Impact of the spearfishing on the populations of Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus, 1758) in the coast side waters of Tenerife Island (Canary Islands)

Abstract

In recreational fishing, the spearfishing involves a smaller collective than the rest of modalities, although, its yield, in terms of biomass, extracted by fisherman and hour is higher than any other modalities. This study was performed due to the scarcity of data about the impact of underwater fishing in the coasts of Tenerife. Due of being it the main objective of the spearfishing, Sparisoma cretense sampling for its size and abundance was carried out in three interior water areas, situated both in the north and in the south of the island, where the spearfishing is allowed, and then compared with another three zones where it is forbidden. The results show no significant differences between those zones. However, there are significant differences in the abundance between the medium and the big size individuals in the different locations, that might be related with a variety of factors whose analysis may turn of interest for future studies.