRAB TRAPS FLORIDA GULF COAST, 1962 -1993 a
7
a
0 5
10 4
3
2
82 S4 08 Be 70 72 74 78 78 80 02 84 88 90 90 92 YEAR
Figure 7. The estimated annual number of traps in the Florida Gulf coast stone crab f ishery. The number of traps is compiled from an annual National Marine Fisheries Service canvas of dealers conducted at the beginning of each calendar year. Trap number for 1993 is preliminary and subject to change.
24 STONE CRAB LANDINGS FLORIDA GULF COAST, 1962 - 1993 4
3 LL 0 M z 0 -i
I
0 1^01 M 52 B4 88 88 70 72 74 76 76 80 82 84 65 88 90 92 YEAR
Figure 8. The 1962 - 1993 stone crab landings by annual fishing season (October - May) at Gulf coast ports in Florida.
25 STONE CRAB CATCH/TRAP FLORIDA GULF COAST, 1962 - 1993 25
20
5
a 3 72 74 78 76 80 82 84 88 80 90 92 YEAR
Figure 9. The 1962 - 1993 seasonal stone crab catch/trap (pounds of claws) for the Gulf coast of Florida.
26 NOVEMBER-JANUARY STONE CRAB CATCH/TRAP FLORIDA GULF COAST, 1964 - 1993 4
3.5
IL 2.5
Cl) 2 0 z D 0 1.5 IL bi 14 I
0.5
0 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 YEAR
-0- NOV -*-DEC --A,- JAN
Figure 10. The 1964 - 1993 Gulf coast of Florida stone crab catch/trap (pounds of claws) during peak fishing months of November, December and January.