Size-Structured Yield-per-Recruit Simulation for the Florida Gill-Net Fishery for Spanish Mackerel

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Abstract
We estimated the effects of gill-net mesh size regulations on the yield per recruit of Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus maculatus in Florida. Yield per recruit was calculated with a simulation model that incorporated seasonal fishing rates by sectors (recreational and commercial) and size-varying availabilities of fish to the gear and retention probabilities once fish encountered the gear. Gains in yield (g) per recruit were always obtained by increasing mesh size, gill-net fishing mortality, or both. Adoption of a minimum length above the present enforced minimum 30.5 cm fork length may result in considerable gains in yield per recruit. This, however, depends on the assumption that there is no cryptic mortality of undersized fish in the recreational fishery. If such mortality is significant, the gains in yield per recruit will be much smaller.

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