The trend in Schoolmaster Snapper (Lutjanus apodus) catches in Haiti

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to analyze and determine the substantial difference in the trends observed between the capture of the Schoolmaster Snapper (Lutjanus apodus) and that of other members of the genus Lutjanus collected from 1950 to 2014 in Haitian waters. To carry out this study, reconstructed catches data of these species were collected, processed and analyzed. Considerations were made based on the landed value per tonne, the asymptotic length and weight and their location in the water column in order to make comparisons amongst each species. Lutjanus apodus proved to be the least caught in Haitian fisheries. Their landed value per tonne was low compared to L. campechanus and L. purpureus, but higher than that of L. griseus. This difference in landed value per tonne between L. apodus and L. griseus is explained significantly in that, L. apodus appears to have a brighter color than that of L. griseus, which gives them a higher market value. However, the length and weight of L. apodus are lower than those of other species belonging to the genus Lutjanus. This may have been a contributing factor to the low catch compared to other species. In addition, they are closer to the surface than other species, given their position in the water column, so they would be more likely to be captured by non-motorized traditional gear with low catch capacity. This work was done on speculative and hypothetical arguments. It would have been beneficial for this study to have access to more precise and adequate data to estimate trends in different population sizes of these species to provide additional explanations for differences in annual catch trends.