Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Table 4-6. Top fishing gears used in Guam’s coral reef fisheries, landings in metric tons, gear
hours spent, and catch per unit effort. Source data: Gutierrez (2002).
Gear
Pounds Gear Hours (g-hr) CPUE (lbs/g-hr)
Hook-and-Line 75,574 230,627 0.327689
Cast Net 26,720 45,352 0.589169
Spear fishing (Snorkel) 23,501 14,789 1.589086
Surround Net 20,326 2,694 7.544915
Gill Net 15,948 14,063 1.13404
Hook and Gaff 3,108 3,695 0.841137
Drag Net 2,690 339 7.935103
Spearfishing (Scuba) 1,942 437 4.443936
Other 1,801 3,621 0.497376
Total 342,775 631,234 Average = 2.54
The majority of fish and invertebrates harvested from the coral reefs of Guam are taken by shore-based
fishing. Spearfishing is the only significant boat-based fishery that targets reef fish (Myers 1993). In recent
years, the estimated inshore harvest has ranged from 84,000 to 238,000 lbs, excluding highly variable
catches of juvenile rabbitfish and bigeye scad by traditional fisheries that are still practiced seasonally
(Myers 1993).
In the last few years, commercial spearfishing using SCUBA at night has increased. Improved technology
(high capacity tanks, high tech lights, and bang sticks) has allowed spearing in deeper water (30 to 42 m)
and catch rates have increased. For this reason, many larger species, such as bumphead parrotfish,
humphead wrasse, stingrays, and larger scarid species that have already been heavily fished in shallowwater
are now reappearing in the fishery catch statistics (Green 1997).
Less than 20% of the total coral reef resources harvested in Guam are taken from the EEZ, primarily
because they are associated with less accessible offshore banks (WPRFMC 2001). Most of the catch
from the EEZ is comprised of finfish. Most offshore banks are deep, remote, and subject to strong
currents, which limits their accessibility to the calm weather of May to August/September. Galvez Bank is
fished most often due to its proximity and accessibility (WPRFMC 2001). Other banks (White Tuna, Santa
Rose, and Rota) are more remote and can only be fished during calm weather (Green 1997). Local
fishermen report that up to 10 commercial boats, with two to three people per boat, and some recreational
boats, use the banks, weather-permitting (Green 1997). Currently, bottomfishing by hook-and-line and
jigging at night for bigeye scad are the most popular techniques employed at the banks (WPRFMC 2001).
In recent years, the estimated catch in these fisheries has ranged from 30,000 to 49,000 lbs of shallow
bottomfish and 6,500 to 24,000 lbs of bigeye scad (Green 1997). The shallow-water component
accounted for almost 68% (35,002 to 65,162 lbs) of the aggregate bottomfish landings from 1992 through
1994 (WPRFMC 2001). Lethrinids make up the majority of the shallow-bottomfish catch composition, with
a single species (redgill emperor) accounting for 36% of the total catch. Other important components of
the bottomfish catch include lutjanids, carangids, serranids, and sharks. Holocentrids, mullids, labrids,
scombrids, and balistids are minor components (WPRFMC 2001).
The bulk of bigeye scad fishing occurs in territorial waters, with some fishing taking place in federal
waters. Estimated annual offshore landings for this species since 1985 have ranged from 6,393 to 44,500
lbs, with no apparent trend (WPRFMC 2001). It is unclear how much of this bigeye scad fishery has
occurred in the EEZ.
The market for nearshore reef fish has increased on Guam largely due to the diverse cultures present on
the island that rely on fish as a primary source of protein. The demand for fresh fish has driven up the
price of reef fish on the island. Many net fishermen encountered on the inshore fishing areas are no
longer subsistence fishermen, but are commercial fishermen. The reef fish catch on the island cannot
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