Spatial distribution of red grouper Epinephelus morio (Serranidae) catchability on the Campeche Bank of Mexico

Distribution patterns of catchability were evaluated for the red grouper Epinephelus morio (Serranidae) on the Campeche Bank off the northern Yucatan coast of Mexico. Catchability-at-length values were estimated with a method based on a transition matrix. Five years of catch and effort data for the Mexican mid-fleet were used for the estimation procedure. Two main patterns were found within the bank. The first occurred in the deepest areas and in the eastern part of the bank, where catchability increased with size. The second was close to the coasts, where lower values of catchability were observed, even in large sizes. These results suggest that the main area of aggregation for reproduction with higher values of catchability is in the eastern part of the bank (22–23°N, 87–88°W). Catchability differences suggest that spatial management policies must be implemented to allow depleted stock to recover.