An unfished area enhances a spiny lobster, P anulirus argus, fishery: implications for management and conservation within a B iosphere R eserve in the M exican C aribbean

Research demonstrates that an unfished offshore area within the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve significantly contributes to the sustainability of the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery. The study, which tagged 379 lobsters and used a multistate mark-recapture model, found that 15-20% of adult lobsters from this protected zone migrate into fishing grounds, thereby enhancing inshore yields without compromising the overall stock. This finding underscores the effectiveness of designated no-fishing zones in supporting both conservation goals and fisheries productivity, offering critical insights for managing this key economic resource in Mexico's Caribbean region.

Ley‐Cooper, K., De Lestang, S., Phillips, B. F., & Lozano‐Álvarez, E. (2014). An unfished area enhances a spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, fishery: implications for management and conservation within a Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican Caribbean. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 21(4), 264–274. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/fme.12072