POPULATION ASSESSMENT OF THE RED SNAPPER FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED-STATES

Changes in the age structure and population size of red snapper, Lutja nus campechanus, from North Carolina through the Florida Keys were exa mined using records of landings and size frequencies of fish from comm ercial, recreational, and headboat fisheries from 1986 to 1995. Popula tion size in numbers at age was estimated for each year by applying se parable virtual population analysis (SVPA) to the landings in numbers at age. SVPA was used to estimate annual, age-specific fishing mortali ty (F) for four levels of natural mortality (M = 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30). Although landings of red snapper for the three fisheries have declined, minimum fish size regulations have also resulted in an incre ase in the mean size of red snapper landed. Age at entry and age at fu ll recruitment were age-1 for 1986-1991, compared with age-2 and age-6 , respectively, for 1992-1995. Levels of mortality from fishing (F) ra nged from 0.31 to 0.69 for the entire period. Spawning potential ratio (SPR) increased from 0.09 to 0.24 (M = 0.25) from 1986 to 1995. The S PR level could be improved with a decrease in F, or an increase in age at entry to the fisheries. The latter could be enhanced now if fisher men, particularly recreational fishermen, comply with minimum size reg ulations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.